Daniel Vincent Cotton

Astronomy is my passion and my job. I study star systems and the atmospheres of planets. I've mapped the distribution of carbon monoxide on Venus, uncovered the polarimetric behaviour of the brightest stars in the sky and refined techniques for eliminating the absorption effects of the Earth's atmosphere from astronomical spectra.

In the past I worked in polymer physics, chemistry and nanotechnology, specialising in the archetypal electroactive polymer poly-p-phenylene vinylene.

I'm an occasional science fiction and science poetry writer, a former R/C car racing national champion and administrator.

I enjoy cricket, modular origami, photography, running, karaoke, 80s music and being around other scientists who are excited by their work.