Scott Roberts

Background

About Scott Roberts

Scott Roberts is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the University of Victoria Department of Mechanical Engineering, where he teaches the Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design courses (MECH 400A and 400B). Until April 2024, Scott served as Director of Research, Astronomy Technology at the National Research Council's Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre. He brings over thirty years of experience in engineering design, management, and leadership for astronomical instrumentation and telescope development. His research focuses on integrated optical, mechanical, and control system modeling to predict and optimize the performance of astronomical instruments and telescopes. Scott's career includes significant contributions to major telescope projects. He received the National Research Council Canada Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005 for leading the development of a Canadian concept for next-generation optical telescopes. Between 2003 and 2019, he held several leadership positions in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project, including Project Systems Engineering Lead, where he guided the systems engineering efforts during the project's critical preliminary and detailed design phases. His work has resulted in over 60 peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings in astronomical instrumentation, systems engineering, and opto-mechanical design. Scott is a registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.