Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 5, 2006
• Invested on: February 22, 2008

Jaymie Matthews' innovative contributions to space research and discovery have raised Canada's standing in the field of astrophysics. Professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of British Columbia, he is recognized internationally for his studies in stellar seismology, the use of star pulsations to probe their composition and history. He is mission scientist and principal investigator for the Canadian Space Agency's project MOST, Canada's first space telescope, which has brought new knowledge on the lifespan of distant stars and planets. Working with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, he has a talent for making complex ideas accessible, which has earned him the UBC Killam Teaching Prize and the Canadian Association of Physicists Medal for Excellence in Teaching.