Michael Reid

Michael Reid is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He specializes in making complex science concepts accessible to everyone, including the search for extraterrestrial life, black holes, dark matter, and the origin and fate of the universe.

As a teacher, Reid has taught one of the largest undergraduate astronomy classes in the world. In March 2015, he was named one of four winners of the U of T Early Career Teaching Award for “exceptional commitment to student learning, pedagogical engagement and teaching innovation.”

Until 2022, Reid served as Public Outreach Coordinator for the Dunlap Institute, where he led the effort to fulfill the institute’s mandate of sharing astronomical discoveries with the public. Among many other accomplishments, he led the teams that organized the 2012 Transit of Venus at Varsity Stadium event, the 2013 U of T Toronto Science Festival, and the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse viewing event at the Canadian National Exhibition.

Reid is motivated by his belief that public outreach helps create a scientifically literate society, improves public perception of science and is simply a lot of fun. And if, as Carl Sagan said, science is a candle in the dark, then according to Reid, “science outreach hands out the candles.”

He speaks on science outreach and education at conferences around the world is a TEDxUofT Fellow and makes frequent appearances in the media.

Media availability: TV, Radio, Print/Online