Alan Bunner

Dr. Alan Newton Bunner, a retired astrophysicist, was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1938. His father was a high school science teacher, and his mother was a poet and author. Alan graduated in math and physics from the University of Toronto in 1960. He holds M.S. and PhD. degrees in experimental physics from Cornell University, where he instructed undergrad physics majors. He has also done summer work in geophysics and nuclear physics. He was a research scientist in x-ray astronomy at the University of Wisconsin, followed by a position of Principal Scientist at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, where he led a variety of research programs and studies, many related to advanced concepts in space astronomy.

In 1985, he joined the Senior Executive Service, becoming Branch Chief for high energy astrophysics at NASA Headquarters in Washington. At one point, his job title was Science Program Director, Structure and Evolution of the Universe, with responsibility for science program leadership in the science discipline areas of high-energy astrophysics, extreme ultraviolet astronomy, submillimeter and radio astronomy, relativistic astrophysics, fundamental physics, cosmic ray physics, and general relativity. He was also a member of the Board of Directors in NASA's Office of Space Science.

He retired from NASA in September 2001. Bunner has also compiled several books on family history/genealogy, one of which would reach 14,800 pages if fully printed. He lectures occasionally on astrophysics, cosmology, the Anthropic Principle, Planet Earth, global warming, and other science topics.