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About

David Copley is a driving force in the development of next-generation robotic astronomical facilities, with a primary focus on the ambitious New Robotic Telescope (NRT) project. As a key figure in this international collaboration, Copley’s work centers on engineering and implementing fully robotic, large-aperture telescopes capable of rapid, autonomous response to transient cosmic events. His major contributions include the conceptual design and technical development of the 4-meter NRT, which will be the world’s largest fully robotic telescope upon completion at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma. Building on the legacy of the highly successful 2-meter Liverpool Telescope, Copley’s research enables cutting-edge time-domain astronomy, allowing for immediate follow-up of gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other fleeting phenomena. While his most-cited papers—such as “The new 4‐m robotic telescope” (2019, 4 citations) and subsequent progress reports—reflect the early, foundational stages of this transformative project, their impact lies in laying the groundwork for a facility poised to revolutionize automated astrophysical discovery. Copley’s work exemplifies the engineering ingenuity required to push the boundaries of observational astronomy.