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About

W. Saunders is a leading figure in astronomical instrumentation, specializing in the design and implementation of multi-object fibre spectroscopy systems. Their work has been pivotal in enabling large-scale galaxy surveys, with major contributions including the development of the SAMI instrument, which uses innovative fibre hexabundles for spatially resolved galaxy spectroscopy, and the tiling algorithm for the 6dF Galaxy Survey, which mapped the nearby Universe with ~170,000 redshifts. Saunders is also the driving force behind MANIFEST, a facility multi-object fibre system for the Giant Magellan Telescope, employing 'Starbug' robots to position fibres across the focal plane, offering unprecedented multiplex gains and field-of-view versatility. With key publications spanning from 2004 to 2020, their research has garnered over 60 citations, reflecting its foundational impact on survey design and instrument capability. Saunders' work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the engineering and science of next-generation spectroscopic surveys.