Dr Will J Roper

Computational Astrophysicist

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Public Engagement

I’m passionate about making cutting-edge astrophysics research accessible and engaging for everyone. I believe it is our duty to find the most engaging and innovative ways to communicate our research to the public, inspiring curiosity and fostering a deeper understanding of the Universe we inhabit. Below are some of the projects I’ve been involved in to bring astrophysics to a broader audience.

Media Productions

Our Universe (Netflix, 2022)

Our Universe Netflix Documentary

I contributed simulation data to the Netflix documentary series Our Universe, narrated by Morgan Freeman. Working with Lux Aeterna, my cosmological simulations were used to create stunning CGI visualizations that bring the formation and evolution of galaxies to life for a global audience.

See on IMDb: Our Universe (2022) Watch on Netflix: Our Universe

Partner: Lux Aeterna

Extended Reality (XR) Experiences

Cosmos in Focus

Cosmos in Focus XR Experience

An immersive XR experience developed in partnership with Atlantic Studios that takes users on a journey through the cosmos as seen by JWST. By combining real JWST data with the XR experience, users can explore distant galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial phenomena in stunning detail, gaining a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the Universe.

See the trailer for yourself.

Platform: Apple Vision Pro Partner: Atlantic Studios

Cosmos Unseen: Black Holes

Cosmos Unseen: Black Holes XR Experience

An educational XR experience created for Galaxy XR that focuses on teaching the public about black holes in an intuitive and interactive way. Users can explore these mysterious objects from formation to their effects on surrounding space, making complex astrophysics concepts accessible through hands-on interaction.

Available on the Google Play Store.

Platform: Galaxy XR Partner: Atlantic Studios

Museum & Exhibition Work

Bluedot Festival 2019-2023

JWST Exhibit at Bluedot Festival

For many years, I led a JWST exhibit at Jodrell Bank’s Bluedot Festival, engaging thousands of visitors with the latest discoveries from the telescope. The exhibit featured interactive displays, expert talks, and hands-on activities that allowed attendees to learn about JWST’s mission and its groundbreaking observations of the Universe.

Years: 2019-2023 (excluding 2020 due to the pandemic) Topic: James Webb Space Telescope

Festival of Speed (FOS) Future Lab

I’ve contributed to multiple exhibits at the Festival of Science Future Lab, helping to bring the latest astrophysical discoveries to the public. Each year the Future Lab attracts >100,000 visitors over the 4 days of the festival.

JWST Exhibit (2023)

JWST at Festival of Science

An exhibit showcasing the groundbreaking discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope. Visitors explored the telescope’s capabilities and saw some of the first stunning images of the early Universe with experts on hand to explain the science behind the images. (In the image I am pictured explaining just how large the Universe is…)

Year: 2023 Topic: James Webb Space Telescope discoveries

Euclid and Cosmological Simulations (2025)

Euclid at FOS Interactive SWIFT simulation exhibit

A comprehensive exhibit demonstrating the Euclid space mission and state-of-the-art cosmological simulations. Visitors could explore how Euclid maps the dark Universe, become a gravitational lense to lens images with their own body, contribute to a citizen science project classifying galaxies, and interact with a large-scale SWIFT simulation running in real-time on a supercomputer.

Year: 2025 Topics: Euclid mission, cosmological simulations, dark Universe


Get Involved

Interested in bringing engaging astrophysics content to your institution or organization? Feel free to reach out to discuss potential collaborations.


Public engagement is not just about sharing what we know—it’s about inspiring curiosity and showing everyone that they too can be part of the scientific journey.