The observational cosmology group extracts statistical information from combinations of large scale structure, Cosmic Microwave Background temperature fluctuations and astrophysical distance measurements, then uses the data to place constraints on the evolution, initial conditions and energy contents of the Universe. Current state-of-the-art cosmological data are increasingly pointing towards tension in the standard cosmological model -- local and cosmological distance measurements are discrepant, violations of statistical isotropy have been detected in the matter fluctuations. These trends suggest that the standard model may require significant modification. The observational cosmology group are applying innovative statistical techniques to the latest galaxy catalogs, and testing both the standard model and the underlying assumptions that are made during the process of cosmological data reduction.

In tandem, the group is studying spherically symmetric spacetime metrics for scalar-tensor dark energy models, the intrinsic alignment of galaxies at high redshift, the topology of random fields, statistical violations of isotropy of finite volume random fields and the matter distribution in the local Universe. Our research lies at the intersection of theoretical, observational and numerical cosmology and we are continually seeking to apply our methodologies to other branches of physics.