Astronomy

Why Astronomy?

I have had a livelong interest in astronomy, which I continue to express in my hobbies, academic interests, and scientific outreach efforts. I minored in Astronomy at the university of Rochester, where I co-founded and led the UR Astronomy Club, leading student groups to the C.E.K. Mees Observatory during summers, and teaching fellow students about how to operate a telescope. During summers, I volunteered as a Tour Guide at the observatory, doing the same for public groups.

My interest in astronomy grew out of a yearning for exploration of the unknown, and a desire to want learn about some of the fascinating but mysterious worlds in our solar system. This interest of mine was strengthened as I gained a solid foundation of principals of physics and geology, which are key to understanding the world(s) above us, and below us.

Much of my outreach efforts have been focused on Astronomy, which I find to be a great way to get kids and the general public interested in science. In 2014, I was asked to take a volunteer kid-sitting position at a local community center. Looking for a way to keep the kids engaged, I brought a book about space, which worked great. More recently, I have volunteered locally at AMES Research Center for the July 2015 Pluto Flyby. I am currently looking for ways I can become more actively and regularly involved in science education efforts and volunteering in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In addition to my efforts to learn and teach about the cosmos, I have taken the dive into the exciting and occasionally overwhelming hobby of astrophotography. You can check out some of my photos (focusing on astronomy, geology and other subjects) on Flickr.