1. Can you describe your role in the SDSS collaboration and what you enjoy most about it?
I’m the Education and Public Outreach Coordinator for SDSS-V. The best bit about that is finding new and creative ways to communicate SDSS science.
2. Can you tell us about your educational background and how you got interested in the field of astronomy/astrophysics?
I was always drawn to physics and maths at school. But what got me interested in astronomy was buying a book on astronomy from a bargain bin during a rainy family holiday. I remember reading about stellar evolution and the different kinds of stars you find on a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and thinking “hang on, there’s this pattern that explains basically all the stars in the sky, that’s cool”.
3. What projects are you currently working on and what are you most excited about?
We recently produced a card game based on SDSS survey strategy. Each player takes the role of an astronomer planning a survey like SDSS and must balance their own science goals with creating a survey that serves the whole research community.
4. Can you describe how you balance work and personal life, and what advice would you give to someone just starting in the field?
For someone starting out I would say to look around and find what area of astronomy you are interested in, then think about where that area might be in ten years and how you could work to get to that place.
5. Can you share with us a unique hobby or interest that you have outside of work?
I do bits and bobs of amateur theatre.