Summer "Visit" - 2020 - OIRMA

Quotes

• Working together is crucial to the project so when one person fell behind or was confused, there were multiple people to help them get on track. I feel that we are even more comfortable working collaboratively after the 4 days and we were able to feed off of each other’s ideas and strengths regularly.
• [student:] I did not expect such patient discussions and workflow as part of the research process. Instead, I assumed that we would be put on a structured and inflexible fast-track to results, thinking that to be the most efficient method of results. Instead, the first priority was comprehension and unanimity, no matter how long it took. Looking back, it wasn’t a mistake that we spent the first half of the week learning. That comfort is what prepared us to dive into the workflow and be able to independently process large amounts of data, not rushing.
• [Astronomers need to be] Patient, analytical, flexible and willing to change and being ok with not finding the answers they were hoping for.
• [student:] The most surprising thing I saw was how everyone was learning at the same time and all dealing with the same challenges. It was surprising to see the instructors figuring out TOPCAT at the same time as the students. It was also surprising to see how we encountered obstacles that were not expected, and we had to figure out in the moment. These things were surprising because I am used to a classroom environment where the answers to problems and predetermined and the teachers already know them. I appreciated this contrast to the classroom, and I believe that this contrast is one of the reasons NITARP exists.
• [student:] I realized that good astronomers admit their lack of perfect knowledge and remain curious to strengthen their own intuition and identify new issues.

Related Teams

• OIRMA/Gorjian