User:Sdicker

I have been working in the field of astronomical instrumentation for the past 20 years and part of this has been public outreach. Astronomy is one of those 'sexy' science fields - publicity comes easily. However there is another side of the subject: What is it like to work for days in a windowless lab trying to find that leak in the vacuum equipment? Do people know how much duct tape holds together parts of the telescopes that where used to take some of those pictures you see in the papers? What it is like to try and work at 17,000 feet where there is only half the amount of oxygen you are used to, especially when the generators have gone down for the 10th time of the season. I could go on but in short it is a fun but sometimes frustrating career - I consider myself to be lucky to have the job I do.

Adding to Wikipedia is always one of those new years resolutions - I created my account a long time ago - but real life often gets in the way. I work at the University of Pennsylvania where I work can take up a lot of time, I hope to be able to add some technical pages on some of what I do - I use technical pages others have written enough so it seems good to give something back.

Simon Dicker