Astronomy degree

[holocene]

As much as I would be interested in getting a degree in astronomy, is there really anywhere you can actually become employed after doing this?<br /><br />Or is this degree just something where you'll learn a whole lot, but can't really use?

 

[astrophoto]

Study and do research at a University and teach the degree to others? I myself pursued an Astrophysics degree but switched majors to Computer Engineering due to the marketability of it when I came out (90's). Not sure what it's like today, but I feel it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I make astronomy and astrophysics a big hobby of mine, but use my Computer Engineering degree to fund my ever expanding closet full of astronomical toys. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[rogers_buck]

I got mine 25 years ago, and I have been employed the whole time. Mind you, I have been working as various kinds of engineer...<br />

 

[Saiph]

the marketplace for a professional astronomer is very very competitive and restricted. Roughly 95% of all freshly minted astronomy Ph.D.'s are employed in jobs other than professional astronomy.<br /><br />Now, they are employed, and in good positions as well. They just aren't research positions.<br /><br />For instance one friend of mine leveraged his doctorate that dealt with the analysis of nebulae into working for a company that's developing better techniques to look through dust, smoke and clouds with radar and such. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[holocene]

Thanks for the information.

 

[mithridates]

I've never worked in astronomy before so I could be completely wrong, but I suspect that a knowledge of French and German would really be helpful. Those are the other two working languages of the EU, the first is used in the CSA as well. Perhaps other languages instead of those two depending on where you are from and intend to work. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

Language is not that big an issue - ESA has so many nationalities they primarily use English.

 

[erioladastra]

"Roughly 95% of all freshly minted astronomy Ph.D.'s are employed in jobs other than professional astronomy."<br /><br />I am sure I buy that stat. Unless you define "professional astronomy" only as professor doing research, I don't think it is accurate. Now, it is a high number - but a lot work at places like Space Telescope Science Institute, operate astronomy satellites, support ground based observation, develope astronomy software and so on. Then a lot end up working in aerospace, and like myself, engineering so to speak. Physics with a major in astro or astrophysics will help you be the most marketable.

 

[mithridates]

Are you certain about that? I know there's no problem communicating in English but it's often easier to hire a person that they know is comfortable with all three working languages. Here's an article from last week (though admittedly in a different field):<br />-----<br />Language barrier blocks British graduates<br /><br /><br />Alexandra Smith<br />Monday December 11, 2006<br />EducationGuardian.co.uk<br /><br />British graduates are missing out on top business jobs because of their lack of language skills, an academic has warned ahead of a review of the government's foreign languages policy.<br /><br />Bill Houston, programme director of undergraduate international business at Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University, said a shortage of languages was having a knock-on effect in the business world.<br /><br />Mr Houston said British graduates were increasingly losing out to their foreign counterparts for top jobs because they do not have the bilingual skills required for those positions.<br /><br />Lord Dearing, in his interim report on language teaching to be published this week, is expected to say that French, Spanish and German should be made compulsory in primary schools. However, he is not expected to call on the government to reintroduce language classes for all 14-year-olds.<br /><br />Modern languages were dropped as a compulsory subject for 14 to 16-year-olds in 2002, despite protests from teachers and other organisations with an interest in promoting language. The education secretary, Alan Johnson, ordered a review of the policy in October.<br /><br />However, critics warn that unless schools encourage pupils to study languages past primary school, Britain could be at a severe disadvantage.<br /><br />Mr Houston said modern foreign languages should be excluded from league tables so that schools would have a greater incentive to offer pupils more difficult language subjects.<br /><br />He said: "As the demand for business graduates with languages skills increases, th <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

<br />Yes, I am pretty sure when you are talking astronomy and aerospace. I lived in Europe for a long time doing astronomy and had trouble learning it because all the astronomers spoke english. Yes, if you live there learning a local language helps, but not neccessarily from a job point of view. All professional astronomy conferences, no matter where they are, are in english. Almost all journals are in English. Of course I think it is great to learn another language but Ir eally don't think it will help that much in astronomy. If any, spanish because you may spend some time down in Cerro Tololo. In addition, at least for americans, you will have a tough time getting a job in Europe since the laws give preference to eropeans - and with few jobs it makes it hard.

 

[mithridates]

And Spanish also because it's the easiest to learn out of the three. I guess that's true, the extra languages wouldn't really help at all without EU citizenship. A bit off the topic of astronomy but I used to work in recruiting here in Korea and one Canadian graduate got turned away from teaching here because he spent the last year in Brazil at his sister university bringing his Portuguese to fluency, but because of that the Brazilian university was the one that issued the degree and thus immigration decided that the person therefore didn't speak English and wasn't allowed to teach here. It's a pity but often the best advice you can give a job seeker in any field is to just know the hoops you have to jump through to get a certain job, many of which aren't even related to the job itself. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>