Lucy Fortson, 40
Title: Director of Astronomy
Employer: Adler Planetarium
Salary range: $50,000-80,000
Q. When did you first become interested in astronomy?
A. The Apollo missions had a big impact on me. I was 7 years old when we landed on the moon, right at that age when the whole world is an amazing place. One thing I remember, when I was really young, is that I always looked up. I’d watch the stars on clear nights and I had my own names for them. “Circus Tent” was one–which I found out, years later, is the constellation Orion. To me, that means it’s such a natural thing for humans to look up into the sky and try to put order to it.
Q. Did you track toward science in high school?
A. I did. I knew when I was 12 years old that I wanted to be an astronomer. It has not been an easy road, but I do feel lucky that I’ve always had this passion and I followed through on it.
Q. What’s your educational background?
A. After graduating college in 1984, I worked for a year for the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is the support group for the Hubble space telescope. Then I went to graduate school in physics, because I was always advised that the more physics you know, the better off you’re going to be in this job. It’s served me fairly well. For example, physicists are required to take quantum mechanics, [which helps] to really truly understand the radiative processes that occur in stars. On the other hand, I missed some of the sociological training that occurs in astronomy because I wasn’t in an astronomy department.
I also went to Switzerland and did research for my PhD, which was in particle physics. I did my post-doctoral work at the University of Chicago.
Q. Is there such a thing as a typical day on your job?
A. Well, averaged over a long time, yes. I read my e-mail [while still at] home and figure out what fires I have to put out here. For example: Should we do a Leonids observing event for the public? I consult with my staff, and we figure out there’s going to be a full moon that night so it’s probably not a good idea. People will be bummed out if they can’t see the meteor showers.
Then I think about the research problem I’m working on–or, at this stage, I’m writing a grant to get my research funded. Actually, the majority of the day is spent on the computer. If I’m lucky, I’m doing analysis of data. A lot of my job is writing, not just for the public but for my colleagues as well.
Q. What’s the best part about your job?
A. Seeing that “aha!” moment on a member of the public’s face when I’m explaining something about my research or about astronomy in general. Being able to take them through that journey of understanding and have them say, “Wow! That’s cool. I understand that. Thank you!”
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That makes me feel all warm inside. I also feel great when I’m able to understand something myself. When I’m struggling on my research for days trying to get this problem to come out, or I don’t understand this paper I’m reading that somebody else has written–and then I get that “aha!” moment.
Q. What’s the worst part?
A. People have the naive assumption that astronomers just study the universe, and wow, isn’t that fun. But there’s politics–tenure in an academic system or security concerns at a national laboratory.
And then there’s the question of funding, both for education and for research. When there’s only so much money, who decides what are the most pressing questions we should ask of the universe? The lack of money that goes into education drives me insane.
The politics of money really does have an impact. We’re here at a non-profit organization and, for two years in now, have not been able to give our staff a cost-of-living increase.
Q. What are three qualities essential to doing this job well?
A. Let’s make the assumption that you already have a passion for astronomy. You really have to be passionate about your work. Anyone interested in this field needs to hone their writing and communication skills. [And] you won’t go very far if you’re not good at math. I would lump computer skills under the heading of math.
Q. What advice would you give to someone interested in this job?
A. Don’t give up. Go as far as you can, because it’s a journey that’s worthwhile. There’s no such thing as failing–you don’t have to get your PhD. That’s the academic pressure put on us, but we’re trying to change that. Even if you end up taking a job as a stock analyst, you’ve got that math you learned. Or maybe you’ll end up working as a science writer or for the Discovery Channel. You’ll learn so much cool stuff about where we are, you’ll be able to apply it.