• Question: What technology if any is essential in your job and why?

    Asked by 246grak22 to Scott, Ry, Maggie, Hannah, Daniel on 10 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Hannah Middleton

      Hannah Middleton answered on 10 Nov 2017:

      For my work computers are essential. I do data analysis, which can mean taking huge amounts of data and then running it through computer programs to see what we can learn. It would be impossible without computers. Sometimes I use supercomputers which can analysis a lot more data at once that you can with as laptop!

    • Photo: Maggie Lieu

      Maggie Lieu answered on 10 Nov 2017:

      The most important equipment for my job is my computer because I have so much data that I need to analyse. But back in the olden days, astronomers didn’t need computers at all and they did all their calculations by hand

    • Photo: Ry Cutter

      Ry Cutter answered on 10 Nov 2017:

      I need so much tech so I’ll just put it down as a list:

      Computers definitely, all of that data processing.
      Internet, so we can communicate remotely with our telescope.
      Big memory storage, we take enough pictures to fill 5 ordinary computers worth of space in a night!
      Cameras, so we can take pictures of the sky
      Cooling technology, so our cameras and computers don’t overheat
      Weather monitoring tech, so we don’t break our telescope by getting it out in the rain
      We also need a lot of space tech so we know if there’s anything interesting happening in x-rays or gamma rays!
      We always need amazing tech to discover new things. Science (especially astro) is therefore always coming up with new leading technology that a few years later ends up in the public domain. (like phone cameras, gaming pcs, and cars!)
      Great question,
      Ryan

    • Photo: Scott Melville

      Scott Melville answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Computers help me a lot – but one of the neat things about my work is that I don’t actually NEED any technology. Pen and paper is just as good as a computer (just a bit slower 😉 ), and people like Hawking have managed to make great discoveries just in their head (without even writing anything down!). This is one of my favourite things about doing theoretical physics – I can do it anywhere 🙂 When I’m on the train, or taking a shower, or on a walk in the countryside, I can be pondering interesting questions and sometimes even find some interesting answers! 😀

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