Gail Zasowski. Photo credit: Matt Crawley

I really fell in love with it, and I realized that becoming an astronomer was a real possibility for me.

What really draws me to it is that it’s incomprehensible. I enjoy working with things that are too far away and too big for our brains to actually picture. Building models and testing our predictions—describing things our minds can’t grasp in a mathematical way—is empowering. The universe is understandable, even if we don’t fully understand it.

We’re scientists, but we’re people, and all science is done by individuals who work together and help each other. Having people around you is what keeps you grounded. It reminds you that we’re also human beings—we’re not terrifying.

I’ve met a lot of students at the early stages of their careers, and later on, when they were graduating, I would ask them how things had gone. One of the common themes among those who felt they were successful was that they connected with other students early on—people who were invaluable in helping them through classes and connecting them with mentors.

I had the opportunity to apply for a grant with a large educational component, and I met with several students and faculty to design a mentoring program. We really wanted to remove barriers in our community and give everyone the opportunity to learn from their fellow students.

One of the things I try to emphasize in all the classes I teach is that anyone can do science. Everyone can learn how to approach a problem analytically, think critically about it, break it down, and solve it. I focus a lot in my classes on problem solving, and I consider it a win when students walk away feeling like they can figure out problems in their day-to-day life.

You don’t have to be in science to think critically and problem-solve. That’s applicable in every career. Science isn’t just a set of content—it’s a set of skills that everyone can learn and use to better their own lives. Making sure everyone has access to those skills and training without being alienated is important.”

—Gail Zasowski is Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy and hails from East Tennessee. This story was developed by Ethan Hood and originally appeared in @ The U.