AMA Meme: Job Edition

[aragarna]

Hey there. I'm back. Went to Chicago for a little weekend with my folks (they're visiting). I finally answered the remaining questions of the 2 previous AMA, so time for another one. Once again, taken from angelita26.

Ask me anything about my job.
(I'm a cosmochemist)

Comments

[paganlowroader.livejournal.com]

What coursework did you follow to get your degrees?

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

My original formation is geologist. So sciences in general in undergrad, then I specialized in geology - I did a geology school to get my master degree (actually an engineer degree doubled with a master degree). All kind of geology, from exploration to environmental, from academic to applied geology (I wasn't really good at the more physics courses, when you study material behaviors and forces and stuff).

[angelita26]

What inspired you to become a cosmochemist?

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to be a scientist. And I've always loved space/univers stuff. Though it became clear rather early on (in undergrad) that physics wasn't my forte. So I just followed the path that inspired me. Geology sounded cool. Then geochemistry specialty sounded cool. Then the sub-specialty cosmochemistry, which is doing geology applied to extraterrestrial rocks sounded totally awesome.
And somehow I landed pretty close to were I wanted when I was a kid, even though I had no idea what that job could actually be.

[nywcgirl]

Maybe a stupid question. What does a cosmochemist do? I have never heard of teh profession.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

It's a research specialty. Basically I'm a scientist. And precisely I'm studying the chemistry of extraterrestrial rocks (meteorites and comet particles). It's like geology, applied to extraterrestrial rocks (so they had to come up with a name that wasn't "geo-" something ;) ). The idea is to understand the formation of the solar system and planets, where are we from, etc...

[nywcgirl]

Wow, that sounds too cool. My boys will love it. Where we stay when we ski, there is a planetarium and they have these moonrocks on display. My boys are always staring at them.
I guess that is a really cool job.

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

It is fun. Though concretely, I'm just running analyses on very complicated instuments, it has its perks in the fact that we're analyzing cool rocks. Like, my current project is about comet particles brought back to Earth by the Stardust mission.

Where do you go skiing? They have mountains in Belgium?

[nywcgirl]

http://www.sterngucker-koenigsleiten.com/planetarium.php

oh my gosh.... no we have a hill....694 m but you can ski on it, if it snows....
We always drive to Austria or Switzerland (about a 1000 km trip) to ski. On the link you can see the hotel and the planetarium. It is small but for the kids... and us as well it is impressive to see the stars.

[nieseryjna.livejournal.com]

I wonder how many cosmochemists are out there, do you know all of them? I mean those that really work with the cosmostuff ;)

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

hmmm a few hundreds ?
Last month I was at the Meteoritical Society conference, and we were about 400. Of course not everyone comes every year, but that gives you an estimate. I don't know everyone, but you do see a lot of the same faces at each conference. It is a small world (also made of a lot of old people).

[leesa_perrie]

Ever come across something when studying or working that you think 'oh now, there's a WC prompt in the making'?!

*what do you mean this isn't about WC? Isn't everything about WC?* :D :D

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

LOL Hmmm not really. Except for "This is the scientific proof that this rock is from the moon. Take that Mozzie."

BUT, indeed, everything is related to White Collar.... So for instance, CAIs are important particles that are the first solids formed in the solar system (basically giving the age of the solar system). And people tend to pronounce it quickly, and CAIs becomes CIs... ;)
Also, there's the radioactive elements, which decay.

What you think it's me?

And since we're talking about "everything is about WC". I was in Chicago this weekend. There was a leasing ad from a certain Todd Siegel (Given that David Siegel was from Chicago, it must be a relative). There was a Degas exhibit at the Art institute. Then of course, there's the Adler planetarium. And a couple Chagall arts...

[reve-silencieux.livejournal.com]

Heh, but what did you really think of 'Shoot the Moon'? :D

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

What I thought? That Peter looked so damn hot in that wonderful unbuttoned shirt. ♥♥♥

What? That wasn't the question?

Okay I thought the fact that they'd think a moon rock was something valuable was awesome - because it is. It doesn't shine like a diamond but come on, that's a piece of moon!

Also, remember when Neal said that if they broke the glass the rock would turn into dust? My face was *exactly* the same as Peter's.



Glad that Neal clarified he was bluffing. Because, um, that's just a freaking piece of rock, atmosphere or not... It was kinda stretch that the thieves woudn't know, but oh well... I'm just particularly glad that Peter, smart boy, knew it was total bullshit.

[leesa_perrie]

LOL!! Yes, Mozzie, take that!! :D :D

Cool about the CAIs becoming CIs, lol! Do you think they work for the FBI?!!

As for all the Chicago things, well, clearly there's something White Collary going on there! :D

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

Oh and I forgot to mention: There's someone named Keller that is attending all those cosmochemistry conferences.

And I mentioned it before, our 2 lab engineers are Peter and Neal.

[leesa_perrie]

Hmm, not sure if I'd trust that Keller person, lol!! :D :D :D

[paganlowroader.livejournal.com]

What is your opinion of the scientific value of landing a human on a comet? "yep, as fast and hot as we thought!"

[aragarna.livejournal.com]

LOL Well, the main issue about a comet is that it's a tiny rocky body that has zero gravity. See how hard it was to land a little robot.
The issue with the absence of gravity is that you can't fall. So when you're touching down, you will bounce, and there will be no gravity to force you down again. So you'd need a harpoon.

And scientifically, a probe will work just as well.