Ian Lauer
Year Graduated: 
2014

Astrophotographer

Self-employed

Job description

As an astrophotographer, I take images of the stars and the night sky with telescopes and cameras. I teach astrophotography workshops and host stargazing tours. My goal is to inspire and reconnect people to the stars, especially since light pollution is causing the night sky to disappear from our sight. In these workshops, my goal is to teach students various types of astrophotography, including Milky Way photography, deep-sky photography, and image processing. During the stargazing tours, I take groups to dark sky locations to explore the night sky, and I combine them with daytime adventures for a unique experience.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because of the small class sizes, and the ability to have an emphasis on astronomy and astrophysics.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

The most beneficial concept I took from studying physics was how to approach scenarios from first principles. This has helped me not to just solve problems, but how to understand problems. This has helped me with processes involved in business, sales, marketing, and all other aspects of entrepreneurship.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

I enjoyed using the telescopes up at the Fickle Hill Observatory, and the 1-on-1 attention that was available due to the small class sizes was a big advantage in helping me understand difficult concepts.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

What makes studying physics great is it will help your critical thinking and problem-solving skills in all professions. I did not realize the benefits of small class sizes until after entering the professional world. For those who may not want to do graduate school when you finish the program, take additional classes outside of physics to see what interests you! This program will help you immensely in all other fields.

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Gabriela Martinez, 2018 »
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Ian Lauer, 2014 »
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