Not sure if there's a specific category for me in that list?
Like most people on this website, my interest in astronomy began at a very young age.That interest has waxed and waned over the years.
I've really gotten back into it in the least three or four years, but never lost 'interest' even during the 'quiet' times. Most of my 'doing' has been visual observing, but in recent times my attention has turned to ccd planetary imaging. With a little research and private experimentation, and with some much appreciated help from some of the kind members here at IIS, my imaging skills have progressed. I occasionally submit my images for professional analysis, when I can remember to e-mail them off
Most of the time I just do my 'thing' privately for my own enjoyment. I'll also occasionally share the result of my imaging endeavours here at IIS with the hope someone enjoys what I've produced, and might even be able to offer some advice on some way (small or large) that I may be able to improve my skills or technique.
My other real area of interest is writing, particularly as it relates to astronomy. Feature articles, reviews, short essays, profiles etc
I figured I may as well make use of 20 years of working as a magazine journalist and feature writer, newspaper columnist and radio commentator and combine it with my passion/hobby.
There are such a large number of talented and wonderful people working in astronomy and its associated fields, and like many of us here at IIS I am fascinated with what they are doing and how they go about it. There are also a lot of genuine characters and colourful identities in astronomy whose personalities and stories deserve to be heard/read, as much as the stories about the great work that they do. This would possibly surprise many people outside of the scientific community who have some fairly staid and cliched views on the sorts of people who work in the sciences.
I'm thrilled and honoured to be able to report their stories to the wider astro and non-astro community.
In recent times it has also been my privilege to be invited to join the editorial team at AS&T, and to be asked to be a co-presenter on ABC2's 'SkyWatch' program. In some way, I guess these roles would also qualify as 'Education and Outreach'?
I don't consider myself an expert. Far from it. Nor do I seek to attract any 'reflected glow' by associating myself with anyone through the pursuit of my literary passions.
The truth is that like many other people here I am but an enthusiastic amateur.
I have simply found a way to combine my professional life with my overriding private passion and hobby
And I must say it honestly gives me a great deal of satisfaction to communicate this great hobby to my fellow enthusiasts as well as to the broader non-astro community. I believe that whatever we can do to take astronomy 'to the masses' and broaden its appeal is a way of giving something back to a hobby which has given us so much pleasure over the years.
So, in a nutshell, I am a writer by profession and an amateur astronomer in my spare time.
There are a lot of pages which magazine editors need to fill...and radio/TV programs which need people capable of filling precious air-time.
Time to get crackin'
