1. How A PhD in Astrophysics
Opened Me to the Universe
Bill Quirk
Rotary Presentation

2. Reasons to Have a
Career in Science
Its Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many Job Opportunities
Academic
Research in other fields
Industry
Government
Unlimited opportunities

3. Astronomy VS Astrophysics?
Astronomers use instruments to observe
the universe
Astrophysicists study how the Universe
works

4. What do astronomers observe?
Stars
Planets
Dust & gas between planets
Galaxies
Galaxy clusters
Material between galaxies
Structure of universe
Dark matter & Dark Energy

5. How do astronomers observe?
Optical telescopes
Infrared telescopes
Radio telescopes
Balloon and aircraft carried infrared
telescopes
Satellite carried infrared, optical,
ultraviolet, X-ray, & gamma-ray telescopes

6. Types of stars
Main sequence stars
Red giants
White dwarfs
Variable stars
Periodic stars
Nova
Supernova
Neutron stars & black holes

7. Stellar evolution
Stars
hundreds of times the mass of the sun
few 1/100 the mass of the sun
Biggest stars
Hot, millions of years, black holes
Smaller stars
Cooler, billions of years, white dwarves

8. Stellar evolution

9. Supernova Jet

10. Supernova Explosion

11. Supernova Remnant

12. Galaxies
Irregular
Spiral
Elliptical

13. Galaxy cluster

14. Galaxy
Shapes

15. Galaxy types

20. What do astrophysics try to explain?
Formation of stars
Formation of planets
Stellar atmospheres
Stellar interiors
Planetary atmospheres
Planetary interiors
Formation of galaxies
Cosmology

21. How do astrophysicists work?
Study observations
Formulate a question
Determine relevant physics, chemistry,
etc.
Preliminary calculation with calculators
and basic equations
Personal computers
Multiprocessing super computers

22. Computer Programs
Question
Relevant physics, chemistry, etc.
Write basic equations
Write difference equations for computer
Debug program
Find bad code
Add new parameters
Add new physics

23. Bill Quirk
What has he done?
How did he use his scientific background?

24. Married Two Children
Married Laurel Quirk, March 25, 1971
Zephyr born 1981, UC Santa Cruz 2003,
Councilor & teacher of high school social
studies in Ukiah, lives off the grid
Ian born 1987, UC Berkeley 2009
Rock band drummer
PG&E

25. Graduate of Columbia U. NYC
BS in Engineering 1967
PhD Astrophysics 1970
Post Doc Caltech 1970-72
Climate Research NASA Goddard NYC
1972-77 (CO2 Warming, long range
forecasting)
McKinsey & Company Management
Consultant 1977-78
Amdahl Computer 1978-79

26. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
1979-2005
Climate Research 1979-81
Nuclear Weapon Design 1981-1993
Foreign Nuclear Weapon Analyst 19932005
Hayward City Council 2004-12
Sacramento Job Interviews 2011-12

27. Please encourage your kids and grandkids
to pursue a career in science or engineering.
It is good for them and good for the country