Alice Interview - (Inglese - Italian) 449 Also I translate the interview in Italian (at the bottom of the Inglese one) with the awareness That it can not make things the Same Way, even for my poor knowledge of Inglese. I will refine the translation. -------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Ho tradotto anche in italiano l'intervista (segue quella in inglese) con la consapevolezza di non poter rendere le cose allo stesso modo, anche per la mia scarsa conoscenza della lingua inglese. Raffinerò la traduzione.
Surfing the net I came across several interviews published both on various official sites and on blogs, and I started thinking that it would be an interesting experiment to do. Even more interesting to interview someone over the network without ever having met in person and in a language that is not mine.
My Blog talks about astronomy so I immediately thought of someone “known” through GalaxyZoo . I decided to interview Alice.
For participants in the GalaxyZoo Project and especially for the members of the related forum , Alice needs no introduction.
But I will not anticipate anything, even if I believe that the result is quite interesting, so I don't want to ruin the surprise and go immediately to the interview.
Half65 : Introduce yourself to the Blog readers.
Alice : Hi, I'm Alice - Alice in Galaxyland to the blogosphere and PenguinGalaxy to the twittersphere - but, to the Galaxy Zoo Forum, I'm that mad bossy moderator who has been there since the beginning. For many years I was a bored girl in poor health, trying out lots of jobs and living in lots of places, and not really getting anywhere with anything. While I was training to be a science teacher, I discovered Galaxy Zoo. I was effectively told by the teaching profession to choose between one or the other. I choose the zoo.
Half65 : How do you get in touch with GalaxyZoo Team ?
Alice : You mean how do I pass all the forum messages on? Hah! I PM and e-mail them mercilessly, poor things. If you mean how did I get to meet them, that is a long story. Chris Lintott ( Ed: Astrophysicist, promulgator and more ) wrote "BANG!" with Brian May ( Ed.: Yes, the Queen legendary guitarist ) and Sir Patrick Moore ( Ed: Astronomer, promulgator and many, many, many more ) when I was 24, and set up a website for questions. I wrote in, reviewed the book on Amazon, and met them at Astrofest ( Ed: a major conference on astronomical themes, which takes place every year in Kensington (London) ) . Chris was ever so friendly about answering my often ignorant questions and rants about education. He gave a free public lecture one evening, and I completed a practical early so that I could go along. The lecturer wasn't pleased, but it was one of the most fortunate journeys I ever made. It's always worth talking to scientists - that is, if you are interested in their work or have something to say.
Half65 : Did you ever think of becoming the moderator of a forum ?
Alice : Never. A few months previously I had to ask my sister what a moderator was.
Half65 : What prompted you to play this essential role of moderator ?
Alice : I was dumbfounded to get a PM from Chris, within a few minutes of signing up, asking me "to moderate some of the boards for us - just keep an eye out for swearing and spam generally." I soon found out that a lot more needed doing than that, and with huge encouragement from Zookeeper Kevin ( Ed: Astronomer and one of the founders of GalaxyZoo Team. In GalaxyZoo the founder are called ZooKeeper ) and from users, I gained the confidence to see myself as actively running the place.
Half65 : What was the biggest challenge you encountered in moderating the forum ?
Alice : When a lot of people, or prominent people, seriously disagree with the way I've run things. I found out about a campaign to get me sacked, which was more stressful than I should have let it be. On the one hand I get so many letters telling me that it's the most civilised and relaxing place on the Internet ( Ed: I can testify this ) because I don't allow all the things that other forums allow (swearing; links to sexual stuff or sexual language, long rows about religion/politics/UFOs/climate change; battles between individuals instead of a community which credits each member's contribution; routine flame wars). On the other hand I get accusations of repression and not allowing free speech, which probably appear quite fair to people who don't participate much. Frankly, though, there's quite enough sites people can do those things - Galaxy Zoo is where we go to have a break from that, and a strict atmosphere works very well. However, the community itself sets the tone nowadays and incredulity has less effect, so I very rarely have to fight these battles any more.
Half65 : Have you ever regretted your decision?
Alice : Have you ever regretted your ability to breathe? Seriously, it's both like going on my first real journey, and like finding my first real home.
Half65 : Tell us something about GalaxyZoo. Why should anyone participate? Because the project is important from a scientific point of view?
Alice : There are a thousand reasons to give it a try. Why not have a look at what the Universe looks like, the place which made you, the place which is so vast we can explore it for the rest of our lives? Why not see the heartbreaking beauty of starforming nebulae, of peaceful golden ellipticals whose inner workings conceal great violence, of delicate mathematical spirals which build up such marvellous patterns? Socially, too, I recommend taking part in what today's scientists are doing. Science is what moves a culture on, creates history, promises a future. It distinguishes each age. By contributing to science, you immortalise yourself in a tapestry of human accomplishment.
My favourite feature is that this project uses people in a new and very active way. It doesn't just study people, or ask you to download a program. You learn a lot, and besides spotting something unique you might also influence the way data are collected - collecting something new, for example, or trying to correlate one thing with another in a way that hasn't been done before. My impression is that the Zoo's findings are contributing hugely to cosmology - I don't know whether it's Nobel Prize worthy discoveries or not, but I do know it's a new step in the way science is done.
Half65 : What would you say to those who think that participating is just a waste of time ?
Alice : I'd smile, tell them I feel absolutely no need to force it on anyone, and let them be. Of course, if they ask me any questions, it will take a long time to shut me up. Actually I often feel slightly abashed at parties or meetings when somebody asks me what I do and, before I know it, the whole room is listening.
Half65 : I n your experience as a teacher you think these projects are important also from an educational perspective ?
Alice : My experience as a teacher was very painful - I never completed the course - so, sadly, at the moment I'm quite cynical. I aim to grow out of that day by day and get more helpful! It was a great grief to me that I could not stray off the pre-ordered lesson plan even for one minute to tell the pupils something interesting, even if they were listening raptly - or that we couldn't take a little time off work to just marvel at things, swap scientific stories, and show them what was there on the horizon. I had to stick to "the objectives" and pre-set questions "because they won't understand it" or "you are wasting their valuable exam preparation time". It made me sick that everything was about exams. It is rather telling how many people see a galaxy and discussion thread, and say: "This guessing is just confusing, what is the RIGHT answer?" When I explain to them that there isn't a right answer, it's not in the back of a hidden textbook, there is no test, and we are the ones generating the first guesses at any answers, it comes as an absolute revelation.
To me, school science was a prison without windows, but projects like the zoo set you free. You can enjoy yourself, you don't have to worry about exams and targets and government hoops, it is about your interest. And you have a genuine mission, not a rehearsal tick-box exercise. You see, and do, science as it actually is rather than the entirely incorrect impression of it you get at school. I think a lot of people dislike and indeed despise science, preferring to turn to fanciful things such as astrology and psychics which seem more imaginative and personable, because they got so turned off at school. To get involved in projects such as Galaxy Zoo teaches you about the proper scientific method, as well as the wonder of what is really out there, and familiarity with this probably allows people to make better decisions. A more scientifically literate society, for example, will choose policies by evidence rather than by tabloid hype. I am really very, very ambitious for what projects like Galaxy Zoo can achieve for education and society as well as for science.
Half65 : In addition to moderating the forum very well you’re actively involved in disseminating knowledge in astronomy and science in general. Have you ever had the feeling of being snubbed by studioso and scientists or you perceived sense of detachment from them ?
Alice : Why thank you! No, people don't usually snub me at all. Of course I am often corrected by more knowledgeable people, for which I'm grateful (the ones who do so insultingly either reform or don't last here long). Also I'm occasionally profiled by the media as a zoo user, but the results of this can look a little flat as they usually ask me about my not-very-much-any-more classifying rather than my forum work, but that's not anybody's fault. I have received an embarrassing but very touching number of accolades from scientists and from people about my efforts to explain and enthuse - these never fail to move me, not to mention spur me on to work harder to get things right (I dread to think of the number of people I might have misinformed). I do sometimes wish I could work more closely with the zookeepers, but as I got to know them - and they are very kind about explaining things to me - I am glad I am not an academic. Academia is not my thing: instead I am very privileged to have my own niche.
Half65 : You recently attended the international “ She is an Astronomer” Conference. Can you describe briefly what is the initiative ?
Alice : Worldwide, not very many women are astromoners, and it varies from country to country - some having half of each gender and others having no women at all. It is fairly clear that this is due to social issues, not to women being less good at it than men, so "She is an Astronomer" wanted to get a lot of female astronomers together to discuss what could encourage more women into science and why so many drop out at higher levels. We discovered a lot of unconscious and unintended prejudice, from both genders. We agreed that we should get out into the public more, not concentrate quietly on our own work, and make sure we nominate women for awards and invite them as speakers. On the other hand, we also felt that academia should do some changing, rather than expect women to become more like men. It was a really terrific conference and I do hope I've been a useful part of such an important movement.
Half65 : Now you can say what you want.
Alice : What, aren't you bored yet? Well, I wish I had more time - or rather, I wish I could organise my time better - to get up to speed with all the Hubble Zoo things going on. I feel a bit left behind and people are pointing out to me that all our tutorials are revoltingly out of date. On the other hand, the community is so large and knowledgeable now that I can't do it on my own - and wouldn't want to. I have the feeling I'm going to fade into the woodwork a bit as there get to be more and more zoo projects out there, and more and more interested people, so I'm starting to look for some specialities!
Half65 : One last question. What did you think when I asked you to do this interview ?
Alice : I was very flattered and grateful to be allowed to go on so much (do please cut out anything you like! ( Ed: Impossible, what cut away '? ). You asked some extremely interesting, penetrating and knowledgeable questions, by the way, showing yourself to be a real expert on what is happening ( Ed: as usual always exceedingly kind with me ) . You're an excellent interviewer, I think, asking just the right questions to tell some in-depth, revealing stories, and I can't wait to read those you do with other people! ( Ed: who knows that is not the first and last ). Half65 : Interesting, isn't it. It been a great experiment and even a very good exercise, especially to improve my English.
Alice Already Knew Naturally choosing to be safe.
Many thanks for the depth and sincerity of the answers. Alice is always a Fundamental point of reference for the zoo.
Thanks Alice.
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Surfing the net I came across several interviews to be published on the official websites and on various blogs and I started think it would be an interesting experiment to do. Even more interesting interview someone on the network without ever having met in person and in a language that is not the mia.Il My blog about astronomy so I immediately thought of someone "known" through GalaxyZoo . I decided to interview Alice. For project participants GalaxyZoo and especially for members of the Forum related, Alice needs no introduction. But I do not want to anticipate anything and spoil the surprise and get straight to the interview.
Half65 : Presented readers of the blog.
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice - Alice in
Galaxyland (Alice in galaxies) in the world of blogs (blogosphere) and PenguinGalaxy (GalassiaPinguino) in the world fi Twitter (Twittersphere) but or forum GalaxyZoo are that crazy bully who is moderating 'them from the beginning. For many years I was a bored girl and in poor health, feeling a lot of work and living in many different places and really not gaining anything from anywhere. While I was being trained to become a teacher of science I found GalaxyZoo. I was forced by the profession as a teacher to choose between one or the other. I chose the Zoo
Half65 : How did you get in touch with Team GalaxyZoo.
Alice: You mean how do I manage all the forum posts? Hah! I send them personal messages (PM) and e-mail without pity, poor things. If you mean how did I meet them, this is a long history. Chris Lintott ( Ed: astrophysicist, adviser and more ) wrote "BANG!" with Brian May ( Ed: Yes, the legendary Queen guitarist ) and Sir Patrick Moore (Ed: astronomer, popularizer, and more, more and more), when I was 24 years, and was created a site in which to ask questions. I wrote on the site, I did a review of the book on Amazon and I met them all'AstroFest ( Editor's note: a major conference on astronomical themes, which takes place every year in Kensington (London) ). Chris was so gracious in answering my ignorant questions and listening to my tirades against the teaching. Held a free public lecture one evening and so I completed my initial path so you can move on. The lecturer was not happy but it was for me a journey luckiest I've ever done. Always worth talking to the scientists - all here, if you're interested in their work or have something to say.
Half65 : you ever thought of becoming the moderator of a forum?
Alice : Mai. few months before I had to ask my sister, what a moderator.
Half65 : What prompted you to play this vital role as moderator?
Alice : I was astonished to receive a Personal Message (PM) from Chris a few minutes of my recording asking me to "moderate some of the issues for us - keep an eye on the spam and offensive language in general. " I soon realized that there were many more things to do besides this and thanks to the enormous encouragement received from Kevin Zookeeper ( Ed: Astronomer and one of the founders of the Team GalaxyZoo. In GalaxyZoo makers are called Zookeeper (zookeepers) ) and users are able to see me become confident to lead the game.
Half65 : What was the biggest challenge you encountered in moderating the forum?
Alice: When many people, or important people, expressed strong disagreement with the way it handles things. I also discovered a campaign to get me fired. which is was so stressful that I had to let go of the way things were going. On the one hand I get so many letters telling me that is the most civil and relaxing on the Internet ( Editor's Note: I can testify to this ) because I do not allow all the things that other forums allow (profanity, sex or language links sex, lengthy debates about religion / politics / UFO / climate change, war individuality as opposed to a community that credit to the contribution of each individual member, the usual chain of insults) . On the other hand I get accusations of repression and not to allow freedom of speech, which probably it receives the impression that people who do not participate much. Frankly, though, there are enough places where people can do those things - GalaxyZoo is where we are going to have a break from the rigorous environment and a very good vibration alerting. However, today the community itself sets the tone and unbelief has less effect, so I rarely had to fight this battle before.
Half65 : Have you ever regretted your decision?
Alice: Do you ever regret your ability to breathe? Seriously, it's how to make my first real journey and how to find my first real home.
Half65 : Tell us something about GalaxyZoo. Why should you attend? Because the project is important from a scientific point of view? Alice: There are many reasons to give it a try. Why not take a look at how the universe is, the place that made you, the place so vast that we could explore it for the rest of our lives? Why not see the poignant beauty of nebulae in which stars form, peace sent from the golden elliptical whose interior hides a great violence, the delicate spirals mathematical models that build these wonderful? From a sociological point of view, also, I advise you to take part in what scientists are doing today. The science is what makes an evolving culture, creates history, promises a future. Characterizes each era. Contributing to science, you will be immortalized nell'arazzo of human achievements.
My favorite definition is that this project takes advantage of people in a new and very active. It is not just study the people and ask them to download a program. You learn a lot and besides being able to find something unique can also affect the way data is collected - picking up something new, for example, or trying to relate one thing with another in a way never done before. My impression is that the findings of the Zoo are contributing enormously to cosmology - I do not know if worthy of a Nobel Prize for discoveries - but I know that a new step on the way science is done.
Half65 : What would you say to those who think that part is just unnecessary lost time?
Alice: I smile, I tell them that I feel assoluitamente the need to force anyone, and let each rest himself. Of course if you ask me any questions take a long time for me to shut up. In fact I often feel a bit 'embarrassed at parties or gatherings web surfing someone asks me what I do and before I know it, the room is' listening.
Half65 : In your experience as a teacher you think these projects are important also from an academic point of view?
Alice: My experience as a teacher was very painful - I've never completed the course - so, unfortunately, at the moment are quite cynical. My goal is to grow day by day and become useful! It 'was a big pain for me not to deviate from the lesson plan pre-ordained nenahce for a minute, to tell something interesting to the students, even if they were caught listening to - or have not been able to spend some' of their time free only to see things, share stories of science and show them what lies beyond the horizon. I had to stick "to the" pre-set questions and "why do not you want to understand" or "you're wasting their precious time to prepare for exams." It made me feel bad that everything was focused about exams. It is rather to say how many people see a glaze and a topic for discussion, said: "This supposition is confused, what's the answer?" When I explain to them that there is no right answer, there is in the back of a textbook secret, and there is no evidence that we are to generate the first response to each answer, this comes as a complete revolution.
For me science school was a prison with no windows but projects such as the zoo make you free. You can have fun, do not worry about the examinations and the objectives and constraints of government, it is your interests. And you have a real mission, not an exercise test where a select box. You see, and do the science as it is in contrast with the completely wrong impression that you get to school. I think a lot of people dislike and even despise science, preferring to turn to attractive beach things like astrology or psychics who appear to be more imaginative and good-looking, just because their interest is off to school. Being involved in projects such as the right GalaxyZoo teaches the scientific method, as well as the wonder of what is really out there and familiarity with it, probably, allows people to make better decisions. A more educated society from a scientific point of view, to example, will choose their policies based on evidence rather than tabloid publications. I am very, very confident of what projects can reach as GalaxyZoo for education and society, as well as for science.
Half65 : addition to moderating the forum very well be actively involved in disseminating knowledge in astronomy and science in general. Have you ever had the feeling of being snubbed by scholars and scientists in the field or felt some sense of detachment from them?
Alice: Why! The people in general I snub. Of course I am often corrected by better educated people, which I'm grateful (those who do it in an offensive manner or reformulate or do not last long). I, too, occasionally, are indicated by the media as a member of the zoo, and may seem a bit 'limited compared to my classifications and the work done in the forum, but this is not to blame. I received an embarrassing but very impressive number of awards to scientists and from people about my efforts to explain and inspire - this never fails to move me - not to mention as a stimulus to work hard to do things the right way (I dread to think of the number of persons who may be misinformed). I would sometimes be able to work more closely with the zookeeper, but although I got to know them - and they are very kind in explaining things - I'm happy not to be an academic. Not for me, but I have the privilege of having my own niche.
Half65 : You recently attended the international conference on "She Is an Astronomer." Can you describe briefly what is the initiative?
Alice: In world, not many women astronomers and this varies from country to country - some reach the other half and have no women at all. E 'abbastabza clear that this is due to social issues, not to the fact that Donen are less brave men, so "She Is an Astronomer" (She is an Astronomer) wants to group together many women astronomer to discuss what might encourage more women in science and why so many are excluded from the higher levels. We found a lot of unconscious biases and unintentional, in both sexes. We agreed that we should be seen in public more, not easily focus on our work and make sure to nominate women for awards and invite them as speakers. On the other hand, we also have the feeling that the world accademicodebba make some changes, rather than expecting women to become more like men. It 'was a fantastic conference and I hope to own the copyright to have been a useful part in this important motion.
Half65 : Now you can say what you want.
Alice: What, you're not bored? Well, I wish I had more time or I would be able to better organize my time so migiore - to handle faster all the ongoing Hubble Zoo I feel a little 'Lost and accuse me because all our tutorials are no longer updated. On the other hand, the community is now so great and wise that I can not do everything alone - and I do not want. I have a feeling that soon fade into oblivion as more and more projects come to life and more people are interested, so I'm 'thinking to specialize!
Half65 : last question. What did you think when I asked you to re do this interview?
Alice: I was very flattered and grateful to have had so much space (you can cut what you want ( Ed: impossible to do without? )). You asked questions very interesting, insightful and wise, among other things, showing that an expert do what is' happening ( Editor's note: as usual, always overly nice to me ). You are an excellent interviewer, I think, to ask the right questions so you can tell in detail, telling stories and I look forward to reading what other people do. ( Editor's note: who knows that it is not the first and last ).
Half65 : Interesting true.
E 'was a good experiment and also a very good exercise, especially to improve my English.
course in choosing Alice already knew to be safe.
A big thank you for the depth and sincerity of the answers.
Alice is always a fundamental point of reference for the zoo.
Thanks Alice.
