Babak Vint
Heritage Intern: May 2008 - present
I have lived in Maryland since the age of one, so I suppose I am one
of the locals. It was through my deep interest of astronomy and all
things related to science and art that I wound up at STScI. This is by
far the most exciting position I’ve held to date. I am surrounded by
bright people, and get to work on some really fantastic projects.
Astronomy has always fascinated me. I remember seventh grade when
Comet Hale-Bopp was making its pass. I stayed up late staring at it,
trying to make out its tail. The next day, our science teacher, Mr.
Beam, would amaze and astound the class with stories about Hale-Bopp.
Unfortunately, astronomy is not standard curriculum in Maryland public
education, so the next time I had the privilege of having astronomy in
the classroom was in college.
After high school, I attended a community college and obtained three
associate degrees in the fields of General Studies, Multimedia
Technology, and Simulation and Digital Entertainment. I am now
attending University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), majoring in
Mechanical Engineering. This is a turn in a completely different
direction for me, which is a bit of a step backward, but I don’t mind.
I enjoy learning, and I believe the computer knowledge I have gained
will be useful in any field.
Still indecisive about my lifelong career, for now I am content with
studying what I am drawn to most. For the last few years, the top two
careers I have been considering are extraterrestrial architecture
(architecture for human-inhabited structures not on Earth), and
biomechanical engineering. However, until I find myself doing one of
these things for the rest of my life, I must play music. My favorite
instruments to play are piano and classical guitar, and one instrument
that I would love to learn is the Persian santur. I have an affinity
for stringed instruments.
Having only taken two astronomy classes in college, I am hardly an
expert, but when studying the cosmos, it feels more like fun than work.
I believe that astronomy is part of the human experience, and it makes
for a spectacular show. Even if I’m just an intern working on the
computer-end of things, I find it a thrill to be able to contribute
just a little to such a significant realm of science.
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