Today, we at the Prospectus introduce to you our April Professor Spotlight, one of Parkland’s astronomy professors: Ricardo Covarrubias Carreno. Born and raised in La Serena, Chile, astronomer Ricardo Covarrubias shares his passion for astronomy through the tool of teaching.
Covarrubias has taught at several colleges in the area including Eastern, Millikin, and Parkland College. As a current student of his, I asked Covarrubias about his life experiences, career endeavors, and passion for teaching.
Ricardo’s Life Before Teaching
Before Covarrubias moved to the States, he lived in South America. Interestingly, he went to an all-male, priest-run high school. He discussed with me how this was a good experience for him, and how he learned a lot of valuable lessons. When asked what his life was like growing up, Covarrubias reflected on his past times as joyous and fondly remembered. “It was fun. I used to go a lot to the beach, because I lived in a beach town, so I spent a lot of time at the beach,” he said.
Covarrubias then reflected on the foundation for his interest in astronomy. “I spent a lot of time looking at the stars because in La Serena, or close to La Serena, we have the darkest and best skies for astronomy. So, you would go out and see the whole milky way, and it was beautiful.” He goes on to say, “I would go to where the soccer field was and I would lay down, and just look up at the sky and look for satellites or meteorites or whatever–I spent a lot of time doing that.”
Diving into his career in astronomy, Covarrubias completed his undergraduate in physics at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He then worked at an observatory for several years before moving to the States to complete his graduate studies. From the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, Covarrubias obtained his Ph.D. in astronomy. This eventually led him to become a professor at Parkland College, representing our astronomy department.
Ricardo’s Passion for Astronomy
When asked why Covarrubias chose to teach astronomy, he discussed how being an astronomer greatly influenced his passion for teaching. “I taught physics a couple of times, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I do teaching astronomy–so I decided not to pursue physics. I really enjoy teaching astronomy and also sharing my experiences in the astronomy field to students,” he explained.
Covarrubias discussed how he never planned on becoming a professor and always thought he would be pursuing research in astronomy. As he discussed his original career goal to work at an observatory, he reflected on how once his children grew up, they did not want to relocate–that was when he started searching for other opportunities.
Covarrubias’s background as an astronomer allows his students to connect with his teachings in a different way. “I like to tell my working experience, as an astronomer working at the observatory…and sharing all of that, I really like that. It brings me a lot of joy and good memories,” he said. Covarrubias discussed how sharing his personal stories, photos, and life experiences creates a livelier environment in his classroom.
Currently Covarrubias teaches stars, galaxies, and universe (AST 102), as well as an online version of the course. When expressing his feelings about teaching at Parkland, he stated, “I really love it; I really have a good time. I am waiting for Monday, Wednesday and Friday to leave my work and come and just talk to you guys.”
Ricardo’s Favorite Thing About Teaching
When Covarrubias was asked what his favorite thing about teaching was, he responded with a heartfelt answer about his students. “In general, I enjoy getting to know the students. I like getting to know where they’re going, and enjoy seeing at the end of the semester that now they can tell what evolution of the stars is, what are supernovas, how they form or what are the processes inside of the stars.” He continues, “It is really nice to see that when you tell them about some of the topics, they understand what you are talking about, or they can talk about it.”
Covarrubias discussed how allowing room for discussion in class allows the students to connect with one another throughout the semester and joked about how it also keeps the classroom awake.
Ricardo’s Advice to College Students
Covarrubias discussed how he enjoys having conversations with his classes as well as getting to know their ambitions and goals in life. When Covarrubias was asked what piece of advice he would give to his students, he stated, “Life is not linear, and you always have to listen to what it is that you really like…. while you are pursuing your goal if you find something that interests you more than what your goal is, listen to yourself. And you are allowed to change your path and pursue different goals…. It might make you even happier than what you thought.” This advice is valuable for anyone reaching for their goals–or in Ricardo’s case–the stars.
As a student of Covarrubias, I can confidently confirm that he does an excellent job at applying his teachings in a retainable and interesting way. In class, he loves to crack jokes and does a great job at creating a safe and comfortable class environment. Covarrubias has discussed his anxieties as a student and how he never enjoyed talking in class. Throughout the semester he reminds our class that it is okay to be wrong and that failure is how we learn. He is constantly encouraging us to ask questions and share our thoughts on topics we discuss.
If you are interested in astronomy or need to check a box on your degree requirements, Covarrubias will continue teaching classes this fall. As well as teaching class throughout the week, Covarrubias also hosts shows in Parkland’s planetarium entirely in Spanish! For more information, you can visit Parklands website at www.parkland.edu.
