Discussions Helped Shape Approach to Education
René Walterbos, former head of the Department of Astronomy and professor emeritus at New Mexico State University, says his 1994 Cottrell Scholar award helped launch his early research on diffused ionized gas in nearby galaxies at a time when few people were working on it, enabling him to become established in the field.
With the spectra of entire galaxies now available through optical and radio imaging and spectroscopy, Walterbos continues to study the interstellar medium and its interaction with massive stars in disk galaxies.
“The funding came at an important time in my work before I received some larger awards,” he said. “It was flexible and easy funding to use, and helped get my research off the ground.”
He gives credit to RCSA for emphasizing the importance of both research and teaching through the awards before other funders were doing so.
Invited speakers at the Cottrell Scholars conferences he was able to attend had an impact on his approach to education. “One talk by Harvard Professor Eric Mazur about experimenting with peer instruction really came through, and I have used that approach ever since,” he said.
For many years, Walterbos taught a class called Search for Life in the Universe that stimulated class participation through the use of panel discussions and debate.
“That idea did come from the notion that class participation and more active involvement of students in class was important,” he said. “Now, this is a very common approach.”
