Serge Looks To The Stars
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday March 25, 2003
How does your course perform?
Some people play golf or go fishing in their spare time. Not Serge Wadhwa.
In his time off, the nuclear medicine physician looks to the heavens and researches the stars.
Now, the Cordeaux Heights resident is completing a Masters of Science (physics) at the University of Wollongong - just for fun.
His major research area is astronomy and astrophysics.
``I've been an amateur astronomer for I don't know how long," he said.
``My father was also an amateur astronomer, and I think my interest came from there. ``It originated from a hobby rather than a serious consideration."
For Mr Wadhwa, the space and in particular the stars is an engrossing topic.
``Stars are interesting just because they're there - and it's also something that's totally unrelated to my work," he laughed.
Mr Wadhwa is halfway through the one-year course, and expects to complete his thesis in June.
He stargazes in between his job at St George Hospital, where he is a specialist diagnostician in oncology and sports injuries.
But although astronomy is only a hobby for Mr Wadhwa, he has invested many hours in it.
He was the previous editor and secretary of the Astronomical Society of NSW's Universe magazine, and still remembers when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. He is the only student enrolled in the demanding course, but with a host of university study behind him he is up to the task. He completed a science degree and studied medicine at the University of NSW, and has graduate diplomas in physics and health management from the University of Wollongong. Prior to starting the degree, he researched stars that orbit and eclipse each other.
He presented his preliminary findings to the head of the program, who was eager to expand the research.
``I'm looking at a particular satellite called the Hipparcos. We're using the data to do some computer modelling," he said.
``We are looking at 10 different stars that were discovered by the satellite, and we're doing some preliminary modelling to recognise some interesting ones, and then we will do some ground-based observations of them."
- Megan Levy
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury
Share This