Astronomy professor brings first “real” observatory to FIU

Photo credit: Stephanie Mason/The Beacon

Daniel Uria/Staff Writer

Young people are often encouraged to shoot for the stars when attempting to achieve their dreams. Dr. James Webb’s dream involves allowing those same young people to get a better view of the stars. This dream was recently realized with the completion of the Stocker AstroScience Center.

Webb had been committed to improving FIU’s observation facilities since the University’s “Observing Pad,” which was located on the Chemistry and Physics building.

“I spent my first years here actually perfecting that observatory and basically developing that observatory into a useful teaching space,” he recalled.

All of Webb’s work would soon go to waste as renovations to the Chemistry and Physics building rendered the observing pad unusable. It would be another 4 years until a new observing pad would be constructed. But, even with this new ground observing pad built Webb still felt that the University needed it to help properly teach its students.

“I think an important part of teaching astronomy is actually being able to look through a telescope and seeing things in the night sky,” he said. “In order to do that you have to have facilities, especially in a place like we live. In an urban environment, there’s lots of scattered light around, you need an observatory to actually make these observations with a good telescope and everything like that.”

Ultimately, Webb decided to take matters into his own hands and began his efforts to build a “real” observatory at FIU.  In 2005, he orchestrated the “Guitars under the Stars” fundraiser, which raised $20 thousand, and from this point there was no looking back for Webb.

“That’s sort of been my legacy, is this quest for this observatory,” he stated. “It’s something that I think any good astronomy teacher would do. It’s something that’s necessary to teach the subject that we want to teach and we love teaching.”

Despite this strong start, the road to completing the observatory would not be an easy one. The University lacked the funds to see the project completed, and despite a promise from then president Mitch Maidique to match any funding Webb could raise, most of the money came from outside sources.

The most significant contribution came in 2007 as a result of an article written about Webb in the magazine VIP Guide Miami. The article caught the eye of former Miami Dade physics professor, Dr. Carl Stocker, whom the observatory is named after.

“Carl Stocker saw it and decided it would be a good thing to leave as a legacy. He donated $300 thousand that was going to be matched by the University and matched by the state,” Webb explained. “Finally when we did get the money then things started developing and things started happening.”

The coming years would bring more funding and ground for the brand new observatory would be broken in 2012 and today the observatory is preparing for its grand opening in early November.

Webb is excited about the prospects of the new observatory to help improve the “gee whiz” factor of learning astronomy and help students learn to the best of their ability.

Junior computer and electrical engineering major, Alejandro Alcantra, agrees.

“I think it’s pretty cool that they decided to add that,” he said. “It gives us more options and it’s more hands on. As soon as they open it I’ll probably check it out.”

“We’ll be able to see lots and lots of different things in the night sky: nebula, star formation regions and other galaxies. And people will be able to go up and see them with their own eyes,” Webb said. “I think it’s going to have a huge impact on the students.

daniel.uria@fiusm.com

About Post Author