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Andrew O'Bannon

Biography

"As a physics tutor, I learned that I love to teach," says Andrew O'Bannon. Tutoring also taught him how to learn. He wants to teach physics and pursue his own original research, and a university faculty position is the way to do both, he believes. He credits "writing, filmmaking, and research" with providing him many tools to reach his goal.

Writing fiction since elementary school and through college, he has learned critical communication abilities that are "especially valuable in physics, where complex ideas often beg for clear, concise explanation." As a filmmaker, he has developed leadership and teamwork skills, which are also useful in physics research, which is "often team-based and funding-conscious."

Andrew put his training to work in 2001 undertaking a physics project on "neutron star cooling" at the University of Washington's Institute for Nuclear Theory, Seattle. "I learned what relentless effort is needed to contribute a small scrap of useful knowledge to the body of science" - something he wants to continue doing.

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