Astronomers: The Vast Starry Sky Is Full of Unknowns — Exploring the Universe Is Fascinating
This interview was conducted by Sin Chew Daily's "Xue Hai" (学海) student reporter program, which trains secondary school students in journalism. Student reporters from the Klang Valley region interviewed observational astronomer Dr. Lee Khee-Gan and astrophysicist Dr. Yuan-Sen Ting about their work in astronomy. The following is an excerpt focusing on Dr. Ting's interview.
Yuan-Sen Ting: Stay Curious — That's Where the Joy Comes From
Yuan-Sen Ting graduated from Chong Hwa Independent High School in Kuala Lumpur and received his PhD from Harvard University in 2017. He currently serves as Associate Professor in the Astronomy and Computer Science departments at the Australian National University, primarily researching the Milky Way—the galaxy where our Sun resides.
He describes stars as living in a "city." The universe has many different "cities," and the Sun's city is called the Milky Way. He wants to understand how the Big Bang formed galaxies—in simple terms, how stars are born.
Research Focus: AI Applications in Astronomy
In recent years, Ting's research has shifted toward applications of AI in astronomy. He explains that in the past, data collection was slow—you might only observe one star or galaxy per night. But over the past decade or so, collection efficiency has dramatically increased. A single exposure can now capture thousands to tens of thousands of galaxies, resulting in massive datasets over just a few years. This requires AI to help organize and find interesting objects or phenomena worth following up on within this ocean of data.
Ting believes the most important trait for a career in science is staying perpetually curious. Research is a long process—a single project might take many years. What keeps you going is curiosity. Because you're curious, you can find joy even in tedious work.
Moreover, astronomy is an interdisciplinary field. To understand the universe, you need knowledge from many areas. Physics, mathematics, statistics, programming, AI, chemistry—they're all essential.
From Disliking Physics to Astrophysics
During high school, Ting had no concept of astrophysics and didn't even like physics—he was only interested in math. In university, he initially chose medicine and physics before switching to a more math-and-physics-oriented track. After exploring various fields, he discovered that while many physics disciplines are quite narrow, astrophysics encompasses many areas, making it more interesting and better suited to his personality. That's how he decided to become an astrophysicist.
When asked about his biggest challenge, Ting said: "I haven't faced any insurmountable obstacles—my life has been pretty smooth, actually. Academic positions are scarce. It's like a pyramid where you're always competing with others. The pressure is intense, the competition fierce, and then there's applying for government funding..."
When Eureka Moments Strike
"Some problems I've puzzled over for two or three years suddenly become clear in a flash of inspiration. That kind of joy is hard to share with others."
Ting also shared that every year, he experiences this a couple of times in his career—a problem he's circled for years suddenly makes sense while eating or walking down the street. He immediately pulls out paper and pen to work through the calculations, sometimes forgetting to eat all day, yet still feeling ecstatic.
Astronomy Opens Many Doors
Ting notes that the 21st century is an era of data modeling, making astronomy a timely career choice. If you choose astronomy, you don't need to worry about job prospects—there are many career paths, and finding work isn't a problem.
Many of his classmates who didn't stay in astronomy transitioned to other fields with excellent salaries. Many industries relate to astronomy. The stock market, for instance, uses big data to build mathematical models to understand market trends. At Google, you can use astronomical tools to aggregate and analyze large datasets.
"Astronomy research is essentially a 'generalist' education," he says. He encourages students interested in astronomy to go for it boldly without too many reservations.
Traveling to Nearly 20 Countries for Research
Ting's greatest reward from his work is his lifestyle. Over the past decade, he's visited at least 20 countries and about 50 cities. Some telescopes are built in deserts or on mountaintops—places ordinary people rarely reach. He often has opportunities to explore corners of the world, meeting fascinating people along the way, discussing all kinds of topics, chatting with fellow humans about the vastness of the universe. He considers this life's greatest pleasure.