Marc is interested in probing fundamental physics from the positions and velocities of galaxies. By looking at how galaxies group together we can learn about the expansion of the universe and about models of gravity.
He was involved in the DES since before the experiment started to take data. Now, we are observing hundreds of millions of galaxies. He says is an exciting time to be in the collaboration!
We asked Marc a few more questions — here’s what he had to say:
When did you know you wanted to be a scientist?
When I was in my early teens I already knew that I wanted to be a scientist and study galaxies. I was fascinated by the night sky and I was reading as many books about astronomy as I could get. I kept asking my parent to buy me telescope until it happened. It was a great start.
Do you have any hobbies or play any sports?
I like hiking, probably because I was a Boy & Girls Scout leader for five years. I am also very passionate about theology.
What is your favorite book, movie, and/or TV show?
Three of my favourite movies are The Lord of the Rings, Juno and Pride. I like fantasy books like Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson or the Black God’s War by Moses Siregard III.
What do you think has been the most exciting advance in science / technology in the last 10 years?
Probably the recent discovery of gravitational waves by LIGO. It has measured the ripples in the space time fabric that resulted from a merging of two black holes. How awesome is that! Even more importantly, it opens a completely new window for observing the universe in a way that we never did before.
Any advice for aspiring scientists?
Follow your questions down the rabbit hole. Be prepared to live in different countries. Learn to code. Work on topics that excite you and enjoy life.
