DiRECT invited Dr. Ramsey LUNDOCK to be one of the guest speakers for IGPAS Gathering 2023.

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Dr. Ramsey LUNDOCK (Astronomy/United States）

Affiliation:
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), Public Relations Center, International Publications Editor (Since FY 2019)
Post-Graduation History:
11 Years at NAOJ, including 18 months at the Subaru Telescope in Hawai`i and 6 months in the Gravitational Wave Project Office
Hobby: Game Design

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The stereotypical image of someone with an advanced degree especially in sciences isn't that of a Manga character who walks his dog in Tokyo. Yet, that is how Dr. Ramsey Lundock opens his talk.

After earning a degree from Tohoku University's Graduate School of Science, Dr. Lundock went on to work at the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii as a Public Outreach Associate. The competition for a research position is extremely high. "Divide the number of graduate students with the number of professional researchers and multiply that by 6. That is the competition for each opening", he explains. It was after his stint at Subaru Telescope that he joined the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) where he now works as its International Publications Editor. "I started my job hunting late. It is better to start early", he says. "It is good to have alternate plans, however remain flexible. If you do not know where to apply, apply everywhere. Once you get an offer, that is your dream job", he adds.

Working at NAOJ's PR Center, Dr. Lundock has had many firsts. Apart from revamping the English website (https://www.nao.ac.jp/en/) and developing NAOJ's English glossary and writing guidelines, he also brought the 天文奇現象錦絵集 (The Celestial Curiosities Nishiki-e Collection) to the English-speaking world for the first time through translation. Another first was the Sandcastle TRPG he developed, the first TRPG to be released by a national research institution. "I have been a natural storyteller however when it is a press release, I try to write why the reader should care", he says. He also shared his tips for effective writing - "At first, write down every word in your mind, don't worry about making it perfect; you can go back and edit or delete later. If you write aiming for the general public, make it simple. Choose a target group whom you want to reach because if you target everyone, you will miss everyone."

It is rather rare to hear stories, especially alumni stories, about people who successfully straddle the worlds of both science and communication. For many, science could be elitist as it restricts itself to a small community. It is effective PR and communication that can bridge the gap leading to democratization which would eventually stir the public's scientific temper.

Dr. Lundock's career advice is simple - Talk to everyone. Work with everyone. "I got this job while having lunch with someone, so I recommend for you to build a network and expand your connections. Go to parties even if you do not drink. Get their contact information", he says.

By the end of his talk, Dr. Lundock allowed us a sneak peek into his life in Japan. He made his acting debut in a minor role in a planetarium short film 'Horizons' in 2017 and became a Manga character as he introduced Tokyo's Mitaka area in Big Comics' 'Walking Around Town'. Apparently, this was the first time the 'Walking Around Town' included walking a dog. He made sure that the storyteller in him left the audience in splits.