Guillaume Colin

NASA Citizen Scientist

Guillame is a pulmonogist at a hospital in France.

What motivated you to volunteer as a NASA citizen scientist? How did you learn about NASA citizen science?

I learned about the Zooniverse platform via a TED conference video and was interested by Backyard Worlds because it was well explained and it looked like a real treasure hunt – a gold panning of the sky. The opportunity to find Planet Nine was captivating, so I jumped in!

I was continuously motivated by the positive feedback from the team, who didn’t treat me as an ignorant guy who clicks on the pattern he’s supposed to click, but as a real partner of the project, at the same table as the pros.

For Backyard Worlds, I made YouTube videos to explain the tools to new users and help them in a world that can appear to be intimidating and messy at first.

What do you do when you’re not doing science with NASA? Tell us about your job and your hobbies.

I work as a pulmonologist in a hospital in the city of Pau in southwestern France. I've been particularly busy dealing with COVID patients. I also co-founded a startup working on e-health software.

I also do some music, read a lot, and am interested in philosophy. I finished seventh at the 2004 Rubik’s Cube French championship, and I have a pet snake.

Guillaume relaxing in a pub.
Taking time off.
Guillaume Colin

What have you learned about the process of science from your time on NASA citizen science projects?

I learned about the way astrophysicists use big sky surveys to find objects of interest, how they compare objects to find the ones with unusual properties, the way they write proposals for telescope time to study these objects of interest – in other words, I learned about an astronomer’s daily life, which is mysterious when you think of it. I learned that no matter how accurate and clever you are at finding stuff, all your effort can be ruined by a simple cloud above the telescope.

Which peer-reviewed research publications have you contributed to through your citizen science work? What was your role in the research and writing process?

I was grateful for being credited in several papers for having pinpointed some of the objects of interest. These papers are:

This list of publications is very gratifying to me. Very few physicians have articles published in fields outside of medicine. I now officially have more publications in astronomy than medicine!

What are your favorite NASA citizen science projects to work on, and why?

Backyard Worlds, of course! It lets me discover new stars, be the first human to look at an object “as it is,” or find a brown dwarf. I may even be the one to find Planet Nine.

I was once fond of exoplanet projects. They also have the “treasure hunt” feel.

What have you discovered or learned as a NASA citizen scientist?

I have discovered several brown dwarfs, some of which were quite rare, so that gave me a lot of satisfaction.

I once thought I’d discovered a new planet in our solar system, a possible candidate for Planet X, but it proved to be just an artifact in the data and an emotional rollercoaster for me.

I learned the Python computer language for the project. It was great to learn a new skill. (Note: By the time I’m writing this, I’ve forgotten Python for the most part.)

Finally, I had to relearn which side of the triangle was involved in the cosine formula.

What advice would you give to others who might want to volunteer with NASA citizen science?

You can try different projects and stick to the one you like the most. Important advice: Don’t be shy! Don’t be intimidated if you’re not in that astronomical field, don’t hesitate to ask the pros; they are here to help you just as you are here to help them!

Who have you met during your NASA citizen science work who inspires you?

I like the general approach of the Backyard Worlds team towards amateurs. That’s a very modern and pragmatic approach to science, which I never saw in Europe. Hats off for that! I also like the energy and passion that Jackie Faherty brings to the project and its meetings.

How much time do you spend on NASA citizen science projects?

Several hours per day at the beginning, but now I’ve slowed down because my work and other activities don’t leave me much time. Right now, I spend some time, an hour or two, listening to music and checking the objects on my list. I also spend some time just thinking about it, imagining new strategies to discover more brown dwarfs.

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