Mark Trueblood, Retired from the US National Observatory, LGB 1966
Mark Trueblood
La Grande Boissière, 1966
Retired from the US National Observatory
USA
Learn more about me :
I live in Elgin, Arizona, USA which is 80 km southeast of Tucson, AZ. I am retired from what is now NOIRLab, the US National Observatory. This year, I volunteered to serve as Chair of the Vatican Observatory 1.8-m telescope Science Advisory Committee to guide Observatory management on the procurement of the next-generation camera. I continue to observe Near Earth Objects (asteroids and comets that might hit the Earth) at the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope on Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona.
My favorite Ecolint memory is English class with Mr. Peirce. He was such a dynamic and caring teacher and made Shakespeare come to life for me. He had attended Brown University in the US, which prompted me to learn more about the university I eventually attended as an undergraduate.
Ecolint exposed me to students and faculty from around the world, many with different viewpoints and beliefs than my own. It broadened my view of the world and reinforced my view that we are all people with the same goals and aspirations. When I was the Program Manager for the Hubble Space Telescope Control Centre at NASA, I often encountered people from other countries and backgrounds. The Ecolint experience equipped me to work well with these people. This continued with my work at the US National Observatory in nearby Tucson, where my activities often brought me into contact with staff from Chile. I was grateful for the Spanish classes I took from Mme. Laurent. I also loved the architecture of the buildings, the open camaraderie of the students, and being exposed to sports (football and rugby) that I did not play in the US.
If I had to do it all over again, I think I would spend more time socializing after school hours. I was totally focused on my studies during my time at Ecolint, and rarely went to parties or on dates. While I did well in my studies, a side of me was not keeping up with my intellectual side.
My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: time flies quickly. Savour the experiences, not only in class but during breaks and outside of class. Develop relationships and memories that you will remember fondly during the rest of your lives.
What legacy do you want to leave? I'm less interested in legacy than in doing in the here and now. I would like to have others remember me as being kind, courteous, and honest.