The primary purpose of this minor is not to create future astronomers and astrophysicists, but to show how modern science works using big data and small equations. It is designed for any IUB student curious and confident about using mathematics and statistics to solve real-world problems. The engineering student might ask why they should take a minor in A&A. The answer is this: you will not find many uses of engineering knowledge at IUB that are more exhilarating than what you will do in this minor. We want you to sharpen your engineering and corporate skills by using them on the universe at large.
Yes, a secondary purpose is also to create a future generation of astronomers, but I have to warn you: even after finishing a PhD in astronomy, there is only a 10% chance that one can become an astronomer. But this is actually a good news. The other 90% who leave astronomy after PhD get jobs that are better paid than the astrophysics jobs. An astronomy student can handle many problems of big data in many fields whether social, economic, scientific or technological. So if you want to take the challenge, you are also most welcome here.
A tertiary purpose of the minor is spiritual. Human life is short and it must be a blessing if we can really feel that we live in a big universe, so big that it sinks our souls in an endless ocean of spiritual existence. This existential ocean is not very different from the one where mystics and artists swim.
