... I've been interested in astronomy ever since my mother showed me the night sky in our back yard and my father told me about planets and space travel. I read a lot on the subject, became an amateur astronomer, and studied physics at Alma College (my Alma Mater ). ... Then I was a postdoc for many years at the University of Calgary , where I studied cold Galactic hydrogen and did a little teaching and outreach on the side. ... Back to the ranch. ...