Finding a Path to Science in the Stars

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Earthwatch Spotlight: Frank McNally

In 2004, Frank McNally was gearing up to spend the summer before his senior year in high school commuting from New Jersey to Staten Island to strip rust off of a ship and then repaint it. He spent little time considering what life after high school might look like. But when he was given the opportunity to join an Earthwatch expedition in New Mexico, where he would be part of a real astrophysics study (which happened to be one of his favorite subjects), he was quick to sign up.

Frank was fascinated by his experience. “We spent our days hiking in the desert and learning from professional astrophysicists on the cutting edge of modern research,” he said. At night, Frank and his fellow teammates—high school students from all over the U.S. with a variety of interests—would track asteroids and stargaze in one of the darkest places in the country.

After his expedition, Frank studied at Carleton College, and applied for a research fellowship in astrophysics at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. His research advisor for that summer became his graduate school advisor two years later. And ten years after that, Frank continues to work in astrophysics, now as a research advisor himself.

Frank said that he’s surprised by how much he remembers from that trip—from the heat of the New Mexico sun to the afternoon breakfasts and staying up all night watching stars. “I remember research and learning, but also the games we invented, live music, long hikes, and kind mentors.” He also remembers the small moments, the ones that occur in between research tasks and activities that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to remember, but that inspired him or moved him in some way. Being immersed in that experience as a high school student was not only incredibly exciting for Frank, it also allowed him to experience what a future career as a scientist might look like.

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