Ovations

Kieren Howard

Kieren Howard: Professor of Earth Sciences and Astronomy

Kieren Howard, professor of earth science and astronomy in the department of physical sciences, has been teaching at KCC since February 2013. Like some, he has had to find creative ways to reach his students, while maintaining relevance.

“The demands of trying to maintain viable research are always a challenge,” he said. “The students need us more than our research, but conversely, the research is required for us to provide students with accurate and up-to-date information about the world.”

Kieren feels that the students’ enthusiasm is infectious and motivates him to go a step further by guiding them to a clearer understanding of our planet and its functions. “Lessons including climate change seem to be a common motivation for many students to take earth science,” he noted. “I like to talk about how we got to science from an interaction with our local ecosystem.”

The diverse nature of KCC’s student population leads to a need to keenly focus on those who tend to be underserved or overlooked in the general population. Creating an environment that focuses on equity in the classroom is a critical part of the faculty role. “Students of color are often lost in this subject matter because they are not represented in discussions about the physical sciences.” Kieren bridges this gap by introducing discoveries and contributions from other cultures, showing historically how they’ve advanced humanity. “I enjoy seeing the light come on for students who before didn’t understand a particular concept or couldn’t relate. Similarly, some students from monotheist religious backgrounds enroll in astronomy with skepticism and curiosity. The course provides a platform to discuss complex issues, sometimes helping students reconcile concepts they assumed contradictory."

Kieren’s current research project is on the mineralogy of carbonaceous chondrites. This project is an in-depth study of what meteorites are made up of. “I give astronomers a sample of powdered meteorite and tell them its mineral make-up. They take that powder and measure the spectrum of its reflected light in the lab and compare this spectrum to that taken of asteroids in space by telescopes.  This allows astronomers to understand the surface mineralogy of asteroids and to work out from where in space our meteorite samples came from.”

When asked what keeps Kieren at KCC, he answered, “The students. They amaze me. It’s rewarding to witness when students have moments where they see they can understand something. So many arrive with barriers to their success, so when they flourish, I feel happy to have made a contribution.”

During his off time, he spends time with his family and riding one-wheel.