Ramón Ravelo: I have always had the aptitude for mathematics, for sciences such as physics, not so much for chemistry. When I was in college they offered me a scholarship, but I was not- I wanted to study theater or drama, I loved acting, literature and the area of the arts, but not many scholarships were offered in these areas, they were offered mainly in technical fields.

Erika Montero: You are listening to EarthSky’s podcast, La Clara Voz.

Ramón Ravelo has always been interested in art, literature and music. When he was young he wanted to study theater and literature however not many scholarships were offered in these areas. Due to financial reasons, and since he had a natural ability for mathematics, he applied for a scholarship in physics. This is how his life as a scientist began and today he shares his scientific knowledge in computer sciences with his students.

Erika Montero: First, we would like to know why is what you do important?

_Ramón Ravelo:_ We live in a time in which the use of computers and computation methods has grown a lot. Today, we depend more on science and technology in what we do, in the use of telephones, in all things that are wireless, such as telephone communications, televisions and radar.

So my work, computation methods, allows us to make faster and more efficient calculations in areas in which we were previously unable to do so because we did not have the necessary equipment. We did not have large enough computers or those that were powerful enough to perform the task. So one uses the state of the art equipment and makes it more efficient so that they can be used. I am talking about big computers that can be run to solve problems in the most efficient way possible with that particular piece of equipment.

In three or five years, we might be able to do a calculation that’s five to ten times larger or more efficient. But we are always doing something, using a system or method that is not generic, that is not done everyday but that is faster or greater than what can be done with the equipment available at that moment, at that time.

_Erika Montero:_ What inspired you, what made you think science was what you wanted to study?

_Ramón Ravelo:_ Well, I came to science due to financial reasons. I originally was… well, I was good at math, at science, specifically physics, and not so much chemistry. So when I was at the university they offered me a scholarship, but it was not in… I wanted to study drama or theater, I liked acting, literature, and those kinds of things. But at that time they did not offer scholarships in these areas, what they offered was in technical fields. So I decided to try it out, to apply for a scholarship in physics. I was granted the scholarship. I graduated, began my studies in that field and liked it. Well you know, when you like something and it comes easy to you, you usually continue doing it. And that’s how it all started for me.

_Erika Montero:_ Today, there is so much information available to all of us, in your personal life, how do you select the information, how do you know it’s true?

_Ramón Ravelo:_ I believe that if you have a lot of information on the particular topic you are working on, having too much information available unfortunately forces you to learn more about that topic in order to be able to select the information which you believe is valid. If there is not much information, then it’s easier because you have less information to analyze.

The Internet provides a great amount of information that is easy and accessible to all, but unfortunately much of this information is not correct. People post incorrect information online. For example, I teach graduate classes in electrodynamics. There are many books for this subject, which contain equations. The answers to these equations are posted on the web, so the students look up the answers to the equations assigned by the professors, they copy them and then they submit them, without knowing if they are correct or not. I already know these are available since I’ve been teaching this subject for many years, and I know which ones are not correct. Graduate students or other people have posted the answers to many equations and they are not correct. However, graduate students or others with physics background, even though they have some knowledge in this area, don’t know that they are wrong. Now imagine what happens when someone without any knowledge in the subject matter, medicine per say, uses this information. We, of course, can’t know everything.

So in my case, if there is a lot of information available, I immediately know that I will have to spend a lot of time filtering this information. It is helpful to learn something about the specific topic and use this knowledge as a guide to distinguish between correct and incorrect information. That’s the process I use, in order to be able to conclude which ones have some validity and to exclude those, which have no basis or include something, which is incorrect or unethical.

_Erika Montero:_ Now, changing the subject and thinking again about the students. If you were talking to a student, in a few words, what would you tell them about the importance of studying science?

_Ramón Ravelo:_ Well, I am not necessarily trying to convince them to study science, because I know there are many who prefer to follow a career in the arts, like myself. I like literature, music and art, and I think that recently in the United States we’ve placed too much emphasis in the sciences. Many scholarships are offered in this area, however there are many who want to study literature or humanities and they are not given any credit even though they are just as diversified and creative as scientists.

At the same time, however, I do recognize that technology is needed in this country to keep us competitive and in the lead. And these days students want a standard way of living that is easy. Minority students, on the other hand, who are now entering into science don’t necessarily have a parent who has science knowledge. They don’t have guides or role models in those professions. They are just beginning without having someone in that area with whom they can identify, such as a parent or a relative who received a degree in science. That’s why they have a greater need of mentors than those students whose father is an engineer or a doctor. And this is very important because they probably have no idea what it takes to be in this field, and so they need more help and we need more minority students to pursue careers in science and to represent our people. I think many of them have raw knowledge and if we guide them in the right path they will become very good in whatever it is they decide to pursue.

_Erika Montero:_ Our thanks to Ramón Ravelo. I am Erika Montero and this was EarthSky’s podcast, La Clara Voz, produced by EarthSky Communications.