He’s out of this world: 13-year-old tackles UVic astronomy courses – Times Colonist

Jose Rodriguez has only two Grade 12 courses left to complete high school, and is already auditing a first-year math and second-year astronomy course at the University of Victoria

On a Saturday in September, 13-year-old Jos Valdes Rodriguez is in his room, using a stellar evolution and structure simulator to find the mass of a hypothetical galaxy.

I took 50 stars from each spectral type and multiplied the resulting masses by their respective frequencies, he said. Eventually I would take that, divide it by 5,000 what I ended up with is the average mass of every single star in the universe.

Jos isnt doing homework. The equation is just a little project he did for fun.

I was doing it so that I could find a way, if I wanted to mathematically construct a galaxy, and wanted to know how massive it was, he said.

The Esquimalt teen has only two Grade 12 courses PhysEd and Indigenous Studies left to complete high school, which he takes through distance learning. Hes already auditing a first-year math and second-year astronomy course as part of an accelerated entry to the University of Victoria.

He audited the first-year astronomy course when he was 11.

Its uncertain if the university will grant him credits for the courses, but he said he receives certificates of completion for each.

I dont really care what others think about me, he said of being the youngest student in his classes. Im just learning.

Diagnosed with autism when he was 31/2, Jos showed a strong memory and knack for learning early on, said his mother, Cynthia Rodriguez. He soaks up geography, history and math like a sponge. But astronomy has been his most enduring passion.

He doesnt play with a ball or go on a bike thats what his enjoyment is: learning, she said.

For several years, Rodriguez has been taking her son to the weekly UVic astronomy open house, where he is free to ask questions and engage in debates with other students and faculty.

It was at one of these sessions that Jos first met Karun Thanjavur, the senior lab instructor in the University of Victorias department of physics and astronomy.

Thanjavur has now known Jos for several years, and recommended getting the budding academic back for more classes.

Karun asked if he wanted to audit Astronomy 250, Rodriguez recalled. I said: Thats a second-year course isnt it?

Karun said: Yeah, but hes ready for it.

Because he requires a chaperone, Jos and his mother sit in the back of the class so she can still do her online work as an IT developer. Jos is just thrilled to be there. He completes weekly labs and has access to the full course materials.

He said Astronomy 250 is teaching him about astrophysics or, in his words, the physics governing the heavens.w

A lot of astronomy comes with lots of physics. And physics, by definition, comes with lots and lots of math, he said. Its not just knowing that this happens because of this, its knowing the laws, and knowing how to mathematically predict something.

So passionate is the young astronomer that his teacher had to limit his question period at the end of class to 10 minutes. He has questions for everything the instructor says, so she has to put a limit on his questions, Rodriguez said. Thats why he likes the astronomy open house he goes there and he can discuss everything. People challenge his ideas and he challenges other peoples ideas.

Jos said he tries to rein in his fervent curiosity, sometimes to no avail.

When somebody is talking about astronomy, sometimes I just cannot shut up because I am so excited about the topic, he said.

On days he doesnt have university, Jos attends John Stubbs Middle School, where he can take his final Grade 12 courses via distance learning and participate in Grade 8 courses like French and music with other students.

He plans to attend his Grade 8 graduation at the end of this year, but is undecided on going to high school. While he hopes to earn a scholarship and complete a four-year physics and astronomy degree at UVic, the timing is uncertain.

Im just doing the [high school] courses, but Im not knowing what its actually like to be there, he said. Its a tough choice. I still want the experience of socializing with high schoolers.

ngrossman@timescolonist.com

Continued here:

He's out of this world: 13-year-old tackles UVic astronomy courses - Times Colonist