---
title: Student-Led Classes Help Learning ‘STIC’
date: 2025-04-09T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/student-led-classes-help-learning-stic"
section: Articles
---
# Student-Led Classes Help Learning ‘STIC’

*April 9, 2025* — by [Chris Carroll](/author/chris-carroll)


> Astrophotography Course Focuses on Art to Accompany the Science of Astronomy

*ASTR288 T 04012025 RS 1264 1920x1080 — At UMD’s observatory, senior astronomy major Chaitanya Garg '25 (right) works with students taking his astrophotography Student Initiated Course. From left: Mackenzie Samartzis ’25, Jorge Argueta ’25, Oliver O’Brien ’26, Sofia Merchant-Dest ’26 and Garg.*

Astronomy research at the University of Maryland has rerouted asteroids on the fly, revealed environmental conditions on planets that orbit distant suns and helped uncover the mysteries of black holes. But one student saw an opening to take a celestial approach that the department's scientists haven’t prioritized.

“Sometimes, I just want to make pretty pictures of the sky,” admitted senior astronomy major Chaitanya Garg, who developed the idea for an astrophotography course he’s co-teaching this semester with Matthew Prem, a sophomore astronomy major.

It’s part of UMD’s innovative [Student Initiated Courses (STICs) ](https://stics.umd.edu/index.html)program, which allows students to follow their interests and create one- or two-credit courses they teach with guidance from a faculty adviser.

In “Introduction to Astrophotography”—the Department of Astronomy’s first STIC—that role is held by Elizabeth Warner, a principal faculty specialist who directs UMD’s observatory, located off Metzerott Road and next to the university’s golf course.

On a recent clear night at the facility, after Garg and a handful of class members rolled back the roof and polished off some McDonald’s, he provided the broad objectives for the night’s observations while Warner filled in some of the complicated details about how to aim telescopes and operate cameras.

“I try to not hover too much, but just be there to make sure everything is coming across clearly,” she said.


*students sit at desks, with one student pointing to laptop — "Introduction to Astrophotography" co-instructor Matthew Prem (standing) helps a student in the class. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)*



**Sidebar note:**

All through April, Maryland Today will celebrate how the University of Maryland is reimagining learning and teaching. Find more stories at [today.umd.edu/topic/we-reimagine-learning](https://today.umd.edu/topic/we-reimagine-learning).





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Astronomy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/astronomy), [Visual Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/visual-arts), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)