Hardip is currently senior computer manager at the Faculty of History, and prior to that was software support for the ESA space-based Planck observatory, at Kavli Institute of Cosmology at Cambridge, which mapped the CMB. With a strong grounding in astronomy, he currently teaches on three courses at the Institute of Continuing Education: the Galaxies module in the Certificate course on Astronomy, the Cosmology/Early Universe module on the Diploma of Astronomy, and the physics component of Certificate of Physical Sciences.
Hardip obtained his Ph.D. from Jodrell Bank, where he studied a class of radio loud active galaxies called Compact Steep Spectrum Radio Sources, where the radio jet is moving through the ISM, and yet may evolve into the typical larger classical radio source. Their study required high/ultra-high resolution observations using radio telescopes arrays e.g. VLA, MERLIN and VLBI, with follow-up observations using ground based optical telescopes, and the space based Hubble Telescope. Following his doctorate, he spent a number of years working at the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, in the Netherlands, before moving back to Cambridge, and becoming involved with computer support for astronomy meant no further research in astronomy.
Hardip's approach to teaching on the above courses is to provided a comprehensive handout that covers the material for each lecture, with space for the student to add their own notes as required, and the use of a number of YouTube video's to help illustrate material. Often home tasks at the end of each lecture may include a practical task or question sheet (with answers provided) to reinforce the material covered.
