2004

UNDERGRADUATES

This summer saw the first year if a two year program funded by the National Science Foundation Internships in Public Science Education (IPSE) program for us to develop a StarLab planetarium and multimedia curriculum displaying the radio sky.  Called “Sensing the Radio Universe”, 6 undergraduates from Furman University and UNC-Asheville majoring in multimedia or physics and three faculty plus me joined forces to put together a multimedia sensation for educators, students, and thegeneral public to experience the night sky as though they see it with radio eyes. For details on the project and status, please click here to go to the Sensing the Universe web site.
IPSEInterns5May200402

The 2004 IPSE Interns and Mentors

Johnathan, a Computer Science major from UNC-Asheville was supported by a grant from Janirve Foundation and worked on the robot which is part of ScienceZone. The robot is accessible to students over the Internet.  The robot is moved about to build a telescope or microscope.  The robot is shown below - yes it is built with Legos!
robot02

Andrew, a Physics Major at UNC-Asheville was supported by a grant from STScI HST E/PO program to write a new lab module for the PARI School of Galactic Radio Astronomy.  He devleoped a new lab that puts teachers and students into the middle of the Orion Nebula and do a study of proplyds. This is related to my proplyd research.
andrewnicholson02

Anna was back for a third summer.  After measuring the poitning models for the 26 m radio telescopes over the past two summers, she worked on doing a CAD drawing of one of our roll-off roof observatories. These observatories were built by-eye and needed drawings. Anna meticulously measured every part of the observatory and has given us a complete set of mechanical drawings.
IMG0023802

Image of the OIbservatory

HIGH SCHOOL

We again hosted the Duke TIP Summer Field Study in Astronomy.

The Duke University Talent Identification Program offers a broad range of programs and resources for gifted young adults. One of their programs is the Domestic Field Study in Radio Astronomy at PARI.

Taken from the website description for the 2004 Field Study in Astronomy:

  • · With guidance, students will complete a research project related to some facet of radio astronomy or electrical engineering. During the first few days, this course will be conducted like a traditional class, where the students are paired into teams and explore their research interests. By the end of the first week, each research group will have begun its project in earnest. During the middle weekend, students will explore the mountains of North Carolina, relaxing with fun recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, and visiting picturesque Brevard, NC. After the weekend break, students will work exclusively on their research projects and prepare the final presentation of their work. On Saturday, there will be a student-led scientific symposium to which students’ families are invited.

    A TYPICAL DAY
    A typical day at PARI will consist of a morning group meeting, in which students may share the status of their projects and plans for the day. Afterwards, students will be busy with instruction or project work for the bulk of the day. In the late afternoon, students will meet in a journal club, where they will present a journal article to the rest of the group. Students who desire to dive into astronomical research and to work with radio telescopes and computers in a beautiful outdoor setting should apply

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November 2004. mwc