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AAS - 2012

The Winter American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting is the largest meeting of professional astronomers in the world. NITARP educators attend an AAS first to meet their team, then they go home and work remotely for much of the year, and then attend an AAS to present their results.  At any given AAS, then, we could have two NITARP classes attending - those finishing up, and those getting started. Reload to see a different set of quotes.

The 2011 and 2012 NITARP teams attended the 2012 January AAS meeting in Austin, TX. The 2011 class was presenting results and the 2012 class was starting up. We sent about 60 people to the AAS (the largest delegation to date) and had a grand time. Please see the special article on NITARP at the AAS. We also got a smattering of coverage in local media outlets.


Quotes

  • This has been a remarkable experience in which I have learned so much and I am so grateful for.
  • One of the things that I did not anticipate was being so PROUD of our work. I was convinced I would be nervous and unsure of myself as people I envisioned as being more important than myself grilled me with questions. I was pleased to find that nearly everyone who stopped by our posters was inquisitive, supportive and seemed genuinely interested. I also surprised myself with how comfortable I became with talking to these people as they came by and asked their questions.
  • Of all the professional development programs in which I have been involved, NITARP continues to rank among the top few. The opportunity to work with a world-class astronomer and alongside teachers and students across the country on a real research project is amazing! Watching the project evolve from a seed of an idea in January into a two professional posters presented at the AAS the following January is fulfilling and satisfying. To think that eighteen people can work together over twelve months and thousands of miles is a true reflection of what authentic research is all about.
  • It was amazing being, not just an attendee of the conference, but a real part of it through the poster presentations. Thank you for this invaluable opportunity and insight into how real science is conducted and shared by the scientific community. Astronomy, as is any branch of science, is such a diverse field with many discoveries yet to be made. It was truly an honor to be a part of the NITARP program.
  • To see and experience how the process of a research project such as this goes through was an interesting and amazing experience.

AAS - 2012