AAS - 2023

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 2022 and 2023 NITARP teams attended the 2023 January AAS meeting in Seattle, WA. The 2022 class was presenting results and the 2023 class was starting up. We had alumni raise money to come back as well. We sent about 30 people to the AAS and had a grand time. Please see the special article on NITARP at the AAS. All of the posters we presented are here:

2022 Teams:

Ciambra et al., A More Complete List of YSO Candidates in AFGL 490
Benter et al., Survey of the Spitzer Enhanced Imaging Products (SEIP) Catalog for Potential Debris Disks Around Main Sequence M Class Stars
Bonham et al., NGSS Science and Engineering Practices in Secondary Education through Real Astronomical Research
Swigert et al., Teacher Roles within NITARP: a 13-month Research Collaboration

Alumni:

Granucci, "Does a Solar Telescope generate more interest in astronomy than Night Observing Telescope?" (talk)
Kniezewski, "To Rain or Not to Rain: Correlating GOES Flare Class and Coronal Rain Statistics" (poster and press release; student alumna!)

Quotes

[student:] This opportunity has opened my eyes to what research really is. I still am firm in believing it was the most striking thing I learned. I always saw research as having a set answer that we look for. However, I have learned that there are so so many stages and sometimes those stages are open-ended.
I was surprised by the level of detail and nuance involved in research (just when I thought I was all good, Varoujan would mention some little detail that made me rethink things I thought I knew. It was a very humbling experience), as well as the positive vibes from working with such great people.
One of my primary professional goals has always been to bring research into the classroom through my experiences. This has made me realize that it is possible to deliver those experiences directly to students. This will cause me to look further for these types of experiences that directly involve my students in research.
I had no idea, perhaps idiotically, how much data analysis went into astronomical research. I learned that in order to be a successful astronomer you need to be able to code and understand raw data very well.
The most interesting thing is just how impactful working with teammates/students is for your results and overall experience of the program. Constantly interacting every week and then seeing everyone in person drastically changes the research dynamic.

AAS - 2023

Quotes

Related Teams