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Summer Visit - 2023 - SCHARP

The summer visit to Caltech is 4 days long and is the only time during the year of work when all the participants on the team come together in person to work intensively on the data. Generally, each educator may bring up to two students to the summer visit that are paid for by NITARP, and they may raise funds to bring two more. The teams work at Caltech; the summer visit typically includes a half-day tour of JPL, which is a favorite site for group photos. Reload to see a different set of quotes.

The SCHARP team came to visit in June 2023. The 5 core team educators attended, plus 10 students.

Quotes

  • Now I think everyone can do astronomy. In the past, I thought it was for an elite group of people, and this experience showed me that even people with no astronomy background are capable of conducting authentic research.
  • "Real astronomy" is using real data to analyze and make conclusions. Research is an iterative process in the sense that we get some answers that generate more questions. And we did that!
  • [student:] In other academically-based programs I've participated in in the past, I have found my interest in the subject decrease as I devote more time to it. However, with NITARP, I find myself fascinated by what we do no matter how much I have already done it. Learning the new content doesn't feel like a drag; it feels deeply rewarding. I want to carry this with me as I pursue studies in the earth and planetary sciences, hopefully researching something in that field.
  • [student:] Real astronomy is time consuming. It is sleepiness and long periods of looking at computer screens. It is not knowing if you are doing anything the right way.
  • The least surprising thing [I learned] was the dedication and brilliance of those involved in astronomy research. I realize what a special group of people they really are to understand and persevere with their work.

Related Teams

Summer Visit - 2023 - SCHARP