• NASA
  • IPAC

AAS - 2025

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 2024 and 2025 NITARP teams are attending the 2025 January AAS meeting in National Harbor, MD. The 2024 class is presenting results and the 2025 class is starting up. We had alumni raise money to come back as well. We sent about 40 people to the AAS and had a grand time. Please see the press release on NITARP from the AAS, and the special online article about NITARP at the AAS. All of the posters we presented are here. (In addition to the iPoster sessions as listed here, the physical versions of the 2024 teams' posters were up at the IPAC booth all day Tuesday.)

2024 teams:

Alumni:


Quotes

  • [student:] I really enjoyed this, and I am now certain that I will try some astronomy research in college.
  • Programs like NITARP directly contribute to the development of a highly skilled and scientifically literate workforce, which is essential for maintaining the nation's competitive edge in STEM fields. NITARP provides teachers with professional development that goes way beyond traditional training. It immerses them in authentic research experiences. The result: teachers return to classrooms with enriched content knowledge, a deeper understanding of scientific practices, and innovative strategies to engage students. For students, the impact is transformative. They gain access to real-world datasets, learn how to collaborate on complex problems, and develop critical thinking skills that prepare them for STEM careers. Programs like NITARP inspire curiosity and creativity, showing students they can contribute meaningfully to ongoing scientific research. What’s more, these experiences promote equity in education by bringing cutting-edge opportunities to diverse classrooms, including those in underrepresented or underserved communities. In short, initiatives like NITARP represent an investment in the intellectual capital of both teachers and students, fostering a culture of innovation and inquiry that benefits society at large.
  • [student:] astronomers are some of the most (typically speaking) friendly and passionate people I have met. [...] people are an amazing resource. Asking questions and networking really makes a difference.
  • I [am starting to understand] how much this [NITARP] experience was here to help me as an educator and to be honest, I realized how much I could use that help. It seems like what I am teaching is far from how science really happens. I thought I knew this, but I really got a sense of the divide at AAS.
  • [student:] This experience changed the way I think about astronomy and astronomers. I used to see astronomy as mainly about observation, but I now realize how much data analysis, collaboration, and problem-solving are involved. NITARP also gave me a deeper appreciation for how structured and resource-driven scientific programs can be, teaching me that science is about both discovering answers and approaching complex problems creatively.

AAS - 2025