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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

  • [student:] Although I knew that it would be a bunch of posters at the convention, I was surprised at how many talks there were on a variety of topics. It was nice to be able to spend my time listening to lectures of my choosing and being able to view the projects.
  • The invited talk especially made me think a little harder about the assumptions we make when we describe our very own galaxy - we have not seen it! This comes up in class every year, and this talk gave me a better perspective when dealing with misconceptions students may have.
  • 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.
  • While working on our [project] it didn't seem as though we were part of a larger connection, but after coming here it feels like a group effort.
  • [student:] Presenting our findings was very confidence boosting actually, as I found I was able to answer almost every question I was asked. It was also very exciting and unique.

Related Teams

AAS - 2012