Astrophysics IRES in Taiwan: Connections Between East and West

这个IRES计划的研究课题是天体物理学的一个领域，涉及恒星脉动的理论和观测研究，特别是造父变星。来自纽约州一所本科院校（纽约州立大学奥斯韦戈学院）的学生将前往台湾国立中央大学天文系参加为期六周的暑期课程，参加该系正在进行的研究活动。 对恒星脉冲星观测的分析直接与当前的恒星演化模型联系在一起。所观察到的脉动特性的模拟提供了一个严格的测试模型。这种研究也与了解河外距离尺度有关。识别脉冲星光谱中可能存在的系统效应有助于更准确地估计哈勃常数，这是天体物理学的一个关键参数。本项目还将为学生提供文化和语言培训，以扩大他们对台湾中国环境以及全球科学合作的了解。 这种国际经验将扩大学生？了解世界，特别是东亚，并为他们在未来的职业生涯中与国际同事接触做好准备。研究所正在努力将代表性不足的少数民族包括在内，这一经验应能激励参与的本科生继续在研究生院学习。这个项目对奥斯韦戈的学生来说应该特别有价值，他们将从一个小的本科学校来到一个不同文化的研究型大学。

The research topic of this IRES program is an area of astrophysics involving theoretical and observational studies of stellar pulsation, particularly Cepheids. Students from an undergraduate institution in New York State (SUNY College at Oswego) will go to the Department of Astronomy at National Central University in Taiwan for a six-week summer program to participate in the ongoing research activities in that department. The analyses of stellar pulsar observations are tied directly to current models of stellar evolution. Simulations of observed pulsation properties provide a stringent test of the models. Such research is also relevant to understanding extragalactic distance scales. Recognition of possibly systematic effects in the pulsar spectra could contribute to a more accurate estimate of the Hubble constant, a key parameter in astrophysics.This program will also provide cultural and language training to the students to broaden their understanding of the Chinese environment in Taiwan as well as global cooperation in science. This international experience will broaden the students? understanding of the world, especially East Asia, and prepare them to engage with international colleagues in the future course of their careers. The PIs are making an effort to include underrepresented minorities, and the experience should stimulate the participating undergraduates to continue their studies in graduate school. This program should be particularly valuable for the Oswego students, who will come from a small undergraduate school to a research university in a different culture.