Collaborative Research: Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences Through Extragalactic Radio Astronomy

这项提案要求继续支持非常成功的本科生紫花苜蓿团队(UAT)，该团队在过去8年里为253名学生提供了以研究为基础的教育机会，他们与来自不同大学的25名教师密切合作。来自20个机构的天文学教员，主要是东北部的小型学院，开展了几个相关的科学项目，其中包括对附近星系及其周围的氢进行无线电调查。他们在几个天文台获得新数据，并分析波多黎各阿雷西博天文台获得的星表数据。本科生将密切参与科学计划的方方面面，包括计划和实施观察。他们将参加在绿岸天文台或阿雷西博天文台举行的年度研讨会。这个项目是一个最好的例子，表明了科学合作的价值，特别是对与世隔绝的学校的教职员工和学生来说，以及作为本科教育组成部分的研究的重要性。这种对一线天文研究的接触提高了许多学校的教育基础设施和科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的质量。该方案通过他们制作和分享的课程和宣传材料，以及通过扩大STEM中代表性不足的群体的参与，产生了更广泛的影响。大多数参加该项目的学生将继续从事与STEM相关的职业。UAT项目将解决天文学和宇宙学中的重大悬而未决的问题，如光暗矮星系的数量和起源、大型灯丝的结构、星系团外HI气体的预处理以及低金属丰度系统中的恒星形成。所有这些计划都是通过和利用阿雷西博遗产快速阿尔法的HI调查以及新的观测数据而实现的。该计划的主要组成部分是：(1)在阿雷西博天文台或绿岸天文台举办年度研讨会；(2)在这些和其他无线电和光学设施观察跑步；(3)夏季和学年的本科生研究项目；(4)成员学校教职员工和学生之间的合作研究。更广泛的影响还包括4个主要部分：(1)通过直接参与研究来加强本科教育；(2)加强教育基础设施；(3)广泛传播课程和宣传材料；(4)扩大代表性不足群体的参与。

This proposal requests continued support for the highly-successful Undergraduate ALFALFA Team (UAT), which has over the past 8 years provided research-based educational opportunities for 253 students closely collaborating with 25 faculty from a diverse range of universities. Astronomy faculty from 20 institutions, predominantly small colleges in the northeast, carry out several related scientific programs that involve a radio survey of hydrogen in and around nearby galaxies. They obtain new data at several observatories and analyze catalog data obtained at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Undergraduates will be intimately involved in all aspects of the scientific program, including planning and carrying out the observations. They will attend an annual workshop at either Green Bank Observatory or Arecibo Observatory. This program serves as a prime example of the value of scientific collaboration, particularly for faculty and students at isolated schools, and of the importance of research as a component of undergraduate education. This exposure to front-line astronomical research enhances the educational infrastructure and the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at a large number of schools. The program has an even wider impact through the curriculum and outreach materials they produce and share, and through broadening the participation of groups underrepresented in STEM. Most students who go through the program continue in STEM-related careers.UAT projects will address major outstanding problems in astronomy and cosmology, such as the number and origin of optically-dark dwarf galaxies, the structure of large-scale filaments, pre-processing of HI gas outside clusters, and star formation in low-metallicity systems. All of these programs are enabled by and make use of the ALFALFA (Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA) HI survey, as well as new observations. The main components of the program are (1) an annual workshop at either Arecibo Observatory or Green Bank Observatory; (2) observing runs at these and other radio and optical facilities; (3) summer and academic year undergraduate research projects; (4) collaborative research among faculty and students at the member schools. The broader impact also has 4 main components: (1) enhancement of undergraduate education through direct involvement in research; (2) enhancement of educational infrastructure; (3) broad dissemination of curriculum and outreach materials; and (4) broadening participation of underrepresented groups.