CAREER: Bridging Theory and Observations of Habitable Worlds and Building a Bridge to Astronomy and Astrobiology for Underrepresented Middle-School Girls

许多比太阳更小、更冷的恒星都有行星;这类恒星是我们银河系中数量最多的。 由于恒星相对暗淡，引力相对较弱，因此在这些恒星周围更容易探测到离星星足够近的支持生命的行星。 研究人员将使用理论模型来研究太阳系外世界可能存在的气候多样性。 她将根据地球表面是否覆盖着水、土壤或盐，建立一个可能的表面状况数据库。这个数据库将对研究新发现的行星是否有生命迹象的研究人员有用。 她将扩大她已经创建的一个名为“崛起的明星女孩”的项目，该项目旨在加强来自代表性不足的群体的中学女生对科学的兴趣。 她将每月为女孩举办讲习班，并帮助培训教育工作者，以促进在自己的社区讲习班。拟议的计划将包括大气科学，轨道和气候动力学，表面地质学和冰川学，以及数值模拟，目标是建立一个定性的途径，以最严格的评估候选人的可居住行星超越太阳系。 需要考虑的主要因素是地表水（水、水冰、陆地和盐的不同比例）、大气成分和行星自转速率。 PI将使用两个不同的全球气候模型来运行气候模拟。 Proxima Centauri、TRAPPIST-1 e和LHS-1140 b的系统将用于测试平台，将这里开发的方法应用于TESS发现的新行星。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Many stars smaller and cooler than the Sun have planets; such stars are by far the most numerous in our Galaxy. Because the stars are relatively dim and their gravity relatively weak, detecting planets close enough to the star support life is easier around these stars. The investigator will use theoretical modeling to study the diversity of climates that may exist on extrasolar worlds. She will produce a database of likely surface conditions, depending on whether the surface of the planet is covered with water, soil, or salt. This database will be of use to investigators studying newly discovered planets for signs of life. She will expand upon a program, Rising Stargirls, that she has already created to strengthen the interest of middle-school girls from underrepresented groups in science. She will conduct monthly workshops for girls and help train educators to facilitate workshops in their own communities.The proposed program will incorporate atmospheric science, orbital and climate dynamics, surface geology and glaciology, and numerical modeling with the goal of building a qualitative pathway to the most rigorous evaluations of candidates for habitable planets beyond the Solar System. The major factors to be considered are surface albedo (various proportions of water, water ice, land, and salt), atmospheric composition, and planetary rotation rate. The PI will use two different Global Climate Models to run the climate simulations. The systems of Proxima Centauri, TRAPPIST-1e, and LHS-1140b will be used at testbeds to apply the methods developed here to new planets discovered with TESS.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.