South Texas Partnership in Multi-messenger Astronomy

得克萨斯大学格兰德河谷大学(UTRGV)和得克萨斯最南端学院(TSC)将建立一个新的天文学研究和教育伙伴关系，以开展多信使和时间域天文学研究。这一合作关系将为南得克萨斯州的拉美裔社区大学学生提供一条积极参与天文研究的途径。该计划的一个显著特点是加强在社区内建立的自然STEM生态系统。该伙伴关系将提供并维持若干协调一致的活动：(1)与UTRGV导师(研究生和首席研究员)以及参与TSC的学生和教职员工每周举行定期会议；(2)为学生举办一期暑期讲习班，培训学生在测光、天体测量、观测技术和巨蟒天文学编码方面的知识，包括机器学习技术；(3)在UTRGV运营的克里斯蒂娜·托雷斯纪念天文台进行定期观测；(4)每月举办天文学和天体物理学相关专题的研讨会；以及(5)参加区域会议的学生的年度讲演。这一合作伙伴关系也有能力接触到南得克萨斯州的大量观众。当CTMO向公众开放时，参加活动的学生将被要求协助公园活动中的常规天文。该公园的天文学是与南得克萨斯天文学会(STARS)联合组织的，这是一个非营利性的业余天文爱好者组织。这个项目为西班牙裔社区大学生创造了一条通向研究的明确途径，而西班牙裔社区大学生在天文学中的代表性很低。学生将参与的研究项目是时间域天文学领域，特别是引力波事件的光学跟踪。两颗中子星(或一颗中子星和一个黑洞)合并所产生的电磁辐射的快速定位和准确表征，对于理解通过核r过程产生重元素有重要贡献。相关的引力波信息有可能产生宇宙膨胀率(哈勃常数)的估计，这是对现有技术的补充和竞争。建议的活动将使这些学生成为多信使天文学发展的相关贡献者。这一奖项推进了宇宙之窗大理想的目标。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A new research and education partnership in astronomy will be developed between the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and Texas Southmost College (TSC) to conduct research in multi-messenger and time domain astronomy. This partnership will provide a pathway for Hispanic community college students in South Texas to actively participate in astronomy research. A distinctive feature of the program is the strengthening of a natural STEM ecosystem built within the community. The partnership will provide and sustain several coordinated activities: (1) regular weekly meetings with the UTRGV mentors (graduate students and the principal investigator) and the TSC participating students and faculty; (2) one summer workshop to train students in photometry, astrometry, observational techniques and python coding in astronomy, including machine learning techniques; (3) regular observations at the Cristina Torres Memorial Astronomical Observatory (CTMO), operated by UTRGV, (4) monthly seminars in relevant astronomy and astrophysics topics and (5) annual presentations at regional meetings from participating students. The partnership also has the capacity to reach a large audience in South Texas. The participating students will be asked to assist with the regular Astronomy at the Park events, when the CTMO is open to the public. Astronomy at the Park is organized jointly with the South Texas Astronomical Society (STARS), a nonprofit amateur astronomer organization.This project creates a clear pathway into research for Hispanic community college students, a group with very low representation in astronomy. The research projects in which students will be involved are in the area of time domain astronomy, and in particular, the optical follow-up of gravitational wave events. The rapid localization and accurate characterization of electromagnetic emission associated with the merger of two neutron stars (or a neutron star and a black hole) can make significant contributions to the understanding of the production of heavy elements through nuclear r-processes. The associated gravitational wave information has the potential to yield estimates of the expansion rate of the Universe (the Hubble constant), which complement, and are competitive with current techniques. The activities proposed will make these students relevant contributors to the development of multi-messenger astronomy. This award advances the goals of the Windows on the Universe Big Idea.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.