Building a Multi-Messenger Astronomy Research and Education Partnership that Creates Pathways to Astronomy Careers from Two HBCUs

建立多信使天文学研究和教育合作伙伴关系，为两个 HBCU 开辟天文学职业道路

• 批准号: 2319415
• 负责人: Donald Walter
• 金额: $ 126.95万
• 依托单位: South Carolina State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2027-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2319415&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Building; Multi; Messenger; Astronomy; Research

A collaboration between two Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) and one R1 research institution will form a unique partnership that will benefit all three institutions through sharing resources, exchanging personnel, and engaging students and faculty in the exciting field of time domain, multi-messenger astronomy. The HBCUs are South Carolina State University (SCSU) and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), with Clemson University as the R1 partner. Additional collaborators, who are leaders on the Vera Rubin Observatory program, will assist the partnership in participating in the future of ground-based astronomy. The main research areas are gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), active galactic nuclei (AGN) and pulsating variable stars. The broader impacts are developing a model partnership of bidirectional/multidirectional benefit among minority serving institutions and a predominately white R1 university, mentoring and support through graduation for undergraduate and masters students from minoritized populations in astronomy and physics, and working with a licensed social worker to mitigate the challenges facing our communities when it comes to stress and mental health.The astronomy research will be concentrated in three areas: (1) the study of GRB outflow mechanisms and environments through discovery and analysis of late-time GRB optical flares; (2) the study of AGN using optical observations correlated to multi-messenger signals to investigate the production of high-energy cosmic rays; and (3) high-precision studies of pulsating variable stars in the era of Rubin science. The partnership has access to a network of four 0.5-1.3m telescopes in both the northern and southern hemispheres covering a wide range in longitude, which allows tracking of objects continuously for 12-18 hours. The team will study short period RR Lyrae stars, delta Scuti stars and Cepheids. Rubin Community Scientists will train faculty and students in preparation for Rubin’s first data release during the third year of the award. The partners have an existing Bridge to Masters 3+2 B.S.+ M.S. physics memorandum of agreement between Clemson and SCSU. This award will set up a similar arrangement with UVI. Students will benefit from an accelerated program to an M.S., while Clemson will be able to attract highly talented students from a group that is severely underrepresented in these fields. This unique partnership will serve as a model and inspiration to others. The team will closely document successes and challenges through an external evaluator and communicate results to the physics community.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.

两所历史上的黑人学院或大学（HBCUs）与一所R1研究机构之间的合作将形成一种独特的伙伴关系，通过共享资源，交换人员，以及在令人兴奋的时域多信使天文学领域吸引学生和教师，这将使所有三所机构受益。hbcu是南卡罗来纳州立大学（SCSU）和维尔京群岛大学（UVI），克莱姆森大学是R1合作伙伴。维拉鲁宾天文台项目的其他合作者将协助合作伙伴参与未来的地面天文学。主要研究领域为伽玛射线暴（GRBs）、活动星系核（AGN）和脉动变星。更广泛的影响是在少数族裔服务机构和以白人为主的R1大学之间建立双向/多向利益的模范伙伴关系，指导和支持来自天文学和物理学少数族裔的本科生和硕士生毕业，并与有执照的社会工作者合作，减轻我们社区在压力和心理健康方面面临的挑战。天文研究将集中在三个方面：(1)通过发现和分析伽马射线暴后期光学耀斑，研究伽马射线暴外流机制和环境；(2)利用与多信使信号相关的光学观测来研究高能宇宙射线的产生；(3)鲁宾科学时代脉动变星的高精度研究。该合作伙伴可以使用位于北半球和南半球的四台0.5-1.3米望远镜组成的网络，这些望远镜覆盖了广泛的经度范围，可以连续跟踪物体12-18小时。该团队将研究短周期的天琴座RR星、三角天蝎座星和造父变星。鲁宾社区科学家将培训教师和学生，为鲁宾在该奖项的第三年发布首个数据做准备。合作伙伴在克莱姆森大学和SCSU之间有一个现有的硕士3+2学士+硕士物理协议备忘录。该奖项将与UVI建立类似的安排。学生们将受益于攻读硕士学位的加速课程，而克莱姆森大学将能够从这些领域中代表性严重不足的群体中吸引到非常有才华的学生。这种独特的伙伴关系将成为其他伙伴的榜样和灵感。该团队将通过外部评估人员密切记录成功和挑战，并将结果传达给物理界。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。