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

两所历史悠久的黑人学院或大学(HBCU)和一所R1研究机构之间的合作将形成一种独特的合作伙伴关系，通过共享资源、交换人员并吸引学生和教职员工在令人兴奋的时间域、多信使天文学领域受益。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的合作伙伴。更多的合作者是维拉鲁宾天文台计划的领导者，他们将帮助该伙伴关系参与地面天文学的未来。主要研究领域是伽马射线暴(GRB)、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大学之间发展双向/多方向利益的模式伙伴关系，为来自矿化人口的天文学和物理学的本科生和硕士学生在毕业前提供指导和支持，以及与有执照的社会工作者合作，以减轻我们社区在压力和心理健康方面面临的挑战。天文学研究将集中在三个领域：(1)通过发现和分析晚期伽玛暴光学耀斑来研究伽玛暴外流机制和环境；(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；以及(3)鲁宾科学时代对脉动变星的高精度研究。这一合作伙伴关系可以使用位于南北半球的四个0.5-130万米的望远镜网络，覆盖经度范围很大，这使得对物体的连续跟踪可以持续12到18个小时。该团队将研究短周期的天琴座RR星、三角翼和造父变星。鲁宾社区的科学家将培训教职员工和学生，为鲁宾在该奖项第三年的第一次数据发布做准备。合作伙伴在克莱姆森和南加州州立大学之间有一份现有的通向硕士3+2学士学位+理科硕士学位的协议备忘录。这一奖项将与UVI建立类似的安排。学生将受益于加速攻读硕士学位，而克莱姆森将能够从这些领域严重不足的群体中吸引才华横溢的学生。这一独特的伙伴关系将成为其他国家的榜样和鼓舞。该团队将通过外部评估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 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.