REU Site: Research Experiences in Astronomy at the Maria Mitchell Observatory

根据该合同，Vladimir Strelnitski博士（Maria Mitchell天文台，MMO）将继续提供一个REU站点，在Maria Mitchell天文台进行为期3个月的天文学和天体物理学夏季研究。学生研究项目的范围将是广泛的，包括在光学和无线电领域持续监测独特的“激光星”（团队项目）；UX - 1型恒星的光谱学、光谱学和偏振学研究；运动上衣监测；系外行星的研究；恒星形成区甲醇和其他脉泽的研究恒星激光器的理论研究；恒星形成区超音速湍流的观测和理论研究。所有的光学监测项目都将使用由美国国家科学基金会资助的两台新的MMO望远镜来完成。其他类型的观测将与其他国家天文设施一起进行。一项广泛的后续研究表明，MMO/REU经历对许多学生的职业选择产生了重要影响。他们中的大多数人在毕业后继续攻读天文学或物理学的研究生院，其中一半以上的人最终获得了博士学位。积极寻找有才华的青年，重点关注代表性不足的群体，特别是妇女，教他们如何进行研究以及如何将他们的知识传达给同行和广大公众，有助于建立一个受过良好教育、经验丰富和积极性高的全国专业人才库。这个REU网站将在5年的奖励支持期间为至少30名有才华的年轻人提供这样的成长经历。

Under this award, Dr. Vladimir Strelnitski (Maria Mitchell Observatory, MMO) will continue to provide an REU site for performing professionally guided, 3-month summer research in astronomy and astrophysics at the Maria Mitchell Observatory. The scope of the student research projects will be broad, including the continuing monitoring of the unique "lasing star" in optical and radio domains (team project); broad photometrical, spectral and polarimetrical studies of UX Ori-type stars; monitoring of blazers; studies of exoplanets; studies of methanol and other masers in star forming regions; theoretical study of possible stellar lasers; observational and theoretical studies of supersonic turbulence in star forming regions. All of the optical monitoring projects will be accomplished using the two new MMO telescopes funded by the NSF. Other types of observations will be done with other national astronomical facilities.An extensive follow-up study shows that the MMO/REU experience crucially influences the career choices for many students. Most of them, after graduation, continue onto graduate school in astronomy or physics, and more than a half of them eventually receive their doctorate. An active search for young talented people, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups, women in particular, teaching them how to do research and how to convey their knowledge to peer colleagues and to the public at large, helps create a national pool of educated, experienced and highly motivated professionals. This REU Site will provide such formative experiences to at least 30 young talented people during the 5 years of awarded support.