Collaborative Research: Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences Through Extragalactic Radio Astronomy

该提案要求继续支持非常成功的本科ALUEFA团队（UAT），该团队在过去8年中为253名学生提供了基于研究的教育机会，与来自不同大学的25名教师密切合作。 来自20个机构的天文学教师，主要是东北部的小学院，开展了几项相关的科学计划，包括对附近星系内和周围的氢进行无线电调查。 他们在几个天文台获得新的数据，并分析在波多黎各的阿雷西博天文台获得的目录数据。 本科生将密切参与科学计划的各个方面，包括计划和执行观察。他们将参加在绿色银行天文台或阿雷西博天文台举行的年度讲习班。该计划是科学合作价值的一个典型例子，特别是对于孤立学校的教师和学生，以及研究作为本科教育组成部分的重要性。 这种接触到一线天文学研究增强了教育基础设施和科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）的质量在大量的学校。 该计划通过他们制作和分享的课程和宣传材料，以及通过扩大在STEM中代表性不足的群体的参与，产生了更广泛的影响。 UAT项目将解决天文学和宇宙学中的主要突出问题，例如光学暗矮星系的数量和起源，大规模细丝的结构，星团外HI气体的预处理，以及低金属量系统中的星星形成。 所有这些方案都是通过和利用阿雷西博遗产快速ALFA HI调查以及新的观测结果来实现的。 该计划的主要组成部分是：（1）在阿雷西博天文台或绿色银行天文台举办年度研讨会;（2）在这些和其他无线电和光学设施进行观测;（3）夏季和学年本科研究项目;（4）成员学校教师和学生之间的合作研究。 更广泛的影响也有4个主要组成部分：（1）通过直接参与研究加强本科教育;（2）加强教育基础设施;（3）广泛传播课程和推广材料;（4）扩大代表性不足群体的参与。

This proposal requests continued support for the highly-successful Undergraduate ALFALFA Team (UAT), which has over the past 8 years provided research-based educational opportunities for 253 students closely collaborating with 25 faculty from a diverse range of universities. Astronomy faculty from 20 institutions, predominantly small colleges in the northeast, carry out several related scientific programs that involve a radio survey of hydrogen in and around nearby galaxies. They obtain new data at several observatories and analyze catalog data obtained at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Undergraduates will be intimately involved in all aspects of the scientific program, including planning and carrying out the observations. They will attend an annual workshop at either Green Bank Observatory or Arecibo Observatory. This program serves as a prime example of the value of scientific collaboration, particularly for faculty and students at isolated schools, and of the importance of research as a component of undergraduate education. This exposure to front-line astronomical research enhances the educational infrastructure and the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at a large number of schools. The program has an even wider impact through the curriculum and outreach materials they produce and share, and through broadening the participation of groups underrepresented in STEM. Most students who go through the program continue in STEM-related careers.UAT projects will address major outstanding problems in astronomy and cosmology, such as the number and origin of optically-dark dwarf galaxies, the structure of large-scale filaments, pre-processing of HI gas outside clusters, and star formation in low-metallicity systems. All of these programs are enabled by and make use of the ALFALFA (Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA) HI survey, as well as new observations. The main components of the program are (1) an annual workshop at either Arecibo Observatory or Green Bank Observatory; (2) observing runs at these and other radio and optical facilities; (3) summer and academic year undergraduate research projects; (4) collaborative research among faculty and students at the member schools. The broader impact also has 4 main components: (1) enhancement of undergraduate education through direct involvement in research; (2) enhancement of educational infrastructure; (3) broad dissemination of curriculum and outreach materials; and (4) broadening participation of underrepresented groups.