Monday, October 7, 2013

October 7, 2013

Dear all,

Hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather last weekend! 
Building Permits: Please remember to pick up your autumn quarter building use permits from the Astronomy main office if you have building keys.  You need the permits anytime you are in the building after hours (evenings and weekends).
Graduating autumn, winter, spring or summer?  If you plan on graduating this year, please stop in to see Sarah to fill out graduation paperwork.  Aside from having the administrative paperwork done, you also get graduating senior priority for registration! 

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship: For those of you applying to graduate school this fall, consider also applying for an NSF fellowship!
The Graduate School Office of Fellowships and Awards will offer the following information sessions this week:
 Webinar:   Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/434776046
In person:  Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, 10:30-11:30 a.m., UAA Fair, Mary Gates Hall room 173A
In person:  Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Loew Hall room 101
 NSF’s GRFP is one of the premier opportunities to fund your graduate study.  It provides 3 years of funding that you can use in a 5 year time frame.  This includes a $30,000 annual stipend and full cost of tuition/fees covered.  For UW graduate students, GAIP health insurance is also covered.
 hile there may be an assumption this funding would be only for the “usual suspects” (e.g., life sciences, engineering, math, etc.), there are a surprising number of social science disciplines included in the eligibility list, including STEM education, Political Science, Public Policy, Communication, Anthropology, History, and Sociology.    We encourage students who have a scientific focus in their research to look into this fellowship.
Seniors who are planning to attend graduate school can apply now and take the funding with them to whatever school they attend.
The information session will cover the application process, strategies for successful applications and more details regarding how the fellowship operates.  Application deadlines range from November 4-8, 2013.  Students should start their applications now.
 Basic eligibility criteria:
 *research in an eligible NSF research area (includes several of the social sciences)
*US citizens or permanent residents by the application deadline
*students in their first year of graduate study or at the beginning of their second year of graduate study (with some limitations)
*students who have not earned a previous graduate degree
*graduating senior undergraduates who plan to apply to and begin graduate student by next fall

Full eligibility information is detailed in the program solicitation.
 Due the federal government shutdown, the NSF websites are not currently available.  A copy of the current solicitation for applications can be requested from the Office of Fellowships and Awards at gradappt@uw.edu

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2013-14 ARTS AND SCIENCES ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR STUDENTS (ASACS):
   The Arts and Sciences Advisory Council for Students (ASACS) is seeking nominations, including self-nominations, of students who would be interested in serving on the Council for the 2013-14 academic year.  To that end, we ask that department chairs circulate this call for nominations to undergraduate and graduate student in their department as soon as possible.  It would be particularly helpful if undergraduate and graduate advisors would call this opportunity to the attention of students whom they believe would be particularly effective members of this Council and encourage them to apply.
    ASACS provides a student perspective on planning and budgeting issues for the College of Arts and Sciences.  The group, which consists of approximately 10 undergraduates and 2 graduate students, meets on Friday afternoons from 3:30-5:00 in the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office to discuss a broad range of issues.  During the 2012-13 academic year, ASACS submitted recommendations to both the Dean and the Provost’s Advisory Committee for Students on issues ranging from merit based faculty salary increases to the number of teaching assistants in the college.  ASACS seeks to include a diverse range of student perspectives in its conversations, and to bring about tangible changes to the student experience in the College of Arts and Sciences and across the University. 
    The time commitment involved in serving on ASACS is substantial.  The Council meets at least every other week during term, and generates its own agenda.  Applicants should ensure that they are available to meet on Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00.  It has proved just too difficult to schedule meetings at any other time.  Bob Stacey, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, attends most of the Council’s meetings, except when the Council chooses to meet without him.  Although Council members are not strictly “representatives” of any particular student group (that is the role of ASUW), they are encouraged to solicit and present to the Council the views of as wide a cross-section of students as possible.
    Students interested in applying to be members of ASACS for the 2013-14 academic year, should submit to Margie Ramsdell (mhr@uw.edu), Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences, a letter of application, no longer than two pages, detailing their qualifications for serving on the Council, listing topics they are interested in having ASACS discuss during the upcoming year, and their views on what the role of ASACS should be within the College of Arts and Sciences.  New members will be chosen by the continuing members of ASACS at the Council’s meeting on Friday, October 18th.  Ms. Ramsdell needs, therefore, to receive all applications BY 5:00 pm ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH.
Astronomy Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Prof. Sanjay Reddy (UW) will give a talk on "Forecasting Neutron Star Temperatures".  Join us in the foyer at 3:45pm for coffee, tea and cookies.
Page O'Announcements: Includes on-campus job postings and more!  http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 30, 2013

September 30, 2013

Dear all,
Hope the start of the quarter is off to a great start!  A few items to keep in mind this week:
Building Permits: If you have Physics/Astronomy building keys issued by the Astronomy Department please be sure to pick up your autumn quarter building use permit.  These orange cards can be obtained from the Astronomy main office.
Mary Gates Scholarship: The Mary Gates Endowment for Students is currently accepting scholarship applications.  Mary Gates scholarships provide $4,000 ($2,000 per quarter for two quarters) for students to pursue leadership or research activities.  These scholarships benefit students in the current academic year, and are open to all UW undergraduate students regardless of class year, major or residency status.  Deadlines are coming up soon, so please encourage your students to begin the application process and attend an information session and application workshop.

 Information Sessions (two sessions daily; select one):
Sept. 30, 3:30-4:20 p.m. & 4:30-5:20 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Oct. 1, 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. & 12:30-1:20 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. & 12:30-1:20 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Oct. 3, 3:30-4:20 p.m. & 4:30-5:20 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E

Leadership Application Workshop:
Oct. 7, 4:30-6:00 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Register to attend.

Research Application Workshops:
Oct. 8, 4:30-6:00 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Oct. 15, 4:30-6:00 p.m., rm. MGH 171-E
Register to attend.

Leadership Deadline:
Oct. 14, 5:00 p.m.

Research Deadline:
Oct. 21, 5:00 p.m.

Another round of applications will be accepted in Winter quarter, but it’s good to start planning now!

More information can be found on our website, expd.uw.edu/mge.  Email mgates@uw.edu with any questions.
 

Travel Grant:
The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the last 2013 Travel Grant application opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering.

The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients to attend professional meetings to present their research.  The Fall 2013 Travel Grant application deadline is October 15, 2013.  Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry’s dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits.  The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website:

http://SoffenFund.org

Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to:

info@SoffenFund.org
Astronomy Colloquium: Join us on Thursdays at 4pm in PAA A102 for the colloquium!  This week, Michael Blanton (NYU) will give a talk on "The Future of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey".  Coffee, tea and cookies are served at 3:45pm in the foyer.
Page O'announcements: Be sure to check out the blog for classes with seats available and more!  http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Let me know if you have questions; enjoy your week!
Sarah

Monday, September 23, 2013

September 23, 2013

Welcome back Astronomy students!!  I am always excited to start a new academic year and hope that you are as well.  Classes start on Wednesday, September 25.  I send out these weekly emails to you with information relevant to you as an Astronomy student.  For broader community events, including jobs on campus and activities, please see the Page O'Announcements blog: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Class Updates: For those of you still looking for Astronomy course options, space is available in the following:
*ASTR 400: Undergrad research seminar (1 credit; CR/NC).  This overlaps with a Friday section of PHYS 227 but we have permission from both instructors that students can take both classes.  You will need to fill out this form: http://depts.washington.edu/registra/forms/regtranform.pdf
*ASTR 427: Methods of Computational Astrophysics (3 credits)
*ASTR 482: Scientific Writing (2 credits)
Student Radio Telescope News: The Student Radio Telescope (SRT), a 10-ft dish with a 21-cm wavelength receiver on top of a nearby building, will lie fallow during Autumn Quarter.  But for those of you interested in learning about radio astronomy, in Winter quarter Prof. Woody Sullivan will offer a 3-hr ASTR 497 course designed to introduce you to the basic techniques of radio astronomy (antennas of different types, receivers, Fourier transforms, signals and noise), as well as some of the key areas of astronomy where radio work is critical:  interstellar molecules, pulsars and supernova remnants, active radio galaxies and quasars, the cosmic microwave background radiation, the radio sun, etc. For this course we'll use the SRT as a "lab" component for a few exercises, and in Spring quarter those who wish can continue with  independent SRT projects (ASTR 499), for 1 to 3 credits depending on your needs and the nature of the project. Prereq. for the ASTR 497course:  ASTR 322 (previous or concurrent).  Prof. Woody Sullivan (woody@astro.washington.edu)
AAS Women Newsletter: The Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy (CSWA) strives to create a climate of equal opportunity in hiring, promotion, salary, and in access to research opportunities and infrastructure at all levels within the field of astronomy ranging from undergraduate and graduate programs and then throughout a career in teaching, research, and/or other astronomy-related fields such as public outreach.

AASWOMEN is CSWA's weekly electronic newsletter. As a new academic year begins, we invite you to help us expand our community of readers and contributors.  Please forward this issue to any new students, post-docs, and scientists that may be interested. 

Join AASWOMEN List by email:

Send email to aaswlist+subscribe@aas.org from the address you want to have subscribed. You can leave the subject and message blank if you like.  Be sure to follow the instructions in the confirmation email. (Just reply back to the email list)

To unsubscribe by email:

Send email to aawlist+unsubscribe@aas.org from the address you want to have UNsubscribed. You can leave the subject and message blank if you like.  To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to aaswlist+unsubscribe@aas.org.

To join or leave AASWOMEN via web, or change your membership settings:
https://groups.google.com/a/aas.org/group/aaswlist

You will have to create a Google Account if you do not already have one, using https://accounts.google.com/newaccount?hl=en

Google Groups Subscribe Help:
http://support.google.com/groups/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=46606

The CSWA also has an active facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Committee-on-the-Status-of-Women-in-Astronomy/43977374494

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

June 3/4, 2013 (Last email until Autumn Quarter)

Dear all,
It's the last week of classes for this academic year!  This also means that this is the last weekly email to go out until autumn quarter.  Many members of the Department are still around during summer feel free to email or stop by with questions.
Congratulations to the Department's softball team, Infrared Sox lead by Dr. Chris Laws for being the Intramural Sports Champions!

John Baer Prize Award: Join us at Thursday's colloquium to congratulate our two undergraduate award winners for the Astronomy Department's John Baer Prize for excellence in academics and/or research.  The awards will be given at the very beginning of colloquium in PAA A102.

Spring Cleaning Thanks!: A BIG thank you to all of the undergrads that showed up for our spring cleaning of the computer lab, study area and telescope dome.  It all looks fantastic and we had fun while cleaning!  Please be sure to keep these areas as clean as possible.
Graduation Congratulations! Congratulations to all of this year's graduates.  Be sure to congratulate your peers as you see them in the computer lab and in your classes.  This year we have 27 students graduating making the UW one of the (if not THE) largest undergraduate astronomy programs in the US!  For those of you graduating, please remember to return your building keys and clean up your files on your astronomy directories. 
Summer Building Permits: If you will be around this summer, be sure to go to the Astronomy main office and pick up your summer quarter building permits.  These will be available starting June 17.

Astro Lunch: This Wednesday at Noon in the reading room (PAB B356A), Dan Taranu (Univ of Toronto) will give a talk on "Mergers in Galaxy Groups".  Join us for this informal lunch talk and feel free to bring your lunch!
Colloquium: Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Miguel Morales (UW Physics) will give a talk on "Peering through the Epoch of Reionization Window with the Murchison Widefield Array".  Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies.  Last colloquium of the year!
Page O'Announcements: To avoid spamming you all, I post random announcements on a blog.  I'll keep this updated over the summer as well.  http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/
Have a wonderful summer!
Best,
Sarah

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

May 28, 2013

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a nice long weekend!  Lots of events going on and opportunities, please read below!

Computer Lab & Observing Deck Clean up: On Thursday, May 30 at 4pm meet us in the computer lab for an annual clean up party.  We'll then move to the observing deck to do some spring cleaning out there.  Snacks and supplies will be provided!  Please help keep our research and study areas clean.

Graduation Ceremony Assistance Needed: I am looking for 2 students to assist on Friday, June 14 with the Department's graduation ceremony.  The exact time is TBD, but will likely start around Noon and end around 7pm with some downtime in between.  You will be compensated for your time.  Please email me or stop by if you're interested.  This is only for students not participating in graduation since some work will be required during the ceremony.

Student wanted for an ASTR 499 projectProf. Woody Sullivan is looking for an undergrad to act as  "curator" and developer for the Webcam and related material for the large sundial  on the wall of the UW Physics/Astronomy Bldg.:  http://sunny.astro.washington.edu . Look at this unique website to get some idea of what the project is all about. We want to make it even better. The new student will start in Su13 or A13 and continue through the 2013-14 academic year.

Largely due to the skills of Ian Smith, the student who has worked with me and is graduating in June, we now have almost 2 years of monitoring of the sundial at one-minute intervals all day long, rain or shine. The Webcam is located inside a window in Hitchcock Hall, across the street from the PAA building (see the website for more details).

The core responsibility of the undergrad is to monitor the operation of the webcam and its associated software and website, and fix things as needed. Our setup is now very reliable, but nothing works 100.0% of the time. In addition to this, other possible projects (depending on your interests) are:

- make more time-lapse movies using the archived images already gathered (two examples can be seen on the present website).

- improve the user experience on the website, in particular by allowing them to read the time even when it's cloudy in Seattle! (This would be done by overlaying the live Webcam image with a calculated shadow.)

- Similarly, allow the user to read the time even if the sun is not above the horizon in Seattle! (This is done by calculating the sun's shadow position as if sunlight could penetrate the Earth - consider this a "neutrino sundial"!)

- participate in science projects associated with almost 40,000 images of the  "MarsDials," which are on the Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Two students are already working on this, but there is always room for more talent and good ideas.

Here are the ideal capabilities of the new student - the more you have of these items, the better you're suited!

* Some experience programming; Javascript would be best.

* Knowledge of Linux and feeling comfortable on the command line.

* Strong sense of responsibility, since large amounts of data will be cared for.

* Good mathematical skills in geometry

* Interest (including artistic) in manipulating and processing images

* Knowledge of CSS to make the website look good.

Contact Prof. Sullivan for more details:  woody@astro.washington.edu, 206-543-7773, Room PAT C318

Physics GRE Studying for the Summer:  There appears to be some interest in trying to form a study group this summer.  I encourage anyone interested in studying to sign up for the Physics GRE mailing list.  We'll use this to setup times.  https://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/astro-gphys

Taking ASTR 480 in Spring 2014??  Get your observations done this summer!  For those taking ASTR 480 next spring, consider enrolling in ASTR 190 this summer quarter to get your observations done ahead of time while the weather is nice!  ASTR 190 this summer is a non-major observing class taught by Dr. Larson.  You can save your observations taken from this summer and use them in ASTR 480.

AstroLunch(es)!: We have three astro lunch events this week all in the reading room, PAB B356A; Tuesday @ Noon Ramin Skibba (UCSD) will give a talk on "Measures of Galaxy Environment".  Wednesday @ Noon Amaury Triaud (MIT) will give a talk on "The Origins of Hot Jupiters".  Friday @ 1pm Eric Gaidos (Univ of Hawaii) will give a talk on "From Goldilocks to Gaia: Candidate Planets in the Habitable Zones of Kepler Stars."
Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Cecilia Bitz (UW Atmospheric Sciences) will give a talk on "An Update on Global Warming".  Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies.
Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/  Be sure to check out the postings for open classes in summer and autumn quarter.
Have a great week,
Sarah

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Meeting Notes from May 20, 2013

Thanks to everyone that attended the meeting yesterday!  Here are the notes for what we talked about.
Computer Lab & Observing Deck Clean up: On Thursday, May 30 at 4pm meet us in the computer lab for an annual clean up party.  We'll then move to the observing deck to do some spring cleaning out there.  Snacks and supplies will be provided!  Please help keep our research and study areas clean.
Physics GRE Studying for the Summer:  There appears to be some interest in trying to form a study group this summer.  I encourage anyone interested in studying to sign up for the Physics GRE mailing list.  We'll use this to setup times.  https://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/astro-gphys
Taking ASTR 480 in Spring 2014??  Get your observations done this summer!  For those taking ASTR 480 next spring, consider enrolling in ASTR 190 this summer quarter to get your observations done ahead of time while the weather is nice!  ASTR 190 this summer is a non-major observing class taught by Dr. Larson.  You can save your observations taken from this summer and use them in ASTR 480.
League Of Astronomers Game Night Tonight!  Tonight (Tuesday) at 7pm in PAA A118, the League of Astronomers and the Astronomy graduate students are hosting a game night.  Pizza will be provided so be sure to attend!
Undergraduate Representatives: In the past, the Department has had undergraduate representatives that help to provide the voice of the undergrads.  We would like to have two people in this position next year (2013-2014) so start thinking about if you would be interested.  It's a great way to learn how a department functions and provide valuable input.
Advice from graduating students: Several of our graduating students provided some words of wisdom. 
- Start research early and definitely have a research experience (481, REU, etc)
- Make friends to help with homework and creating study groups
Graduate School Advice: If you are considering applying to graduate school in the fall, you should start planning this summer.  Make a list of the schools you are considering and talk with faculty about the list.  You should have a good list of schools by the end of the summer.  Here's some other tips about applying to graduate school including a list of things that some of our graduate students did before they applied: https://sites.google.com/a/uw.edu/astrougrad/grad-school

Thanks,
Sarah

May 20, 2013

Please join us today (Monday) at 4:30pm in PAB B356A (the reading room) for the spring quarter Astronomy Undergraduate Meeting.  We'll discuss classes, research, preparation for graduate school and more!  Snacks will be provided.
League of Astronomers Game Night + Pizza with Grads: Tuesday at 7pm in PAA 118, the League of Astronomers is hosting a game night.  In addition, the astronomy grad students will join them bringing pizza and great conversation.  This is a great opportunity to meet some of our graduate students and ask them about what they do.
Counseling Resources for Students: The UW Counseling Center has a wide range of resources available to students (at free or low-cost).  In addition to one-on-one counseling there is couples and group counseling available.  For some quick tips on different topics such as balancing parenting and school or dealing with social anxiety be sure to check out their resources page: http://www.washington.edu/counseling/resources/resources-for-students/

Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Scott Daniel (UW) will give a talk on "Cosmological Tests of Alternative Gravity Theories".  Join us in the foyer at 3:45pm for coffee, tea and cookies.

Page O'Announcements:
Lots of open summer quarter classes if you are looking for something to enroll in: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/

Have a great week,
Sarah