June 1, 2009

You've all made it to the last week of classes! Good luck on your upcoming exams. There are just a few announcements this week as we head into summer. The department is open over the summer, so please feel free to email or stop in!

Undergrad Meeting Minutes:
Curriculum Highlights:
- ASTR 497A (sln 10599) in autumn quarter is a 1 credit CR/NC research seminar where you will listen to presentations by members of our department in various research fields.
- ASTR 482 (sln 10598) is our writing course where you will create a graduate school application essay, resume and research articles.
- A comprehensive list of classes being offered next year is listed here: http://staff.washington.edu/sterrs/YearTS.htm

Graduate School tip: Paula suggested that those interested in applying for graduate schools make a list of schools they want to apply to then check that list with at least 3 faculty members (feel free to run this list past Paula as one). Each faculty member has a different perspective on the schools and may be able to give you some insight.

GRE Physics Test Dates 09-10: Oct. 10 (registration deadline Sep. 4) and Nov. 7 (registration deadline Oct. 2). See www.gre.com for details. Some tips on the GRE and helpful websites are on the wiki (which can be accessed while you're on a dept. computer): http://librarian.phys.washington.edu/astro/index.php/GRE. (Graduating seniors, please feel free to add your comments/helpful websites to the wiki!)

Jobs in Astronomy: job postings are available on the bulletin board outside of the computer lab as well as the AAS job register: http://members.aas.org/JobReg/JobRegister.cfm

PAL: Thanks to Suzanne, our dept. chair, for working so hard to keep the Phys/Astr Library open! Here is the link for student employment opportunities with the UW Libraries throughout campus: http://www.lib.washington.edu/about/employment/students/.

Baer Prize: Join us on Thursday at colloquium to congratulate the recipients of the John Baer Prize, an undergraduate award given to those with outstanding research, academics or service to the Department.

Colloquium: Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, Monika Kress (SJSU) will give a talk on "Evolution of organics in planet-forming disks". This is the last colloquium for the quarter, so please join us for coffee, tea and cookies in the foyer at 3:45pm.

Page O'Announcements: Updated throughout the summer... http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/.

Have a great week!