February 19, 2013

Hi everyone,

Spring and summer class schedules are available!  Be sure to check it out.  Also, don't forget Monday is the deadline to submit your abstract to participate in the undergraduate research symposium. 

'The History of Astronomy: Case Studies" spring quarter class: Here's a new course that may interest you if you'd like to take a serious look at the overall history of astronomy. We will study the history and do calculations to understand the astronomy of the different eras.  Contact Prof. Sullivan if you wish to learn more.

 ASTR 497A for Sp12 =  "The History of Astronomy: Case Studies"       3 credits

 Instructor:  Prof. W.T. Sullivan, III

 times:  WF  4:00-5:15 pm

 prerequisite:  ASTR 321, 322, 323

max students: 10

 "The History of Astronomy: Case Studies"

This seminar course will look in detail at many case studies of the development of astronomy from ancient times until the twentieth century. We will read original texts, as well as analyses by historians of astronomy. Each student will make both a short oral presentation and a longer talk based on a historical research project of his/her own choice. The case studies may well include: (1) Calculating the orbit and position of Mars according to Ptolemy's theory (2nd c. AD); (2) Kepler's Laws and the Music of the Spheres (~1600); (3)  William Herschel's structure of the Milky Way (~1800); (4) calculated ages of the Earth and Sun in the 19th century; (5) analysis  in the 1920s by Hubble and others of  the velocity-redshift relation of spiral nebulae (galaxies); (6) determining the distances and nature of the first radio sources (~1950). Other cases will also be covered, including some suggested by students.

Undergrad Research Symposium:

The deadline to present your work in the 16th Annual UW Undergraduate Research Symposium is coming up on Monday, February 25 at 5pm.

Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to participate! You may apply to present a poster or an oral presentation. We will also have a dedicated performance space in nearby Meany Hall for performing arts presentations.

Go to http://exp.uw.edu/urp/symp for application, information (including workshops and practice sessions to help you prepare a stellar presentation). 

Questions/Concerns? The Undergraduate Research Program staff are here help you with your application:

(1)  Attend an Abstract Writing Workshop to help you prepare to submit your application:

Covers what exactly is an abstract, how to write one, and what information to include.

Tue. Feb. 19 - 2:30-3:30pm, MGH 171

Wed. Feb. 20 - 3:30-4:30pm, MGH 171

Registration available at: http://www.washington.edu/research/urp/courses/workshops/abstractwriting.html

(2)  Come by for Drop-In Advising in 171 Mary Gates Hall (you're welcome to bring your draft abstract in for feedback!)

Winter Quarter: Monday, 12:30 – 2:30pm and Wednesday, 2:30 – 4:30pm, or by appointment: urp@uw.edu

(3)  Contact URP: Stop by, email, or phone us with your questions

171 Mary Gates Hall          urp@uw.edu            (206) 543-4282

Internship Opportunities: Private Industry Internships ? Summer 2013
Applications are open for the following companies: Aerojet, Eagle Harbor
Technologies, Tethers Unlimited, and Woodruff Scientific; see link:
http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/student_internships/wsgc_internships/private_industry_internships.html

$10,000 Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF)
Students from all STEM fields welcomed; students do not need to pursue
Astronaut Corp.  Application may be found at:
http://www.waspacegrant.org/for_students/undergraduate_programs/scholarships/


NASA internships available at various NASA Centers: Application deadline
March 15, 2013. https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/

Want to do Astrophysics or Space Science research during your BSc or MSc?
Check out LEAPS!

Leiden Observatory and the European Space Agency (ESA) are pleased to
welcome applications for the inaugural edition of the Leiden/ESA
Astrophysics Program for Summer Students (LEAPS). LEAPS is an opportunity
for highly motivated students with a keen interest in astronomy and space
science to carry out a 10-12 week summer project in the Netherlands (all
expenses will be covered), working with research scientists from Leiden
Observatory or ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk. The projects on offer cover a wide
variety of topics, from analysis of data from world-class telescopes and
space missions, studying e.g. starburst galaxies, star formation,
exoplanet atmospheres and planetary geology, to large computer simulations
on cosmological scales, or hands-on work in the astrochemistry
laboratories simulating interstellar conditions. Leiden is a small,
picturesque university town located between the major cities of Amsterdam
and The Hague, and is a beautiful place to spend the summer.

To apply or find out more, visit
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/summerstudents or email us at
leaps@strw.leidenunv.nl.

The deadline for applications is 15th March 2013. Apply now!

Colloquium: This Thursday at 4pm in PAA A102, John Johnson (CalTech) will give a talk on "Hot on the Trail of Warm Planets Orbiting Cool Stars".  Join us at 3:45pm in the foyer for coffee, tea and cookies.

Page O'Announcements: http://pageoannouncements.blogspot.com/ Don't forget to check out the blog for campus announcements, classes and much more!  I also post the weekly AAS Committee on the Status of Women email which has some great articles for reading if you're interested.

Have a great week,
Sarah