Faculty Advisor: Post doctoral researcher, UCLA and CSUN; Ph.D., Astronomy and Astrophysics, Harvard

Research Practicum Introduction

What is space? Why is the sky blue? How do planets form and evolve? How does a telescope work and what kind of objects can it detect? Is there life outside our Solar System and under what conditions can life exist? This program aims to answer these questions and many more. 

This practicum is designed for anyone with an interest in learning more about modern astronomy. The program will introduce students to celestial bodies within the Universe and their life cycles, the tools used to discover, observe and characterize celestial objects, as well as to notions and principles of celestial mechanics. Topics such as detection and formation methods of planets, both in and outside our Solar System, will be covered, as well as fundamental notions about astrobiology and the minimum conditions for a planet to sustain life.

This program will also provide an overview of space exploration and present/future space missions. Weekly meetings will consist of interactive lectures, open discussions and short quizzes. At the end of the program, the students will write a research paper on a topic of their own choosing and will also give a 5-minute presentation of their project during the final session of the program.

Possible Topics For Final Project:

• How do you detect an exoplanet?

• A comprehensive study of your favorite Solar System planet 

• The present and future of space missions: what do we have and what else do we need?

• The light is gone! A study of black holes

• Is there life out there and under what conditions?

• The life of a star: where do I come from and where am I going? 

• Or other topics in this subject area that you are interested in, and that your professor approves after discussing it with you.

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: 3-5 students

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Workload: Around 4-5 hours per week (including class time and homework time)

• Target Students: 9-12th grade students who are interested in physics, astronomy, Earth and planetary sciences, or just a general curiosity about astronomy.