reu at ctio annual report fy16

Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Astronomy

at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory

Annual Project Report (Year 5)

1 October 2015 – 30 September 2016

The 2016 CTIO REU and PIA Students at the Student Welcome Event, with La Serena in the background. From left to right: Michael Pajkos (REU), Natalia Carignano (REU), Sarah Stevenson (REU), Sarina Etheridge (REU), Alex Gordon (REU), Jacqueline Loerincs (REU), and Tomás Ahumada Mena (PIA).

Submitted to the National Science Foundation

Pursuant to Cooperative Support Agreement No. AST-1062976 Also published on the NOAO Web site: http://www.noao.edu

NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation

NATIONAL OPTICAL ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY

CTIO REU Annual Project Report FY16 (Year 5)

2

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Major Goals of the Project

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site program at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) offered undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in publication-quality research projects with scientists working at the forefront of astronomy and astrophysics. The fundamental goals were to provide research opportunities to six (6) US undergraduates annually to further their careers as well as exposing them to the international aspects of astronomical investigation through their 10-week stay at CTIO in La Serena, Chile.

This award for the period 2012 to 2016 was to fund an REU summer program at CTIO in La Serena, Chile, which was offered annually to six qualified applicants. An emphasis on student selection was directed toward strong publicity at minority-serving institutions, as well as recruitment of students from institutions lacking access to first-rate telescope facilities. REU students were hired as full-time research assistants to work with a CTIO, Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR), or Gemini-South astronomer-mentor on a research project from mid-January to mid-March. The students were hosted at CTIO for the entire 10-week duration of the program. The REU program was run concurrently with a similar program for Chilean students, called the Práctica en Investigación en Astronomía (PIA) program. The cross-cultural interactions between REU and PIA students were a vital component of both programs, as the students form friendships and learn about each other’s cultures throughout their internship. Each REU and PIA student was guaranteed a minimum of two nights observing with the 1.5-m, 1.0-m, or 0.9-m telescopes at CTIO. Analysis of observational data products provided by the mentors and/or procured during the students’ own observing runs was closely aligned with typical syllabus material in undergraduate courses such as Observational Astronomy, Stars & Galaxies, or Principles of Astronomy, allowing us to bring students’ classroom and book-learning efforts in fundamental astronomy concepts into focus. All participants were encouraged to attend the American Astronomical Society winter meeting following their program to present a poster. In addition to research projects, the CTIO REU site program features seminars designed by the science staff especially for the students as well as professional colloquia given by science staff and visiting astronomers. Beyond the offices, the program includes field trips to the observatories at Cerro Pachón and at least one other major, world-class astronomical facility in Chile (e.g., the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), or Cerro Paranal) and a variety of recreational and social activities. Working and interacting on a daily basis with scientists from diverse research specialties and with students from Chile and around the globe, CTIO REU students are exposed to many different aspects of a professional career in astronomy. Such day-to-day exposure to a wide range of scientific and technical occupations in astronomy and engineering is one of the chief benefits of the CTIO REU site program.

The CTIO REU site program is a vital part of NOAO’s ongoing commitment to contribute toward the nation’s need in training our future scientists, academics, and young professionals. Our REU program also will provide its participants with valuable exposure in instrumentation, technical support, and education for those interested in a broader astronomical career. In an effort


3

to provide opportunities for REU students representing the full spectrum of the US population, we make special, programmatic efforts in advertising to and recruiting students from minority-rich backgrounds, especially those attending minority-serving institutes. The broadest goals of the CTIO REU site program are (1) to encourage undergraduates of all demographics, including women and those of minority-rich backgrounds, to pursue careers in science, (2) to foster high levels of scientific literacy among the future Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) workforce, (3) to promote cross-cultural interaction and knowledge-sharing between U.S. and Chilean students, (4) to stimulate general awareness of the remarkable achievements of US astronomy, and (5) to inspire interest in the future progress and welfare of US science.

Major Activities

Student Selection

The 2016 National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) provided an opportunity for six US undergraduate students to participate in independent, supervised research activities in astronomy, in collaboration with members of the scientific staff. The program is supported by the rich scientific environment and research facilities of CTIO’s La Serena offices, as well as ready access to the national observatory facilities on Cerro Tololo itself. Together, these facilities provided a framework that introduced students to both the operations of a major observatory and the capabilities of a variety of optical and infrared instrumentation, all while they were actively engaged in current astronomical research. Building upon these resources, the program included an introduction to observational techniques and provided observing experiences for all of the participants. Furthermore, the program offered a unique cultural opportunity for participants to live in a foreign country and work alongside Chilean students who are doing similar research projects.

Six undergraduate students from the US, selected from a total of 33 qualified applicants from US institutions, participated in the 2016 REU program at CTIO. Announcements were sent to over 800 college and university science and mathematics departments and career placement offices in the US and Puerto Rico. This promotional campaign is also targeted to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The program was advertised on the CTIO REU program website (http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/REU-Program), the CTIO and CTIO REU/PIA Facebook pages, and in the NOAO Newsletter.

Science

Each student pursued a research project guided by a professional astronomer as a mentor. The REU Student Coordinator solicited volunteers among the CTIO, Gemini Observatory, and SOAR scientific staff, looking for active astronomers who were willing to invest their time and expertise to work with a student and who had projects suitable for undergraduate students carrying out research in a 10-week program. As in previous years, there were more than enough volunteers and projects. This year four REU students were mentored by CTIO staff members, and the remaining two students were mentored by Gemini staff. In addition, one Gemini staff


4

member served as the mentor for a student participating in the CTIO PIA program for Chilean students.

Weekly Student Seminars

Apart from the official CTIO colloquia, the students attended a seminar series especially designed to reflect their needs and interests. The seminars covered a broad range of topics, including lectures and workshops. Additionally, several general seminars and discussions were scheduled for the students. For example, CTIO Director Dr. Stephen Heathcote welcomed the students to Chile with a presentation on CTIO, NOAO, and AURA. The seminars were given by the CTIO and Gemini scientific staff about once a week between 11 January and 16 March. The list of topics and speakers from the 2016 Student Seminar Series follows below:

- Dr. Stephen Heathcote (CTIO): “Welcome to CTIO”

- Dr. David James (CTIO): “Introduction to Telescopes and Coordinate Systems”

- Dr. Isabel Hawkins (Exploratorium): “Polynesian Navigation”

- Michael Warner (CTIO): “Meteorite Hunting in the Chilean Atacama”

- Dr. Timothy Abbott (CTIO): “Detectors for Astronomy”

- Dr. Markus Kissler-Patig (Gemini): “Gemini Observatory and Career Paths in Astronomy”

- Dr. Guillermo Cabrera (CMM-UdeChile): “Astroinformatics”

- Dr. Guillermo Cabrera (CMM-UdeChile): “An Introduction to Machine Learning”

- Dr. Alfredo Zenteno (CTIO): “Science with Galaxy Clusters”

- Dr. Catherine Kaleida (CTIO) and Alex Gordon (REU student): “An Introduction to Radio Astronomy”

- Dr. Catherine Kaleida (CTIO): “Careers in Astronomy and Applying for Graduate School”

Observatory Field Trips

The REU grant provides funding for the students to visit Cerro Pachón and for a three-day field trip to a site of astronomical significance. These trips allow the students to get a taste of other observatories and get acquainted with their unique telescopes, instruments, and operations. For the 2016 CTIO REU program, the students visited the observatories on the Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón mountaintops, and the Chajnantor plateau.

The plateau Chajnantor is the site of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), one of the premier millimeter/sub-millimeter radio astronomy observatories in the world. The ALMA observatory is an array of 66 antennae with dishes 7–12 meters in diameter that operate combined through an interferometric network to act as one large aperture. The observatory is an hour's drive from San Pedro de Atacama in Northern Chile, through some of the most arid (and beautiful!) terrain on Earth. The 2016 CTIO REU students were fortunate to receive permission from the ALMA Director to tour the site, and are among the select few who have visited the antennae site, as tours of ALMA for the general public only visit the operations facility. While at Chajnantor, the students toured the antennae and the observatory facilities, and they were able to


5

ask questions of the observatory scientists and engineers.

This year, CTIO, Gemini, and SOAR hosted a large group of students on a “Grand Tour" of the AURA facilities in Chile, visiting on the mountaintops of Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachón. The group was composed of the six CTIO REU students, one CTIO PIA student, and three Gemini interns from Australia. The day started on Cerro Tololo with a brief history of the site, together with a visit to the Blanco 4-m telescope to see the largest camera in the Southern Hemisphere, the Dark Energy Camera (DECam). The group then moved over to Cerro Pachón, a half-hour's drive from Cerro Tololo. Cerro Pachón is home to two telescopes: the 8.1-m Gemini Telescope, and the 4.2-m SOAR Telescope. Dr. David James (CTIO), Bruno Quint (SOAR), and Dr. Joanna Thomas-Osip (Gemini) led exciting tours for the students, introducing the various instruments and modes of observing at each telescope.

Specific Objectives

• To guide six US undergraduate astronomy students in 10-week-long astronomy research projects

• To provide observing experience at a research-class telescope to those students • To provide students with practical knowledge of astronomical topics and data

reduction methods and tools via weekly seminars • To expose students to living and working in the environment of an international observatory

• To expand the students’ scientific and cultural horizons through living and working alongside the Chilean astronomy students participating in the PIA internship.

• To enhance students' understanding of astronomical instrumentation and telescope/antenna design by visiting other large observatories in Chile (Gemini, SOAR, ALMA)

• To give students experience documenting and presenting their research to the community via weekly research meetings, the final Student Symposium, their final reports, and presentations at the AAS meeting

Significant Results

The key result of the CTIO REU program is the research the students complete while in the program. Participant support costs were provided for the students listed below. The student research project titles are listed along with the student’s name, university affiliation, and mentor, together with abstracts of the research projects, written by the students and their mentors.

Natalia Carignano (Smith College), Research Intern to Dr. A. Katherina Vivas (CTIO)

Project Title: “Searching for the Progenitor Galaxy of Omega Centauri”

Abstract: Radial velocities of 32 RR Lyrae stars were extracted from low-resolution spectra taken by the Goodman Spectrograph on SOAR in a search for an over-density of stars at the velocity of Omega Cen. An over-density would imply that these stars were once part of the


6

Omega Cen cluster but have since been stripped, supporting the hypothesis that Omega Cen is the remains of a nucleated dwarf galaxy that explains its unusually wide range of metallicities. This study is the most complete of any similar, previous studies, searching 100 sq. degrees around the cluster and using variable stars whose distances are accurate to 0.1 Kpc in a distance range of 3.7 to 8.1 kpc. Statistical tests comparing the distribution of RR Lyrae velocities to the expected distribution of halo star velocities show no over-density of stars at the velocity of Omega Cen, 77 km/s, or any other velocity, in agreement with the work of Da Costa and Coleman in 2008.

Sarina Etheridge (College of Charleston), Research Intern to Dr. Catherine Kaleida (CTIO)

Project Title: “Comparing Stellar Populations of Galaxies Across the Hubble Sequence”

Abstract: From analysis of radial color gradients, we understand that late-type galaxies tend to become redder further out from the center of the galaxy. There are also no feasible galaxy formation models that predict high metallicity in the outskirts of late-type galaxies. From this knowledge, we hypothesize the radial color gradients are primarily affected by stellar population ages. We aim to analyze the contributions of stellar population ages, dust content and metallicity content to the radial color gradients. We observed UGC 685 with the Infrared Sideport Imager (ISPI) on the four meter Blanco Telescope of Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile using the J, H, and Ks near-infrared (NIR) filters. The data were reduced using IRAF and IDL. Aperture photometry was performed and radial profiles of surface brightness, J-H, and H-Ks were obtained. Further observations of UGC 685 with deeper images are necessary to make accurate conclusions about the galaxy’s color gradients.

Alex Gordon (Macalester College), Research Intern to Dr. Sean Points (CTIO)

Project Title: “A Narrowband Emission-Line Survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud”

Abstract: The Magellanic Clouds are unique in providing sites to study the interstellar medium (ISM) and its components at all scales, from small to global. The UM/CTIO Magellanic Cloud Emission-line Survey (MCELS) began as a deep imaging survey of both of these nearby galaxies in the emission of Hα, [S ii], and [O iii]. These emission-line images are being used in detailed optical and multi- wavelength studies of planetary nebulae (PNe), H ii regions, supernova remnants (SNRs), superbubbles, and supergiant shells. Here we present a deep and wide view of the 104 K ionized gas in the ISM of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using narrowband filters: Hα and [S ii]. We present large-scale continuum subtracted optical emission-line mosaics of the 8x8 deg. central region of the LMC created from the combination of thousands of observations taken over hundreds of nights, providing a detailed view of most of the gaseous extent of the galaxy. With these mosaics in hand we conduct a systematic analysis of the physical conditions of 59 known X-ray SNRs in the LMC. For 50 of these SNRs, Hα and [S ii] flux values along with [S ii] / Hα emission-line ratios have been derived. All derived [S ii] / Hα emission-line ratios ≥ 0.4, strengthening their identification as true remnants. We compare our values to spectroscopic values in the literature.

Jacqueline Loerincs (Colorado School of Mines), Research Intern to Dr. Cesar Briceno (CTIO)


7

Project Title: “An M2FS Spectroscopic Study of Young Low-Mass Stars in Orion OB1”

Abstract: This project focuses on the low resolution portion of an M2FS (Michigan/Magellan Fiber Spectrograph) spectroscopic study undergone in order to confirm the candidacy of optically variable targets determined from previous surveys of the Orion OB1 off cloud- regions. By looking at the distinctive Ha emission and Lithium absorption features characteristic to young low mass pre-main sequence stars, regular main sequence field stars can be distinguished from the T Tauri stars located in similar regions of the sky. Furthermore, by measuring the strength of their Ha emission lines, confirmed T Tauri stars can be classified as either CTTS (Classical T Tauris) or WTTS (Weak-line T Tauris) based on the possible presence of an accretion disk contributing to the star’s Ha emission. After reducing ~500 target spectra from seven separate M2FS fields studied in Orion OB1a and OB1b, a total of 106 T Tauri stars were discovered with only 26 of those being classified as CTTS. Based on preliminary analyses of T Tauri stars discovered in the off-cloud regions of Orion OB1, higher densities of young low-mass pre-main sequence stars are reported to exist in the OB1b sub region. Specifically, there is an increased number of T Tauri stars (CTTS in particular) which appear to cluster near the Sigma Ori star cluster in Orion OB1b. These observations need to be supported by further surveys in the Orion off-cloud region before final conclusions can be reached about the nature of star formation and the progression of pre-main sequence evolution. However, these findings point to initial clues about the distribution of stellar ages across the OB1a and OB1b sub regions and allow us to begin characterizing the timescale of planet formation.

Michael Pajkos (Butler University), Research Intern to Dr. Ricardo Salinas (Gemini)

Project Title: “Stellar Variability in the Intermediate Age Cluster NGC 1846”

Abstract: The existence of multiple stellar populations in Galactic globular clusters is considered a widespread phenomenon, with only a few possible exceptions. In the LMC intermediate-age globular clusters, the presence of extended main sequence turn off points (MSTOs), initially interpreted as evidence for multiple stellar populations, is now under scrutiny and stellar rotation has emerged as an alternative explanation. Here we propose yet another ingredient to this puzzle: the fact that the MSTO of these clusters passes through the instability strip making stellar variability a new alternative to explain this phenomenon. We report the first in-depth characterization of the variability, at the MSTO level, in any LMC cluster, and assess the role of variability masquerading as multiple stellar populations. We used the Gemini-S/GMOS to obtain time series photometry of NGC 1846. Using differencing image analysis, we identified 90 variables in the r band, 68 of which were also found in the g band. Of these 68, δ-Scuti—with 35 having full phase coverage and 22 without. The average full period (P_full) was 1.93 ± 0.79 hours. Furthermore, two eclipsing binaries and two RR Lyrae identified by OGLE were recovered. We conclude that not enough variables were found to provide a statistically significant impact on the extended MSTO, nor to explain the bifurcation of MSTO in NGC 1846. But the effect of variable stars could still be a viable explanation on clusters were only a hint of a MS extension is seen.

Sarah Stevenson (Williams College), Research Intern to Dr. Joanna Thomas-Osip (Gemini)


8

Project Title: “Photometric Calibration of the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager”

Abstract: We construct a pipeline for reduction, photometry, and linear regression fitting of standard star observations made with the Gemini South Adaptive Optics imager between 2013 and 2015 in order to determine the nightly photometric zero points in the J, H, Kshort, and K bands so that users may perform precise photometry with the instrument in the future.

Key Outcomes or Other Achievements

The students’ primary focus while in Chile was to work on their individual research projects, supervised by their respective scientific mentors and the REU Student Coordinator. The students were encouraged to work independently and to develop the skills and expertise to define the direction and scope of their projects. In addition, the REU Student Coordinator was available to any of the students who had procedural, administrative, or scientific questions.

As a capstone at the end of the program, the students were asked to write a final report on their project and to present their work in a mini-symposium. Each student gave a 10–15 minute talk, which was followed by 5 minutes for questions from the audience. The symposium took place in the AURA auditorium and was attended by the observatories’ scientific staff and visitors. The REU students have been encouraged to present their work in the form of a poster paper at the 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), scheduled for 3–7 January 2017.

Opportunities for Training and Professional Development

Science

The main goal of the CTIO REU program is to provide an opportunity to carry out a research project, supervised by one of the staff astronomers at CTIO, SOAR, or Gemini and by the REU Student Coordinator. At the end of the program, the students report on their work in the form of a written report and a short presentation. The students were encouraged to work independently, but those who lacked research experience were given more direct guidance when necessary by their mentor or the REU Student Coordinator. The CTIO summer students also had the opportunity to observe on Cerro Tololo, using the Small & Moderate Aperture Research Telescope System (SMARTS) 0.9-m telescope. Thus, the students experienced the three main tasks of a professional observational astronomer: observation, analysis of results, and subsequent reporting and publication.

Observing

As part of the CTIO REU program, the students observed on Cerro Tololo using the CTIO/SMARTS 0.9-m telescope. The objective of the observing run was to introduce the students to observing techniques and allow them to sample different methods of observing. The observing time, eight nights in total, was requested via the regular NOAO Time Allocation procedure (program ID: 2016A-0370). This proposal was ranked highly by the Telescope Allocation Committee, receiving a grade of 9.34, where 10 was the highest grade achievable.


9

These eight nights corresponded to two observing nights for each pair of two students.

For the 2016 program, the student observing plan consisted of Target-of-Opportunity (ToO) observations of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), Supernovae (SNe), Novae, and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), in collaboration with Dr. Drejc Kopac of Liverpool John Moores University, Dr. Joe Masiero of California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Dr. Frederick Walter of Stony Brook University. Many TOO targets of interest were available for the students to observe during this year's observing run, including several SN and NEO targets. This data is currently being analyzed and prepared for publication by the collaborators listed above. A portion of the observing time was also left open for the students to image objects of their own choosing, including observations for their own research projects in some cases. The students imaged Southern Hemisphere galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae. In choosing their own targets, they learned how to determine what objects are visible in the night sky from a certain location at a certain time and how to determine appropriate exposure times, and they gained experience in deciding what filters to use to meet different scientific goals.

Weekly Research Group Meetings

A group research meeting was held each week and attended by all of the students and their mentors when available. At these meetings, the students presented their projects, their progress during the previous week, and their plans for the upcoming week. These presentations helped them to track their research progress and discuss issues encountered with their REU peers and mentors. These group meetings were an excellent way to ensure that substantial and steady progress was made, while at the same time allowing the students to practice their presentation skills. Over the course of the 10-week program, their presentations improved dramatically, and their confidence grew equally fast.

Scientific Interactions

An essential component of the CTIO REU program is the opportunity students have for interaction with scientists not only with the observatory staff but also with the flow of visiting astronomers who pass through on their way to the observatory. The generally informal atmosphere at CTIO provides a climate that promotes these interactions, which take place naturally at “Staff Tea” (every Friday morning at 11 am the CTIO and SOAR scientific staff gather to discuss science, observatory matters, and other topics of interest), at regular scientific colloquia, and in the public computer area that the students share with other interns. Informal meetings with various CTIO staff members and visiting astronomers while students were on the mountain typically resulted in an on-the-spot introduction to an instrument or research specialty.

Dissemination of Results to Communities of Interest

Scientific Results

At the end of the program, the students presented their work in a mini-symposium. Each student gave a 10–15 minute talk, which was followed by 5 minutes for questions from the audience. The symposium took place in the AURA auditorium on the AURA compound in La Serena and


10

was attended by the CTIO, Gemini, and SOAR scientific staff and visitors. The REU students also will present their work in the form of a poster paper at the 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), scheduled for 3–7 January 2017 in Grapevine, Texas.

PRODUCTS

Other Conference Presentations / Papers

Carlsten, S., & Zenteno, A. (2016). Stellar Populations of Shell Galaxies. American Astronomical Society 227th Meeting. Kissimmee, Florida. Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes

Gagliano, A.T., O'Neill, C., & Madrid, J.P. (2016). Large Scale Structure of the Globular Cluster Population in Coma. American Astronomical Society 227th Meeting. Kissimmee, Florida. Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes

Howard, B., & Vivas, K. (2016). Photometric Calibration of DECam Images of the Sextans Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy. American Astronomical Society 227th Meeting. Kissimmee, Florida. Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes

Tanveer Karim, M., Stassun, K., Briceno, C., et al. (2016). Measuring the Rotation Periods of 4-10 Myr T-Tauri Stars in the Orion OB1 Association. American Astronomical Society 227th Meeting. Kissimmee, Florida. Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes

Websites

English-Spanish Astronomy Dictionary http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/EnglishSpanish-Astronomy-Dictionary

As part of the Weekly Research Meeting, the REU and PIA students participated in an Astronomy Language Exchange. At the beginning of each meeting the students came up with astronomy-related technical terms in English to translate into Spanish and from these suggestions compiled the beginnings of an English-Spanish Astronomy Dictionary, with the aim to create a comprehensive English-Spanish Astronomy Dictionary to post on the Web for public use.

CTIO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/REU-Program

On this website, potential students can find information about the program and peruse the project titles of research completed by current and past students while at CTIO. The website also contains a page that lists the publications related to work carried out during the CTIO REU summer student programs, going back to the start of the CTIO REU program in 1995.

Furthermore, the website shows photos from each year’s program, which give a good impression of the programs, and the start of an English-Spanish Astronomy Dictionary, developed by the


11

2012–2016 REU/PIA groups.

PARTICIPANTS

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funding

Form of REU funding support: REU site award How many REU applications were received during this reporting period? 33 complete applications How many REU applicants were selected and agreed to participate during this reporting period? 6 students selected and agreed to participate.

What individuals have worked on the project?

Name Most Senior Project Role Nearest Person Month Worked

Mountain, Charles Mattias PD/PI 0 James, David Co PD/PI 1 van der Bliek, Nicole Co PD/PI 1

Kaleida, Catherine Postdoctoral (scholar, fellow or other postdoctoral position) 5

Natalia Carignano

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant 3

Sarina Etheridge Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant 3

Alex Gordon Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant 3

Jacqueline Loerincs


Michael Pajkos


Sarah Stevenson



12

Full details of individuals who have worked on the project:

Charles Mattias Mountain Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: PD/PI Nearest Person Month Worked: 0 Contribution to the Project: President of The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) Funding Support: AURA, Inc. International Collaboration: Yes, Chile International Travel: No

David J James Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Co PD/PI Nearest Person Month Worked: 1 Contribution to the Project: Support management of program Funding Support: None International Collaboration: Yes, Chile International Travel: No

Nicole S van der Bliek Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Co PD/PI Nearest Person Month Worked: 1 Contribution to the Project: Supervise management of program Funding Support: None International Collaboration: Yes, Chile International Travel: No

Catherine Kaleida Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Postdoctoral (scholar, fellow or other postdoctoral position) Nearest Person Month Worked: 5 Contribution to the Project: CTIO REU Student Coordinator. Managed program. Funding Support: None International Collaboration: Yes, Chile International Travel: No Natalia Carignano Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3


13

Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 3 Home Institution: Smith College Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016 Sarina Etheridge Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3 Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 3 Home Institution: College of Charleston Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016 Alex Gordon Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3 Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 2 Home Institution: Macalester College Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016 Jacqueline Loerincs Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3 Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 3 Home Institution: Colorado School of Mines Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016


14

Michael Pajkos Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3 Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 3 Home Institution: Butler University Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016 Sarah Stevenson Email: [email protected] Most Senior Project Role: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Participant Nearest Person Month Worked: 3 Contribution to the Project: Student Research Project Funding Support: CTIO REU Grant International Collaboration: Yes, Chile. International Travel: Yes, Chile (2 months and 10 days) Year of schooling completed: 3 Home Institution: Williams College Government fiscal year(s) was this REU participant supported: 2016

What other organizations have been involved as partners?

No organizations entered.

Organizational partners

Nothing to report.

IMPACTS

On development of principal discipline(s)

The main goal of this program is to allow students, mainly astronomy and physics majors, but also the occasional engineering, math, computer science, or geology major, to participate in research, get hands-on experience in observing, work in a research institute (non-university based, for a different perspective), and experience the international nature of astronomy (working in Chile, at an international observatory) alongside Chilean students. The students directly contribute to making new discoveries in the field of astronomy and often publish these results in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals. A summary of the specific astronomical


15

discoveries of the 2016 REU students can be found in the “Key Outcomes” and “Significant Results" sections of this document.

On other disciplines

The major impact of this program on other disciplines is to help produce the next generation of highly educated and skilled scientists to enter the STEM workforce.

On development of human resources

The goal of this program is the development of young scientists who will be the astronomers of the future. Thirty-three complete applications for the 2016 CTIO REU program were received. Of these applicants, 52% (17 out of 33) were women and 48% (16 out of 33) were men. For the 2016 REU program, 67% (4 out of 6) of the students selected were women and 33% (2 out of 6) were men.

In order to combat the underrepresentation of certain minority groups in the sciences seen across the US, the CTIO REU program strives to have a diverse applicant pool. Over the past three years, we have seen an increase in the representation of minority groups in the applicant pool for the CTIO REU program, as compared to previous years. In the optional demographics questions section of the CTIO REU application, students are asked to indicate which racial category they identify with, and they are given the options present in the 2010 US Census, as well as a fill-in box where the applicant can write in his/her own option. Out of the 33 applicants, 6 applicants declined to indicate their race. Of the 27 who reported, 23 reported themselves to be White and not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin, and 4 reported White and of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish. Thus, 17% (4/23 applicants who chose to report their racial demographic information) of this year's applicants were members of a minority group. Of the 6 accepted students this year, 2 were White/Caucasian and of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (33%), and 4 were White/Caucasian and not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (67%).

While the diversity of our applicant group has improved since the first years of this grant, the underrepresentation of minorities in the sciences is still reflected in the 2016 REU applicants. In order to combat this, we have advertised at historically minority-serving institutions and conferences in the US for each year of this grant award period. For the past two years, the CTIO REU Student Coordinator also sent personal emails advertising the program to a handful of specific professors at minority-serving institutions, as well as to the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), the Society for Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), as suggested by our External Evaluator, Dr. Isabel Hawkins. We have also begun to use Facebook as a means for advertising the CTIO REU program to a wider pool of students: the internship advertisement was distributed to the CTIO, CTIO REU/PIA Alumni, NSBP, and SACNAS Facebook pages.

Of course, while the diversity in the 2016 REU group itself is limited to the diversity of the applicant pool, the fact that the NSF- funded REU program is run in parallel with the PIA program for Chilean students ensures a high level of diversity in the overall program and student


16

interactions.

Geographically, the applicants were from universities in 21 states in the US and the District of Columbia: 8 from the South, 8 from the Midwest, 5 from the West, 10 from the Northeast, and 2 from the Pacific. In years prior to 2012, there was a smaller proportion of applicants from the South and Midwest, and it is gratifying to see that for four years in a row now the advertising efforts for the program are reaching those parts of the country that have been previously underrepresented in our program alumni.

The home institution size of the accepted applicants was also tabulated: 83% (5 out of 6) were from schools with 10,000 or fewer enrolled undergraduates. The CTIO REU program continues to be committed to providing astronomy research experiences to qualified applicants whose home institutions cannot provide them with similar opportunities.

Since 2015, the optional demographic questions in the CTIO REU and PIA applications have included a question asking if the applicant is the first person in their family to attend college or university. Of the 33 REU applicants who answered this question, 12% (4/33) were first-generation college students. For the 2016 REU program, all of the accepted students came from families where one or both parents had attended college or university.

The CTIO REU groups are chosen based on merit as well as on how much they will benefit from the program. At the same time, we continue to strive to have a diverse applicant pool, in order to have groups that are balanced in gender and include students from underrepresented minorities in the sciences. As such, the CTIO REU program is directly contributing to broadening participation in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

On physical resources that form infrastructure

Nothing to report.

On institutional resources that form infrastructure

Nothing to report.

On information resources that form infrastructure

Nothing to report.

On technology transfer

Nothing to report.

On society beyond science and technology

One of the unique characteristics of the CTIO REU program is that it offers the opportunity to


17

live and work in an international setting at an observatory in a foreign country. The US students work alongside Chilean students who participate in the parallel PIA program, and the cultural experience these young astronomers obtain is as invaluable to their growth into successful astronomers as the research projects themselves.

CHANGES/PROBLEMS

Changes in Approach and Reason for Change

Since the 2014 program, changes have been made to strengthen sensitivity to and training pertaining to harassment issues for all student interns at CTIO. These changes included a presentation and discussion dedicated to harassment issues at the beginning of the program. We also continue to have an individual check-in meeting between each student during the 4th week of the program, to give students a private opportunity to express any issues that have come up. These additional activities bring to the students’ attention the broad range of issues involved, help them to recognize issues of this nature at an early stage, and help prepare them to confront and report such issues with confidence.

The many practical lessons learned from experience while running the 2012–2016 program have been documented by the outgoing CTIO Student Coordinator. The CTIO REU program External Evaluator, Dr. Isabel Hawkins, has also made a number of helpful suggestions for ways in which the program could be made even better and in particular suggested additional strategies for recruiting minority students. These suggestions will be considered carefully in planning any future program and will be implemented to the extent possible and appropriate.

Actual or Anticipated Problems or Delays and Resolution Actions or Plans

Starting with the 2016 fiscal year, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory has operated under a new cooperative agreement with NSF, which redefines the scope of activities to be carried out by NOAO and provides drastically reduced base funding. While much of the reduction has been achieved through divestment of facilities on Kitt Peak, adjusting to this new reality has required a careful, across-the-board, strategic assessment of the program at all NOAO centers and the painful decision to terminate many successful and meritorious activities in order to focus on the core mission.

Although the supplementary funding for the REU program is provided through the current award, the time of the REU Student Coordinator and the CTIO staff who serve as mentors is base funded, as is the companion PIA program in its entirety. Unfortunately, the postdoctoral position used to support the REU Student Coordinator cannot be funded from the base budget, so the current incumbent, whose fellowship ended in May 2016, will not be replaced.

During each of the years 2012 to 2016, the REU Student Coordinator has expended at a minimum 0.5 FTE of effort in order to run the REU and PIA programs, with exclusive dedication during the ten weeks that the students are in Chile, and with substantial involvement during the recruiting and selection of new students and in preparation for the students’ involvement in the


18

AAS meeting. While it will still be possible to find mentors for the students amongst the remaining CTIO staff, there is no staff member, or group of staff members, who could provide the level of effort and especially the exclusive dedication required to serve as REU Student Coordinator without neglecting their core duties at the observatory.

Observatory management is currently evaluating whether it is feasible to support an REU program in the future. CTIO did not submit a proposal for a new REU program in response to the 2015 call for proposals, and will not do so in 2016. However, we have begun conversations with colleagues at SOAR, Gemini South, and in the LSST project with a view to developing a proposal from all of the AURA programs in Chile to host a renewed REU (and associated PIA) program in time for submission at the 2017 call. We note that Gemini South already provides mentors for the current program, and that Tucson-based LSST staff have participated in the KPNO program. In this way we hope to continue supporting an even stronger, high-quality student program in Chile after only a brief hiatus.

Changes with Significant Impact on Expenditures

In order for the 2016 REU students to be able to attend the January 2017 AAS meeting, we requested and were awarded a no-cost extension to allow the use of the amount that was budgeted in this grant to cover the conference expenses of the 2016 REU students.

Significant Changes in Use or Care of Human Subjects

Nothing to report.

Significant Changes in use or Care of Vertebrate Animals

Nothing to report.

Significant Changes in Use or Care of Biohazards

Nothing to report.


19

Figure 1. REU students Jacqueline Loernics and Alex Gordon point at the newly discovered comet they took follow-up observations of using the SMARTS 0.9-m telescope on CTIO.

Figure 2. Image of the Milky Way and the Southern Celestial Pole taken by REU student Jackie Loernics.


20

Figure 3. REU student Sarah Stevenson fills the dewar of the SMARTS 0.9-m telescope CCD camera during the student observing run.

Figure 4. REU student Michael Pajkos and PIA student Tomás Ahumada with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope construction site in the background, where they both hope to work one day in the future!


21

Figure 5. The REU and PIA students pose while touring the ALMA Observatory Array Operations Site (AOS).

reu at ctio annual report fy16

Documents