Revealing the Structure of the Galactic Halo through Statistical Analysis - Middle School Teacher Training

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0607618 INSTITUTION: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute PI: Heidi Newberg Co-PI: Malik Magdon-Ismail TITLE: Revealing the Structure of the Galactic Halo through Statistical Analysis - Middle School Teacher Training ABSTRACT Dr. Heidi Newberg and Dr. Malik Magdon-Ismail, at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will undertake a program to extract parameters pertaining to the halo of the Milky Way galaxy (including parameters relating to halo "streams") from star counts. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and its extension (SDSS II), will be used. The research group will extend their ongoing program in part by analyzing additional SDSS data, and in part by developing new algorithms to better make use of all available photometric and spectroscopic data. This effort will fund three teacher-training workshops aimed at 8th grade science teachers in the Albany (urban), S. Colonie (suburban), and Cohoes (small city) school districts. The Albany school district in particular has a very high minority population. The workshops are cooperative with the Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services program, and are structured to relate to New York State learning standards. The research program also funds one Ph.D. student, creates research infrastructure for approximately 15 undergraduate research students, and supports researchers with a commitment to public outreach.