CAREER: Enriching the Universe -- Investigating Nucleosynthesis and Galaxy Formation in the First Few Billion Years

University Of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz CA

Investigators

Abstract

CAREER: Enriching the Universe -- Investigating Nucleosynthesis and Galaxy Formation in the First Few Billion Years ABSTRACT AST 0548180 PI: Jason Prochaska Dr. Jason Prochaska at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will undertake a program that involves investigations of damped Ly-a (DLA) systems. Additionally the PI will undertake a survey of chemical abundances in the Galactic thick disk, an analysis of the differential chemical depletion in the Milky Way, spectroscopy of gamma-ray burst afterglows, and abundance analyses of a modest sample of high redshift DLA systems. These projects will allow Dr. Prochaska to establish a comprehensive program for studying nucleosynthesis and galaxy formation during the first few Gyr of the universe. Dr. Prochaska will also undertake a science education program designed to promote inquiry-based learning in high schools. The context for the program will be astronomical spectra, which provides for an integration of the research tool he and his colleagues use with his educational efforts. The program will have two main activities: 1) inquiry-based learning in several Santa Cruz high school classrooms; and 2) teacher symposia in inquiry learning held on UCSC campus