NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute for FY 2012 in China

Oelkers Ryan J, College Station TX

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds Ryan James Oelkers of Texas A&M University to conduct a research project, entitled "Comparing pictures of the night sky to find planets eclipsing stars," during the summer of 2012 at Nanjing University in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. The host scientist is Ji-Lin Zhou. The Intellectual Merit of the research project is to create and implement a new data reduction technique involving the subtraction of two images. This method can be used to find planets in other solar systems, stars with varying light and supernovae. This research project uses data collected from telescopes in Antarctica. The Broader Impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce.