Astrophysics REU 2005
U of Wisconsin-Madison
Schedule
Welcome
dinner for Astrophysics REU participants. Meet in front of Tripp Hall at Tripp
Circle, and walk along lakeshore path to UW-Memorial Union Terrace or State
Street.
Astrophysics
REU program orientation. Bagels, coffee, and juice! Brief tour of astronomy and
physics departments.
Lunch
at UW-Memorial Terrace.
Public night (weather and telescope permitting). Every Wednesday night during the summer, Washburn Observatory has public viewing sessions. These sessions are usually run by a graduate student from the Astronomy Department
Astronomy
Seminar: Scott Schnee, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics ÒA complete
recalibration of far-infrared column density and temperature measurements using
extinction mapsÓ
FarmerÕs Market. Held every Saturday morning during the summer, you can get all manner of fresh produce, as well as cheese curds so fresh they make your teeth squeak! (http://www.madfarmmkt.org/)
All-Programs University Welcome Dinner
Astronomy Seminar series: Prof. Bob Benjamin
How to Make Your Research Web Page (Prof.. Bob
Benjamin)
Field
Trip/Astronomy Department Picnic: Pine
Bluff Observatory. Built in 1958, this small telescope is still in heavy use,
with several different projects sited here. One lucky graduate student from the
Astronomy Department gets to live out here rent free (although they do have to
do a significant number of chores.) Resident astronomy Andy Fox will give us a
tour.
Astronomy
Seminar series: Prof. Eric Wilcots (Astronomy)
Field
Trip: Synchrotron Radiation
Center and Physical Sciences Laboratory. Come see one of the largest
synchrotron sources in the country, run by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
on behalf of the National Science Foundation. At the Physical Sciences
Laboratory, you can see where they are making components of IceCube, a neutrino
telescope at the South Pole. (With Steve Anderson, in the past Steve has made a
stop a local grocery storeÉ stock up on supplies!)
Lakeshore
picnic area, behind Tripp Commons on the lake (rain location: Carsons)
Astronomy
Seminar series: Prof. Ellen Zweibel (Physics) ÒThe Magnetic UniverseÓ
Scientific
Ethics Movie Night: TBA
Astronomy
Seminar series: Prof. Don Cox (Physics) ÒThoughts on the ISMÓ
Concert
on the Square: The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra starts their weekly series of
outdoor classical music concerts. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket, or buy
your dinner there. The series continues weekly through August 3.
Grad
School panel discussion. We will have a panel discussion of current graduate
students and faculty who have served on the graduate admissions committee to
discuss when, how, and where to apply for Astronomy and Physics graduate
schools. You are also encouraged to check out www.physicsgre.com before next weekÕs
session on the Physics GRE.
Rhythm
& Booms: MadisonÕs premier firework show. Although you can see the
fireworks from the UW-Memorial Union, for the full effect youÕll want to bus or
bike over to Warner Park. Warning: It can get crowded, and be sure to bring
mosquito repellent. (http://www.rhythmandbooms.com/index.php)
University
holiday (Independence Day observed)
Practice
Physics GRE. All rising seniors are highly encouraged to take a practice GRE
Physics exam. Participation by rising sophomores and juniors is optional.
Physics
GRE advice. Scores from the practice exam will be discussed, and suggestions on
how to prepare for this exam will be discussed. (Dr. Bob Benjamin)
Astronomy
Seminar series: Dr. Matt Haffner (Astronomy) ÒRed Sky at NightÓ
Field trip: One of the last and
greatest refractors in the world, this telescope was built in Wisconsin by the
University of Chicago. (A book on the history of the telescope is on the
bookshelf in REU central.) You can marvel at the telescope design, the
architecture, and the fact that the site is still used for scientific research.
Astronomy Seminar series: Prof. Peter Timbie
(Physics) ÒOld PhotonsÓ
Scientific
Ethics Movie Night: TBA
Astronomy
Seminar series: Dr. Teresa Montaruli (Physics) ÒNeutrino Astronomy and
Telescopes. The case of AMANDA and IceCubeÓ
Field
Trip: Fermilab, with stop-off
in Downtown Chicago. Fermilab is one of the top particle physics laboratories
in the world, and also has been a major partner in the Sloan Digital Sky
Survey, one of the most important sky surveys of the last decade.
How to Put Together Your Final
Presentation (Dr. Bob Benjamin)
Astronomy
Seminar series: Prof. Ed Churchwell (Astronomy) ÒGLIMPSEÓ
Scientific
Ethics Movie Night: ÒContactÓ (Astro students MUST attend)
Astronomy
Seminar series: TBA
Final
Presentations, Part 1. Coffee and cookies at 3:30 pm.
Final
Presentations, Part 1I. Coffee and
cookies at 3:30 pm.
Farewell
pizza lunch! Roof of Sterling Hall (Rain location: Sterling 5517)
Depart
for airport. Airport transportation arrangements will be e-mailed to everyone.
¤
All locations given in
square brackets indicate that the event is not a planned event, but merely
suggested. You will need to make your own plans for these events.
* Each Astronomy seminar is preceded by a 15-minute Òcheck-inÓ period, and followed by lunch with the speaker at noon at the UW-Memorial Union (assuming speaker is available). A pre-talk reading will be handed out in the week previous to the talk (and can be picked up in Sterling 4569).