Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the Pennsylvania State University Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site will be at the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at Penn State during 1993- 1994. The REU site will involve at least nine, and possibly twelve or more, students in research projects each summer, six funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), three or more from other research sources within the department. Students will be involved in a wide range of frontier research projects in ground- and space-based observations and theory, and instrumentation. As a REU site, the Department will engage in an aggressive recruiting program for students in a large geographical area covering Pennsylvania, the surrounding mid-Atlantic states and Appalachia, and southeastern states, including large rural areas for which Penn State is one of the nearest major research institutions. Minority participation will be encouraged through the use of contacts with predominantly minority universities and colleges in the region. Seminars and special tutorials will broaden students' knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics, ensure interaction with faculty, and teach valuable skills including laboratory, observational and data analysis. Extra-curricular activities will encourage informal interaction with faculty and graduate students. The program will focus on encouraging students' interest in careers in astronomy and astrophysics.