Pulsar Search Collaboratory

Summer Program 2008: July 6-26. Applications deadline is extended to May 15, 2008

Imagine the first time Galileo turned his simple spyglass toward the heavens and discovered moons orbiting Jupiter; or spots on the Sun. Your students can experience the thrill of discovery as they analyze astronomical data that has never been looked at before-- data collected by one of the world's most powerful radio telescopes. Join our team: the Pulsar Search Collaboratory.

The Pulsar Search Collaboratory (PSC) partners the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with West Virginia University to provide high school students with opportunities to learn 21st Century Skills while conducting world class research in pulsar astronomy. PSC students will join an international team of scientists analyzing more than 100 Terabytes of data collected by the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope for the purpose of discovering new pulsars!

Program Components

Summer Professional Development and training for 20 high school science teachers and 30 high school student mentors each year. Work alongside astronomers to learn how to reduce and analyze pulsar data!

Academic Year Activities. Teachers and student mentors will introduce the PSC to their classes and complete hands-on activities. Students will then be invited to join the PSC. PSC teams will conduct original research by analyzing data from the GBT with the expectation of discovering new pulsars and characterizing changes in previously-known pulsars.

Annual PSC Pulsar Seminar at WVU. Student Teams will present their research, hear talks by professional astronomers, tour the STEM colleges within the University and participate in fun STEM related activities each spring at a PSC Seminar! Teachers and School Counselors will attend as well.

School Counselors Open House at NRAO. School Counselors are invited to the NRAO for behind the scenes tours and talks from NRAO technical staff ! Counselors will help us promote and maintain student interest in the PSC and Information Technology careers.

Stipends, room and board for teachers and school counselors; room and board for students at all program activities. Graduate Credit available for teachers through WVU!

NEW! Online Application

PSC brochure (pdf)

Even more information (pdf)

What's a Pulsar Anyway? (WVU Pulsar Page)

Questions? Contact Sue Ann Heatherly--sheather@nrao.edu

Pulsar Scientists Duncan Lorimer and Maura McLaughlin

The Pulsar Search Collaboratory is a Comprehensive ITEST project funded by the National Science Foundation.