Admission requirements
None
Description
What is the size and structure of the Universe? How do stars and planets form and evolve? Could there be life elsewhere in the Universe? These are some of the most fascinating open questions of Humanity.
In this introductory course on modern astronomical research, you learn what modern astronomy is and what it means to be a successful researcher in astronomy. You will learn how to tackle challenging research questions and where to start searching for an answer. You will also learn how to communicate these answers to colleagues through different approaches, from research publications to scientific posters. In addition, you will understand the different career paths of astronomers.
During the course, you will explore research repositories, write a commentary essay based on a research presentation and deliver a poster to fellow colleagues.
The course address the following topics:
Current field of modern astronomy
Knowledge-bases: Astronomy databases and research articles repositories (e.g.: ADS and astro-ph)
Research Communication with peers: Publications and Poster Presentations
Astronomy Careers
Course objectives
After this course, you are able to summarize the current astronomy research landscape.
More specifically, after this course you can:
Describe the main research questions in current Astronomy and list different techniques that astronomers tackle this questions
Identify the main knowledge databases used in astronomy for astronomical data and research publications
Define a research publication workflow and peer-review processes
List the main sections of a research publication and compare it with the main open research questions
Summarize and judge the results of a research publication
List the main components of a successful poster
Develop and deliver a poster based on research questions
Recognize the different careers steps of a professional astronomer and possible alternative career paths
In this course, you will be trained in the following behaviour-oriented skills:
Deliver a well designed and developed poster
Write a structured essay on judging a poster
Present research to fellow colleagues in a convincing and inspiring way
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Lectures (including several invited lecturers)
Workshops
Assessment method
Three assignments: 45% of the final grade
A video presentation of a scientific paper: 55% of the final grade
The retake exam consists of an additional homework assignment. Each additional assignment can count for 1/3 of the score.
Reading list
None
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Lecturer: Dr. P.M. (Pedro) Russo
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.