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
You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have successfully registered for in MyStudyMap will automatically be displayed in MyTimeTable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.
MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).
For more information, watch the video or go to the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Please note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different
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 registering on time, i.e. 14 days before the start of the course. This can be done via Mystudymap. You do this twice a year: once for the courses you want to take in semester 1 and once for the courses you want to take in semester 2. Please note: late registration is not possible.
Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from July; registration for courses in the second semester is possible from December. First-year bachelor students are registered for semester 1 by the faculty student administration; they do not have to do this themselves. For more information, see this page.
In addition, it is mandatory for all students, including first-year bachelor students, to register for exams. This can be done up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the exam or up to five calendar days in case of a retake exam. You cannot participate in the exam or retake without a valid registration in My Studymap.
Contact
Lecturer: Dr. P.M. (Pedro) Russo
Remarks
None