page 1 why projects? reading, homework, lectures: “content”reading, homework, lectures:...

Why projects?Why projects?

• Reading, homework, lectures: “content”Reading, homework, lectures: “content”– What we know about our Solar System and others, and the What we know about our Solar System and others, and the

scientific tools used to discover this knowledgescientific tools used to discover this knowledge

• Class Projects: “enterprise of science”Class Projects: “enterprise of science”– The way we The way we reallyreally do science – starting with hunches, do science – starting with hunches,

making guesses, making many mistakes, going off on blind making guesses, making many mistakes, going off on blind roads before hitting on one that seems to be going in the roads before hitting on one that seems to be going in the right directionright direction

• You will choose a general topic. Then you will You will choose a general topic. Then you will formulate your own specific questions about the formulate your own specific questions about the topic, and figure out a strategy for answering themtopic, and figure out a strategy for answering them

• We will provide structure via “milestones” along the We will provide structure via “milestones” along the way, so you won’t get lostway, so you won’t get lost

Projects: Getting startedProjects: Getting started

• Today: Today:

– Brainstorming about potential topicsBrainstorming about potential topics– Topic selectionTopic selection– Group formationGroup formation– First meeting of your groupFirst meeting of your group

• Weekly e-mails to Claire and Jenn from each Weekly e-mails to Claire and Jenn from each of you: how are things going? (be sure to put of you: how are things going? (be sure to put “Astro18” in subject line)“Astro18” in subject line)

• Final project outcomes: last two days of classFinal project outcomes: last two days of class– Presentation in classPresentation in class– Written reportWritten report

Topics chosen in the past Topics chosen in the past (just a taste of what’s (just a taste of what’s possible)possible)

• Life elsewhere in the universeLife elsewhere in the universe

• Hazards from Outer Space: Killer asteroids and Hazards from Outer Space: Killer asteroids and cometscomets

• New theories of Solar System formationNew theories of Solar System formation

• Global warming on Earth: What’s the evidence? Global warming on Earth: What’s the evidence? Are people causing warming? How are Are people causing warming? How are predictions made?predictions made?

• Were Mars and Venus more hospitable in the Were Mars and Venus more hospitable in the past?past?

• Mars exploration by humans (or by robots)Mars exploration by humans (or by robots)

• Moons of Jupiter and SaturnMoons of Jupiter and Saturn

First task todayFirst task today

• Brainstorm about potential project topicsBrainstorm about potential project topics

• How to “brainstorm”:How to “brainstorm”:

– One person serves as scribeOne person serves as scribe

– Everyone suggests ideasEveryone suggests ideas

– Scribe writes each one downScribe writes each one down

– No criticisms allowed! Just put all the ideas downNo criticisms allowed! Just put all the ideas down

– Later you’ll decide which questions are most important, Later you’ll decide which questions are most important, most interesting, etc. DON’T do that now.most interesting, etc. DON’T do that now.

• Split into groups of 2 or 3 (your nearest neighbors?)Split into groups of 2 or 3 (your nearest neighbors?)

• Spend 10 minutes brainstorming about project Spend 10 minutes brainstorming about project topicstopics

– Toss around as many questions as you can, write them Toss around as many questions as you can, write them downdown

– What are you curious about?What are you curious about?

Brainstorming, continuedBrainstorming, continued

• Main point of brainstorming is to build Main point of brainstorming is to build on each others’ ideason each others’ ideas

• Keeping the discussion positive (no Keeping the discussion positive (no criticisms allowed) encourages criticisms allowed) encourages creativity.creativity.– Nobody should feel “turned off” or Nobody should feel “turned off” or

discourageddiscouraged

• Brainstorming a generally useful Brainstorming a generally useful methodmethod– Used in businesses, arts, as well as scienceUsed in businesses, arts, as well as science

When 10 minutes have When 10 minutes have passed, we’ll try to categorize passed, we’ll try to categorize the topicsthe topics

• Make groupings of related topicsMake groupings of related topics

• Write them on board or on sign-up Write them on board or on sign-up sheetssheets

• Ask each of you to sign up for your first Ask each of you to sign up for your first choicechoice– Include your name and email addressInclude your name and email address

• Form groups for each topic, get together Form groups for each topic, get together in classin class

Next task: today in your Next task: today in your groupsgroups

• Once you’ve chosen a topic:Once you’ve chosen a topic:

• What questions can you ask (and later What questions can you ask (and later answer) about your topic?answer) about your topic?

Example of brainstorming list Example of brainstorming list for “Pluto” - an imaginary for “Pluto” - an imaginary projectproject

• Why is Pluto so small?Why is Pluto so small?

• What is Pluto made of? How do we know?What is Pluto made of? How do we know?

• How come Pluto’s orbit is so elliptical?How come Pluto’s orbit is so elliptical?

• Did Pluto used to be an asteroid? How do we know?Did Pluto used to be an asteroid? How do we know?

• Are there other Plutos?Are there other Plutos?

• Does Pluto have an atmosphere?Does Pluto have an atmosphere?

• What could we learn from sending a spacecraft to Pluto What could we learn from sending a spacecraft to Pluto and Charon?and Charon?

• How long would it take to get there? Could it go into orbit How long would it take to get there? Could it go into orbit around Pluto?around Pluto?

• Does Pluto have seasons? What are they like?Does Pluto have seasons? What are they like?

Next task: each group work Next task: each group work on narrowing down your on narrowing down your questionsquestions

• Think about which of your questions are most Think about which of your questions are most interesting or importantinteresting or important

• Think about how you would address each one Think about how you would address each one

• Using these criteria, narrow down your list of Using these criteria, narrow down your list of questions to 3 – 5questions to 3 – 5

• Take 10 minutes nowTake 10 minutes now

• Hand in your list at end of class today (be Hand in your list at end of class today (be sure to keep copies for yourselves!)sure to keep copies for yourselves!)

By Thursday November 4th (1 By Thursday November 4th (1 wk)wk)

• Each group look into their 3-5 questions enough to get an Each group look into their 3-5 questions enough to get an idea:idea:

– Does each question still make sense? Does each question still make sense? – Flesh it out: use reference books (in Science and Flesh it out: use reference books (in Science and

Engineering Library), websites (links on class web Engineering Library), websites (links on class web page)page)

– Why is each question important?Why is each question important?– How are they related to each other?How are they related to each other?– What resources are available to address each questionWhat resources are available to address each question

– Textbooks or reference books? Articles in magazines Textbooks or reference books? Articles in magazines such as such as ScienceScience or or Scientific AmericanScientific American or or Sky and Sky and TelescopeTelescope? Websites? Journal articles?? Websites? Journal articles?

– Which group members is most interested in which Which group members is most interested in which questions? questions?

• Each group member sign up to address Each group member sign up to address 1 or 21 or 2 questions questions

• Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to [email protected] and and to to [email protected]

By Tuesday November 9thBy Tuesday November 9th

• (Group): Together write a 1 - 2 page (Group): Together write a 1 - 2 page summary of what your project is:summary of what your project is:– what are your 3 – 5 questionswhat are your 3 – 5 questions– why are they each important (one by one)why are they each important (one by one)– how are they related to each otherhow are they related to each other– what methods might you use to address themwhat methods might you use to address them

– Books? Articles in magazines such as Books? Articles in magazines such as Science or Scientific American? Websites? Science or Scientific American? Websites? Journal articles?Journal articles?

– What help can Jenn and I give youWhat help can Jenn and I give you

• Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to [email protected] and to and to [email protected]

By Tuesday November 9th, By Tuesday November 9th, cont’dcont’d

• From each individual (each of you): email to From each individual (each of you): email to usus

– A short email giving me feedback on how your A short email giving me feedback on how your group is going: did everyone participate in your group is going: did everyone participate in your brainstorming session, did you feel included or brainstorming session, did you feel included or left out, did you enjoy it?left out, did you enjoy it?

– Is someone dominating the group too much? Is someone dominating the group too much? • Are you finding the work interesting? Here’s a Are you finding the work interesting? Here’s a

place to ask advice about sources, etc.place to ask advice about sources, etc.

– I’ll ask you to do this each week, for a while at I’ll ask you to do this each week, for a while at leastleast

• Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to Put “Astro 18” in subject line, send to [email protected] and to and to [email protected]

Future project tasks (more Future project tasks (more details to come): Exploration details to come): Exploration

• First find at least 2 meaty websites, 3 First find at least 2 meaty websites, 3 informative books or book chapters, and 2 good informative books or book chapters, and 2 good articles in magazines or journals about your articles in magazines or journals about your chosen questionschosen questions

• Skim them to see if they are going to be useful Skim them to see if they are going to be useful (some won’t be); take notes on what is (some won’t be); take notes on what is interestinginteresting

• Use them to put together list of Use them to put together list of otherother potentially potentially useful books and web sites (it’s like following a useful books and web sites (it’s like following a trail ....), see if these are usefultrail ....), see if these are useful

• Compare notes with your groups, tell each other Compare notes with your groups, tell each other what you’ve foundwhat you’ve found

• Discuss what Discuss what newnew questions have arisen, and ask questions have arisen, and ask whether any seem interesting enough to pursuewhether any seem interesting enough to pursue

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