ASTR630 Assignments


Homework: Read and reread these Problem Solving Hints!


Class Project

You are all invited (required!) to attend The Exciting Results in Planetary Science Conference (TERPS) to be held Dec. 6, and Dec. 8 in the Astronomy Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Abstract Deadline is Wednesday, October 27 by 12:00 midnight EST. The conference will be attended by top researchers from around the department (you) who will be presenting 10 minute oral presentations on recent research results. Start thinking about a Planetary topic that you would like to investigate further and report on to your peers! Your main resource should be a solid Icarus paper on your topic (Icarus is the most prestigious scientific journal in Planetary Sciences), and you should consult additional papers and the text for backup material. You can search for scientific research papers by subject or author with the ADS Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstract Service. Limit your search to Icarus papars by typing "Icar." in the box under " Select References From:". Your "abstract" should consist of the reference for your paper, and a 1 page summary of its content. This summary should differ from the paper's abstract by providing more context. Describe in your own words the problem that the author's solve and why it is important.

Your presentation will be strictly limited to 7 minutes with 3 minutes for questions, so prepare accordingly. Typically you will have time to show 5-6 slides. Pitch your talk to the level others in the class who have not read your paper. Cole Miller's Ten Commandments of Oral Presentations and Further Hints on Giving Talks provide excellent advice! Conference munchies will be provided!



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