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Gravity can focus light like a lens, allowing astronomers to see distant galaxies and explore dark matter. Join our host Summer Ash of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as she talks about how astronomers use gravitational lensing to study the universe.
The post The Baseline #17: Gravitational Lensing: Focusing On The Cosmos appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Usually it’s Octoberfest that draws a crowd to Germany this time of year. For hundreds of folks gathered at mtex antenna technology in Schkeuditz, it’s a first look at a prototype radio telescope that may one day be part one of the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescopes in the world, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). The prototype antenna was unveiled to an excited crowd of government and business leaders, scientists, engineers, and the press from Germany and US.
The prototype antenna’s 18-meter dish, just under the height of a six-story building, is composed of 76 individual aluminum panels assembled in a striking 8-sided shape. “This design allows the surface of the dish to withstand whatever the environment throws at it—extreme temperature, wind, gravity—the reflector will maintain its precise shape within several microns, the equivalent of three human hairs,” explained Lutz Stenvers, managing director of mtex antenna technology. “The structure has 724 pieces, held together with 2,500 screws, weighing in at 43 tons. This design can be shipped in multiple containers to anywhere in the world, and assembled in very little time.”
Time and distance are important factors in ngVLA’s development. A total of 244 dishes are planned for the massive instrument, with a core array of telescopes working together throughout New Mexico and the American southwest, along with a longer baseline across the US, Mexico and Canada.
The ngVLA has received funding for design and project review from the National Science Foundation (NSF), who supports the majority of NRAO’s operations, with oversight from Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI.)
This preview of the antenna was the closing event for scientists and AUI, NRAO, and NSF staff attending a workshop exploring research opportunities for the ngVLA held at Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig.
mtex has been awarded a $1 million state grant from the New Mexico Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) job-creation fund to assist with land, building, and infrastructure costs for their new Albuquerque facility. The City has pledged an additional $300,000 from its municipal LEDA funds.
NRAO’s partnerships with New Mexico Tech and the University of New Mexico are crucial to the ngVLA’s future. NRAO recently signed a new memo of understanding with the University of New Mexico to explore data housing, internships and training for astronomy, engineering, and other fields of STEM education.
Learn more about the ngVLA https://ngvla.nrao.edu/
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
The post German tech factory reveals antenna prototype—ngVLA will open a new window into the Universe appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Many objects in the Universe have magnetic fields. Planets such as Earth and Jupiter, the Sun and other stars, even galaxies billions of light years away. But these magnetic fields don’t typically emit light astronomers can see, not even in radio. So how do astronomers study the magnetic fields of distant stars and galaxies?
Although magnetic fields don’t emit light, charged particles moving in these magnetic fields often do. For example, aurora on Earth are caused by charged particles from the solar wind that are captured by Earth’s magnetic field. They spiral along the magnetic field lines until they strike our atmosphere near the north and south magnetic poles, which can create both visible and radio light. We can see the aurora on Earth and Jupiter as a beautiful curtain of colors. Astronomers have even observed the radio glow of the aurora of a brown dwarf.
When magnetic fields are extremely strong, charged particles caught in these fields can be accelerated to incredible speeds. As they accelerate around the magnetic field, the charges can emit light directly. It’s known as synchrotron radiation, and it’s often seen coming from the heated accretion disks of black holes. Astronomers can use synchrotron radiation to measure how fast the charges are moving, and how strong the magnetic field is. It has helped us understand how black holes can tear apart and consume stars and also lets astronomers determine the size of distant black holes.
Astronomers can also map weak magnetic fields. The magnetic field of the Milky Way isn’t as strong as Earth’s, but it permeates our entire galaxy. Our galaxy is filled with charged particles in the form of ionized interstellar gas. This ionized gas doesn’t emit much light on its own, but it does affect light passing through it, particularly polarized light such as that emitted by pulsars. When polarized light passes through an ionized gas, its orientation rotates. The amount the polarization rotates depends on the frequency of the light. By comparing the polarization of pulsar light at different frequencies, astronomers can map the distribution of ionized gas in the galaxy. And since this gas aligns with the galactic magnetic field, they can map the field.
We can even measure the magnetic field of a galaxy billions of light-years away. Recently the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) measured the magnetic field of a galaxy so distant its light took 11 billion years to reach us. This galaxy is particularly dusty, so ALMA observed light reflected and emitted by this dust. This light is polarized along the orientation of the dust grains, and since dust grains tend to align along magnetic field lines, astronomers could use this to map the galaxy’s magnetic field. It is the most distant galaxy known to have a magnetic field.
Astronomers don’t always need to see something to know that it’s there. They just need to see the effect they have on things they can see. From dark matter and dark energy to black holes and magnetic fields, radio astronomy helps us bring these invisible things to light.
The post How Radio Astronomy Sees Magnetic Fields appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
An event will be held onsite at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Dominici Science Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico and at the Very Large Array (VLA) next week to celebrate the release of the new book, “Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy: Early Discoveries, from the Sun to the Cosmos” by W.M. Goss (National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, New Mexico), Claire Hooker (Health and Medical Humanities, Sydney Health Ethics, Sydney, Australia) and Ronald D. Ekers (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Space and Astronomy, Sydney, Australia). This book was more than 15 years in the making, and it is a collaboration of three authors across two continents who worked together to bring to light the story of Joe Pawsey, a key figure in Australian science and, especially, radio astronomy.
The book is an innovative biography of Joe Pawsey, where the biographical structure is used to reexamine the early years of radio astronomy research, as the field emerged from radar research after WWII. Goss, Hooker and Ekers explore the scientific and social context in which Pawsey forged a career that culminated in his leading the first radio astronomy research group in Australia, one of only three worldwide. The authors are interested in different perspectives and include analysis of personalities and motivations to their discussion of how radio astronomy transformed understanding of the universe.
The authors emphasize Pawsey’s groundbreaking research, particularly his work on solar radio astronomy. Pawsey’s experiments in the 1940s led to the discovery of the association of solar radio bursts with sunspots, which revolutionized our understanding of the Sun’s activity. His innovative use of the interference between radio waves to study celestial objects laid the foundation for future development of the interferometer arrays such as the Very Large Array (VLA).
Pawsey’s vision and determination led to the establishment of the radio astronomy group of the Radiophysics Laboratory at CSIR, now CSIRO – Australia’s national science agency, in Sydney, Australia. This group became a hub for radio astronomy research, attracting scientists from around the world. Pawsey’s leadership and collaborative approach fostered an environment of innovation, resulting in numerous significant discoveries.
One of Pawsey’s most notable contributions was his participation in the Parkes Radio Observatory (opened in 1961) under the leadership of E.G. Bowen. Bowen provided the entrepreneurial role while Pawsey provided the scientific inspiration with major contributions to the design and future science program of this ground-breaking instrument. The 64-meter Parkes radio telescope, Murriyang, has produced major scientific discoveries in the intervening six decades.
“Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy” by Goss, Hooker and Ekers provides a comprehensive account of Joe Pawsey’s remarkable journey and his significant contributions to the field of radio astronomy. This book serves as a testament to Pawsey’s enduring legacy and his invaluable contributions to our understanding of the universe. W.M. Goss stated, “Pawsey’s influence on astronomy has now persisted over six decades well into the 21th century. If I might modify Issac Newton’s statement to Robert Hook in 1675: ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Pawsey, the original Giant’.”
On the 28th July 2023, an Australian book launch was held at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth. An Australian supercomputing centre, named after Joe Pawsey, which now plays a key role in the phenomenal success of the aperture synthesis radio astronomy imaging technique, a technique which was invented by Pawsey’s group and is now used throughout the world, including the Very Large Array (VLA). It will be key to the success of future telescopes such as the Next Generation VLA and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
“This open access book examines not only the life of a radio astronomy pioneer, but also the birth and growth of the field of radio astronomy and the state of science itself in twentieth century Australia. The book explains how an isolated continent with limited resources grew to be one of the international leaders in the study of radio astronomy and the design of instruments to do so,” Ronald Ekers.
If you would like to read “Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy” by Claire Hooker, Ronald D. Ekers, and W. M. Goss you can access a digital copy of the open access book here. You can also purchase a hardback or soft cover version at the Springer web site ( https://link.springer.com with keyword “pawsey”)
The post Book Release: “Joe Pawsey and the Founding of Australian Radio Astronomy” appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
The largest astronomical array in North America is one step closer to becoming a reality. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is pleased to announce that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a 3-year, $21 million grant to Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) to further the design of the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). Said Tony Beasley, Director of NRAO, “Despite challenging economic times, this award demonstrates a strong commitment from the research community and the NSF to create astronomy’s next great instrument, and continue U.S. radio astronomy leadership. NRAO is committed to begin construction of the ngVLA later this decade.”
Late this summer, the NSF formally entered the ngVLA project into the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) design process at the Conceptual Design Phase. The NSF-led Conceptual Design Review (CDR) is expected next Spring and will be supported by this most recent award. While this does not yet represent a commitment to construct the telescope, the review signals the project’s strong scientific and technical promise and growing project readiness. The three MREFC reviews (Conceptual, Preliminary, and Final) will provide NSF with the critical information needed to consider adding ngVLA construction to a budget request later this decade.
The concept for the ngVLA was created in 2016, and the telescope was presented to the ASTRO2020 Decadal Survey in 2019. Delivery of the ngVLA prototype antenna to the VLA site is expected in summer 2024.
Learn more about the ngVLA https://ngvla.nrao.edu/
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
The post $21 Million NSF Award Will Bring ngVLA Design to Life appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Albuquerque, NM, Thursday, September 7, 2023 — The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)/Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and the University of New Mexico (UNM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaborations in support of future U.S. radio astronomy initiatives.
The MOU outlines the shared interests of AUI/NRAO and UNM in increasing professional collaborations amongst scientific and engineering staff through the sharing of facilities and computing resources. The joint effort will actively identify future collaborations related to the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).
“Spread across the New Mexico landscape is one of the most iconic and consequential scientific instruments of the world, the Very Large Array. UNM is excited to be working with NRAO on the next generation of this facility, which will probe the universe and reveal new insights about the evolution of galaxies and the formation of terrestrial planets. This work will help to keep our state and our University at the forefront of human understanding of the Universe in which we live,” said James Holloway, UNM provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
The ngVLA, currently in its design phase thanks to an award from the National Science Foundation, will improve upon the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the VLBA by more than an order of magnitude. “A collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a fundamental opportunity for our researchers to innovate and design together critical infrastructure needs that will impact people for generations to come. UNM has a notable track record when it comes to the advancement of space research and science and the involvement of our community to share in our newest innovations and discoveries,” said Ellen Fisher, vice president for research at UNM.
The Astro2020 Decadal Survey Report prioritized the ngVLA as a major ground-based facility whose construction should begin this decade. Once approved, construction on the ngVLA could begin as soon as 2026, with projected early scientific observations starting in 2029 and full scientific operations by 2035. Building on the legacy of the VLA, VLBA, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the ngVLA will become the next U.S. flagship radio telescope and ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in radio astronomy. “This partnership with NRAO to support the next generation Very Large Array could bring more than 200 of the world’s best radio astronomers and engineers to the UNM campus, resulting in unparalleled education and training opportunities for UNM’s astronomy students and hundreds of new, high-paying jobs in New Mexico,” said Chris Lippitt, associate dean for research at the UNM College of Arts & Sciences.
Through this partnership, NRAO and UNM will explore the potential of establishing the UNM College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Physics & Astronomy as a host site for the ngVLA Data Processing and Science Operations Center. This site will foster close collaboration between NRAO and UNM researchers, and will also provide UNM students the opportunity to work closely with and learn from the world-class radio astronomers and engineers at AUI/ NRAO. “This memorandum of understanding between NRAO and UNM strengthens our existing partnership, is the foundation for significant cooperative work on the ngVLA, and will help ensure that the state of New Mexico remains at the center of the radio astronomy world,” said Eric Murphy, the Project Scientist for ngVLA. “We look forward to an exciting future ahead with UNM.”
This partnership is directly aligned with UNM’s 2040 goal to “Advance New Mexico” by being an economic driver for the state of New Mexico, but will also advance future leaders in radio astronomy, data science, high performance computing, and engineering. “With National Science Foundation support and Associated Universities, Inc. oversight, NRAO telescopes have put New Mexico at the heart of international radio astronomy,” said Tony Beasley, Director of NRAO. “Working with UNM gives us an even more solid foundation to create the next great instrument for the scientific community.”
The MOU also explores the potential for collaboration between UNM and AUI/NRAO to support the computational infrastructure needs for the VLBA Back End Retrofit (VBER) project. The VBER project aims to upgrade critical end-of-life electronics and improve capabilities at all 10 VLBA antenna sites.
For more information, please contact:
AUI/NRAO:
Technical Point of Contact: Eric Murphy, ngVLA Project Scientist, NRAO, [email protected]
Administrative Point of Contact: Richard Sakshaug, Contracts and Procurement Manager, [email protected]
UNM:
Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Christopher D. Lippitt, Associate Dean for Research, UNM College of Arts & Sciences, [email protected]
Administrative Point of Contact: Dr. Ellen Fisher, Vice President for Research, University of New Mexico, [email protected]
About NRAO:
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to National Radio Astronomy Observatory .
About UNM:
The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889 as the state’s flagship institution, UNM offers over 200 degree and certificate programs across 15 academic units. As the only academic institution in the state of New Mexico with a Carnegie Classification of Very High Research Activity (R1), UNM plays a critical role in educating the state’s residents and in driving its economy.
About the College of Arts & Sciences:
The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest academic unit on UNM’s campus, generating approximately $40 million in research funding each year. With over 45 majors and 68 concentrations spanning across 24 departments and schools as well as 26 academic and research programs, the College has established itself as a catalyst for academic and research excellence and innovation at UNM and throughout the state of New Mexico.
About the Department of Physics & Astronomy:
The UNM Department of Physics & Astronomy at the College of Arts & Sciences generates approximately $11 million in research funding each year. Located in the state-of-the-art Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science (PAÍS) building, the department provides their students with a broad depth of experience that puts them well ahead of their peers at similar institutions.
Media Contact:
Jill Malusky
Public Information & News Manager, NRAO
304-460-5608
Irene Gray, MPA
Marketing & Communications Manager
UNM College of Arts and Sciences Office of Research
The post Largest Telescope Array in North America Under Development by NRAO With Support from UNM appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
On August 20, 2023, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) marked 30 years since the National Science Foundation’s Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) had its inauguration ceremony in the high desert of New Mexico. In the three decades since, the VLBA has become not only one of the world’s most famous radio telescopes, but has also played a key role in radio astronomy across the country and the world.
The VLBA is a critical tool for astronomy, where knowing distances is the basis for figuring out the mass, makeup, and movement of cosmic objects. High-precision observations are the VLBA’s greatest strength. With the VLBA’s accuracy, astronomers:
In addition to these research contributions, the VLBA is utilized by the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). The USNO is a 50% funding partner with the NSF to operate the VLBA. The USNO makes use of VLBA data to develop and maintain the International Celestial Reference Frame which is used by all astronomers across the globe to define coordinates of the objects they study. The VLBA is the majority contributor of data to these reference frames.
The VLBA stations are located in areas with limited radio interference, and widely spread across the country. The distance between any two stations is known as their baseline. The longer the baseline, the better the angular resolution. The most widely separated antennas are at Mauna Kea in Hawaii and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are 8,611 km apart. While each VLBA antenna is identical, each location is unique. With antennas located from New Hampshire to Washington, from Iowa to Hawaii, and within New Mexico in Los Alamos and Pie Town, the VLBA is truly America’s telescope.
The work of the VLBA is far from over. When asked about what’s to come for the VLBA, former VLBA Director and Deputy Assistant Director for VLBA Development Walter Brisken stated, “As new technology emerges, the VLBA’s capabilities continue to grow, and it remains an innovative instrument for radio astronomy.”
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You can access more information about the VLBA HERE
About NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to National Radio Astronomy Observatory .
About USNO
The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) is a scientific and operational facility that produces positioning, navigation, and timekeeping data for the United States Navy and the United States government. Established in 1830 as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, it is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States and remains the country’s leading authority for astronomical and timing data for all purposes.
Media Contact:
Jill Malusky
Public Information & News Manager, NRAO
304-460-5608
Geoff Chester
USNO Public Affairs Officer
The post VLBA Marks 30 Years Pushing the Bounds of Science appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Following a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s (NSF’s) National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) launched a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ learners in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and discovering the excitement of ham radio. The project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) with Amateur Radio, offered its first learner-facing training in January 2023.
The Ham Radio and the EMS project goal is to introduce learners to the EMS and radio technologies by developing a scalable, shareable curriculum on NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform. The curriculum provides hands-on activities to deepen subject knowledge and strengthen learners’ STEM identity while supporting the attainment of Technician and General Class Amateur Radio Licenses. Additionally, cohort-building exercises and networking with various NRAO staff were prioritized to build comfort, trust, and confidence within the cohort.
The Wave 1 cohort completed the 20-week Technician’s license course, and five learners successfully passed the Technician’s Class license exam. Three of these newly licensed amateurs are continuing in the summer General upgrade class. General Class licenses will provide these learners with greater privileges and access to the amateur radio portions of the EMS.
Support for this first cohort continues in numerous ways, including reimbursements for membership to local clubs and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL); networking on “Harriet’s Observatory”, a virtual amateur radio club on Discord; virtual office hours with instructors upon request; and hand-on activities related to amateur radio and the use of the EMS.
Planning for the Wave 2 cohort is in progress, and it will use feedback from the first cohort of learners to improve the program. The Ham Radio and the EMS project has just finished recruitment, made offers to learners, and learners have accepted. The Wave 2 cohort will have 18 learners from across the US. Early support and engagement with amateur radio can create pathways for learners toward future STEM careers and introduce them to a lifelong, rewarding hobby.
The $315,123 ARDC grant includes support for developing curricula that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions. This curriculum is set to be available next year.
To learn more about the EMS/Ham Radio Project, please visit https://superknova.org/ham-radio-project/.
About NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to https://public.nrao.edu.
About ARDC
Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. The organization got its start by managing the AMPRNet address space, which is reserved for licensed amateur radio operators worldwide. Additionally, ARDC makes grants to projects and organizations that follow amateur radio’s practice and tradition of technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital communication science. Such experimentation has led to advances that benefit the general public, including the development of the mobile phone and wireless internet technology. ARDC envisions a world where all such technology is available through open source hardware and software, and where anyone has the ability to innovate upon it. To learn more about ARDC, please visit https://www.ardc.net/.
Media Contact:
Jill Malusky
Public Information & News Manager, NRAO
304-460-5608
Rebecca Key, KO4KVG
ARDC Communications Manager
858-477-9903
The post NRAO First Wave Completed 20 Weeks of Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Learners appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
AUI and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) have announced the recipients of the 2023 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award. Now in its third year, the scholarship recognizes the academic accomplishments of National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) alums and assists them in the transition from undergraduate to graduate programs.
Amidst the excitement of beginning graduate school and the financial considerations of tuition, there can be additional financial burdens related to moving to a new location and establishing a new residence. The AUI Board of Trustees established the new NAC scholarship award in 2021 to help NAC alums manage these expenses during the transition to the next phase of their academic careers.
This year, three NAC alums have accepted offers from outstanding graduate programs around the country. Each will receive a $5,000 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award, with AUI and NRAO’s congratulations and best wishes for a smooth start to an exciting new chapter of their lives.
2023 Recipients of the NAC Bridge Scholarship Award
NAC is a competitive program offering summer astronomy research internships to undergraduates and professional development programming and research opportunities throughout the academic careers of NAC alumni.
“This scholarship will help me acclimate to living on my own in a new city, and it will pay for various initial costs of moving, such as new cooking and cleaning supplies,” said Mohan Richter-Addo.
NAC’s goal is to increase the number of students, often underserved by the traditional academic pipeline, in STEM and STEM careers, by creating a diverse network of support for their academic and professional careers from an early stage. Miguel Montalvo said that the Bridge scholarship will make a significant difference to the next stage of his education. “This invaluable support will not only alleviate the financial burden of relocation expenses and unforeseen costs but will also enable me to embark on a transformative journey as I pursue my Ph.D, ” Miguel Montalvo said.
A key component of the NAC program has been the long-term sustained engagement of alums and, perhaps most importantly, the peer and near-peer support that NAC alums offer to each other. As Malik Bossett said, “NAC has helped me connect with other undergraduate and graduate researchers of color, along with allowing me to participate in and present at NACtober in 2020.”
NRAO and AUI appreciate the commitment that NAC alums have to each other and to their own professional journeys, and are proud of their individual and collective accomplishments.
About NAC
National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) is a program of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. NAC is a summer research experience program for undergraduate students in the United States who have been under-served by the traditional academic pipeline. The program aims to increase the number of students in STEM fields by helping them to build networks of support for success early in their academic careers and beyond.
The post AUI and the NRAO Announce the Recipients of the 2023 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award appeared first on National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
