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Paper: Robotic Telescope Labs for Survey-Level Undergraduates
Volume: 531, ASP2020: Embracing the Future: Astronomy Teaching and Public Engagement
Page: 233
Authors: Reichart, D. E.
Abstract: For the past dozen years, UNC-Chapel Hill has been developing a unique, survey-level astronomy curriculum, primarily for undergraduate students, with the goal of significantly boosting STEM enrollments on a national scale, as well as boosting students' technical and research skills. Called “Our Place In Space!,” or OPIS!, this curriculum leverages “Skynet” — a global network of ∼2 dozen, fully automated, or robotic, professional-grade telescopes that we have deployed at some of the world's best observing sites. The curriculum has now been adopted by ∼2 dozen institutions, and we have just received $1.85M from NSF's IUSE program to expand it nationwide, with funding for participating instructors. The curriculum works equally well online as in person.
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