1. Pre-Major in Astronomy Program (Pre-MAP)

2. Are you... ● Considering applying to the UW? ● Interested in science? ● Interested in research? ● Interested in Astronomy? ● From a traditionally underrepresented background in the sciences? Yes!?

3. Pre-MAP There's a new program for you called Pre- MAP (Pre-Major in Astronomy Program) – Research opportunities and mentorship for new freshmen considering a science major – Meet other like-minded freshmen and Astronomy graduate students & faculty – Get involved in cutting-edge science – See if a career in scientific research is what you really want

4. Pre-MAP – The Pre-MAP team will help you ● Connect to astronomy research projects ● Identify resources & opportunities at UW ● Navigate UW bureaucracy (yup, lots of red tape) ● Make your first year at UW a success ● The Pre-MAP seminar is small & supportive ● Astro 102 is also small & more advanced ● Collaboration with Astronomy faculty & grads ● Mentoring for your whole first year ● As you know... Astronomy research is cool! Benefits

5. Astro 102 ASTR 102 Introduction to Astronomy (5) NW, QSR “Emphasis on mathematical and physical comprehension of nature, the sun, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Designed for students who have had algebra and trigonometry and high school or introductory level college physics…”

6. The Pre-Map Seminar ASTR 192: Pre-Major in Astronomy Research Seminar (3) NW ● Tutorials & homework introduce research tools and introductory computing skills ● Pick a research project & work in groups of 2-3 students for 2 nd half of the quarter ● Give final presentations about your research ● Continue with research after 1 st quarter if you enjoy the project ● Present research at spring undergraduate symposium

7. Sample Research Project #1: Gravitational Lensing of QSOs ● Quasars (QSOs) emit tons of light ● It comes from energy released as matter falls onto a supermassive black hole ● You'll look for “gravitationally lensed” QSOs (light being bent by mass!) in data from Hubble Space Telescope

8. Sample Research Project #2: Supernova Search with SDSS ● Supernovae (SN) are distant explosions of dying stars ● They are some of the brightest & most violent events ● You'll use new Sloan survey data and, by subtracting images, look for bright new objects that might be Supernovae!

9. Pre-MAP Website www.astro.washington.edu/premap

10. Careers in Astronomy ● College/University Professor ● Research Scientist ● Teacher (college, high school) ● Telescope operator ● NASA - design, build and operate space telescopes, administration ● Science museum - design exhibits, give planetarium shows ● Private industry - aerospace, technology, computers ● Science writing - books, magazines, newspapers

11. Perks to being an astronomer ● Good salaries (even while you’re in school!) – Up to $35,000 a year as a graduate student – $38,000-54,000 as a post-doc – $50,000-55,000 as a lecturer – Up to $150,000 as a full professor! ● Travel to exotic places for research and conferences – Puerto Rico, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, Israel, Canary Islands, Hawaii, Yellowstone, California

12. Observing with APO (in NM!) Pre-MAP’s First Year Visit to DAO in Victoria, B.C.

13. Pre-MAP’s Second Year

14. How to Join ● Let us know today that you are interested & we'll give you registration info ● Go to the Pre-MAP web page and fill out the information form to sign up: http://www.astro.washington.edu/premap/ ● Email premap@astro.washington.edu with questions or for more information

15. Questions?