Evolution of disk galaxies

1
The Astronomy Program at UT Austin Dr Shardha
Jogee Dr. Gregory Shields

www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/ugradstudies
.html
2
The HET Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) at UT
Understanding Dark Energy is considered the 1
question in all of Science
3
The Quest for Our Origins The Hubble Ultra Deep
Field
The Hubble Ultra Deep Field deepest
visible-light image of the Universe. Million
second s exposure taken with the Hubble
Telescope in 2004. Allows us to look back 12
Gyr, out to epochs when Universe was 5 of its
present age.
4
UT Astronomy One of Top 10 US Research
Programs
(National Research Council)
Cosmology Dark Energy Galaxies
Instrumentation Stars and ISM Planets
http//www.as.utexas.edu/research
5
Astronomy Department and Mc Donald Observatory
Leaders in cosmology, galaxies, stars, the
interstellar medium, planets, the solar
system, and instrumentation.
Demographics 22 active faculty, 17
research scientists, 15
postdoctoral fellows 45
graduate students 72
undergraduates Student to (faculty
research scientist) ratio 2 to 1 ?
close interaction of students with faculty ?
classes taught by the faculty ? vibrant
research opportunities Strong external grant
funding (National Science Foundation, NASA ,etc)
yearly average 5 millions
6
Astronomy Degrees at UT Austin
1) B. S. in Astronomy (with Honors) 2) B.
A. in Astronomy (with Honors) 3) Double
degrees B. S. in Astronomy and B. S. Physics
If you are enrolled for a physics degree, it
takes only 24 extra hours of classes to get an
astronomy degree (double major) ? Can be done
in 4 years or 5 years ? Template course plan
for 4 and 5 year option in your package!
7
Options for an Astronomy Degree

• 4) Deans Scholars Program Astronomy Honors
  Degree
• Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in any major
• Smalll classes with best faculty of CNS
• Accelerated entry into advanced classes,
  flexibility in course selection
• Provides a small community within a large
  research University
• Service and leadership Emphasis on Research
• 5) Plan II Honors Program
• Education without boundaries
• Four year program, broad interdisciplinary core
  curriculum
• Humanities, sciences, social sciences
  (literature,philosophy,science )
• Majority of admits are National Merit Scholars
• Smalll classes with best faculty of CNS

8
Career Pathways with an Astronomy Degree
http//careers.ns.utexas.edu/students/careerinfo/i
nfobymajor/astronomy.html
Graduate School Research Scientist (in
universities, national observatories,NASA)
Education (Professor in universities, teaching
colleges) Science writing/Journalism Climate
research Defense Computers, electronics,
equipment design for non-astronomical
research Data analysis for non-astronomical
research Software development Government and
industry Engineering
9
Research Experience A Cornerstone of the UG
degree
Rich opportunities for UG to carry research with
faculty/staff http//www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/
education/ug-research/
UG present their research at UT and in national
conferences
10
SDSS J091833315621 H? O III 2700 km/s.
Green and black lines represent data before and
after Fe II template subtraction red line shows
fit to data.
11
(No Transcript)
12
Research Experience A Cornerstone of the UG
degree
UGs at UT have access to Mc Donald
Observatory ? home of some of the largest
telescopes in the world ? 9.2m Hobby Eberly
Telescope, 2.7m Harlan J. Smith Telescope, 2.1m,
0.8 m
13
Research Experience A Cornerstone of the UG
degree
Award funds for UG to travel and observe at Mc
Donald Observatory
14
UT is a Major Player in Next Generation
Telescopes
Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) 22 m aperture
(seven 8.4-m mirrors) First light in 2016
GMT partners include UT Austin , Harvard, MIT,
Michigan Texas AM ..
15
Rewarding Excellence
Yearly Astronomy Department awards
- Karl Henize Memorial Scholarship in
2nd/3rd year - Board of Visitor Scholarship
in 3rd/4th year - Outstanding Senior award
4th year - Astronomy Freshman Prize for
Excellence (new as of 2006)

• UT awards to Astronomy UGs
• - 2007 R.W. and Kathleen Lindsey Unrestricted
  Endowed Presidential
• Scholarship
• - 2007 2008 CNS research forum prize for best
  research presentation
• 2007 2008 Deans Honored Graduate List
• 2008 George H. Mitchell Student Award for
  Academic Excellence

National awards to Astronomy UGs -
2009 Rhodes Scholar (awarded to a 2008
Astronomy senior)
16
(No Transcript)