Blog 9 - Advisory Prep 3

1. State whether or not you currently have a mentor, and what the status of your interview is with that person (I have completed the interview, I have scheduled the interview, I have not scheduled the interview, etc).

I do currently have a mentor; his name is Michael Hood. I have not scheduled an interview yet.

2. At this point, your research is probably guiding your studies toward more specific areas within your topic.  Name the area or two you find most promising and explain your reasons.

Light - The reason why I am gearing more towards light is because there is a lot of information on it, yet it still remains a huge mystery.

Gravity - The reason why I am looking into gravity is because not only does it affect Earth, but it affect the entire universe. Its an interesting topic with a ton of examples and information.  

3. What kinds of sources do you think will help you in the next month to gain more research depth?  Where will you go to get them?

I am thinking books and videos will help me get into more depth on these two topics. I am planning on asking my mentor for help to find good information on it.

4. Write down a possible EQ.  Please don't worry about wording other than ensuring that it provides the option for multiple correct answers.  At this point, the senior team is most interested in understanding your thought process.

What are the possible fates of us humans and the universe?

Blog 8: Independent Component 1 Proposal

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

What I plan to do for my first independent component is to stargaze using my telescope. I want to look at stars, comets, planets, etc and identify and document what it is without outside help. After, I will look up what I’m actually looking at and do a side by side comparison. If a special astronomical event would occur, I will document that as well.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will show my evidence by doing logs, online scrapbooking, and a powerpoint.

3.  Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

I’m basically doing what astronomy is based around, stargazing. By doing so, I will understand what and how astronomers do what they do.

4.  Update your Senior Project Hours log.

Blog 7 - Second Interview Preparation

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?  If their workplace does not reflect their expertise, what makes them an expert?

Mentor: Michael Hood

Work: Mt. Sac Astronomy Professor

2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

1. Where and how did you get your physics Ph.d?
2. What research/projects did you do in your past years?
3. Why did you choose astronomy as your field of interest?
4. Can you explain what the environment surrounding you felt like when you were working on your research?
5. What were some important events you would like to mention that happened to you through your work experience?  

Blog 6 - Advisory Prep

1. What has worked well for you concerning senior project this year?  What has made it a positive experience for you?  

What worked well for me is the fact that I’m am gaining a lot of knowledge about my topic whenever I go to mentorship. Every time I go to my mentorship, I learn a ton of new things that spark my interest. The experience, I think is okay. I’m satisfied with it.

2. What are you finding difficult concerning senior project?  How can you adapt to make that portion work better for you?  How might the senior team help?

The thing I am finding difficulty in is finding a sub-topic in astronomy to focus on. There is so much to learn and so little time that I can’t possibly talk about everything. I think the only thing I really need right now is time, time to look over everything and figure out what I what to focus on. I don’t see a way the senior team can help me on this situation.

Blog 5 - Interview 1 Reflection

Who: Michael Hood

Date of Interview: 9/14/15

City/State: Walnut, California

Employer: Astronomer Mt. San Antonio College

1. What is the most important thing I learned from the interview?  Is there anything I would do differently for other interviews?

The most important thing I learned in the interview is learning how he got his master’s degree in a year and a half after undergrad school. On top of that, the advice he gave on entering the field was very useful.

2. Did I get additional resources and contacts?  What is the most useful?  Why?

I was able to get additional contacts from him. The contacts he has given to me can help me get some more hands-on training with the telescope, as well as potential interviewees. I didn’t get that much resources from him because science astronomy is such a broad topic, it is hard to find a book that talks about everything in astronomy. But, if I do find a focus in astronomy, he will  be glad to help me look for some useful resources.

3. What makes my interviewee qualified to help me?

The reason why he is qualified to help me is because he is an experienced astronomer who worked in the astronomy field for years. He has done research and projects plus he teaches astronomy to people everyday at Mt. Sac, Since he has a lot of experience, he was able to help me understand astronomy as a whole, as well as help me understand some of the steps to get ahead astronomy/physics.

Link to the audio interview

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7vfamCjNJQ6R2t3cDhJTW5JX1U/view?usp=sharing

Blog 4 - House Advisory Prep 1

What I’m hoping to get through my senior project is a better understanding of what astronomy is and why we need it. I want to learn as much I can about the topic, which I hope will help me later on in the future. It’s a simple goal, but it’s something I want as a goal.

Blog 3 - First Interview Questions

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

I plan to interview my mentor, Michael Hood, because he is the person I am the most comfortable asking right now to interview. Another reason why I want to interview him is because this will give me a chance to get to know my mentor a bit better

2.  Five questions will be assigned to all seniors to ask.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions.  

1. What inspired you to study astronomy?
2. Why do you think astronomy is important in our society?
3. What do you hope to achieve through your profession?