Experimental and Professional Astrophysics II module (PH32016)

This module continues the introduction to real research, its challenges and how to approach them, and moves to more advanced experimental techniques in preparation for your final year project. In this module, you will gain the necessary experience in observational astrophysics and develop your ability to communicate your knowledge professionally to other scientists and the public via outreach and public engagement activities.

You will learn how to measure and analyse different types of astrophysical data, understand the uncertainties and statistical meaning of a result, and address the challenges resulting in scientific endeavour. You will also gain confidence in presenting your results orally and in written form, learn to search and manage scientific literature, and take a leadership role in creating and delivering public engagement activities to transmit scientific knowledge to a lay audience.

Topics include:

• Performing various observation-based experiments, acquiring data through optical and radio telescopes to which you will have access, using data from the Gaia satellite, and performing some relevant physics laboratory experiments.
• Learning how to plan and execute ground-based observations, record your results, and keep track of your work in a professional lab book.
• Understanding how to assess the statistical significance of your results and avoid 'pathological science', as well as to perform risk assessments before the experimental work.
• Fitting and analysing data professionally, using Python and MATLAB in the ways required by professional, scientific practice and industry.
• Reading, understanding, and critically assessing diverse examples of scientific literature.
• Working as a team to create public engagement activities and deliver them to the public via our Student Science Fair and beyond.