Other Academic Information

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McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning

The McGraw Center is a vital resource of teaching and learning processes available to faculty members and instructors as they advance as teachers, graduate students as they begin their teaching practice and progress as teachers and professionals, and undergraduates as they develop as learners and scholars. http://www.princeton.edu/mcgraw/about/

For Faculty: Pedagogy Programs and Workshops, Instructional Consultations, New Faculty Orientation, Mentoring Lunch Fund, The McGraw Virtual Library - Online Resources for Teaching

For Post Doctoral Associates: The Teaching Transcript, Pedagogy and Professional Development Workshops, Instructional Consultations and Class Visits, The McGraw Virtual Library - Online Resources for Teaching and Academic Work

For Graduate Students: Assistant Instructor (AI) Orientation: REQUIRED for all Astro graduate students, The Teaching Transcript, Pedagogy and Professional Development Workshops Instructional Consultations and Class Visits, The McGraw Virtual Library - Online Resources for Teaching and Academic Work

For Undergraduates: develop a personalized approach to learning in their courses, manage a challenging reading load, engage key concepts from the reading and remember them, solve demanding problem sets, balance work and life with good time management skills, identify learning preferences and study with those in mind, take effective notes and create study tools, prepare for precepts and exams, overcome test anxiety and procrastination, plan for large projects like the JP or senior thesis, give strong oral presentations


Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Princeton University is currently in compliance with NSF research grant requirements to provide Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training for all students and post-doctoral researchers. The term ‘responsible conduct of research (RCR)’ is wording for the code of ethical conduct generally agreed by experienced scientists to be the proper guide to behavior in the research arena. In accordance with RCR, CITI on-line training module is available for Princeton undergraduate and graduate students, Undergraduate Summer Program students, Visiting Student Research Collaborators, and post docs. NO grant support will be available to grant recipients who have not “passed’ this online course, It is advisable you complete the RCR Training as soon as possible, and notify Charlotte Zanidakis of your completion. There is no fee for this course. If you should have any questions regarding this certification, please contact Charlotte Zanidakis (ccooney@astro.princeton.edu). Please enter the training via the following link: https://www.citiprogram.org/enroll/courseregistration1.asp?language=english Instructions: https://www.citiprogram.org/citidocuments/Princeton_Instruction.html Choose the "Physics Students and Post docs" class.


Prison Teaching Initiative

The United States currently has, both by fraction of the population and absolute number, the highest incarceration rate in the world. This is particularly devastating among minority group citizens and the poor: 10% of college-age black men are currently incarcerated, as just one example.

As teachers, we have the opportunity to push back against this human-rights disaster. Since 2005, department members have taught college credit courses in the New Jersey state prison system. The courses are accredited by Mercer County Community College and can be used by the student towards a degree anywhere in the NJ state college system. We teach courses in mathematics from preparation courses through pre-calculus, and have recently added a course in environmental science. Together with colleagues at the Pace Center, we have formed the Prison Teaching Initiative, PTI, which also teaches courses in english and philosophy. Together with our partners, MCCC and the College of New Jersey, we have put together a two-year AA program.

The teaching and administration are carried out entirely by volunteers, who are undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, postdoctoral fellows, and staff, from astrophysics and many other departments around the university, and from the local community. If you would like to get involved, please contact Jill Knapp (gk@astro.princeton.edu). The committment is the equivalent of about a week of your time.


Princeton Astrobiology Club

The Princeton Astrobiology Club (P-ABC) was founded in March 2005 by four members of the Class of 2007: Jason Aramburu, Zach Berta, Michael Dreibelbis, and David Smith. Since receiving official endorsement from the University, P-ABC has grown in size and function, promoting interest in astrobiology and space exploration at Princeton and beyond. Now, over two hundred undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty members alike participate in discussions, lecture events, field trips, and other space happenings on campus.

The website provides information regarding P-ABC history and upcoming events. http://www.princeton.edu/~pabc/index.html


Planets and Life Certificate Program

Unraveling the origins of life on Earth and determining whether life exists beyond the Earth will likely be two of the most significant scientific discoveries in the 21st century. The Program in Planets and Life is an interdepartmental, multidisciplinary plan of study designed for students interested in these two fundamental questions. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental astrophysical, chemical, biological, and geological principles and engineering challenges that will guide our search for life in extreme environments on Earth and on other planets and satellites in the Solar System and among neighboring planetary systems. The Program will equip participating students with the skills they will require to assume a leadership role in discovering the origins of terrestrial and extraterrestrial life over the next decades. The cooperating departments from which the Program in Planets and Life draws faculty and other resources include Astrophysics, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Electrical Engineering, Geosciences, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Operations Research and Financial Engineering, and the Woodrow Wilson School.

Admission, Program of Study, and Requirements: The Program in Planets and Life is open to all A.B. and B.S.E. students. To receive a certificate, the student is expected to satisfy the following requirements: 1) taking the course ‘Life in the Universe’ AST/CHM/EEB/GEO 255; 2) taking an additional four cognate courses, only two of which can be in the student's department of concentration or can be required courses of a student’s major; 3) participating in a Planets and Life Undergraduate Colloquium; 4) conducting independent work in the junior and senior years that involves topics relevant to the certificate program.

Application: To express your interest and to apply to the Program, please contact the Program Director, Prof. Adam Burrows. We will put you on our announcement and seminar email list, as well as connect you with a mentor who can help you start crafting a personalized certificate program. Also, please make sure to register for AST/CHM/EEB/GEO 255 (Fall) "Life in the Universe." This is all you need do to embark upon the Planets and Life Certificate!

Students are encouraged to indicate their interest in the program as early as possible, but, though we will maintain some flexibility on this, we recommend that they formally apply no later than the end of their sophomore year.

Planets and Life website: http://www.princeton.edu/astrobiology/

Contact People: Prof. Adam Burrows, Program Director; burrows@astro.princeton.edu Charlotte Zanidakis, Academic Program Administrator; ccooney@astro.princeton.edu