Text Box: Knowledge comes from the stars. Text Box: Winter 2008 Text Box: Volume 1, Number 1 Text Box: Shepherd University Astronomy Newsletter Text Box: Text Box: The last decade has seen incredible development in astronomy at Shepherd University. The three pillars of our efforts (teaching, research, and outreach) have each been strengthened by the efforts of our faculty, staff, and students working together to support the educational mission of Shepherd University. Teaching: we have established a yearlong General Studies sequence in astronomy to serve the University. In addition, we have created an Honors Physical Science course with a focus on astronomical applications, and a graduate course in astronomy which supports our master’s program in education. Research: we have several ongoing research programs in Text Box: cosmology, observational astronomy, virtual reality, astronomy education, and historical astronomy. This research keeps us immersed in the dynamic fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Our continued student and faculty publication and presentation activities in these fields show evidence of our commitment. Outreach: we focus on a mission of outreach, serving the Shepherd University community and the greater public at large by sharing the wonders of the Universe with them. Through outreach, we can communicate the importance of science to our society. Text Box: Astronomy at Shepherd Continues Looking Up Text Box: New Astronomical Science Lab Established Text Box: Located in the Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center is the Astrophysical Science Lab, which is a new dedicated teaching facility used for both lecture and lab activities. The room contains equipment suitable for the teaching of a wide variety of topics in astrophysics. This lab also contains dedicated research Text Box: space and equipment, allowing faculty, staff and students to conduct original research in a number of areas of astronomy. “The opportunity to expand the sciences at Shepherd University into areas previously not a component of the institution is both exciting and necessary,” says Dr. Edward Snyder, Chair Text Box: of the Institute for Environmental Studies (which houses the Physical Sciences at Shepherd, including Astronomy). “A lab now specifically dedicated to the astronomical sciences provides that needed opportunity for our students.” Text Box: Special points of interest: New Observatory tops campus building Outreach activities conducted with area students Shepherd students publish astronomy research Text Box: Inside this issue:

New Observatory on Campus

2

Outreach: Martinsburg Civil Air Patrol

3

Outreach: Ranson

Elementary

 Elementary

3

Teaching: Jr. High Gateway Academy

3

Astronomy I

Student Image

4

Research

Happenings

4

Profile:

Dr. Jason Best

4