Vision
LSIP is an innovative program for students to obtain formal knowledge and skills in (a) leadership and (b) science case flow-down for high-tech instrumentation (imagers, spectrographs, etc.) construction and management. The instruments we will focus on are those that could be used for ground-based astronomy or NASA missions (astrophysics, Earth observation, etc.).
Hi-tech Instruments
Our central goal is to increase the skillsets and knowledge base of students starting at the core of the science cases of NASA current or future missions by introducing a course in leadership and science case flow-down, with clear connections to the so-called "science traceability matrix" (STM).
Knowledge of construction of high-tech instrumentation is applicable to a host of industries (i.e. aerospace, medical imaging, military, automotive, climate monitoring, etc.) and hence is highly in demand.
Instructors
UTSA faculty, NASA scientists and related industry personnel, and instructors who specialize in organizational leadership skills are integral members of the program, offering a novel, 360 degree, and exciting multi-sector training experience.
We plan for a uniquely designed course for the USA, targeting an often ‘missing-link’ between science and engineering with the goal to bridge the two all-too-often disparate disciplines. Using evidence-based, transformative strategies in astronomy, we will enable STEM learning that is commutable to research and industry, and LSIP is tailored to address the national STEM shortage
First draft of the syllabus agenda is shown here.
Previous runs of the program have been overwhelmingly positive, teaching and forcing cross-discipline (especially engineering & astronomy/physics) collaborations that are rarely found in other courses. Please feel free to contact Dr. Chris Packham for more information.
Register at ASAP (course number MEXXXX, PHY4953, or PHY7903) or contact Prof Chris Packham for more information