During this course, students will use data collected from telescopes to complete a research project. We will use the 72? Perkins Telescope Observatory in Arizona to collect our data. All the suggested projects involve analyzing the behavior of low-mass stars using photometry taken over periods of days to months. With these data, students will be able to analyze starspots, stellar flares, and (in some cases) look for hidden companion stars based on the timing of known companions? eclipses.

In this course, the class will operate as a 'think tank' and consider an important problem for the semester. Like problems presented to a real think tank, the questions for study will be considered to have come from a specific customer who has specific requirements and reasons for requesting the study. The work will consist of three phases: (1) reflection on the question itself and preparation of a workplan to address it; (2) scientific study of the problem; and (3) formulation of recommendations and a final work product for the customer. We elaborate on each of these phases below.

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