67099 - Professional Activities

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, each student gets familiar with a series of professional software packages (graphics, text-writing, maths, data reduction packages) widely used also beyond the astronomical field. The student will also be able to efficiently write and present projects, produce professional plots and presentations, allowing an effective description of the scientific problems both in a professional way, and in an outreach mode.

Course contents

Three main options are proposed

Option *A* ---

The main aim of the conventional activity is to prepare students for an efficient writing and oral presentation of projects, both scientific and non-scientific, both in Italian and in English.

Three tests are foreseen:

Critical and analytical comparison (in Italian) between the preliminary and the final version of an observational proposal (written in English), to highlight differences, excesses, missing paragraphs, etc. Writing of the proposal abstract (in English).

2. Summary of a short Astrophysics press-release (written in English) by using the LaTeX language, also including references, figures, as well as plots built by the student by using the software discussed during the classes.

3. By groups of 3-5, conception (in Italian) of a project on any subject (from a rock concert, to a comics exhibition, etc...) and slide presentation in front of all the other students for a collegial discussion of the pros and cons of the project itself and its presentation to the audience.

Option *B* ---

For a limited number of students, a course devoted to learn how to use ZEMAX, a professional software for designing optical devices, generally used both in optical and industrial research. A few introductory lectures will be followed by practical applications.

Option *C* ---

For a limited number of students, outreach activities will be organised either at the Loiano optical observatory (OAS -INAF) or at the Medicina radioastronomical station (IRA - INAF). Alternatively, activities at the Marconi Labs (Pontecchio Marconi) mostly related to software management are offered.

Further details and updated information si available at the appropriate web page of the DIFA

Readings/Bibliography

Material provided by the teachers, and handbooks of the various software packages

Teaching methods

Brief introduction to the tests and execution at the Informatics Lab, in other rooms of the Department, and in the external Institutes corresponding to the selected option.

Assessment methods

Oral/written presentation/relation of the performed tests, or guiding groups at the selected outreach activity.

Teaching tools

Informatics Lab, beam projector, slides, web sites and guideline material provided by the teachers.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Lanzoni

See the website of Annalisa Bonafede