Summer Research Prize Opportunity

McMaster university is trying to encourage students to consider astronomy as a university program by offering a new summer research prize opportunity.  Since it's new -  very few people know about it - which increases your likelihood that you will win a summer research position and $6200.  

Here are the details that I've received from Sara Cormier, the outreach coordinator (same position as Dr. Michael Reid in last week's guest lecture)  from McMaster: 

I just wanted to draw your attention to a brand new research prize for first year students offered by the Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster University. Current Gr. 12 students who are interested in applying to the Chemical and Physical Science I program (formally Physical Sciences I) and considering an Honours program in the Physics Department can apply.

What is it:
The prize is a paid research position in the Department of Physics & Astronomy working under the supervision of a faculty member. In the summer (2016) after their first year of university, the prizewinner will work full time for 16 weeks in a research laboratory or theoretical group. The nominal value of the prize is $6200 plus an early start on their research career!

Applications are open now and will remain open until January 31st. Students interested in applying are asked to submit an essay describing a project related to physics, astronomy or biophysics that they have been involved in, and how it has shaped their interest in physics and astronomy. Possible examples are a science fair project, culminating task, lab experiment, volunteer position, special interest, lecture or event, club or competition, co-op placement. The essay must be 500 words or less. Applicants will be judged on their written responses and entrance average. Grades submitted with their program application will be used. 

The online application website can be accessed through www.physics.mcmaster.ca and clicking on the link "Chemical and Physical Sciences Entrance Prize in Research", you can also access it directly here. I've also attached a PDF of our advertisement poster if you would like to post in your classroom.

Related and Unrelated Stuff

ASAPscience is one of my favourite youtube channels.  It's quick and informative.    As a extension of Dr. Reid's lecture today - I give you ASAPscience's latest segment:  Can we actually live on Mars? 

I notice that some of you procrastinate regularly in class.  Some of you procrastinate with entertainment.  We are entertaining ourselves to death.  If you want to procrastinate, balance ourselves with consuming some self-improvement videos instead of mostly entertainment.  May I present to you:  LifeHack's "20 Most Inspiring TED Talks of All Time You Should Not Miss.  

...and I leave you with this animated .gif.  Start by following a leaf in the centre and see what it turns into.  It's foreshadowing for our next unit.  

A Medley of Items

Europa's Icy Plate Tectonics Supporting Life
This is an oldie but a goodie.  It relates to our upcoming chapter on geologic time and life.  New Scientist is reporting that Jupiter's moon, Europa, is currently undergoing plate tectonics.  The difference?  Europa's plates are made entirely of ice due to its distance from the sun.  No other planet is currently undergoing plate tectonics in our solar system, and with Europa's abundance of water, any similarities to Earth elicits excitement to those of us in search of extracurricular life.

Turning Peanut Butter into Diamond
Another reason why not to buy your significant other a diamond - it now can be created from peanut butter.  By trying to simulate Earth's scorching and pressure cooked conditions, scientist Dan Frost somehow stumbled upon creating a diamond from peanut butter.  Aren't you wondering why peanut butter was inside his experiment in the first place?  Read here for more!

Update in Hawaii - House Toppling Lava
The volcano that erupted in June 27 has slowly made its way 13.5 miles to this house.  Even after four months, this leading edge lava has still reached 1149 degrees Celsius, enough to melt this house in its path.  The family watched from far away as their house toppled over. This is somewhat upsetting. 

Rosetta - Finally Landing its Comet Rover
History will be made as humanity will now be landing rover Philae on a comet.  Here is a tremendous infographic depicting space satellite Rosetta and rover Philae's journey so far.

Wow - a Little Unfair isn't it?

In 2009, an earthquake in an Italian town of Aquila killed at least 309 people.  When things go badly, the public and the government look for someone to blame.

They chose the geologists.

In the courts, the geologists were found guilty of manslaughter and were originally sentenced to 6 years in prison as well as pay $10 million in damages.

Thank goodness it was appealed and the ruling was reversed.  Check out more here on BBC or motherboard.

Relative Size of Planets and Breaking News on Plate Tectonics

Here's a cool picture depicting the relative size of the planets.  I've probably shown this a couple times already, but it's just one of those things that is interesting for me to see again and again.  

Breaking news: our geology plate tectonics textbook has to be updated again if other geologists confirm this finding.  Turns out the tectonic plates aren't rigid and there is shrinking and deformation of plates due to the plates cooling.  Check it out here if you want more info.