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Northern Illinois University

Department of Physics

Tentative Schedule

NIU QuarkNet Summer Institute for
Teachers and Students Investigating Cosmic Rays

June 9-13, 2008

 

Day 1 – June 9

9:00 a.m. Faraday West 227 (FW227)
Meet, Greet and Eat in the Department of Physics Conference Room

9:15 a.m. FW201

  1. An Introduction to NIU Physics 
  2. An Introduction to QuarkNet
  3. Individual introduction of participants - Bob Wagner, Pati Sievert & all participants
  4. Credits, CPDUs & Paperwork: 
    Attendance sheet, updated schedule for the week, treat sign-up – Pati Sievert
    Stipend forms – Pati Sievert & Bob Wagner 

9:45 a.m. FW201
Pretest  

10:00 a.m.  Break

10:15 a.m. FW201
Talk #1: “Elementary Particles: What are they and why do we care?”

11:15 a.m. FW201
Brief Presentation and Introduction to CR Detector Assembly & User agreement - Bob Wagner

12:00 p.m. Lunch - On your own. 

  1. Brown Bag it at our fountain picnic area or the Physics  Lounge or Conference Room
  2. Check out one of the many fast food places within 2 blocks of Faraday West.
  3. Student Center Cafeteria will be open Monday through Thursday

1:30 p.m. (FW233)

  1. Assembly of detector
  2. Mentor teachers working with new teachers and students with testing existing detector

4 p.m. Adjourn for the day

Day 2 – June 10

9:00 a.m. Faraday West 227 (FW227)
Meet, Greet and Eat in the Department of Physics Conference Room

9:15 a.m. FW201
Talk 2a:  "Investigating Cosmic Rays" 

10:00 a.m. Break 

10:15 a.m. FW201
Talk 2b:  "Cosmology and Cosmic Rays--What questions could Cosmic Rays help us answer?”  

11:00 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. FW 233
Activity:  Detector assembly, testing and plateauing

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. FW 201
Introduction to Cosmic Ray website (homework for the night is to familiarize yourself with the site).  Introduction to the journal feature as teachers and students will use this later in the day - Bob Peterson

2:00 p.m. FW233
Activity:  More assembly, testing and plateauing

4:00 p.m. Adjourn for the day

Day 3 – June 11

9:00 a.m. Faraday West 227 (FW227)
Meet, Greet and Eat in the Department of Physics Conference Room 

9:15 a.m. FW233
Experimenting with the detectors

11:30 a.m. - Lunch and travel to Fermilab

Gathering place at Fermilab TBA
Fermilab Tour

4:00 p.m. (or earlier) - Adjourn for day

Day 4 – June 12

9:00 a.m. Faraday West 227 (FW227)
Meet, Greet and Eat in the Department of Physics Conference Room

9:15 a.m. FW201
Talk #3:  "Particle Detectors"

10:00 a.m. Tour NICADD

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 p.m. FW233
Continue experiment

12:15 p.m. Lunch  

1:30 p.m. FW233
Cosmic ray experiment work continued, analyze data, develop online posters

 4:00 p.m.
Adjourn for day

Day 5 – June 13

9:00 a.m. Faraday West 227 (FW227)
Meet, Greet and Eat in the Department of Physics Conference Room

9:15 a.m. FW233
Fiinish cosmic ray group experiments and online posters

10:30 a.m. FW201
Group presentations

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. FW201
Finish presentations

1:30 p.m. FW201

  1. Follow-on Plans
  2. How do we design something to take back to our schools?

3:00 p.m. FW201

  1. Post Test
  2. Certificates for participants and final comments – Bob Wagner