Laura Chomiuk edited motivation.tex  about 9 years ago

Commit id: b45376adbd8a8d6c1b7a5c585886110ce43e8e71

deletions | additions      

       

Data analysis and numerical computation are now ubiquitous in astronomy and in STEM careers; yet undergraduate curricula have been slower to systematically train students in these skills. In addition to having a greater reliance on statistical and computational techniques, STEM fields (including astronomy) are increasingly collaborative. Skills such as communication and project management are an essential component of a student's education.  This gap between what is taught in courses and what is needed by the discipline is readily apparent whenthe  astronomy students begin begins  their senior thesis, theses,  which is a requirement are required  for an astronomy degree at Michigan State. As noted in the astronomy group's response to the accreditation review, \begin{quote}  During the past decade, we have found that many of our students  begin their senior thesis project without the statistical,