General Information

Welcome to the homepage for the Spring 2025 Computational Astrophysics Research Preparation (CARP) workshop – a unique mentorship and Python-based coding experience tailored for prospective community college transfer students in San Diego County.

Objective: The CARP workshop aims to equip participants with a robust programming foundation and provide relevant mentorship to facilitate their successful transition and integration into the academic environment of a four-year university.

Mentorship Component: Navigating the transition from a two-year college to a four-year university is a journey filled with unique challenges. This workshop segment will include exercises and interactive activities exploring topics such as what to expect from the transfer process, practical strategies for adapting to the four-year university setting, and the intricacies of transfer planning using tools like ASSIST and UC TAP. Additionally, we'll delve into the benefits of mentorship for academic success and share strategies for building community post-transfer.

Computational Component: Gaining fundamental programming skills before transitioning is pivotal for initiating academic research with faculty at a four-year university. In collaboration with The Carpentries, the workshop integrates lessons developed by the Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry communities. These communities consist of dedicated Instructors, Trainers, Maintainers, helpers, and supporters united by a mission to teach foundational computational and data science skills to students and researchers. Participants will acquire the basics of Python programming while gaining familiarity with widely-used tools and techniques crucial for astrophysics research.

Where: 9836 Hopkins Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093. Get directions with OpenStreetMap or Google Maps.

When: June 02-06. Add to your Google Calendar.

Requirements: Participants must bring a laptop with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) that they have administrative privileges on. They should have a few specific software packages installed (listed below).

Who can attend?: This workshop is specifically designed for community college students in San Diego County who aspire to transfer to a four-year university and engage in undergraduate research. Additionally, it aims to provide participants with relevant mentorship to enhance their transfer readiness. While there is an astrophysics focus, we welcome applications from students of all majors. Please be aware that workshop space is limited. Applicants will be selected according to a needs-based criteria, with a preference given to students who are most likely to benefit from the content covered in this workshop.

Additional eligibility information: The workshop is designed to accommodate participants with varying levels of experience. No prior coding background is required since fundamental concepts will be covered during the workshop. Some familiarity with basic astronomy concepts, such as reference frames, proper motion, isochrones, and color-magnitude diagrams, would be beneficial. However, lectures will be tailored based on participants' familiarity, as assessed through the interest form. Eligibility is primarily based on the applicant's intention to transfer in the near future, their perceived level of preparedness for the transfer process, and their interest in developing programming skills for undergraduate research.

Submit Your Application

Accessibility: We are committed to making this workshop accessible to everybody. For workshops at a physical location, the workshop organizers have checked that:

• The room is wheelchair / scooter accessible.
• Accessible restrooms are available.

Contact: Please email dcbaxter@ucsd.edu for more information.

Roles: To learn more about the roles at the workshop (who will be doing what), refer to our Workshop FAQ.

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Code of Conduct

Everyone who participates in Carpentries activities is required to conform to the Code of Conduct. This document also outlines how to report an incident if needed.

Report a Code of Conduct Incident

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Surveys

Please be sure to complete these surveys before and after the workshop.

Pre-workshop Survey

Post-workshop Survey

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Preliminary Workshop Schedule

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Setup

To participate in a Data Carpentry workshop, you will need access to software as described below. In addition, you will need an up-to-date web browser.

We maintain a list of common issues that occur during installation as a reference for instructors that may be useful on the Configuration Problems and Solutions wiki page.

The setup instructions for the Data Carpentry Astronomy workshops can be found at the curriculum site.