Student Resources Made Easy: Introducing New Guides from AAS Education

Michael Foley
Harvard University

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The astronomical community has developed a wide variety of resources for undergraduate and graduate students to foster learning, support career development, and streamline research. There are so many wonderful resources, in fact, that it can feel quite daunting for students (and their mentors or instructors) to know where to look when they might have a question. In response, the AAS Education Committee has created undergraduate and graduate resource guides — living documents meant to serve as a centralized access point for students to learn about different resources that can assist their educational journey.

Each resource guide is presented in both PDF and electronic format, complete with QR codes that can be scanned by a phone to receive immediate access to the resources. Three thematic questions group the resources on each guide. We encourage the wide distribution of these resource guides via all dissemination methods. Print out the PDFs to hang in your department! Email them to your graduate and undergraduate students! Post them on social media! These guides are created by the astronomical community, for the astronomical community. 

Undergraduate Student Guide (Electronic Version, PDF)

For the undergraduate student guide, the three thematic questions are:

1. Why should I major in astronomy?
   These resources provide information about the skills and knowledge you will gain through an astronomy major. They also showcase some of the major research topics currently being explored in the field of astronomy — research in which you could be involved, even as an undergraduate!
2. What can I do with a major in astronomy?
   These resources highlight potential jobs, both inside and outside of astronomy, for which your undergraduate degree will prepare you well. Resources include: general information about graduate school in astronomy, timelines for applying for graduate school and nonacademic jobs, and general career advice.
3. How can I make the most of my major?
   These resources will help you take advantage of all the experiences and opportunities available to undergraduate astronomy majors. Resources include: summer research experience advertisements, opportunities to learn about cutting-edge research in accessible ways, tools to improve your science communication, and advice on balancing life and work/study.

Graduate Student Guide (Electronic Version, PDF)

For the graduate student guide, the three thematic questions are:

1. How do I work as a graduate student in the United States?
   These resources detail the logistics of planning for study, working, and living as a graduate student in the United States. Topics include general information about experience, timeline, pay, taxes, Visas, and conferences.
2. What are my career options with a PhD in astronomy, and how do I pursue them?
   These resources provide information about potential jobs inside and outside of astronomy for which your PhD will prepare you well. Resources include timelines for applying for academic and nonacademic jobs, career advice, and mentorship networks.
3. How do I communicate astronomy effectively?
   These resources are designed to help improve teaching, science communication with the public, and outreach at all levels. Resources include lectures on various astronomy topics, advice for conveying scientific topics to different audiences, and databases of astronomy outreach organizations.

If you have any comments or questions on the guides, please reach out to the AAS Education Committee. Since the resources are all stored in Google document format, they can be easily edited to include any resources we have missed or new ones that have just been created. We hope that these resource guides prove useful for students, their mentors and instructors, and the broader astronomical community.