Program Expectations
The BinarSTAR program differs significantly from traditional courses. This page outlines what you can expect from the program and what will be expected of you as a participant.
The Research Reality
Navigating Uncertainty
Unlike traditional courses where you're given clear questions with known answers, research often involves ambiguity and uncertainty. You'll frequently encounter situations where:
- The next step isn't clearly defined
- Multiple approaches might work
- Nobody (including your mentors) knows the "right" answer
- You might need to try several approaches before finding one that works
Research Reality
"I will usually be able to give you a few ideas, but you yourself are going to have to figure out how to keep that soufflé from collapsing. This freedom allows you to explore new directions that I wouldn't have thought of and that I often do not know how to navigate or evaluate."
Time Investment
The time commitment for BinarSTAR is variable. After the first month of structured double star work, you'll define your own research goals. Often, it takes significantly more time to figure out what a good next step would be than it takes to actually accomplish the task once defined.
Learning to set achievable goals is a large part of what you'll take away from this program. You'll develop the ability to break complex problems into manageable pieces and prioritize your research efforts effectively.
Real-World Research Challenges
Embracing Risk
This is not the sheltered environment of a traditional class where effort always counts and things are "fair." For example, a new data release from a space mission might require you to completely revise your analysis—regardless of how much work you've already completed.
There will almost certainly be unexpected challenges during your project. You may need to: - Change research goals or directions as obstacles arise - Revise analyses multiple times as new data becomes available - Adapt your approach based on peer feedback - Continue work beyond scheduled program dates to complete publication
Collaborative Science
In astronomy research, collaboration is essential. You'll likely work with partners and will need to navigate team dynamics, including decisions about author order in publications. The ability to work effectively in a team is as valuable as the scientific work you produce.
Your mentor will serve not as a traditional teacher but as a collaborator and co-author. Together, you'll navigate the uncertainties of research, working to extract meaningful insights from your observations.
Mentor Relationship
In BinarSTAR, your instructors are not your "teachers" in the traditional sense. Instead, they are:
- Collaborators - Working alongside you in the research process
- Co-authors - Contributing to and guiding your writing
- Mentors - Offering advice from experience, not definitive answers
- Fellow explorers - Learning new things alongside you
This shift in relationship means you'll experience genuine scientific collaboration, where everyone contributes their expertise toward a common goal.
Evaluation Criteria
Your success in this program will be evaluated based on:
- Research process - How thoroughly and carefully you conduct your investigation
- Problem-solving - How you approach and overcome obstacles
- Scientific writing - Quality and clarity of your written work
- Teamwork - Ability to collaborate effectively
- Communication - How well you present your findings
- Adaptability - How you respond to unexpected challenges
Notice that "getting the right answer" isn't on this list—because in research, we don't know the answer in advance!
Expected Outcomes
By completing this program, you should:
- Understand how to work with astronomical data
- Know how to use fundamental research tools and databases
- Have experience writing in scientific format
- Gain confidence in presenting research findings
- Develop problem-solving skills in an open-ended research environment
- Learn to collaborate effectively in a scientific context
The most valuable outcome isn't any particular piece of knowledge, but rather the development of a scientific mindset and research capabilities that will serve you in any future scientific endeavor.
Ready to Begin?
Now that you understand what to expect, you're ready to begin your journey into double star research. The first step is learning the fundamentals of double star astronomy.