Pennsylvania
A Week With the Scientists at Penn State University
Program No. 14314RJ
Discover the science behind searching for planets, weather forecasting and materials used for energy through captivating discussions and exciting excursions with Penn State experts.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 4L 4D
1
Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Intro to Universe
University Park/State College, PA
2
Campus Tour, Solar System, Naked Eye Astronomy
University Park/State College, PA
3
Stars, Black Holes, Wormholes, James Webb Space Telescope
University Park/State College, PA
4
The Milky Way, The Big Bang Theory
University Park/State College, PA
5
Time travel, life near stars, asteroids, Astro Jeopardy
University Park/State College, PA
6
Review, Program Concludes
University Park/State College, PA
At a Glance
The sky is not the limit on this learning adventure! Choose your week to study astronomy, meteorology, or material sciences, alongside some of the nation’s leading scientists at Penn State University. Behind-the-scenes excursions and expert-led discussions allow for the exploration of asteroid impacts, weather patterns, and the discovery, design and use of solid materials, while using the most cutting-edge technology the university has to offer. Learn about detecting black holes, discover how the universe was created, and gain a deep understanding of glass and ceramics with Penn State experts.
Activity Level
Easy Going
A trolley is available to transport participants from the hotel to the campus.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn about engaging topics like astronomy, meteorology and material sciences.
- Spend a week on the Penn State University campus, attending lectures with university professors.
- Step outside the classroom and view astronomical objects through a variety of telescopes, visit a TV weather studio to learn how to read radar and understand numerical weather prediction, or participate in 3D printing and building your own solar cell.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Nolan Hines
Nolan Hines is a native Ohioan, born on a farm just south of Columbus. He attended Ohio State University intending to become a veterinarian, the became involved in singing and theatre activities. He spent eight years on the ships of Holland America Line as an entertainer, excursion assistant, and cruise director, then four years aboard The American Queen steamboat. Nolan now lives in Florida and since 2017 has enjoyed discovering the treasures of new places and helping participants to enjoy cultural highlights with Road programs.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Jon M. Nese
View biography
Jon is associate head of undergraduate programs and a teaching professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science at Penn State, where he teaches a variety of undergraduate courses. He was previously chief meteorologist at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and on-air storm analyst at The Weather Channel. He has co-authored two books: "The Philadelphia Area Weather Book," which received the 2005 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award from the American Meteorological Society, and a college-level introductory textbook, "A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology."
Nolan Hines
View biography
Nolan Hines is a native Ohioan, born on a farm just south of Columbus. He attended Ohio State University intending to become a veterinarian, the became involved in singing and theatre activities. He spent eight years on the ships of Holland America Line as an entertainer, excursion assistant, and cruise director, then four years aboard The American Queen steamboat. Nolan now lives in Florida and since 2017 has enjoyed discovering the treasures of new places and helping participants to enjoy cultural highlights with Road programs.
Chris Palma
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Chris Palma is the associate dean for undergraduate students in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. He earned a B.S. in astronomy and astrophysics from Penn State and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Virginia. For his research, he studies dwarf galaxies near the Milky Way as well as educational practices for introductory astronomy. He is actively involved in the training of K-12 science teachers.
Kevin Luhman
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Kevin Luhman is a professor at Penn State University. He earned B.S. degrees in astronomy and physics from the University of Texas and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Arizona. For his research, he studies brown dwarfs and the birth of stars and planets.
Jane Charlton
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Jane Charlton graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1983 with a B.S. in chemistry and physics. She received her Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Chicago in 1987. After postdoctoral positions at Cornell University and the University of Arizona, she came to Penn State in 1992. She is now a professor of astronomy and astrophysics, working on a variety of topics including galaxy evolution, interacting galaxies, and quasars. Charlton developed a science fiction story-based online course in Astronomy for Penn State undergraduates.
Bill Syrett
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Bill Syrett was born in Bristol, Connecticut and has been fascinated by "bad" weather since he was five years old. He received his B.S. and M.S. in meteorology and was then hired by Penn State as a research assistant. In 1995, he began his tenure as the manager of Penn State's University Park weather observatory, now the Joel N. Myers Weather Center. In that position, he oversees the daily recording of official cooperative weather observations for State College, Pennsylvania.
Stephanie Law
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Stephanie Law received her B.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Iowa State University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, respectively. She was employed as a postdoctoral researcher in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the University of Delaware as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 2014, and joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State University in 2023. She is an associate editor for the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology.
Suggested Reading List
(7 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Week With the Scientists at Penn State University
Program Number: 14314
Our Universe: An Astronomer’s Guide
Dunkley takes her readers on a grand tour of space and time, from our nearest planetary neighbors to the edge of the observable Universe. The book follows a well-trodden path, starting with an overview of the history of astronomy and a description of our Solar System. Stellar evolution is next, followed by galaxies, clusters and the mystery of dark matter. The birth, evolution and future of the Universe are discussed in the final chapters. Explanations are always clear, metaphors are to the point and arguments easy to follow. If you feel like refreshing your background knowledge, or are looking for a present for your curious niece or nephew, this little gem certainly won’t disappoint.
The Stargazer's Sister
Based on the life of Caroline Herschel, sister of famed astronomer William Herschel, who discovered several comets but struggles to be seen as anything more than her brother's sister.
The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide – 4th Edition
This classic, groundbreaking guide has been the go-to field guide for both beginning and experienced amateur astronomers for nearly 30 years. The fourth edition brings Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer's invaluable manual completely up-to-date. Setting a new standard for astronomy guides, it will serve as the touchstone for the next generation of stargazers as well as longtime devotees.
A Brief History of Time
A landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?
Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.
Constellations: The Story of Space Told Through the 88 Known Star Patterns in the Night Sky
This lavishly adorned guide to all 88 constellations in the night sky, complete with an illustrated star map for each one by esteemed stellar cartographer Wil Tirion, provides the exact location of every constellation, the details of its structure, and data on its surrounding astronomical neighbors.
Award-winning astronomy writer Govert Schilling takes us on this splendid visual tour, offering a complete history of astronomy via the lens of the constellations themselves. Organized alphabetically by constellation, his stargazing companion profiles each shining formation and includes basic info including size, visibility, and number of stars, as well as information on the discovery and official naming of the constellations and associated legends surrounding them.
The Martian: A Novel
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.
Space: 10 Things You Should Know
This book is for anyone who wants to easily understand the mind-blowing fundamentals of our extraordinary, expanding universe.
Written by Oxford astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst and composed of ten captivating, simple essays, it guides you swiftly through the galaxies, explaining the mysteries of black holes, dark matter and what existed before the Big Bang, presenting the evidence as to whether we really are alone, illuminating what we still don't know, and much more besides.
If you have big questions about Space, this book will provide you with the answers in an engaging and succinct way.