Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High School Students (REACH)

The REACH (Research Experiences in Astronomy at CIERA for High school students) program at Northwestern University’s CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) is a unique summer program designed to provide high school students with an immersive research experience in astronomy and astrophysics. The program involves working closely with CIERA graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members on cutting-edge computer simulations and theoretical calculations in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Students receive an introduction to astronomical concepts and gain hands-on experience with scientific data analysis through CIERA-built Python programming tutorials called REACHpy. This collection of Python Jupyter notebooks was reviewed by a high school astronomy teacher and is now free and open for public use. In addition to the research experience, students participate in a series of workshops focused on their professional growth, including scientific communication, college readiness, and career exploration. REACH culminates in a presentation session where students present their discoveries to their peers and the wider community. REACH is dedicated to serving those who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields by offering scholarships and prioritizing minorities and students from Title 1 schools in the application process. In this poster, we describe the program’s structure and sustainability, its impact on the participants since returning to in-person in 2022, and a preview of the upcoming 2023 summer program.