Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

Data analysis tasks are part of the Astronomy Olympiad in Romania. I created three problems based on real-life research projects. One problem presents noise sources characterization in gravitational wave detectors while it also assesses students’ ability to comfortably use a logarithmic scale and to perform a linear fit. One exercise uses real spectra of galaxies in the COSMOS field for Doppler shift and spectral line calculations. Data from the citizen science website Zooniverse.org is used in the third problem, presenting this novel way of research while testing pupils’ knowledge about error propagation and exoplanets. Although the short-term goal is to select the best competitors, the long-term aim is to teach all participants about current topics and methodologies in Astronomy research

Biography:

Catalina Miritescu is a third-year PhD student in gravitational waves physics at IFAE in Barcelona, Spain. She previously completed her masters in Theoretical Physics at Imperial College London, UK, and her bachelors in Astrophysics at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA. As a high school student in Romania, she participated in National and International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiads (IOAA 2012 – Gold medal, 2013 – Bronze medal, 2014 – Silver medal). After graduating high school, she became involved in the organizing of the contest at the national level, writing exam questions and acting as one of the leaders of the Theoretical Exam Subcommittee in 2022-2024.