Preliminary Conclusions

Preliminary Conclusions from Regional Workshops

Report from the AEPB, Toronto, January 1997

General

create a climate of experimentation to foster necessary changes
retain primary focus on producing first rate research scientists
take no steps to reduce enrollments or eliminate departments
shorten time to degree from median of 7 years
provide students with realistic career information
departments should maintain up-to-date career histories of all graduates and make these available to current students
broader definition of success must be transmitted to students

Broadening Academic Options

emphasize basic scientific training and problem solving skills
broaden graduate education through restructuring current curricula, rather than by adding new requirements
improve communication, team problem solving and management skills
first few years of graduate school should exposure to research and to applied areas (instrumentation, advanced computation, teaching)
all students should receive training in teaching and should be given opportunities for creative teaching experience
additional opportunities for applied internships should be made available and encouraged

Support Modes

PI supported RAs are often the best means of ensuring that graduate students work on cutting edge science
there may be benefits to increasing the fraction of students supported on fellowships, but it should not become the dominant means of support

award fellowships after 2 to 3 years in graduate school, rather than in the first year
award fellowships by competitive review of thesis proposals

there is reluctance to adopt block grants to departments
mechanisms to encourage students to pursue training in instrumentation should be found
mechanisms to provide "broadening experiences" for students should be supported, via internships in industry or national labs

Masters Degrees

Professional Masters?

there is a potential niche for professional masters degrees in astronomy-related areas :

to provide support for the increased infrastructure necessary for the next generation of telescopes
to develop sophisticated instrumentation for these telescopes
to develop outreach programs to educate the public about the importance of these telescopes and astronomy in general

there is a potential niche for professional masters in physics/astronomy departments with local ties to industry
the market for such professional masters programs should be developed by the institution in collaboration with local or regional facilities
such programs may not appeal to current crop of graduate students, but will be attractive to others not directed toward a research career

Re-Institute Required Masters ?

there is considerable interest in exploring the merits of requiring a masters degree as a necessary step on the way to a PhD
this would provide a built-in "pause and reflect" time for students
a 2.5 to 3 year required masters program could :

ensure degree had significant content, including modest research experience, "broadening options"
provide realistic "alternate career path"

national consensus would be required in order for this to be an effective approach