Publications
Abstract: The Boyce Research Initiatives and Education Foundation (BRIEF) is providing semester-long, hands-on, astronomy research experiences for students of all ages that results in their publishing peer-reviewed papers. The course in astronomy and double star research has evolved from a face-to-face learning experience with two instructors to an online – hybrid course that simultaneously supports classroom instruction at a variety of schools in the San Diego area.
Currently, there are over 65 students enrolled in three community colleges, seven high schools, and one university as well as individual adult learners. Instructional experience, courseware, and supporting systems were developed and refined through experience gained in classroom settings from 2014 through 2016. Topics of instruction include Kepler’s Laws, basic astrometry, properties of light, CCD imaging, use of filters for varying stellar spectral types, and how to perform research, scientific writing, and proposal preparation.
Volunteer instructors were trained by taking the course and producing their own research papers. An expanded program was launched in the fall semester of 2016. Twelve papers from seven schools were produced; eight have been accepted for publication by the Journal of Double Observations (JDSO) and the remainder are in peer review. Three additional papers have been accepted by the JDSO and two more are in process papers. Three college professors and five advanced amateur astronomers are now qualified volunteer instructors.
Supporting tools are provided by a BRIEF server and other online services. The server-based tools range from Microsoft Office and planetarium software to top-notch imaging programs and computational software for data reduction for each student team. Observations are performed by robotic telescopes worldwide supported by BRIEF. With this success, student demand has increased significantly.
Many of the graduates of the first semester course wanted to expand their astronomy knowledge and experience. To answer this demand, BRIEF is developing additional astronomy research courses with partners in advanced astrometry, photometry, and exoplanets. The program provides a significant opportunity for schools, teachers, and advanced amateur astronomers to introduce high school and college students to astronomy, science, and STEM careers.

Authors: Christian Blanco – Mark Powers – David Gorial – Alexander Beltzer-Sweeney – Irena Stojimirovic – Ilze Sarma – Theresa Woods – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce2

Authors: Mattie Sanseverino – Nathan Bradshaw – Kathryn Chan – Vasundhara Sengupta – Nima Fariborzi – Grady Boyce – and Pat Boyce

Authors: Alex Falatoun – Janet Barrera – Anna de Neef – Aura Gonzalez – Jae Calanog – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Sebastien Cormier – Jae Calanog – Irena Stojimirovic – Jerry Hilburn – Philip Blanco – and Brodney Fitzgerald

Authors: Erica Edwards – Jose R. Garcia II – Cheyenne Terronez – Melanie Stuart – Jae Calanog – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Rachel Banister – Nikki Arman – Kendra Kleber – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Faisal AlZaben – Dmitrii Vasilenko – Gunbold Ganbold – Stuart McClanahan – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Greta van den Bergh – Hilde van den Bergh

Authors: Faisal AlZaben – Allen Priest – Stephen Priest – Rex Qiu – Grady Boyce – and Pat Boyce

Authors: Mike Chasin – Matthew Adas – Naylynn Tanon – Grady Boyce – and Pat Boyce

Authors: Kelvin Nguyen – Sibi Radhakrishnan – Max Schoenbrunner – Ariane Nazemi – Jae Calanog – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Hilde van den Bergh – Chris Olivas – Jerry Hilburn – Pat Boyce – and Grady Boyce

Authors: Galileo – Resca – Nathan – Hurdich – Kent Smith – Grady Boyce- Pat Boyce

Authors: Schuyler Smith1 , Benjamin Shimabukuro1 , Norman Negus1 , Randy Shimabukuro2 , Kent Smith3 , Pat Boyce4 , and Grady Boyce4

Authors: Parth Korat1 , Alexander Beltzer-Sweeney2 , William Vazquez1 , Kyle Correia1 ,Jae Calanog1 , Pat Boyce3 , and Grady Boyce3

Authors: Skylar Larsen1,3, Sophie Reich1,3, Ally Serrano1,3, Josh Gailey1,3 , Pat Boyce2 , Grady Boyce2 , and Kent Smith1

Authors: Bill Riley1 , Dewei Li2 , Junyao Li2 , Aren Dennis2 , Grady Boyce3 and Pat Boyce3

Authors: Anushree Chaudhuri1 and Grady Boyce

Authors: Faisal AlZaben1 , Dewei Li1 , Yongyao Li1 , Aren Dennis1 , Michael Fene2 , Grady Boyce3 , and Pat Boyce3

Authors: Zhixin Cao1 , Junyao Li1 , Jeff Li1 , Steve Qu1 , Michael Fene2 , Grady Boyce3 , and Pat Boyce

Authors: Ayden Haen1 , David Hoffman1 , Blake Howard1 , and Grady Boyce2

Authors: Christopher Salisbury1 , Elijah Countryman1 , Caleb Morris1 , and Grady Boyce2

Authors: Russell M. Genet1 , David Rowe2 , Thomas Meneghini3 , Robert Buchheim4 , Reed Estrada5 , Chris Estrada6 , Pat Boyce7 , Grady Boyce7 , John Ridgely1 , Niels Smidth1 , Richard Harshaw8 , and John Kenney9

Authors: Russell Genet1,2,3 , David Rowe4 , Thomas C. Smith5 , Alex Teiche1 , Richard Harshaw6 , Daniel Wallace3 , Eric Weise7 , Edward Wiley8 , Grady Boyce9 , Patrick Boyce9 , Detrick Branston10, Kayla Chaney11, R. Kent Clark12, Chris Estrada13, Thomas Frey1 , Reed Estrada14, Wayne Green15, Nathalie Haurberg16, John Kenney11, Greg Jones17, Sheri Loftin18, Izak McGieson16, Rikita Patel11, Josh Plummer12, John Ridgely1 , Mark Trueblood19, Donald Westergren20, and Paul Wren

Authors: Richard Harshaw1 , Gregory Jones2 , Edward Wiley3 , Patrick Boyce4 , Detrick Branston5 , David Rowe6 , and Russell Genet7

Authors: Bianca Luansing1 , Richard Mao2 , Ethan Yao2 , Ethan Black1 , Smayra Ramesh2 , and Grady Boyce3

Authors: Rick Wasson3 , Jesse Goldbaum1 , Pat Boyce4 , Robert Harwell1 , Jerry Hillburn5 , Dave Rowe6 , Sina Sadjadi1 , Donald Westergren2 , and Russell Genet7

Authors: Stephen White1 , Paige Benson1 , Sepehr Ardebilianfard1 , Gezal Bahmani1 , Alexander BeltzerSweeney1 , Irena Stojimirovic1 , Richard Harshaw 2 , Grady Boyce3 , Pat Boyce

Authors: Stephen White1 , Paige Benson1 , Sepehr Ardebilianfard1 , Gezal Bahmani1 , Irena Stojimirovic1 , Alexander Beltzer Sweeney1 , Grady Boyce2 , and Pat Boyce2

Authors: Edward Wiley1 , Richard Harshaw2 , Gregory Jones3 , Detrick Branston4 , Patrick Boyce5 , David Rowe6 , John Ridgely7 , Reed Estrada8 , and Russell Genet7