Dr. Paul Hardersen

Dr. Paul Hardersen is an Associate Professor in the Space Studies Department at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Hardersen is also the manager of the UND Observatory, although this is not a formally defined position at UND. Dr. Hardersen is responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and operation of the observatory’s astronomical equipment, which includes four Internet controllable‐telescopes – three optical (one 10‐ and two 16‐inch aperture) and one radio (2.1‐meter‐diameter). The optical telescopes can conduct astrometric, photometric, and visible‐wavelength spectroscopic research; the radio telescope conducts H I (i.e., neutral hydrogen) observations. All of the UND telescopes are a part of the Space Grant Internet Telescope Network (SGITN), which is a nascent national network of small, Internet‐controllable observatories that are available for research and education for college students. Please visit these web sites for more information: http://sgitn.space.edu, http://observatory.space.edu. Renovation and construction at the UND Observatory has been underway since 2005with the investment of ~$200,000 from university departmental, college, alumnus, and private donations. Dr. Hardersen has almost single‐handedly built this facility, located~10 miles west of Grand Forks on university property, from a non‐functioning site to a site that is now offering a multi‐wavelength, multi‐telescope research capability that can support faculty and student research projects from anywhere in the world via their remote operation. The UND Observatory boasts a capability available at few universities – most notably among those that do not have an astronomy department (like UND) or a long record of research in the astronomical sciences. It should also be noted that this entire effort is beyond Dr. Hardersen’s required job description of teaching, research, and service. The UND Observatory will be fully operational by August 2010. Since 2005, the UND Observatory has been used by students enrolled in SpSt 425: Observational Astronomy. The facilities have also been used to partially support one M.S. thesis research project and three M.S. independent study research projects. Hardersen, P.S., 2008. North Dakota Space Grant Consortium: The latest and greatest in 2008. Western Regional Space Grant meeting, Jackson, Wyoming, September 25‐27, 2008. Hardersen, P.S., 2008. Annual meeting of the North Dakota NASA EPSCoR Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Fargo, North Dakota, September 5, 2008. Hardersen, P.S., 2007. Annual meeting of the North Dakota NASA EPSCoR Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Fargo, North Dakota, August 23, 2008.

Broadcast 1499 (Special Edition)

Guest: Dr. Paul Hardersen. Topics: The North Dakota Space Studies Department and UND Observatory. Please note that you are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Dr. Hardersen returned to The Space Show to update us on the UND Observatory and the new fundraising campaign for the observatory system.

Broadcast 1211 (Special Edition)

Guest: Dr. Paul Hardersen. Topics: K-12 space education, STEM education, UND Space Studies programs. Dr. Paul Hardersen, Associate Professor of Space Studies, returned to the Space Show in order to discuss the new K-12 space education outreach program and more. In the first segment, we discussed the K-12 program and other Space Grant and space educational programs designed for the K-12 grades. At one point during the discussion, Dr. Hardersen said next year they would probably limit the programs to grades 8-12 as they were more appropriate.

Broadcast 955 (Special Edition)

Guest: Dr. Paul Hardersen, Assistant Professor of Space Studies at the University of North Dakota, returned as the guest for this Space Show program. We started our discussion with the new developments at Space Studies, including a new department head with the selection of Dr. David Whalen, the hiring of two new professors, Drs. Ron Fevig and Jim Cassler, and the appointment of the newest adjunct professor, Dr. John Jurist. Dr.

Broadcast 533 (Special Edition)

Dr. Paul S. Hardersen returned to this Space Show program. Dr. Hardersen began the interview by discussing important changes happening in the Space Studies Dept. at UND. One of the new developments is that the department has started a search for a new department head. You can read the description for the department head at this location, http://www.space.edu/aerospace/documents/2090%20-%20Space%20Studies%20Ch....

Broadcast 453 (Special Edition)

Dr. Paul Hardersen what the guest for this special Friday morning Space Show program. We began our discussion by inquiring about the observatory that is at the University of North Dakota, the plans for remodeling it, what it will be able to do and the opportunities it will afford students, and the fund raising campaigns designed to support the program. We then switched topics to asteroids, one of the areas of special interest and expertise for Dr. Hardersen.

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