Welcome to the first bi-monthly issue of the SURF Newsletter. We hope that you will enjoy hearing more about the exciting undergraduate research happening at Caltech.

In This Issue:

Students and Mars Rovers

New Ideas for Old Magnetism on the Moon

Come Hear the Best SURF Talks of the Year! 

Candace Rypisi

Director, Student-Faculty Programs

Tina Dwyer at SURF event in 2004. Image Credit: Bob Paz

The Magnetic Moon

Researchers propose new theory for the moon's ancient magnetic field 
Written by Marcus Woo
Tina Dwyer is fascinated with the moon. The former Caltech undergrad has been interested in astronomy and science ever since she was a kid, she says. But it wasn't until she did a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) project at Caltech that her passion for the moon and planetary science ignited. "My SURF project kicked my interest in the moon to high gear," she says. She worked with professor of geobiology Joe Kirschvink and then-postdoc Ben Weiss on mapping the magnetic fields of tiny moon rocks-glass beads found in the lunar soil. "I spent two summers on that project, and it was awesome." Read full story  

Toni Perpall with the 2011 Perpall Competition finalists. Image Credit: Bob Paz

Student Spotlight: In January, Kevin Gu, the 2011 Perpall winner, will be representing Caltech as a plenary speaker at the National Collegiate Research Conference hosted at Harvard College.

Image Credit: Bob Paz

Thank you!

SURF depends upon the generosity of its many friends for annual gifts and for contributions to the SURF endowment. Your support helps to build a robust financial base to ensure that Caltech undergraduates continue to have a full range of opportunities to engage in research with faculty mentors. We thank you and our many donors who have supported SURF over the years!

Here's how your gift makes an impact:

$6000 supports one-time SURF stipend in full 

$3000 provides for one stipend (with equal cost-sharing from a faculty mentor)

$1000 underwrites the printing costs of an issue of the Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal 

$500 allows for 40 students to attend a summer faculty seminar luncheon (Wednesday Seminar Series)

$100 assists one student to attend the Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research to present his or her findings

$60 subsidizes the cost of one student to attend and present at  SURF Seminar Day

If you are interested in establishing a permanent, named SURF endowment, please contact Candace Rypisi at  

626-395-2885.  We would be pleased to assist you in making this gift possible. 

End-of-year gifts can be made on-line to SURF here (click on Special Gifts then SURF)  

THANK YOU!