Highschoolastronomy in Tucson, Arizona

The Institute for Student Astronomical Research (InStAR) is a nonprofit organization located in Tucson, Arizona, United States, dedicated to supporting undergraduate and high school student teams in conducting astronomical research. Over the past decade, students have produced 150 published papers with 500 coauthors through various Astronomy Research Seminars. Students plan their own projects, submit proposals, gather and analyze data, and present their results in published papers and public presentations. InStAR maintains a supportive community of practice by organizing conferences and workshops, publishing helpful books like the Small Telescope Astronomical Research Handbook, providing training materials, and managing a supportive website. The institution's success lies in immersing student research teams in an extensive astronomical pro-am research community and fostering its development.