AGISETI

ARDC-Supported GNU Radio Interactive Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence

Modular Curriculum for Community Colleges















Introducing the AGISETI Project

In collaboration with the SETI Institute, we are proud to present the AGISETI curriculum—a comprehensive initiative designed to enrich the educational experience for students studying astronomy, digital communication, introductory electronics, signal processing, and related fields. As part of the SETI Institute’s mission to inspire and educate, this ready-made curriculum offers thoughtfully designed educational materials that seamlessly integrate into your courses. By emphasizing hands-on, experiential learning, AGISETI bridges the gap between theory and real-world applications, fostering a deeper understanding and igniting curiosity in your students.

The AGISETI curriculum benefits from the SETI Institute's rich legacy and resources, immersing students in interdisciplinary learning with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) as a captivating focal point. Our materials use SETI as a gateway to explore digital communication, signal processing, and radio astronomy using powerful tools like GNU Radio and real data from the Allen Telescope Array and other world class radio telescopes. This skills-focused, project-based approach equips students to problem-solve, collaborate, and think critically, making the learning process both dynamic and impactful.

What We Provide:
AGISETI now offers two categories of curriculum materials: Modules and Labs.

1. Modules are complete teaching units built around three lectures and a lab, designed to be seamlessly integrated into an existing course. Modules include lecture notes, slides, pre-lab readings, lab manuals, instructor notes, and teaching resources. These comprehensive packages are ideal for building out a full week of instruction on a focused topic.

2. Labs are standalone activities that include a lab manual, instructor lab manual, and pre-lab reading. These can be used independently or paired with your own lectures and materials to fit the needs of your course.

Whether you are a subject matter expert or not, AGISETI materials provide everything needed to deliver an effective and engaging learning experience. All resources are designed with flexibility and accessibility in mind, making advanced topics approachable in any classroom.

If you're interested in participating in the AGISETI project, sign up for our communications lists below, or reach out to vgajjar@seti.org.

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AGISETI Labs

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Pulsars

In this lab, students explore one of the most extreme objects in the universe: pulsars, the dense remnants of supernovae that emit regular pulses of radio waves. Using GNU Radio, students will build a simple flowgraph to visualize and sonify real radio data on one of the brightest pulsars in the sky, B0329+54, observed with the Green Bank Telescope. They'll measure the pulsar's rotation period, and use this to constrain the size of the neutron star, find it's surface rotational speed, calculate it's density, and estimate it's age. These topics are connected with broader research in SETI and astrophysics, exploring how astronomers use pulsars to study the universe. The lab activities are designed to be intuitive, engaging, and accessible to students without advanced mathematics or signal processing experience.

Lab Manual Instructor Lab Manual Pre-Lab Reading Teaching Resources
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Geostationary Satellites

In this lab, students will explore geostationary satellite communications by analyzing a real transmission from GOES-17, a weather satellite observed using the Allen Telescope Array. Using GNU Radio, students will build a flowgraph to visualize the signal, measure its bandwidth, and investigate digital modulation schemes used in satellite communications. Through guided exercises, they will apply Kepler’s laws to determine the orbital properties of a geostationary satellite, calculate bit rate and symbol rate for different modulation types, and assess the impact of data relay latency when transmitting files across a multi-satellite network. This lab provides hands-on experience in radio signal analysis, digital communication fundamentals, and orbital mechanics, making it an engaging introduction to real-world satellite communication systems.

Pre-Lab Reading Lab Manual Instructor Lab Manual Teaching Resources

AGISETI Modules

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21cm Hydrogen in the Milky Way - Live Observations with the ATA

This module introduces students to the 21cm hydrogen line—a critical radio wavelength emitted by neutral hydrogen—and its significance in radio astronomy. Through hands-on activities, students will learn about the physics behind the hyperfine transition that produces the 21cm line, its use in mapping the Milky Way, and its role in understanding galaxy structure, dynamics, and dark matter. Students will operate the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to conduct live observations of the 21cm line, using the Easy ATA GUI for setup and control. They will use GNU Radio to process the collected data, visualize the hydrogen signal, and interpret spectral shifts to study the rotation of the Milky Way. By the end of the module, students will understand how neutral hydrogen is observed, how galactic structures are mapped, and how real-world radio astronomy data is acquired and analyzed.

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Lab Manual Instructor Notes Slides Teaching Resources
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Data Science in Radio Astronomy II - Detecting Voyager 1

This module builds on foundational concepts from the first data science module, preparing students for a lab focusing on detecting and analyzing signals from the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Students will explore advanced data science techniques, including noise characterization, filtering, automated peak detection, and machine learning-based signal classification. Key topics such as radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation, signal quality assessment, and noise reduction techniques will be covered using real observational data from the Allen Telescope Array and the Green Bank Telescope. Hands-on activities with GNU Radio flowgraphs and Jupyter notebooks provide practical experience in visualizing and processing spacecraft telemetry. This module deepens students' understanding of spectral analysis and digital signal processing while reinforcing essential computational tools for radio astronomy and SETI research. 

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Lab Manual Instructor Notes Teaching Resources
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Data Science in Radio Astronomy I - Hydrogen in the Milky Way

This module introduces students to the basics of radio astronomy and the structure of our galaxy through the observation of the 21cm hydrogen line. Students will learn about the Milky Way's spiral structure, the significance of the hydrogen line in radio astronomy, and how Doppler shifts can reveal the motion and rotation of our galaxy. The module includes a hands-on lab where students use GNU Radio and the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to run live observations of hydrogen in the Milky Way, enabling them to directly visualize the galaxy's structure and rotation through real-time data analysis.

Lecture Notes Slides Pre-Lab Reading Lab Manual Instructor Notes Teaching Resources
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SETI Efforts Around the World

This module provides an in-depth exploration of the global landscape of SETI research, highlighting the interdisciplinary connections between exoplanet discovery, astrobiology, and the search for biosignatures and technosignatures. Students will investigate both radio and optical SETI, learning about the instruments and observatories used in different parts of the world, from large radio arrays to specialized optical telescopes. The module covers the detection and analysis of narrowband signals, along with the search algorithms employed in these efforts, providing a comprehensive understanding of how the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is conducted globally.

Lecture Notes Additional Lecture Notes Teaching Resources
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Radio Astronomy Fundamentals II (Interferometry)

In this module, students delve into advanced topics in radio astronomy, focusing on radio interferometry, radio imaging, signal processing, beamforming, and correlation. These concepts are essential for combining data from multiple radio telescopes to create high-resolution images of astronomical objects. The module emphasizes the role of signal processing in transforming raw data into meaningful observations. In the lab, students build a simulated beamformer using GNU Radio, allowing them to explore how interferometry enhances the resolution and sensitivity of radio telescopes by combining signals from multiple antennas. This hands-on experience provides a practical understanding of the key principles involved in modern radio astronomy.

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Lab Worksheets GNU Radio Files
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Radio Astronomy Fundamentals I (Single Dish)

In this module, students are introduced to the fundamentals of single-dish radio astronomy, including atmospheric windows, 21cm hydrogen astronomy, and key discoveries like pulsars and quasars. They’ll explore the role of radio SETI, how radio telescopes work, and essential concepts such as resolution, sensitivity, and feed and antenna design. The module also covers the differences between analog and software-defined radios (SDR) and introduces digital signal processing. In the lab, students will apply these concepts by using an RTL-SDR to build an FM receiver flowgraph in GNU Radio, gaining hands-on experience with real-world radio signals.

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Lab Worksheets Teaching Resources
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Possible Types of Extraterrestrial Intelligence Radio Transmissions

In this lab, students dive into the field of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) by exploring the types of radio transmissions that may be detected from extraterrestrial sources. This module covers essential concepts in signal processing, including the Nyquist sampling theorem, filtering techniques, and modulation. Students will examine various possible SETI signal types, such as beacons, leakage signals, narrowband vs. wideband signals, as well as continuous wave and pulsed transmissions. The hands-on component involves designing and implementing an AM transmitter and receiver, allowing students to apply their understanding of signal characteristics and modulation. By the end of the lab, students will gain practical experience in signal processing while considering the broader implications of detecting signals from extraterrestrial intelligence in SETI research.

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Teaching Resources
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Introduction to Electromagnetic Waves

In this introduction to electromagnetic waves, students will delve into the foundational principles that underpin radio astronomy and digital communication. This module emphasizes how electromagnetic waves can be measured and interpreted as signals. Students will explore key properties such as wavelength and frequency, learning how to analyze waveforms and understand signal patterns. By connecting these concepts to practical applications—like detecting and measuring signals from space—students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. Through interactive experiments, they will develop a deeper understanding of electromagnetic waves as carriers of information in modern technology. 

Lecture Notes Pre-Lab Reading Lab Worksheets Teaching Resources
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