Gamma-ray bursts are the biggest explosions since the Big Bang and the
birth cries of black holes.  In a few fleeting moments, as the gamma-ray
emission fades away, an intense race for the underlying physics begins
(usually in the middle of the night on a weekend!).  We are now using the
world's premier observational facilities (Magellan, Gemini, VLA, HST,
Spitzer, Chandra, etc.) to uncover the origin of GRBs and to use their
bright jetted afterglows as probes of the high redshift universe.  I will
summarize some recent results and present several key open questions that
can form the exciting thesis project of at least one lucky student.  As an
extension of this work, the upcoming Pan-STARRS "all-sky" survey will
revolutionize optical time-domain astronomy, and will lead to the
discovery of new types of transients.  Many of the same observational
tools that are now being used to study GRBs will be applied to the study
of Pan-STARRS transients.  I will present some of the most exciting
prospects for new discoveries, and ideas for a variety of projects.