Dear Friends,
Greetings from the Physics Department! During the past year many changes have occurred in our department. Professor Gupta stepped down as chair after two eventful three-year terms. Much progress was made during his tenure as you have been reading in the newsletter. The department was fortunate to have his leadership during this period of change.
The department has continued making progress in both physics research and teaching. The number of publications and external support for research have seen continued growth over the past ten years. Professor Michael Henry joined the department last Fall. His area of expertise, nonlinear optics, strengthens our optics program even further. Another area of strength in condensed matter physics is beginning to emerge. The acquisition of a molecular beam epitaxy machine made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation to Professor Salamo will enhance our capabilities to study structure and growth on a nanometer scale. The department is in the process of hiring a new faculty member to work in this exciting new field of nanostructures. With a young faculty, new ideas and enthusiasm, the department can look forward to continued progress in the years to come.
Another area where we have started to make progress is our undergraduate program. As many of you know, fewer and fewer of our nation's young people are opting to study physics. This is unfortunate and threatens the nation's scientific base. As you know, our exciting and mind-expanding field is not just for future physicists but is worthy of study by all students. Thus we should try to expose a wide range of students to the excitement of physics.
Our newly designed Bachelor of Arts (BA) physics degree program pursues this goal of bringing a wide range of students into our physics undergraduate program. The BA program is designed to prepare students for careers in business, law, medicine, science journalism, science education, and other fields where a physics background could be useful.
Changes are also underway in our Bachelor of Science (BS) program, in order to provide up-to-date skills to those graduates. We would love to hear your comments on what kinds of courses and skills would be useful. New strategies in physics teaching are being explored. Professor Stewart has been teaching a laboratory-based physics course. Professor Harter has been using computer simulation in his lectures to help visualize difficult concepts. Professor Richardson has thoroughly revised and modernized the introductory physics laboratories. Several innovative undergraduate laboratories are under development. We can look forward to an exciting time in physics teaching.
Beginning with this issue, Professor Art Hobson is taking over as the editor of this newsletter. He is also the coordinator of our BA/BS programs.
Finally, Paul Sharrah's History of the Physics Department project is complete! Professor Sharrah has worked hard on this project. For him it has been a labor of love. As of this writing publication bids were being awarded. You will receive a copy of this book shortly.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support to our department. Please continue to write. Better still, come and visit us. We would be delighted to hear about your experiences at the university, and your suggestions for program reform.
Surendra Singh, Chair