University of Arkansas---Department of Physics---Fall 2001
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Important deadline: March 1, 2002 is the deadline for Physics scholarship applications. Call, write or see http://www.uark.edu/depts/physics/undrgrad/scholar2.html for info.
PhysTEC is a project to dramatically improve the preparation of physics and physical science teachers nation-wide.
A productive Teacher-in-Residence (TIR) program is a major component of this program. The TIR, who brings the knowledge and experience of managing a student-centered science class, will assist physics faculty in revising targeted physics courses and will help team-teach the science methods courses in education. The TIR will provide continuity between science methods courses, physics courses, and activities in the local schools. The university, through PhysTEC support, will reimburse the school district for the cost for the TIRŐs replacement, while the school district continues to employ the TIR. The TIR will consult with pre-service teachers and provide a realistic understanding of what science is being taught and how it is now being taught in the schools. The TIR will offer valuable contacts with local teachers and school districts that will significantly improve practicum activities and the placement of student teachers. Besides those chosen to be TIR's, the program will benefit in-service teachers. A physics graduate credit class for in-service as well as pre-service HS physics teachers will be taught each summer. Contact Gay Stewart for details for either program.
The Physics Department at the University of Arkansas will play host to physics teachers from the tristate area (Arkansas - Oklahoma - Kansas). The meeting, a sectional meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers, will be held on October 19 and 20. Highlights will include a series of workshops, a banquet address by Dave Wall (San Francisco City College) on the "Magic of Physics and Vice Versa". Dave will also be conducting two of the workshops. In addition, Karen Williams, national president of the Society of Physics Students, will be conducting a panel discussion on physics outreach, and local SPS chapters as resources for area high schools. Victor Montemayor (Middle Tennessee State) will give an invited talk on "Innovative Methods for Teaching Algebra-based Physics." Support for attending the meeting may be available to teachers considering applying for a TIR position (see article above). For more information on this exciting meeting, go to the web page: http://physics.uark.edu/aok.
As you can easily imagine, the so-called "population explosion" problem is one in which many people are acutely interested. As the population increases, questions regarding food, shelter, medicine and detente become more and more pressing. Dr. Ed Hach develops a simple model to study poplulation growth. Read the full article here.
As part of its ongoing education outreach mission, the University of Arkansas Microelectronics-Photonics (MicroEP) graduate program has appointed Sarah Faitak as its K-12 Education Outreach director. This position was created as a part of the Center for Semiconductor Physics In Nanostructures, (C-SPIN). The center, funded by a $4.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, combines the knowledge of physics, chemistry, engineering and other sciences to develop nanostructures, or sub-microscopic structures that are assembled atom by atom. Nanostructure research develops smaller and faster components for computers and other technical equipment. "Our hope is to stimulate students throughout Arkansas to consider careers in science, math and engineering." Ms. Faitak said. Look here for the full story.
A team of undergraduates from the University of Arkansas participated in NASA's Undergraduate Reduced Gravity Program this summer at Johnson Space Center and NASA's Ellington Field. Look here for the full story.
Editor: Prof. Gay Stewart. Please contact me with comments and suggestions, Dept. of Physics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; call: (501) 575-2408, e-mail:gstewart@comp.uark.edu, or fax: (501)575-4580.
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