General News

The Physics Force will perform three shows on Thursday, August 25th (Opening Day/STEM Day) at the State Fair. The shows will be 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The STEM stage is located under the ramp by the grandstand. The Original Force will also perform at the U of MN stage on Saturday September 3 at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The shows are free to fair-goers.

University of Minnesota researchers are part of an international collaboration launched this week by Oxford University and the Egypt Exploration Society that applies the analysis tools of astrophysics with archeology to help decipher a collection of ancient Egyptian papyri. School of Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor Lucy Fortson in the College of Science and Engineering will lead the University of Minnesota team that includes faculty and staff from the Classical and Near Eastern Studies Department in the College of Liberal Arts and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. More »

Professor Roger Blandford, Stanford University, will deliver the 2011 Misel Family Lecture, "The Dark Side of the Universe," at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20th in the McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall. More »

Friday, July 1 marks the creation of the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics (MIfA). The Institute brings together 20 faculty members of the School of Physics and Astronomy conducting research in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and space science under a single banner. As an institute within the School, the MIfA will replace the current Department of Astronomy in administering the University's undergraduate and graduate programs in astrophysics. More »

The 2011 student awards for scholarship and fellowships are as follows: Alex Ditter won the Alfred O.C. Nier Scholarship, Nicholas Smith won the Harry and Viola St. Cyr Scholarship, Matthew Epland won the Jeffrey Basford Scholarship. More »

School of Physics and Astronomy Professor Ken Heller won the 2011 George W. Taylor/CSE Alumni Society Award for Distinguished Teaching. Established in 1982, the Taylor/CSE Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching recognizes outstanding contributions to undergraduate and/or graduate teaching.

School of Physics and Astronomy Professor Cindy Cattell has won the 2011 George W. Taylor Award for Distinguished Service. Established in 1982, the Taylor Award for Distinguished Service recognizes outstanding service to the University and voluntary public service to governmental or other public groups.

The Methods of Experimental Physics II class will hold a poster session in and nearby Room 68 (basement) of Tate Lab of Physics from 11:15 am -- 12:15pm on Friday, May 6. Students, staff and faculty are invited to view class projects and talk to the students about their research.

Professor Bob Lysak of the School of Physics and Astronomy was selected as a 2011 Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).To be elected a Fellow of AGU is a special tribute for those who have made exceptional scientific contributions. Nominated Fellows must have attained acknowledged eminence in the Earth and space sciences. This designation is conferred upon not more than 0.1% of all AGU members in any given year. New Fellows are chosen by a Committee of Fellows.

Zijun (Jimmy) Chen, a junior majoring in mathematics and physics in the College of Science and Engineering, has been named a 2011 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. Chen plans to pursue a doctorate in condensed matter physics. Under the direction of professor E. D. Dahlberg, Chen has conducted research on a variety of projects at the Magnetic Microscopy Center, including water deformation due to diamagnetism, quantification of magnetic force microscopy and domain wall pinning in permalloy nanowires. More »