General News

The School welcomes the 2010 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program which begins on Monday, June 7 and lasts until Friday, August 13, 2010. The REU program brings students from universities around the country to work to do research at the School. There will be a reception for the 2010 REU participants on Friday, June 11, from 3 pm - 4 pm in Room 216.

Professor Robert Gehrz is on the scientific steering committee for the 3 billion dollar NASA project which mounted a telescope aboard a jet airplane. Gehrz appears in a video about the stratospheric observatory for infrared astronomy (SOFIA) project. More »

Professor James Kakalios will deliver an Institute of Technology Public Lecture, "The Uncanny Physics of Superheroes," on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 150 Tate Laboratory of Physics. More »

The School of Physics and Astronomy will host a group meeting of the Science Team of the Electric Field and Waves (EFW) of NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe. The meeting, coordinated by Professor John Wygant, will include physicists from 10 universities who will convene May 26-28, 2010 in 210 physics. More »

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty visited the NOvA construction site near Ash River, MN during the Fishing Opener may 13-16, 2010. The opener was held on Lake Kabetogama only a few miles from the future location of the NOvA far detector. More »

Sean Bartz, a second-year Ph.D. student at the School of Physics and Astronomy, has won a Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Fellowship. Bartz is one of 150 awardees from over 3,000 applicants for the fellowship. More »

Professor Alexander Heger has received an Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Outstanding Faculty Award. COGS began the award this year to recognize faculty members who graduate students feel go above and beyond expectations to ensure the success of graduate students, both as students and as the next generation of scholars and researchers. More »

The University of Minnesota’s popular online video, “Science of Watchmen,” featuring physics professor James Kakalios has been nominated for “Best Video” in the Variety category of the in the 14th Annual Webby Awards. More »

Professor Chandra Varma (Ph. D. Physics ‘68) of the University of California Riverside will receive an honorary doctor of science from the University on April 22, 2010. More »

The School of Physics and Astronomy will hold a graduation reception on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. in the Foyer by 150 Tate Laboratory of Physics. Staff, faculty and students are cordially invited, please RSVP to Julie Murphy by May 3, 2010.