What is different about HBCUs?

Transcription

1 What is different about HBCUs? Stephen C. McGuire Department of Physics William James Hall Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge, LA Talk presented at the 2006 Department Chairs Meeting American Center for Physics College Park, MD June 11,

2 Talk Outline Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge, Louisiana Southern University Department of Physics Undergraduate Program in Physics Recruitment and Retention Recent examples Summary & Challenges 2

3 Southern University at Baton Rouge (SUBR) SUBR is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctoral degree programs. The University is part of the only historically black Land Grant university (HBCU) system in the United States. Founded: 1880 Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Enrollment: An average of 9,000 students at SUBR each year. Programs: Bachelor s in 42 areas, 20 master s, 5 doctoral and 3 associate degrees. No. of Faculty: 570 No. of Colleges 7 3

4 SUBR Department of Physics William James Hall Room 157 Website: Chair: Stephen C. McGuire, Ph.D. Faculty: 18 Full-time, 2 part-time Degree Programs: B.S. and M.S. in Physics Research Areas: Materials, Astronomy and Particle Astrophysics, and Science Education Reform Enrollment: Undergraduate 25 Graduate 6 Major Programs: ATIC, AUGER, SSRL, LIGO, MARGIE, ICE CUBE, LSND, Timbuktu Academy Sponsored research: ~ $ 2.4 M ( ) 4

5 SUBR Department of Physics B. S. and M. S. physics program goals: Prepare the student for graduate study in physics and/or related fields. Provide a solid preparation for entry into professional schools or employment in industry. 5

6 SUBR Department of Physics Sponsored Program Funding Sources: 6

7 SUBR Department of Physics Major Research Affiliations: 7

8 Financing the Venture Financial Aid: Physics Academic Scholarships Honors College Scholarships Board of Supervisors Academic Scholarships Timbuktu Academy Physics Scholarships Work Study Research Assistantships Student Loans 8

9 Academic Support Services Academic/Career Advising: Department Faculty Advisors Departmental Tutors University Career Center University College Honors College Academic Support SU Center for Student Success 9

10 Physics Community Participation Student Community Affiliations: Society of Physics Students (SPS) Southern University Chapter 10

11 Particle Physics at CERN Geneva, Switzerland 2003 International Research Participation Pictures Courtesy the University of Michigan

12 SUBR Department of Physics Recent Department Seminar Speakers David Reitze, University of Florida LIGO: Lasers at the Frontiers of Physics SPS Seminar Series S. James Gates Jr., University of Maryland Can Superstring/M-Theory Be Seen in the Sky? SPS Seminar Series Michael Zucker, Caltech Listening to the Universe with LIGO SUBR LIGO Collaboration Edward E. Doomes, CAMD/LSU X-ray Absorption Studies of Tailored Chemical Systems Physics Department Colloquium Theda Daniels-Race, LSU Quantum Well Based Phenomena Produced via Solid Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy Physics Department Colloquium 12

13 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Off-campus summer research internships (LIGO,NIST,CAMD,SSRL,LBL, etc.) On-campus undergraduate research assistantships (academic year, summer) Volunteer research participation Honors College course credit toward graduation Subjects for Honors Theses Physics course credit (PHYS 491,492,493) 13

14 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory Sites Funded by the National Science Foundation; operated by Caltech and MIT; the research focus for about 500 LIGO Scientific Collaboration members worldwide. 14

15 Proximity of LIGO site to Southern University 15

16 Research and Teaching X-ray absorption in high purity synthetic Al 2 O 3 and LaMnO 3 -based materials Alex Harvey, Jr., Shelli Pace, Laurence L. Henry and Stephen C. McGuire Department of Physics Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD) 2001 Annual Report, p The effects of thermal insulation due to isolation in seismic vaults Keisha C. Williams Southern University Honors College Thesis Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA May 2001 Absorbance Mn(0) MnO 2 La 0.5 Ca 0.4 Sr 0.1 MnO 3 La 0.5 Ca 0.4 Ba 0.1 MnO Photon Energy (kev) 16

17 Research and Teaching Gamma-ray spectroscopy: modern physics aspects of gamma-ray measurement and detection Anthony R. Pullen Honors Option in Physics 271, Modern Physics, Spring Southern University Honors College Report Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA Surface trace element characterization of synthetic single crystal Al 2 O 3 at the SSRL * S. C. McGuire 1, M. J. Baham 1, E. Preddie 1, S. Brennan 2, K. Luening 2, P. Pianetta 2 and A. Singh 2 1 Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA * Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation: Eighth International Conference, edited by T. Warwick et al., AIP Conference Proceedings, No. 706, (2004). 17

18 Research and Teaching Applications of 99m Tc gamma-ray emission: Trace element detection and cancer diagnosis Rachel D. McKinsey Undergraduate AAPM Fellow, 2003 Department of Physics Special Problems in Physics (Physics 493; 3 cr.) Spring 2004 Supervisor: S. C. McGuire, Ph.D. Pulsar gravity-wave data search: Einstein@home Jamaal N. Johnson Southern University Honors College Thesis Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA May

19 Research Participation Cacey S. Stevens California Institute of Technology MURF Summer Intern 2006 Mentor: Eric Black, Ph.D. Thermal Noise Interferometer Test Mass Coating Studies Photo courtesy of Argonne National Laboratory (DOE). American Physical Society Minority Undergraduate Scholarship Award Winner

20 LIGO Outreach LIGO Science Education Center Partnership Using Exhibit-Based Teaching and Learning to Enhance Science Literacy MISSION To develop a Center at the LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) equipped with hands-on exhibits in LIGO-related science. To integrate the LLO Center, its exhibits and activities, into pre-service and in-service education at Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR). 20

21 LIGO Outreach SUBR LIGO EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TEAM Mildred R. Smalley, Principal Investigator Vice Chancellor for Research Ivory L. Toldson, Project Director College of Education Verjanis Peoples, Assistant Project Director Dean, College of Education Luria S. Stubblefield, Science Education Specialist Assistant Professor, College of Education S. C. McGuire, High School Content Coordinator Chair, Department of Physics Joseph Meyinsse, Middle School Content Coordinator Chair, Department of Mathematics Carolyn Person, Director of E-Learning; College of Education Ken Ford, Graduate Assistant, Science and Mathematics Education Ph.D. Program 21

22 LIGO Outreach SUBR Project Goals The overall goal of the LIGO educational outreach project is increasing the number of certified middle and high school physical science teachers. Provide LIGO science professional development to in-service and pre-service teachers. Significantly enrich K -12 education with LIGO science concepts. Increase student learning gains in LIGO science. 22

23 LIGO Outreach LIGO Science Education Partners SUBR LSC PHYSICS GROUP S. C. McGuire E. E. Doomes L. L. Henry I. W. Ruffin R. B. McNair J. N. Johnson M. E. Zucker PROJECT MISE (Modeling Inquiry-Based Science Education) J. Meyinnsse L. Stubblefield B. Rimble For more information visit: 23

24 LIGO Outreach Science Exhibit Concepts WAVES Bells Echo Tube Theremin Turn Off the Sky (giant polarizer) Vibrating String (SUBR) Water Waves Wave Machine (suspended type) Wave Propagation Device Wave Upon Wave WAVE PROPAGATION Doppler Effect Sound Spectrogram Walking Beats Watch Dog RESONANCE Pendulum Snake Pendulum Table Resonant Pendulum Resonant Rings Resonator (SUBR) Ultraviolet Greenhouse INTERFERENCE Bridge Light Interference Patterns Long Path Diffraction (SUBR) Michelson Interferometer Soap Film Painting Soap Films GRAVITY Balancing Stick Bouncing Ball Center of Gravity Falling Feather Gravity Well Gravity's Rainbow Satellite Orbit Simulator (SUBR) LASER AND LIGHT C The Light The Light Island (SUBR) Hologram Stuff Inverse Square Law Model LASER Demonstration Spectra Zeemann Effect 24

25 LIGO Outreach A Standards-based Approach SUBR- LIGO Science Hall Exhibits SUBR Physics Course Inclusion Interference Short Description Elements of Physics I&II, Links to LIGO and LA Science Framework Benchmarks Bridge Light Monochromatic interference demonstrated General Physics I&II, PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 Interference Patterns Young's double slit experiment showing wave nature of light Earth Science II models basic concepts of interferometer...ps-e-c2,ps-m- C4 Long Path Diffraction Patterns produced as a product of diffraction General Physics I&II, PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 Michelson Interferometer Mixing monochromatic waves General Physics I&II, models the big interferometer Soap Film Painting Visible light interference demonstrated General Physics I&II, PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 Soap Films Visible light interference demonstrated Elements of Physics I&II, PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 25

26 LIGO Outreach Ongoing Activities Physics Course revisions to syllabi and integrated visits to the SUBR LIGO Science Hall LIGO scientist/subr faculty collaborations in progress LIGO Exhibit Training by Exploratorium Staff May and June 2006 Delivery and Installation of exhibits at LLO Annual J. K. Haynes Teacher Preparation Conference Year-round SUBR Professional Development Workshops (MISE) On-campus Summer Program Presentations by SUBR Staff LIGO Summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program Participation Year-round LIGO teacher professional Development In-Service Workshops 26

27 Summary Early involvement (pre-college) and continuous student advising is essential Provide opportunities for student participation in creative department activities throughout their careers Be proactive about building meaningful partnerships with local and external entities Be flexible in our program offerings and emphases beyond your core requirements Participate where possible in the production of highly qualified K- 12 science teachers Maintain good communications with upper level administrators 27

28 Challenges Strengthening our student recruitment and retention efforts Enhancement of space and facilities for undergraduate and graduate education Growing the graduate and undergraduate programs together Recruiting and retaining research-active faculty, committed to effective teaching 28

29 Acknowledgments: *Work supported by NSF Grants No. PHY and PHY ; *Board of Regents Grant No SUBR-CMSS Presented at the 2006 Department Chairs Meeting American Center for Physics College Park, MD June 11,