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Greetings to friends and alumni of the Department of Physics and
Astronomy at Ohio University. Having completed a year of service as
Chair, I am more than ever aware of the remarkable talent, energy, and
intellectual curiosity of our students, research staff, and faculty.
The past year has been successful in many ways but also marked by many
changes. As detailed elsewhere in this Newsletter, Jean Heremans, Brian
McNamara, Michael Moore, Vicki Soghomonian, and Larry Wilen have
resigned from our faculty for a variety of personal and professional
reasons. All of these individuals were valued members of our
department; we thank them for their many contributions and wish them
well in their future endeavors.
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- We are very pleased that several new outstanding faculty have
joined the department this fall.
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- Douglas Clowe is a new Assistant Professor in Physics and
Astronomy. Doug received his PhD from the University of Hawaii, and
held postdoctoral research positions at the Max Planck Institute for
Astrophysics in Munich, the University of Bonn, and the University of
Arizona before joining us this fall. Doug has a research specialty in
observational astrophysics, and is an expert in the use of weak
gravitational lensing, which relies on the geometrical distortions of
background galaxy images to trace the total mass distribution (including
dark matter) in galaxy clusters and related objects.
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- Julie Roche has joined our department as an Assistant Professor.
Julie received her PhD from the Universite Blaise-Pascal, in
Clermont-Ferrand, France, and since 1999 has held a research position at
the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia. Julie
works in intermediate-energy nuclear and particle physics, and has
expertise in constructing both hardware and software for particle
detectors. During her first three years with us, Julie will hold a
joint appointment that will allow her to divide her time between
Jefferson Lab and Ohio University.
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- Eric Stinaff joined us in August as a new Assistant Professor.
Eric received his PhD from Iowa State University and held a postdoctoral
research position at the Naval Research Lab in Washington DC prior to
moving to Athens. Eric is an experimentalist and an expert in
spectroscopy of semiconductor nanostructures. Eric is in the process of
setting up a laser spectroscopy lab, which will add a major new
capability to our nanoscience effort.
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- Paul King moved with his wife Julie Roche (see above) to join our
faculty as a Research Assistant Professor, and will also be teaching for
us part time. Paul works in the area of experimental
intermediate-energy nuclear and particle physics. He holds a PhD from
the College of William and Mary and subsequently held postdoctoral
appointments representing the University of Maryland and the University
of Illinois at Jefferson National Lab.
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- The year 2005 was declared the World Year of Physics by various
national and international physics organizations, in recognition of the
centennial of the publication of three landmark papers by Einstein.
Many physics institutions used this opportunity to publicize what
physics is and why it is exciting. Our department was no exception,
with several public outreach events culminating in a record-setting open
house in November, with over 600 members of the public visiting
Clippinger to tour labs, try out demonstrations, and attend physics
shows. The whole department was involved in hosting this event, which
was an unqualified success. A public lecture on the physics and future
of solar power was presented by Al Compaan, chair of the Department of
Physics and Astronomy at the University of Toledo; over sixty members of
our department attended a football game immediately thereafter between
Ohio University and the University of Toledo, where physics was given
substantial publicity including a short video shown on the stadium
Jumbotron.
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- The expansion of our program in recent years has brought issues
of space to the forefront of challenges facing the department. Physics
and Astronomy remains based in Clippinger Labs, with additional offices
and research space in the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory and the
Condensed Matter and Surface Science Laboratory (""The Shed""), both
adjoining the parking lot northwest of Clippinger. With the expansion
of Art Smith's lab (see his article in this newsletter), the impetus
arrived for us to secure more research space in the former Animal
Research Building, located just north of Clippinger on University
Terrace, next to the former railroad right-of-way. In addition to space
to be used by Smith, this structure houses the laboratory of David
Russell, a Research Professor in Biological Sciences, who also holds an
Adjunct Professor appointment in physics. Russell collaborates with
Assistant Professor Alexander Neiman in our department in investigations
of biophysical processes in paddlefish. Additional laboratory space in
the same structure is occupied by researchers from the Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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- While Clippinger Research Laboratory has served us well for many
years now, it is increasingly showing its age and imposing limitations
on what we can do. Cosmetically the building has held up well and
remains an attractive home for our department. But the building
presents significant challenges to some of our functions, as a result of
vibration of laboratory floors and problems with the electrical and
ventilation system. Other occupants of the building (Chemistry,
Biochemistry) are likewise challenged by limitations in both the quality
and quantity of space available. The university has taken notice of
these concerns and is now in the initial phase of developing a
conceptual design for a major renovation of the building. The
university is also in the final stages of updating its campus master
plan, and Clippinger will remain an integral part of our science
infrastructure on campus. Several scenarios would add additional
buildings near or connected to Clippinger, so that we are able to meet
the needs of future generations of students in the physical sciences.
Our department is participating in these discussions, to ensure that the
result is both functional and consistent with the beauty of our campus.
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- We continue to attract outstanding students to our undergraduate
programs in the Honors Tutorial College and the College of Arts and
Sciences, as well as to our graduate program. Our ability to attract
excellent undergraduates and help those in need of financial assistance
has been greatly aided over the years by our endowed Shipman and Huwe
Scholarship Funds. This year the university received a generous bequest
from the estate of John Edwards to assist physics and astronomy students
of good character with financial need in meeting the costs of their
education. Dr. Edwards, who passed away in 2003, was an Ohio University
alumnus, faculty member, and chair of our department from 1951–1957.
He was also the first Distinguished Professor appointed from the
department. The first of the John Edwards Undergraduate Scholarships
will be awarded during the current academic year.
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- We are always glad to hear from our alumni, and to learn about
what is happening in your careers and lives; and we are happy to provide
this forum to help our graduates stay connected. I encourage you to
send us your news, and visit us in Athens when you can. I thank all of
you who have contributed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy
Fund, to the Shipman and Huwe Scholarship Funds (for undergraduate
scholarships), the Mark Grimes Memorial Fund (for support of
undergraduate major activities), and our other departmental funds. Your
support directly benefits our students and the opportunities we can
provide for them. Best wishes, and stay in touch.
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