STEM Day in South Point Ohio at the Tri-State STEM and M Academy 5/19/2018!
On Saturday May 19th, from 10 am – 2 pm, fun was had by all at STEM Day in South Point Ohio at the Tri-State STEM and M Academy. Marshall University Physics Department Assistant Professor, Dr. Sean P. McBride, graduate student working with Dr. McBride, Ryan Vincent, and senior Applied Physics major and Society of Physics Students President, Emily Sutherland were all on hand to help students participate in classic physics demos and build mini electric motors that they got to take home with them. More pictures available on Facebook.
See article in The Ironton Tribune
Marshall University Sky Festival 5/16/2018!
Elementary school students from Cabell and Putnam counties had a great time at the 3rd annual Sky Festival held at the Marshall University! The event is sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant. Dr. Jon Saken helped to run several activities. Society of Physics Students members Emily Sutherland “SPS President” and Jason Holland “SPS Treasure” assisted in the event.
Logan High School – Projectile Motion Workshop 4/27/2018!
On 4-27-18, students from Logan HS had a fun time while learning about projectile motion at one of the spring Projectile Motion Workshops held by Dr. Sean P. McBride in the Department of Physics at Marshall University. The event was sponsored by the Physics Department within the College of Science. Society of Physics Students member Chase Preston and Eric Gandee & Jeremy McCloud, students from Dr. McBride’s PHY 211 University Physics class, assisted with guiding the students through the kinematics equations in two dimensions associated with projectile motion.
TAG Students Playing With Physics (4-24-2018)!
Talented And Gifted (TAG) students from the surrounding area had fun visiting the Physics Department today. Dr. Sean P. McBride filled in for Dr. Ralph Oberly, who with the help of David Sheehan, had everything set-up for the students. Students got to play with experiments that revolved around classical mechanics, optics, fluids, and much more including a holography set-up and thermal imaging camera. The students had fun!
Physics at Green and White Day (4-16-2018)!
As the Dean of the College of Science always says when introducing the Physics Department at Green and White Day “…and Physics is the table with the cool toys”. Come check us out at the next Green and White Day! Thanks to Dr. Jon Saken and Dr. Tom Wilson for representing the Physics Department. Interested students got to feel the concept of Conservation of Angular Momentum (why a figure skater spins faster when they pull their arms in). Understanding this is just one concept of mechanics, which is just one sub-field of physics, there are many others: optics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, just to name a few. If interested in becoming a physics major, a major that enables you to understand how the world around you works, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) publishes trends about employment and salary for BS, MS, and PhDs in Physics (plus many other stats). Also, check out some posts from our previous successful Marshall University Physics students on Alumni Spotlight.
Cabell Midland S.T.E.A.M. Knight – 4/12/2018!
On Thursday, Dr. Sean P. McBride, Assistant Professor in Physics and Sara Simpson, Academic Advisor for the College of Science teamed up to represent the Physics Department and College of Science at Cabell Midland High School for their S.T.E.A.M. FAMILY FUN KNIGHT! Fun was had by all!
Chapmanville High School – Projectile Motion Workshop 4/12/2018!
High School students from Chapmanville HS had a really great time today at the Projectile Motion Workshop held by Dr. Sean P. McBride in the Department of Physics at Marshall University. The event was sponsored by the Physics Department within the College of Science. Society of Physics Students members Casey Frye (Recruitment Officer for the Society of Physics Students) and Chase Preston assisted with guiding the students through the kinematics equations in two dimensions associated with projectile motion. Check out more pics on Facebook!
James Monroe High School – Projectile Motion Workshop 4/11/2018!
High School students from James Monroe HS had a really great time today at the Projectile Motion Workshop held by Dr. Sean P. McBride in the Department of Physics at Marshall University. The event was sponsored by the Physics Department within the College of Science. Society of Physics Students members Emily Sutherland (President of the Society of Physics Students) and Emma Lockyer (Social Media Officer of SPS) assisted with guiding the students through the kinematics equations in two dimensions associated with projectile motion. Check out more pics on Facebook!
Bowling 4-6-2018!
4/6/2018 – Faculty, staff, and student bowling at The Strike Zone. This was a pretty fun event for all those involved. Thanks to all students, faculty, and staff that could make it happen! As a department, we plan to have this or something similar each spring. I look forward to the next one!
Check out more pics on Facebook
Science Blitz 3-31-2018!
The 2018 Science Blitz was Awesome! The Physics Department welcomed K-12 students and families to the College of Science “Science Blitz” in the Science Building on March 31st, 2018 to ride the Hovercraft built by Dr. Sean P. McBride. Thank you to Society of Physics Students Emily Sutherland (SPS president), Josh Mason, Chase Preston, and hovercraft veteran and SPS member Noah Jarvis for helping to make the hovercraft event possible Also, check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MUPhysicsDept/
Pikeview High School – Projectile Motion Workshop 3/27/2018!
High School students from Pikeview HS had a really great time today at the Spring Projectile Motion Workshop held by Dr. Sean P. McBride in the Department of Physics at Marshall University. The event was sponsored by the Physics Department within the College of Science. Society of Physics Students members Aaron Murphy (Vice President of SPS) and Michael Payne assisted with guiding the students through the kinematics equations in two dimensions associated with projectile motion.
JOINT SPRING 2018 MEETING OF AAPT, APPALACHIAN & KENTUCKY SECTIONS 3/9-10/2018!
Thank you to all contributors and people who helped make for an outstanding JOINT SPRING 2018 MEETING OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS, APPALACHIAN & KENTUCKY SECTIONS
Science Olympiad (2-24-2018)!
The 2018 WV Science Olympiad was held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Marshall University. The success of the event would not have been possible without the leadership and organization of the following professors from Marshall University: Dr. Rosalynn Quiñones-Fernández from Chemistry, Dr. Jenifer Mosher from Biology, Dr. Elizabeth Niese from Mathematics, and Dr. Jon Saken from Physics. In the image we see Event Supervisor Dr. Sean P. McBride from the Physics Department with his Division C High School students who were competing in the Laser Shoot Optics Challenge. Many professors across Marshall University came together to be Event Supervisors for the many different events revolving around the STEM fields.
Parents were welcome to be organizers for a team, as long as they had one teacher liaison through a school. Homeschooled teams were also welcome! Out-of-state teams were also welcome to attend the event as practice for other events (out-of-state teams cannot place or advance to nationals through our state). WV winning teams qualify to compete in the National Tournament.
”Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization developed 30 years ago to improve the quality of science education for students. The Science Olympiad consists of interscholastic competitions for students in grades 6th-12th. It is a way to provide recognition of outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers as teams from all 50 states compete at the Regional, State and National levels.” – https://www.soinc.org/
Physics at Green and White Day (2-19-2018)!
As the Dean of the College of Science always says when introducing the Physics Department at Green and White Day “…and Physics is the table with the cool toys”. Come check us out at the next Green and White Day (April 16th 2018)! Below we see Dr. Judy Fan and Dr. Tom Wilson showing some interested students the concept of Conservation of Angular Momentum (why a figure skater spins faster when they pull their arms in). Understanding this is just one concept of mechanics, which is just one sub-field of physics, there are many others: optics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, just to name a few. If interested in becoming a physics major, a major that enables you to understand how the world around you works, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) publishes trends about employment and salary for BS, MS, and PhDs in Physics (plus many other stats). Check out the stats here. Also, check out some posts from our previous successful Marshall University Physics students on Alumni Spotlight.
Physics in the Dark (2-2-2018 & 2-16-2018)!
In the past few weeks, the Science Building has experienced several power outages, the most recent being on 2-16-2018 during Dr. McBride’s University Physics I lecture and the previous one occurring 2-2-2018 during HERD Hours hosted by Dr. McBride. The below pictures show the dedication of Marshall students who in the end persevered by cell phone light to learn physics and complete their written homework for the week in both lecture and HERD Hours! Awesome Job Students!
Physics Portable Planetarium at Meadows Elementary (1-26-2018)!
Dr. Jon Saken from the Marshall University Physics Department and Chase Preston from the Society of Physics Students debuted the Physics Department’s portable planetarium at Meadows Elementary school. The students got to explore the cosmos without leaving the comfort of their gymnasium. Everyone enjoyed themselves, including Dr. Saken and Chase.
Motor Madness with Spring Valley High School!
November 29th, 2017
In a motor workshop led by Dr. Sean P. McBride and the Society of Physics Students, students from Spring Valley High School got to build Beakman Motors and learned how electric currents, magnetic moments, and applied magnetic fields interact to produce a torque in a motor . The students got to take home their motors home and the winners with the fastest motors received an official Physics Department T-shirt or sweatshirt. Everyone enjoyed themselves. The aim for the motor madness workshop was such that the experience would encouraged and strengthen the students interest and curiosity in science and in particular physics (and have fun in the process with a little friendly competition). Students, please contact Dr. McBride (mcbrides@marshall.edu) if you have question about what you did today or want to learn more about what a degree in Physics can offer you.
Physics at Green and White Day (11-10-2017)!
The Physics Department always has cool demos for you to experience and play with at Green and White Day! Come check us out! Below we see Dr. McBride showing some interested students the concept of Conservation of Angular Momentum (why a figure skater spins faster when they pull their arms in) and Dr. Richards explaining the benefits of becoming a physics major. If interested in becoming a physics major, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) publishes trends about employment and salary for BS, MS, and PhDs in Physics (plus many other stats). Check out the stats here.
Motor Madness with Westside High School!
November 8th, 2017
It was a pleasure to meet students from Westside High School. Everyone, including our Society of Physics Students that helped out with the event, had a great time. The aim for the motor madness workshop led by Dr. Sean P. McBride and the Society of Physics Students was such that the experience would encouraged and strengthen the students interest and curiosity in science and in particular physics (and have fun in the process). Students from Westside High School got to build Beakman Motors and learned how electric currents, magnetic moments, and applied magnetic fields interact to produce a torque. The students got to take home their motors home and the winners with the fastest motors received an official Physics Department T-shirt or sweatshirt.
Science Bash – Nov 4th, 2017th (Saturday) from 2-5pm
The Physics Department welcomed K-12 students and families to the College of Science “Science Bash” in the Science Building on November 4th, 2017. This was a Halloween focused family/community science event put on by COS. There were hands-on activities. COS made sure to have traditional stuff like pumpkin carving and everything was intertwined with science fun. It was a Halloween science-themed event. The Physics Department brought the hovercraft built by Dr. Sean P. McBride so your kids (and you) can float like a ghost through the halls of the Science Building. See pics below of the hovercraft build and the kids enjoying it. A major part of the hovercraft’s success was in no small part due to the time devoted by the Society of Physics Students members helping to push kids down the hall and hand out recruitment information to interested parents.
The Finale of Physics Week – High School Physics Day
October 20th, 2017
As the finale for Physics Week, the Physics Department hosted several science oriented classes from local high schools to participate in High School Physics Day. Not including high school and university faculty and staff, this totaled approximately 100 students. This was a fantastic experience for all involved! The objective of this event was to showcase aspects of the science students would study and learn in the Physics BS degree program at Marshall through the use of demos. Nearly each physics faculty member provided a solid 80 minutes of demos to 8 smaller groups of approximately 12 students as each student group cycled through all the demos so no one missed out. Everyone enjoyed the pizza and soda lunch provided by the Physics Department. This years game was projectile motion skeet ball, which was won unexpectedly early on the first shot believe it or not! The afternoon was then filled with tours of the physics department and resources located in the College of Science, this included using a Scanning Electron Microscope, making and eating liquid nitrogen ice cream, tours of the physics department teaching & research lab space, along with department facilities. Our high school guests also got to explore the cosmos in the department’s portable planetarium. If this is an event your science class at your high school would like to participate in for next year, please RSVP for Fall 2018 with Dr. Sean P. McBride at mcbrides@marshall.edu. High school teachers are also encouraged to attend faculty research talks on Physics Research Orientation Day in Fall 2018 to learn of future research opportunities that exist for their students at Marshall.
Research Orientation Day – Faculty Talks and BBQ at Physics Week
October 18th, 2017
As part of Physics Week, from 4-6pm, the Physics Department faculty gave brief 10 minute talks describing their research interests over coffee and light refreshments (see schedule of talks); the talks culminated with BBQ food being served on Buskirk Field from 6-8pm. The BBQ at Physics Research Orientation Day was sponsored by the Physics Department along with the Marshall University’s Chapter of the Society of Physics Students. The objectives of these annual talks and casual BBQ are to inform not only newly enrolled Physics majors of the research opportunities that exist within the department, but to also to inform local area high school teachers of the research opportunities that are available to their students when they become interested in science and specifically physics. The inaugural set of talks and BBQ were both fantastic this year! There was plenty of discussion and more than enough food to go around! All high school teachers are always welcome to this event every fall. Please RSVP for Fall 2018 talks and BBQ with Dr. Sean P. McBride at mcbrides@marshall.edu
Physics Week Continues With Motor Madness!
October 17th, 2017
Physics Week at Marshall University continued today with Motor Madness under the guidance of Dr. Sean P. McBride and Dr. Jon Saken. Students from Bluefield High School got to build Beakman Motors and learned how electric currents, magnetic moments, and applied magnetic fields interact to produce a torque. The students got to take home their motors home.
Physics Week Starts With Bright Beginnings!
October 16th, 2017
Physics Week at Marshall University started off with bright beginnings as Rae Stanley and Dr. Jon Saken prepared a Dobsonian Telescope with a solar filter for students to observe the sun.
Physics Departments invites Dr. Paul T. Baker to provide Guest Lecture
October 11th, 2017
Pendulum Waves at the Huntington Area and Kanawha County College Fairs!
October 2nd & 3rd, 2017
The Physics Department enjoys participating in local college fairs and loves to show up with cool demos! This year Dr. McBride brought a pendulum wave apparatus. Over the course of 2 days, Dr. McBride talked with well of 100 students who had an interest in learning more about science and good portion of those were interested in physics specifically. Click on the link below the picture for a detailed description of the pendulum wave apparatus.
How does the pendulum wave apparatus work?
Physics at Green and White Day (9-23-2017)!
Green and White Day is a fun half-day event intended for high school juniors and seniors who would like a more in-depth look at what Marshall University has to offer – come visit the Physics table at the College of Science Showcase, we would love to talk about the opportunities that exist for you within the Physics Department. Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with professors from the Physics Department at the College of Science Showcase on Green and White Day. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to tour the Physics Department while here for Green and White Day, contact mcbrides@marshall.edu.
You can view a sample schedule here (schedules vary from semester to semester slightly). Our Fall Green and White Days will take place on Saturday, September 23, and Friday, November 10, 2017. Register for this event and reserve your spot today or call Dr. Sabrina Simpson at 304-696-2246 if you have general questions. If you want to contact someone in the Physics Department directly or have questions about the Physics Department, contact Dr. Sean P. McBride at 304-696-2758 or email mcbrides@marshall.edu.
The Great American Eclipse!
On August 21st, 2017 the Society of Physics Students (SPS) group here at Marshall and several high school volunteers participated in the solar eclipse viewing event. This was an event hosted by the College of Science as well as West Virginia’s Science Adventures. This was a huge event with thousands of people showing up. Approximately 1000 solar eclipse glasses were handed out in a matter of minutes. Our SPS group helped organized so that several Dobsonian telescopes were available on Buskirk field for the public. SPS members also helped with set-up and tear down for the event, participated in practice runs for telescope training, and spent a good part of the ~ 3-hour event running our tracking telescope with an additional high school volunteer student. Drs. Suzanne Straight, Sean P. McBride, and Jon Saken played major roles in organizing the event. Drs. Curt Foltz and Maria Hamilton assisted on the day of the event by keeping the Dobsonian telescopes aligned with the sun and explaining the eclipse being seen above the public through their glasses as well as on the big screen TV in front of them.
Click here for video link of time lapse footage (feel free to mute or lower the volume on your speakers first).
Media links for the eclipse event below:
Physics at Marshall University’s Week of Welcome Carnival!
On August 20th, 2017 the SPS group under the advisement of Dr. McBride participated in the WoW carnival at Marshall’s Week of Welcome. This was a very fun opportunity for our Society of Physics Students for recruiting majors and minors for the department. The Physics Department’s main attraction for the event was our carnival style projectile launcher game where students could launch mini cannon ball like projectiles at a target to compete for prizes. SPS members and new students alike enjoyed this event and everyone looks forward to the next one.
Physics Announces a New Area of Emphasis: Medical Imaging!
Starting Fall 2017, the Physics Department announces a new Area of Emphasis in Medical Imaging designed for those who are interested in future study or work in medical imaging (B.S. in Physics). This area of emphasis is designed to work in cooperation with a complementary area of emphasis in physics for medical imaging majors. If interested, the two separate degrees can be completed together for two bachelor’s degrees in 151 credit hours and provide students a variety of strong options for immediate employment or further studies. Taken by itself, this area of emphasis is good preparation for graduate studies in physics, medical physics, or medical imaging. Contact physics advisors Dr. Jon Saken or Dr. Maria Hamilton in the Physics Department for more details if interested.
Physics Participates in Science Olympiad!
On Feb. 11th 2017, Marshall University hosted the 3rd annual Science Olympiad for West Virginia students grades 6-12th. The event is co-coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Mosher, assistant professor of biological sciences, Dr. Jon Saken, assistant professor of physics, Dr. Elizabeth Niese, assistant professor of mathematics, and Dr. Rosalynn Quinones-Fernandez, assistant professor of chemistry. Drs. Sean and Sachiko McBride from physics also assisted by being event supervisors for the optics challenge.