News

Dr. L. Winkler, Physics and Astronomy, has co-authored a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics. The paper is authored by P.J. Chi, M. J. Engebretson, M. B. Moldwin, C. T. Russell, I. R. Mann, M. R. Hairston, M. Reno, J. Goldstein, L. I. Winkler, J. L. Cruz-Abeyro, D. H. Lee, K. Yumoto, R. Dalrymple, B. Chen, and J. P. Gibson. Read the rest of this entry →

Sophomore physics major and math and economics minor, Iwetim Abate, attended the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in University of Wisconsin, La Cross between April 11-13.The National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), established in 1987, is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Read the rest of this entry →

On the evening of April 6, the Sigma Pi Sigma Honors Society of MSUM held its annual induction ceremony for new members. To quote from the induction ceremony, “Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics, to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service within its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics.” Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:
Analyzing Brightness Variance of an SX Phoenicis Star (XX Cyg)
Shouvik Bhattacharya
Department of Physics & Astronomy | Minnesota State University Moorhead

Friday, April 5, 2013
3-3:50 p.m.
325 Hagen Hall Read the rest of this entry →

A faculty and staff team attended the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop March 21 – 23 at North Hennepin Community College. The team consisted of Shawn Garrett, Chemistry; Joe Herbst, Sustainability Coordinator; Steve Lindaas, Physics; Mazz Marry, Biosciences; Claudia Murphy, Philosophy and Women’s & Gender Studies; and Alison Wallace, Biosciences. This was the second year that MnSCU has supported this type of conference for campuses to share, learn and work on best practices.

Physics major Shouvik Bhattacharya (senior) attended the American Physical Society’s (APS) Annual March Meeting in Baltimore, MD during the weekend of March 16-19. Bhattacharya presented his senior year research project “Analyzing Brightness Variance of an SX Phoenicis Star (XX Cyg)” at the meeting. Bhattacharya said, “I joined APS back in January 2009. Since then I have always wondered what exactly it feels like to attend the APS Annual March Meeting. This meeting is considered to be one of the largest gatherings of condensed matter physicists in the US. I had a great time there.” Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM grads and Planetarium Assistant named Solar System Ambassadors in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

By: Anna G. Larson, INFORUM

FARGO – “To infinity and beyond” is more than Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase from “Toy Story” – it’s what keeps five North Dakota women interested in astronomy.

“Space is inherently cool. We’re just such a small part – it’s fun learning about things outside of our daily lives, thinking about what other life there might be,” Katrina Jackson, of Grand Forks, says.

Jackson, along with Kristin Brevik, Scarlet Gray Bernard, Carrie Leopold and Annie Wargetz, is a Solar System Ambassador this year in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory public outreach program. Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:

What is Psychophysics?
Michael Mangini, Ph.D.
Professor of Cognitive Psychology
Department of Psychology, Concordia College, Moorhead

Friday, March 22, 2013
3-3:50 p.m.
118 Science Lab Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:
Yes We Can -Do Theory In Membrane Biophysics

Sylvio May, Associate Professor
Department of Physics, North Dakota State University

Friday, March 8, 2013
3:00-3:50 p.m.
325 Hagen Hall Read the rest of this entry →

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) hosted a regional meeting this weekend in the Science Lab building. Undergraduate physics students from three institutions: North Dakota State University, Augustana College from Sioux Falls and Minnesota State University Moorhead attended the meeting.

Shouvik Bhattacharya, the Sigma Pi Sigma Student Representative of MSUM, said, “The last zone meeting was held at the UW-River Falls back in 2010 and it was a joint meeting with the Wisconsin and Minnesota sections of American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). The MSUM SPS Chapter has been active in the past two and a half years. I realized it would be the right time to host a regional meeting and spread the words of our accomplishments as a group and discuss what we can do collaboratively with physics students from other universities in the near future.” The Zone 11 encompasses five states: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. Read the rest of this entry →

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is hosting a ZONE-11 meeting March 1-2. Below is the schedule for the weekend.

SPS Schedule

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) at Minnesota State University Moorhead is hosting the SPS Zone 11 meet-up over this weekend, March 1-2. The MSUM SPS chapter belongs to Zone 11, which encompasses 5 states: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. The last zone meet-up was held at UW-River Falls on Oct. 29-30, 2010.

The meeting will start on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Science Lab 104. David Weinrich, the former President of the International Planetarium Society and the present Director of the MSUM Planetarium will give the opening talk on The Modern Planetarium- a digital, immersive, data visualization experience at 7 p.m. in Science Lab 104. Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:
Bending and Breaking Confined Polymers

Andrew B. Croll, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Department of Physics, North Dakota State University

March 1
3-3:50 p.m.
325 Hagen Hall Read the rest of this entry →

Please reserve Friday, March 1, for the first “Free Lunch/Free Conversations” event hosted by the Physics Department and the Faculty Development Center. All interested in discussing sustainability program ideas and potential opportunities for collaboration are welcome. Stop by between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Hagen 317. Lunch provided. RSVP facdev@mnstate.edu.

Iwnetim Abate, a sophomore majoring in physics at MSUM, did research at the California Institute of Technology last summer. Abate worked on a device that converts Hydrogen and Hydrocarbon to energy called fuel cell.

Jan. 24 Abate won an award for being in the top three out of two hundred students from across the U.S. at the National Collegiate Research Conference hosted by Harvard University. Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents: The Design and Construction of an Electric Aircraft

Presented by: Dennis Jacobs from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Minnesota State University Moorhead

Friday, Feb. 15
3-3:50 p.m.
325 Hagen Hall Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM upperclassmen LeAnn Washenberger (Secondary Math Education, Physics minor) and Shouvik Bhattacharya (Physics major, Mathematics minor) participated in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling 2013. They formulated an optimized model, which will allow users to bake brownies without burning them, as the baking pans distribute the heat evenly on their surfaces. Read the rest of this entry →

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:
Tunneling Times for Localized Particle

Luiz A. Manzoni, Ph.D.
Department of Physics
Concordia College, Moorhead

Friday, Feb. 8 Read the rest of this entry →

Steve Lindaas, Physics and Astronomy, attended the winter American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) conference in New Orleans earlier this month. He helped organize and run a topical discussion session and two workshops: “Sketch-n-Etch” on creating circuit boards and “Low Cost Instructional Labs.” He is now Chair of the Committee on Science Education for the Public and is helping to plan the next two AAPT conferences – including organizing sessions on sustainability for the meeting in Portland this summer.

MSUM Physics & Astronomy Seminar Series Presents:
Graduate Opportunities in Materials and Nanotechnology at NDSU

Erik K. Hobbie
Department of Physics, Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials
North Dakota State University

Friday, February 1, 2013
3-3:50 p.m.
325 Hagen Hall Read the rest of this entry →