Department of Physics and Astronomy - Minnesota State University Moorhead

Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Health, Science, & the Environment

Department SeminarFaculty Talks
by Steve Lindaas, Ananda Shastri, and Richard Lahti (MSUM)

Friday, September 14 at 3:00 pm in Hagen 325
Making Connections: Micro-Controllers and Interdisciplinary Projects
by Steve Lindaas
How do you connect computers to external sensors? How do you connect students to interdisciplinary projects? We will be showcasing the use of Arduino micro-controllers in different projects. Many of these projects are interdisciplinary involving students from different majors and/or requiring the use of a wide range of skill sets and knowledge bases. For instance the Marine Lab has a tide-pool that uses an Arduino to controller the water level and hence simulate tides. We will cover what you need to know, what you will learn as well as address how you can get involved.
Visions of an Atomic Playground: How MSUM Physics Majors Help Probe the Motions of Sodium Ions in Fast Ionic Conducting Glasses
by Ananda Shastri
What are conducting glasses, and why would anyone want to study them? How can MSUM physics majors use the knowledge gained from coursework to solve real physics problems? What kinds of skills does one develop doing this kind of research? Come to this talk and find out!
Why Is Minnesota History Day Thriving When Science Fair Is Declining
by Richard Lahti
Secondary school science fair participation has been on the decline for the last 2 decades, with declines up to 70% observed, and with some sponsors threatening to pull funding due to the lack of diversity represented at the state science fair. Conversely Minnesota History Day (MHD) participation has grown from a mere 150 students to a steady 30,000 during the last 4 decades and MHD reports participation that reflects greater diversity than the student body of the schools represented as a whole. The causes of these different trends may be traceable to the differences in what constitutes research and the culture of science vs. humanities themselves, as well as the structures and supports each institution has created to address (or not address) challenges that both face.

Department News

Sherry Fieber-Beyer '03 awarded Distinguished Alumni Award: Physics and Astronomy alum Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer is currently "a research assistant professor at the University of North Dakota, [and] has devoted herself to teaching graduate students the art of scientific space research. She is the sole female faculty member in the department. Beyer also currently acts as the Space Studies Alumni Coordinator and has assisted in the establishment of their alumni website and many alumni events and communication." (June 25).
In Spring 2019, Dr. Shastri will be offering PSCI/HONS 385: The Hiroshima Studies Tour. Check out the webpage if you are interested in this opportunity to combine classwork with an off-campus experience in Japan! (Apr. 28)

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide excellent undergraduate instruction in physics and astronomy. In lower division courses, faculty use lecture demonstrations, cooperative learning methods, hands-on activities, and field trips to develop a broad working knowledge of physics. In upper division courses, in addition to the above methods, students learn through cooperative projects, research with faculty, and hands-on instrumentation and computation projects.

About the Department of Physics and Astronomy

The MSUM Physics and Astronomy program is a student-centered program. We provide students with educational opportunities in the classroom and outside it in order to improve their preparation for a career using physics.

We have facilities including a nanotechnology and robotics lab, a student-built NMR machine, and the Paul P. Feder observatory.

Our faculty have high quality research programs in space physics, robotics, extragalactic, galactic, and solar system astrophysics, and physics education. Our undergraduate students participate in these research programs and gain experience to prepare them for careers in physics and related fields.

Contact Information
Office: Hagen Hall 307
Phone: (218) 477-2141
Email: lindellj@mnstate.edu

Send ground mail to:
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Minnesota State University Moorhead
1104 7th Avenue South, Hagen Hall 307
Moorhead, MN 56563

An interactive campus map of Minnesota State University Moorhead is available to find Hagen Hall.