The SMCM Physics Department has released a statement against racism and racial injustice.
Erin Knutson ’15 Awarded National Science Foundation Fellowship
Erin Knutson ’15 (physics) was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship through its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Knutson is currently studying atomic, molecular, and optical physics in the physics doctoral program at Tulane University.
“The fact that the NSF is willing to fund my research means they see a lot of promise in my career as a scientist,” Knutson said.
She said she was honored to be included among so many impressive fellows.
While at St. Mary’s College, Knutson participated in atomic physics research at Patuxent River Naval Air Station as part of a collaboration between the College and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). At the time, she presented her research at a national conference — the Division of Atomic Molecular, and Optical Physics meeting of the American Physical Society. She also served as president of the Physics Club.
Knutson said she is “immensely” grateful to her physics professors at St. Mary’s College. She also gave a nod to her liberal arts education.
“Awardees were chosen based on their potential for broader impacts to society as well as their intellectual merit, and I believe my liberal arts education set me apart from other physics doctoral researchers.”
– See more at: https://www.smcm.edu/news/2017/03/erin-knutson-15-awarded-national-science-foundation-fellowship/#sthash.xIk3LEh2.dpuf
Prof. Erin De Pree elected to APS M-AS leadership
Erin De Pree, associate professor of physics, was recently elected to the chair-line of the Mid-Atlantic Section of the American Physical Society, the primary national organization of the physics field.
De Pree will serve a four-year term beginning as vice chair for 2017 followed by chair-elect, chair and then past-chair.
The Mid-Atlantic Section of the APS is the regional unit covering Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia.
Regional units are important to connecting physicists across many topical areas who live in the same region. They are especially essential to connecting students to physicists outside of academia.
“It’s an honor to be elected by the section members and I look forward serving the section over the next four years,” De Pree said.
– See more at: https://www.smcm.edu/news/2017/03/physics-professor-elected-chair-mid-atlantic-section-american-physical-society/#sthash.iuImfwZ5.dpuf
SMCM Physics Recognized for 21st Century Career Preparation
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland physics program is highlighted as a role model in the report, “Phys21: Preparing Physics Students for 21st Century Careers.” The report, published by the Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs (J-TUPP) and convened by the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), selected the College as one of five case studies of successful, innovative physics programs. Some elements highlighted by the report include:
- the innovative introductory course sequence,
- the career-preparation curriculum,
- research-based teaching,
- the Emerging Scholars Program,
- alumni networking,
- experimentation and data gathering.
See more at the SMCM press release.
The full report is available for download.