What is different about HBCUs?

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What is different about HBCUs?

Stephen C. McGuire

Department of Physics

William James Hall

Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Talk presented at the 2006 Department Chairs Meeting American Center for Physics

College Park, MD June 11, 2006

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Talk Outline

• Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Southern University Department of Physics

• Undergraduate Program in Physics

• Recruitment and Retention

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Southern University at

Baton Rouge (SUBR)

“SUBR is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate,

professional, and doctoral degree programs. The University is part of the only historically black Land Grant university (HBCU) system in the United States.”

Founded: 1880

Accreditation: Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Enrollment: An average of 9,000 students at SUBR each year. Programs: Bachelor’s in 42 areas, 20 master’s,

5 doctoral and 3 associate degrees. No. of Faculty: 570

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SUBR Department of Physics

William James Hall

Room 157

Website: www.phys.subr.edu Chair: Stephen C. McGuire, Ph.D.

• Faculty: 18 Full-time, 2 part-time • Degree Programs: B.S. and M.S. in Physics

• Research Areas: Materials, Astronomy and Particle Astrophysics, and Science Education Reform

• Enrollment:

Undergraduate 25 Graduate 6

• Major Programs: ATIC, AUGER, SSRL, LIGO, MARGIE, ICE CUBE, LSND, Timbuktu Academy

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SUBR Department of Physics

B. S.

and

M. S.

physics program

goals:

• Prepare the student for graduate

study in physics and/or related

fields.

• Provide a solid preparation for entry

into professional schools or

employment in industry.

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SUBR Department of Physics

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Major Research Affiliations:

(8)

Financing the Venture

Financial Aid:

• Physics Academic Scholarships

• Honors College Scholarships

• Board of Supervisors Academic Scholarships

• Timbuktu Academy Physics Scholarships

• Work Study

• Research Assistantships

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Academic Support Services

Academic/Career Advising:

• Department Faculty Advisors

• Departmental Tutors

• University Career Center

• University College

• Honors College

Academic Support

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Physics Community Participation

Student Community Affiliations:

•

• Society of Physics Students (SPS)

Society of Physics Students (SPS)

Southern University Chapter

•

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International Research

Participation

Particle Physics at

CERN

Geneva, Switzerland

2003

2001 2002

Pictures Courtesy the University of Michigan

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SUBR Department of Physics

Recent Department Seminar Speakers

David Reitze, University of Florida

“LIGO: Lasers at the Frontiers of Physics”

SPS Seminar Series

S. James Gates Jr., University of Maryland

“Can Superstring/M-Theory Be Seen in the Sky?”

SPS Seminar Series Michael Zucker, Caltech

“Listening to the Universe with LIGO”

SUBR – LIGO Collaboration Edward E. Doomes, CAMD/LSU

“X-ray Absorption Studies of Tailored Chemical Systems”

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Undergraduate Research

Opportunities

• Off-campus summer research internships

(LIGO,NIST,CAMD,SSRL,LBL, etc.)

• On-campus undergraduate research

assistantships (academic year, summer)

• Volunteer research participation

• Honors College course credit toward

graduation

• Subjects for Honors Theses

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L

aser

I

nterferometer

G

ravitational-wave

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Proximity of LIGO site to

Southern University

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Research and Teaching

“X-ray absorption in high purity synthetic Al₂O₃ and LaMnO₃ -based materials”

Alex Harvey, Jr., Shelli Pace, Laurence L. Henry and Stephen C. McGuire

Department of Physics

Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813

Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD)

2001 Annual Report, p. 81.

“The effects of thermal insulation due to isolation in seismic vaults”

Keisha C. Williams

Southern University Honors College Thesis

Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813 6.54 6.60 6.66 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 Mn(0) MnO2 La0.5Ca0.4Sr0.1MnO3 La0.5Ca0.4Ba0.1MnO3 A b so rb a nce

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Research and Teaching

“Gamma-ray spectroscopy: modern physics aspects of gamma-ray measurement and

detection”

Anthony R. Pullen

Honors Option in Physics 271, Modern Physics, Spring 2002.

Southern University Honors College Report

Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70813

“Surface trace element characterization of synthetic single crystal Al₂O₃ at the SSRL”*

S. C. McGuire1_,_{M. J. Baham}1_{, E. Preddie}1_,

S. Brennan2_{, K. Luening}2_{, P. Pianetta}2_{and A. Singh}2

1_{Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana}

70813

2_{Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Stanford University,}

Stanford, CA 94309

*Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation: Eighth International Conference, edited by T. Warwick et al., AIP Conference

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Research and Teaching

“Applications of

99m

_{Tc gamma-ray emission:}

Trace element detection and cancer diagnosis”

Rachel D. McKinsey

Undergraduate AAPM Fellow, 2003 Department of Physics

Special Problems in Physics (Physics 493; 3 cr.) Spring 2004

Supervisor: S. C. McGuire, Ph.D.

“Pulsar gravity-wave data search:

Einstein@home”

Jamaal N. Johnson

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Research Participation

Cacey S. Stevens

California Institute of Technology

MURF Summer Intern 2006

Mentor: Eric Black, Ph.D.

“Thermal Noise Interferometer Test Mass Coating Studies”

Photo courtesy of Argonne National Laboratory (DOE).

American Physical Society

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LIGO

Outreach

LIGO Science Education

Center Partnership

“Using Exhibit-Based Teaching and Learning to Enhance Science Literacy”

MISSION

• To develop a Center at the LIGO Livingston Observatory

(LLO) equipped with hands-on exhibits in LIGO-related

science.

• To integrate the LLO Center, its exhibits and activities,

into pre-service and in-service education at Southern

University Baton Rouge (SUBR).

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LIGO

Outreach

SUBR LIGO EDUCATIONAL

OUTREACH TEAM

Mildred R. Smalley, Principal Investigator Vice Chancellor for Research

Ivory L. Toldson, Project Director College of Education

Verjanis Peoples, Assistant Project Director Dean, College of Education

Luria S. Stubblefield, Science Education Specialist Assistant Professor, College of Education S. C. McGuire, High School Content Coordinator

Chair, Department of Physics

Joseph Meyinsse, Middle School Content Coordinator Chair, Department of Mathematics

Carolyn Person, Director of E-Learning; College of Education

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LIGO

Outreach

SUBR Project Goals

• The overall goal of the LIGO educational outreach

project is increasing the number of certified middle

and high school physical science teachers.

• Provide LIGO science professional development to

in-service and pre-service teachers.

• Significantly enrich K -12 education with LIGO

science concepts.

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LIGO

Outreach

LIGO Science Education

Partners

SUBR LSC PHYSICS GROUP S. C. McGuire E. E. Doomes L. L. Henry I. W. Ruffin R. B. McNair J. N. Johnson M. E. Zucker PROJECT MISE

(Modeling Inquiry-Based Science Education)

J. Meyinnsse L. Stubblefield

B. Rimble

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LIGO

Outreach

Science

Exhibit Concepts

INTERFERENCE Bridge Light

Interference Patterns

Long Path Diffraction (SUBR)

Michelson Interferometer Soap Film Painting

Soap Films GRAVITY Balancing Stick Bouncing Ball Center of Gravity Falling Feather Gravity Well Gravity's Rainbow

Satellite Orbit Simulator (SUBR)

LASER AND LIGHT C – The Light

The Light Island (SUBR)

Hologram Stuff WAVES

Bells Echo Tube Theremin

Turn Off the Sky (giant polarizer)

Vibrating String (SUBR)

Water Waves

Wave Machine (suspended type) Wave Propagation Device

Wave Upon Wave

WAVE PROPAGATION Doppler Effect Sound Spectrogram Walking Beats Watch Dog RESONANCE Pendulum Snake Pendulum Table

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LIGO

Outreach

A Standards-based Approach

PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 Elements of

Visible light interference demonstrated Soap Films

PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4

General Physics I&II, Visible light interference demonstrated

Soap Film Painting

models the big interferometer

General Physics I&II, Mixing monochromatic waves

Michelson Interferometer

PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4

General Physics I&II,

Patterns produced as a product of diffraction Long Path

Diffraction

models basic concepts of interferometer...PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4

Earth Science II

Young's double slit experiment showing wave nature of light Interference Patterns PS-E-C2,PS-M-C4 General Physics I&II,

Monochromatic interference demonstrated Bridge Light

Links to LIGO and LA Science Framework Benchmarks Elements of Physics I&II, Short Description Interference SUBR Physics Course Inclusion

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LIGO

Outreach

Ongoing Activities

• Physics Course revisions to syllabi and integrated visits to the SUBR LIGO Science Hall

• LIGO scientist/SUBR faculty collaborations in progress

• LIGO Exhibit Training by Exploratorium Staff May and June 2006

• Delivery and Installation of exhibits at LLO

• Annual J. K. Haynes Teacher Preparation Conference

• Year-round SUBR Professional Development Workshops (MISE)

• On-campus Summer Program Presentations by SUBR Staff

• LIGO Summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program Participation

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Summary

• Early involvement (pre-college) and continuous student advising is

essential

• Provide opportunities for student participation in creative

department activities throughout their careers

• Be proactive about building meaningful partnerships with local

and external entities

• Be flexible in our program offerings and emphases beyond your

core requirements

• Participate where possible in the production of highly qualified

K-12 science teachers

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Challenges

• Strengthening our student recruitment and retention

efforts

• Enhancement of space and facilities for undergraduate

and graduate education

• Growing the graduate and undergraduate programs

together

• Recruiting and retaining research-active faculty,

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Acknowledgments:

*Work supported by NSF Grants No. PHY-0101177

and PHY-0355471;

*Board of Regents Grant No. 05-231SUBR-CMSS

Presented at the 2006 Department Chairs Meeting American Center for Physics

College Park, MD June 11, 2006