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On Thursday, May 4, over sixty faculty, students, and friends of the Department enjoyed the Annual Awards Dinner. Please click on the links below to review highlights of the event. Our faculty are justifiably proud of the accomplishments of their students in both the classroom and the research laboratory. Opportunities for professional growth are common in the Physics Department at UWSP, as illustrated in the photograph below. Students Steve Lynam and Karen Chamberlin, working in the optics laboratory of Professor Hai Nguyen, recently presented a poster of their work at a conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell (center) stopped by to review their poster and offer his encouragement. |
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One thing I have learned in my years chairing the Department of Physics and Astronomy is that change is inevitable. Next year, we will be without the services of two distinguished colleagues. Professor Greg Taft will take a one-year leave of absence from his teaching responsibilities at UWSP in order to accept a temporary research staff position at Kapteyn-Murnane Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. There, Greg will share responsibility for expanding the production of femtosecond laser systems in use around the globe. We hope that Greg returns to UWSP the following academic year with a unique perspective on the life of an industrial physicist. Professor Mick Veum has accepted an appointment as Associate Vice Chancellor at UWSP beginning July 1. In this position, Mick will assist the Provost with personnel and budget issues and will oversee both summer session and grant opportunities at the institution. Mick plans to stay active in his liquid crystal research and hopes to teach the occasional class for our Department. Congratulations and best wishes go out to Professors Taft and Veum! Bob Beeken, Professor and Chairman |
