The Physics and Astronomy Department provides outstanding instruction inside and outside the classroom on a variety of physics and astronomy topics—students learn how to create physical models and make predictions, apply scientific methods to solving theoretical and experimental problems, use new technologies to solve problems and clearly communicate technical principles, and more. Dedicated, highly educated faculty employ a wide variety of instructional techniques, including lectures, lab experiments, field trips, independent research projects and student-faculty collaborative projects for exciting, in-depth learning experiences. Students are required to participate in research and can choose from a variety of research programs in space physics, robotics, extragalactic, galactic, and solar system astrophysics, and physics education.
A hallmark of the department is its outstanding facilities, which include a nanotechnology and robotics lab, a student-built NMR machine, the Paul P. Feder Observatory Regional Science Center and the Planetarium. Students augment their studies by participating in the MSUM Society of Physics Students, which provides opportunities for networking and learning from guest lecturers and educational trips. The combination of advanced research opportunities and personalized faculty instruction provides students with outstanding preparation for additional graduate study or exciting careers in physics and related fields.
We had a very successful partial solar eclipse event with mostly clear skies and 100 enthusiastic people. Physics faculty, two physics students, two planetarium staff, and sixteen members of the Fargo-Moorhead Astronomy Club ran the 12 telescopes, attempted a webcast, demonstrated the use of eclipse glasses and gave a brief planetarium demo. The viewing continued [...]
Steve Lindaas, physics and astronomy, attended the “Mobilizing Disciplinary Societies on Behalf of Our Students… and Our Planet” project meeting last week. The project, a collaboration of Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), involves 11 society partners representing different STEM disciplines. Six teams have been formed to work on different aspects [...]
Friday, April 27, 2012 ● 2:30 – 3:20 p.m., Hagen Hall 325 The seminar “Using Standard Smart Phones to Experimentally Determine the Motion of a High Altitude Balloon” will be presented by Chris Moore. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Minnesota State University Moorhead. As technology has advanced it has become cheaper and easier to conduct [...]
Friday, April 13 ● 2:30 – 3:20 p.m. in Hagen Hall 325 Designing a Simple Walker Robot By: Murshid Saqlain Department of Physics and Astronomy | Minnesota State University Moorhead The purpose of this project is to design and construct a simple BEAM walker robot. BEAM stands for Biology Electronics Aesthetics Mechanics. BEAM bots can [...]
8:00AM to 4:00PM
9:00AM to 1:45PM
9:30AM to 2:00PM
