Archive for Steve Mellema

Gustavus Physics Senior Appears in “The SPS Observer”

Gustavus physics major Lindsay Rothschiller ’15 had an article appear in the Winter 2014-15 issue of The SPS Observer, the national publication of the Society of Physics Students. In the article Lindsay describes her research work on environmental sustainability, which was conducted last summer in Sweden under the auspices of a grant from the Wallenberg […]

2015 Gustavus Sigma Pi Sigma Induction Banquet

On May 4, 2015, the Gustavus physics department held its annual banquet to induct new members into the national physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma. Thirteen members of the graduating class of 2015 were elected to membership.The banquet was attended by faculty, students and some families of the honored inductees. Our guest speaker was Dr. […]

Two Sophomore Women Receive National Awards

Two Gustavus sophomore physics majors were just announced as winners of Rossing Physics Scholarships for 2015-2016. These awards are made to “exemplary students in physics” by the Thomas D. Rossing Fund for Physics Education. Mikaela Algren ’17 was named a Rossing Physics Scholar and Grace Kerber ’17 was named a Rossing Physics Scholar–Honorable Mention. The […]

Gustavus First Decade Award Winners

With the announcement that physics alumna Dr. Kelly Cooper Younge (’05) has been awarded the Gustavus Alumni Association’s First Decade Award, this brings the number of physics alumni who have won that prestigious award to nine in the past 20 years. Past winners include Dr. Chad Olinger (’85), Dr. James Wade (’86), Dr. Annette Boman […]

Top Liberal Arts Origins of Physics Ph.D.’s

In the latest data from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Gustavus’ physics program is fourth among the top liberal arts colleges in America in terms of the number of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. in physics. In the NSF survey from 2004-2013, here are the top liberal arts colleges with their total […]

Jason Smerdon ’98 on NPR’s Science Friday

Gustavus physics alumnus Dr. Jason Smerdon (’98) was interviewed by NPR’s Ira Flatow on the February 13, 2015 broadcast of Science Friday. Jason, who is an Associate Research Professor at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, is a co-author on a recent paper studying the possibility of future mega-droughts due to increasing greenhouse […]

Top Liberal Arts Physics Programs

In the latest data from the American Institute of Physics (AIP), Gustavus’ physics program is among the top liberal arts colleges in America in terms of the number of graduating physics majors. For the 10-year period from 2004-2013, here are the top liberal arts colleges with their average annual number of graduating physics majors: Harvey […]

Dorea Ruggles (’06) Wins NIH Research Award

Dorea Ruggles (’06) has received a Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dorea is currently in the Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program at Boston University. She writes, “The research I submitted deals with normal hearing adults and auditory attention. Auditory attention is what people do when they hear […]

Brian Smith (’00) Wins First Decade Award

The Gustavus Alumni Association has named Dr. Brian Smith (’00) as the winner of its First Decade Award. The First Decade Award recognizes early professional achievement. Criteria appropriate to selection include the difficulty of accomplishment; quality, creativity, and distinctiveness of performance; recognition by professional peers; and lasting contribution to the world of ideas and affairs. […]

Three Physics Majors Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

On Saturday, May 1, 2010, three Gustavus physics majors were inducted into the Eta of Minnesota Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. Bradley Abell (’10), Christina Lewis (’10) and Daniel Mellema (’11) were among the 17 Gustavus juniors and 43 seniors to receive this honor. They are shown in the […]