Symposium on Horizons in Astronomy and Physics Education
Department
of Physics and Astronomy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Programs from recent years
2022 Speakers:
Prof. Akaa Daniel Ayangeakaa (UNC-CH) Nuclear structure aspect of neutrinoless double beta decay--the search for neutrino mass
Dr. Alexis Knaug (AAPT) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Physics Learning Space: Programs and Resources for K-12 and Postsecondary Physics
Mr. Jeffrey Cohen (BDI) Digging holes, hanging over dams, and taking data: A tale of being a physics major in civil engineering
Dr. Greg Sloan (Space Telescope Science Institute) The James Webb Space Telescope
2022 (Virtual) Activity:
Virtual tour of Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory 2021 Speakers: Mr. Josh Reding (UNC-CH) The Menagerie of "Failed" Ia Supernovae Prof. Julieta Gruszko (UNC-CH) Neutrinos: Rescuing Conservation Laws Since 1930 Ms. Susan Miller-Hendrix (Public Schools of Robeson County) Women in Physics: Crucial Conversations Ms. Bailey Canter (Raytheon) You Can Do Anything With a Physics Degree! 2021 (Virtual) Hands-on Activities: Prof. Coleen Countryman (Ithaca College) Going the Distance: Remote Labs for Introductory Physics 2020 Speakers: Dr. Chris Bower (X Display) Physics: Preparation for Life in a High-Tech Startup Dr. Stephanie Sedberry (UNC-G) Improving Student Success in STEM with Classroom Interventions: Self-Efficacy, Growth Mindset, Belonging, and Motivation Prof. Andrew Mann (UNC-CH) Exoplanets Across Space and Time Prof. Gokce Basar (UNC-CH) The Big, the Small, and Unity in Physics 2020 Hands-on activities: Prof. Stefan Jeglinski (UNC-CH) Making Lights Blink and Performing Physics Experiments: Microcontrollers for Fun and Profit 2019 Speakers: Prof. Robert Janssens (UNC-CH) It's Nuclear: The Hulk, Gamma Rays, the Atomic Nucleus and Shining Stars Mr. Michael Wilson (NCSU) Bringing Light into the Light: Redesigning How We Portray Electromagnetic Waves for Better Student Understanding Dr. Tom Clegg (UNC-CH) Why is the Globe Warming? How Physics Explains the Earth's Temperature Rise Dr. Allison Hartman (Leica MIcrosystems) A-Scan, B-Scan, Eye Scan: Using Optical Coherence Tomography to Create 3D Eye Images 2019 Hands-on activities:
Prof. Dan Young (UNC-CH) Astronomy by Sight 2018 Speakers: Prof. Amy Nicholson (UNC-CH) From Quarks to Stars: Understanding the Strong Nuclear Force Prof. Daphne Klotsa (UNC-CH) Swarms of Penguins, Cells and Robots: A Glimpse into the World of Active Matter Dr. Tom Shafer (Elder Research) A Path from Physics to Data Science Ms. Nina Morley Daye (Trinity School, Durham) What Are We Building? How Building Machines and Robots Creates Stronger People 2018 Hands-on activities:
Prof. Laurie McNeil (UNC-CH) The Interplay of Physics and Music 2017 Speakers: Dr. Mike Falvo (UNC-CH) Teaching Nanobiophysics Concepts Using Model Building Activities Dr. Jason West (UNC-CH) Physics of Our Planet: Factors Influencing the Earth's Climate Dr. Chuck Evans (UNC-CH) The Dawn of Gravitational Wave Astronomy Mr. Walt McMillan (MPSC) Beyond Elementary Science: Opportunities for High School Students at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center 2017 Hands-on activities:
Dr. Paula Engelhardt (Tennessee Tech) LEAPing into Science 2016 Speakers: Dr. Reyco Henning (UNC-CH) The 2015 Nobel Prize: Neutrinos, SNO and the UNC-CH Connection Dr. Colleen Countryman (NCSU) Using iPhones in Physics Labs Mr. Josh Fuchs (UNC-CH) Tales from the Crypt: Surprises in the Graveyard of Stars Ms. Lei Zhang (UNC-CH) A Nanotechnology-Based Microbeam Radiation Therapy System for Brain Cancer Treatment 2016 Hands-on activities:
Dr. David Smith (UNC-CH) Connecting physics and biology through collaborative learning activities 2015 Speakers: Dr. Aaron LaCluyze (UNC-CH) Robotic Telescopes and Astronomy's Future Dr. Joaquin Drut (UNC-CH) From Condensed Matter to High-Energy Physics: Introducing Quantum Monte Carlo at All Levels Dr. Ty Hedrick (UNC-CH) Biomechanics of Bird Flight Mr. Jeff Milbourne (NCSSM) Ill-Structured Problem Solving with High School Physics Students 2015 Hands-on activities:
Dr. Colin Wallace (UNC-CH) How to Facilitate Active Learning in the Astronomy and Physics Classroom 2014 Speakers: Dr. Bob Behringer (Duke) Secrets of the Sandbox Dr. Nick Cabot (UNC-CH) Next Generation Science Standards: Make it So! Dr. Adrienne Erickcek (UNC-CH) Inflation: The Universe's Growth Spurt Dr. Nicholas Law (UNC-CH) Exoplanets, Digital Cameras, and a North Pole Adventure 2014 Hands-on activities:
Dr. Jeffrey LaCosse (Charles E. Jordan High School) Implementing Modeling Physics Instruction in the Classroom 2013 Speakers: Dr. Yee Jack Ng (UNC-CH) The Higgs Boson (aka the Godxxx Particle) Dr. Erik Hoversten (UNC-CH) Catching Gamma Ray Bursts on the Fly: NASA's Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer Dr. Rene Lopez (UNC-CH) Alternatives Beyond Silicon Solar Cells: Up and Beyond on Butterfly Wings Dr. Ian Beatty (UNC-G) What Do Video Games Have to Teach Us About Teaching and Learning? 2013 Hands-on activities:
Dr. David Smith (UNC-CH) Assessing and Discussing Student Understanding: Examples from DC Circuits 2012 Speakers: Dr. Dr. Gerald Cecil (UNC-CH) 21st-Century Energy Options: Assumptions & Complications Dr. Amy Oldenburg (UNC-CH) How Physics Drives Innovations in Biomedical Optics Dr. Stefan Jeglinski (UNC-CH) Adventures of a Rocket Scientist Dr. Fabian Heitsch (UNC-CH) Recycling in the Universe: The Chemical Enrichment of the Young Solar System 2012 Hands-on activities:
Dr. Mike Falvo (UNC-CH) Self-Assembly: How Nature Builds Dr. Sheila Kannappan (UNC-CH) and Mr. Keith Starr (KIPP Pride High School), AIMs: Astronomy Instructional Modules for Physics