Faculty Advisors

CL Professor Cornelia Lang is interested in undersanding the physical conditions which exist in the nuclear regions of our Galaxy and nearby galaxies. Because these regions are often obscured at visible wavelengths, she uses radio telescopes like the Very Large Array , infrared telescopes like the Sptizer Space Telescope and X-ray telescopes like the Chandra X-ray Observatory to study this region of our Milky Way. In particular, she has made observations of the magnetic field structure and the regions surrounding massive young star clusters.
VR I'm Professor Vincent Rodgers. My research is in theoretical particle physics and string theory. I'm the director of the Diffeomorphism and Geometry Group which researches the mathematical description of the forces of Nature and the origins of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. I'm also one of the organizers of the Cafe Scientifique in Iowa City and of our departments Hawkeyes on Science. Also my eyes emit dangerously powerful lasers.

Officers

CW President - I am Catherine Whiting. This is my second year as an SPS officer. I am currently doing research in radio astronomy with Professor Spangler involving Faraday Rotation through the Cygnus Region. I enjoy discussing philosophy and quantum physics and pondering the big questions, like 'How did the Universe form?' and 'What is the meaning of life?'
CW Co-Officer - My name is James Wetzel. I am a senior Physics Major and the maintainer of this beautiful portal into the SPS world. This is my fifth year as a researcher with Professor Onel's Experimental High Energy Physics Group.
MD Co-Officer - I’m Maria Drout. I’m a sophomore in the department and this is my first year as an SPS officer. Right now I am doing research with Professor Lang concerning the galactic center. In addition to physics and astronomy I love to run and rock climb and pretty much live by the saying that I’ll try anything once.
CW Co-Officer - Hi, I'm Kyle Carlson. I'm a third year student from Sioux City, IA. I'm pursuing majors in Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. In the summer of 2006 I was a full time research assistant. During the summer and fall of 2007 I worked for Lab Director Ron Vogel. I will graduate in May 2009 and plan attend graduate school to obtain an advanced degree. I am a news junkie and love to get into conversations about politics and current events.