Longtime University of Iowa physics and astronomy professor Craig Kletzing made big news in 2019 when he won the single largest research grant in UI history — a $115 million award from NASA to study how the sun and Earth’s magnetic fields interact. But the space plasma physicist over several decades before that had established himself not only as an expert in the field of space physics — researching, among many things, the Northern Lights and Van Allen radiation belts — but as a passionate educator, eager to inspire in his students the “a ha” moments that drove investigations and discoveries.

Craig Kletzing, the easygoing, humble University of Iowa professor who combined a zeal for teaching with a decorated research career in space plasma experimental physics, has died. He was 65.

Professor John Prineas and the University of Iowa have been given a subaward as part of a contract entitled “Metasurface-Coupled Superlattices for LWIR Imaging” from the US Missile Defense Agency and led by Sivananthan Labs in Bolingbrook, Ill. The subaward is for $419,958 over two years.

Assistant Professor Thomas Folland has received a $434,814 grant from the Office of Naval Research to develop nano-optic infrared probes to characterize new semiconductor materials through award number N00014-23-1-2616.

The National Science Foundation has awarded Assistant Professor Tom Folland and Professor John Prineas a $411,378 grant to develop long wavelength infrared detectors that can measure atmospheric chemicals using optical antennas.

Physics student Owen Fiedorowicz and students in the Edge of Space Academy presented their research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference on July 26 at the Iowa Memorial Union. Sponsored by the University of Iowa Graduate College, this conference brought together undergraduate students who have been conducting summer research projects in UI departments and programs across the University's colleges.

Congratulations to three graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who successfully defended their doctoral theses in July!

Assistant Professor Casey DeRoo and his research group will collaborate with researchers at Pennsylvania State University on a NASA grant entitled “Large-Format X-ray Zone Plates: Enabling Flight-like Calibrations for Future Missions.”

When the full moon rises over Iowa next Monday night, it’ll be the first of what may end up being three “supermoons” in each of the next three months. University of Iowa astronomy professor Casey DeRoo says supermoon isn’t a scientific term, as it comes more from astrology, but whatever the origin, it’ll be a sight to see. “It looks like we’re going to have at least two pretty dramatic supermoons, one in July, one in August,” DeRoo says, “and then depending on how you want to classify it, perhaps one in September as well.”

Professor and Department Chair Mary Hall Reno was quoted in a news article in the June 23, 2023 edition of Science about the NSF's plans to delay new astroparticle/astronomy projects in Antarctica to focus on infrastructure improvements at polar facilities.