UI Physics & Astronomy
2003 Newsletter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• Faculty Highlights/Research
• Outreach Activities/
  Highlights
• Alumni News
• Graduate/Undergraduate News
• Staff News
• What's New

Special Points of Interest:

• Space Odyssey
• Faculty Directory
• Faculty Searches
• Pioneer 10 Says "Goodbye"
• Undergraduates/Graduates Receiving Degrees
• Fall Enrollment Numbers
• Alumni Update Form

Outreach Activities/Highlights

Julie Dowell and Ann Persoon explain physics demonstrations to people attending the Iowa State Fair.

This past year, the Department was again very involved in outreach activities throughout the state. The surplus equipment donation program had a banner year, with a total of 21 disbursements to schools in Iowa. The Department had an exhibit as part of the University's booth at the Iowa State Fair. The exhibit entitled, "Hawk-Eyes on Science," consisted of demonstrations and explanations of hands-on physics experiments, as well as providing information regarding departmental research and outreach programs. Volunteers working at the exhibit were Tom Boggess, Julie Dowell, George Hospodarsky, Ann Persoon, Cheryl Reardon, and Lifi Somantri.

The Saturday "Family Adventures in Science" series will be presented again this coming fall and spring. To see the topics that will be presented, check out the Department's web page and click on the "Family Adventures in Science" link.

"Sun Rings," a musical presentation by the Kronos Quartet of the sounds of space, will be performed October 14, 2003 in Costa Mesa, CA. For more details on this program go to www.iowalum.com/clubs/space/space.html and www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/space-audio/.

A new outreach program, the Distinguished Public Lecture Series, is in the developmental stages. This program will bring the most exciting recent advances in physics and astronomy directly to the public through talks given by departmental faculty and invited speakers. Approximately six lectures are planned for the year.