Events

Michel Janssen on Oppenheimer

Ahead of the July 21 release of Christopher Nolan's 3-hours drama "Oppenheimer",  Michel Janssen prepared a presentation about Robert Oppenheimer's youth, participation in the Manhattan project and subsequent Congress hearings.
 
Join Zoom meeting:
https://umn.zoom.us/j/97841501483




 

Universe in the Park: Lowry Nature Center

Universe in the Park is hosted by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and area state and local parks.

Representatives of the Institute will present a short (~20 min) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as: the history of matter, how astronomers "see," and a journey through our solar system. For the 2022 season, talks will be outdoors to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Afterwards, if weather allows, attendees have the opportunity to view the sky through multiple 8-inch reflecting telescopes, operated by the staff and provided by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. Additionally, free star maps (e.g., www.skymaps.com) and instructions are provided. Throughout the evening, audience members are encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics ranging from backyard astronomy to the latest scientific discoveries.

Although a vehicle permit is usually required to enter the parks, the events are free to the public. More about Lowry Nature Center, here.

Universe in the Park: Dodge Nature Center

Universe in the Park is hosted by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and area state and local parks.

Representatives of the Institute will present a short (~20 min) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as: the history of matter, how astronomers "see," and a journey through our solar system. For the 2022 season, talks will be outdoors to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Afterwards, if weather allows, attendees have the opportunity to view the sky through multiple 8-inch reflecting telescopes, operated by the staff and provided by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. Additionally, free star maps (e.g., www.skymaps.com) and instructions are provided. Throughout the evening, audience members are encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics ranging from backyard astronomy to the latest scientific discoveries.

Although a vehicle permit is usually required to enter the parks, the events are free to the public. More about Dodge Nature Center, here.

Universe in the Park: Gooseberry Falls State Park

Universe in the Park is hosted by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and area state and local parks.

Representatives of the Institute will present a short (~20 min) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as: the history of matter, how astronomers "see," and a journey through our solar system. For the 2022 season, talks will be outdoors to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Afterwards, if weather allows, attendees have the opportunity to view the sky through multiple 8-inch reflecting telescopes, operated by the staff and provided by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. Additionally, free star maps (e.g., www.skymaps.com) and instructions are provided. Throughout the evening, audience members are encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics ranging from backyard astronomy to the latest scientific discoveries.

Although a vehicle permit is usually required to enter the parks, the events are free to the public. More about Gooseberry Falls State park, here.

Universe in the Park: Tettegouche State Park

Universe in the Park is hosted by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and area state and local parks.

Representatives of the Institute will present a short (~20 min) outdoor public talk and slide show. Presentations cover a variety of astronomical topics such as: the history of matter, how astronomers "see," and a journey through our solar system. For the 2022 season, talks will be outdoors to ensure they are as safe as possible.

Afterwards, if weather allows, attendees have the opportunity to view the sky through multiple 8-inch reflecting telescopes, operated by the staff and provided by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. Additionally, free star maps (e.g., www.skymaps.com) and instructions are provided. Throughout the evening, audience members are encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics ranging from backyard astronomy to the latest scientific discoveries.

Although a vehicle permit is usually required to enter the parks, the events are free to the public. More about Tettegouche State park, here.

Workshop: Scientific Ballooning Technologies

Following on the successful format of the last four workshops, the scope of the 2023 workshop includes (but is not limited to) gondola design, experiment-wide data acquisition and control systems, attitude control systems, on-board control software both for the attitude control and for the entire experiment, on-board computer hardware, power systems, telemetry systems, and thermal design and control.

This workshop should be particularly appealing for those who are designing and building hardware, and those interested in synergies between the activities of different ballooning groups. It is intended to provide an opportunity for all hands-on ballooning practitioners, from graduate students to senior investigators, to discuss the technologies we are all using to carry out our scientific investigations. 

Full details on the Conference website.

 

Workshop: 50 Years of Supersymmetry

Participation in the workshop is by invitation only. If you would like to participate, please contact ftpi@umn.edu.

Workshop: 50 Years of Supersymmetry

Participation in the workshop is by invitation only. If you would like to participate, please contact ftpi@umn.edu.

Workshop: Scientific Ballooning Technologies

Following on the successful format of the last four workshops, the scope of the 2023 workshop includes (but is not limited to) gondola design, experiment-wide data acquisition and control systems, attitude control systems, on-board control software both for the attitude control and for the entire experiment, on-board computer hardware, power systems, telemetry systems, and thermal design and control.

This workshop should be particularly appealing for those who are designing and building hardware, and those interested in synergies between the activities of different ballooning groups. It is intended to provide an opportunity for all hands-on ballooning practitioners, from graduate students to senior investigators, to discuss the technologies we are all using to carry out our scientific investigations. 

For a better idea of the content expected at this event, please check out the previous workshops and presentations, available under the Past Events tab.

Wednesday, 5/17/2023, Times are CST Topic / Title      
    Chair:   Wednesday Morning 1 - Agency Reviews Presenter Affiliation Abstract
    0:50 8:00 8:50 Breakfast      
    0:10 8:50 9:00 Opening Remarks Hanany UMN None
    0:20 9:00 9:20 NASA Scientific Balloon Program, HQ Perspective Hams NASA HQ Abstract Link
    0:20 9:20 9:40 Updates from the NASA Balloon Program Office Roth BPO Abstract Link
    0:15 9:40 9:55 NASA's Balloon Working Group Kogut Goddard Abstract Link
    0:15 9:55 10:10 BPIRT update Jones Princeton To Be Posted
    0:20 10:10 10:30 Break      
    Chair:   Wednesday Morning 2 - Multi-Purpose Platforms Presenter Affiliation Abstract
    0:20 10:30 10:50 An update of the CNES stratospheric balloon projects Dubourg CNES Abstract Link
    0:20 10:50 11:10 NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program: Leveraging Flight Tests with Commercial Flight Providers to Advance Science and Technology deLeon

NASA Flight Opportunities

Abstract Link
    0:20 11:10 11:30 Panel (Young moderates): GHAPS (Tibor Kremic), BLAST (Erin Cox), SuperBit (Bill Jones), HASP (Chris Groppi/ASU), ESBO (Maier); Laflamme (CSA)  
    0:20 11:30 11:50  
    0:10 11:50 12:00  
    1:10 12:00 13:10 Lunch Break      
    Chair:   Wednesday afternoon 1 - Flight Programs Presenter Affiliation Abstract
    0:20 13:10 13:30 Developing GUSTO within the Explorer program Walker UArizona Abstract Link
    0:20 13:30 13:50 Developing PUEO within the Pioneer program Vieregg UChicago Abstract Link
    0:15 13:50 14:10 What's new in Timmins Vincent CSA Abstract Link
    0:15 14:10 14:25 Esrange Space Center for Scientific Balloning Abrahamsson SSC Abstract Link
    0:20 14:25 14:45 Opportunities for Middle to Lower Stratosphere Flights Smith Aerostar Abstract Link
    0:30 14:45 15:15 Break + Posters      
    Chair:   Wednesday afternoon 2 - Atmosphere Presenter Affiliation Abstract
    0:20 15:15 15:35 Polar Mesospheric Clouds - potential problems and opportunities for polar balloon experiments Kjellstrand ASU Abstract Link
    0:20 15:35 15:55 Radiative Consideration of Earth’s Stratosphere Modeled with MODTRAN and SAMM Corlies Spectral Sciences Abstract Link
    0:20 15:55 16:15 A Study on the Effects of Ambient Radiation on COTS Balloon-borne Instrumentation Romualdez StarSpec Abstract Link
    0:20 16:15 16:35 The effects of atmospheric scattering on balloon-borne X-ray/gamma-ray observations Shih Goddard Abstract Link
    0:20 16:35 16:55 An update on a balloon Trajectory Control System (TCS) for NASA standard balloons Yoder BPO Abstract Link
    0:40 16:55 17:35 Summary + Discussion (Moderator: Kierans)

Physics Force in Rochester

The Physics Force is an outreach program run through the University of Minnesota. Our greatest success is generating an interest in science in K-12 students. We go above and beyond to educate and entertain. The Physics Force does performances on a grand scale to bring excitement and wonder to the thousands of students who attend our shows every year. The show lasts approximately one hour and is appropriate for people of all ages.

Event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

School News

Portrait of four new department heads

Four new CSE department heads begin in 2024-25

Professor James Kakalios of the School of Physics and Astronomy was one of four new department heads named by CSE Dean Andrew Alleyne. These new department heads bring a wealth of academic, research
Mikhail "Misha" Shifman

Shifman named Regents Professor

Professor Mikhail “Misha” Shifman of the School of Physics and Astronomy and the Willliam I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute has been named a University of Minnesota Regents Professor.
Lindsay Glesener and Allen Goldman

Glesener awarded Allen M. Goldman Faculty Fellowship

Associate Professor Lindsay Glesener has been awarded the Allen M. Goldman Faculty Fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year. 
Fiona Burnell and Ed Tang

Burnell appointed to Tang Family Professorship

Professor Fiona Burnell has been appointed as the inaugural holder of the Tang Family Professorship. 
School of Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Fellowship and Award Winners for 2024

2024 Graduate Awards and Fellowships

There are 21 graduate award and fellowship recipients in the School for 2024.
Undergraduate Scholarship winners in Tate Hall

2024 Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients

There are 39 recipients and 14 undergraduate scholarships. The winners are as follows.
Sabrina Savage and Lindsay Glesener at the launch site in Alaska.

Glesener part of NASA's first solar flare observation campaign

Professor Lindsay Glesener, of the School of Physics and Astronomy is part of a research team launching a sounding rocket to study solar flares. The rocket, named Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (
Alexander McLeod, Nitzan Hirschberg and Alyssa Bragg

Inside Professor McLeod’s Nano-Imaging Laboratory

Professor Alexander McLeod’s nano-imaging lab creates novel ways to study materials as well as looking for new physics in those materials. Nano-spectroscopy is a technique that attaches conventional
Zhen Liiu smiling man in glasses and a blue polo shirt

Liu receives prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship for early-career researchers

School of Physics and Astronomy Assistant Professor Zhen Liu is one of only 126 early-career researchers who will receive a prestigious 2024 Sloan Research Fellowship.
Michael Coughlin and Alexander Criswell

Coughlin and Criswell part of comprehensive UV light survey

Assistant Professor Michael Coughlin and graduate student Alexander Criswell of the School of Physics and Astronomy are part of a new NASA mission that has just been selected to conduct a

School of Physics and Astronomy Seminar Calendar