Giving to the School of Physics and Astronomy

Many alumni, faculty and friends support the School of Physics and Astronomy. Gifts of all sizes help the department continue its tradition of excellence and innovation. You may choose to give to the general fund, a named fund, or to create your own fund. A list of our funds can be found here.

Areas for support include:

Physics general fund: This fund supports the enhancement of the School of Physics and Astronomy's education, research, and outreach programs.
Undergraduate Student Scholarships
- Basford Family Scholarship: This fund provides financial support to full-time, undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Physics and Astronomy who demonstrate financial need and academic merit who are United States citizens, permanent residents of the United States, or in the United States lawfully on a non-temporary basis. Preference will be given for students involved in undergraduate research.
- J. Morris Blair Scholarship in Physics: This fund provides scholarships for undergraduate physics majors in the School of Physics and Astronomy; to be awarded in the Spring of their Junior year.
- Edmond B. Franklin Scholarship Fund: This fund provides scholarships to full-time undergraduate students majoring in physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Craig R. Holt Undergraduate Student Fund in Astronomy and Physics: This fund supports undergraduate students in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Funds can be used for scholarships and for travel to conferences that are part of the education program.
- Anita Sue Kolman and Marvin L. Marshak Scholarship: This fund provides financial support for undergraduate students in good academic standing working towards a degree in physics or astrophysics in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Alfred O. C. Nier Endowment Scholarship: This fund provides annual scholarship awards to one or more highly qualified students enrolled as undergraduate physics majors in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Harry and Viola St. Cyr Fund: This fund supports undergraduate physics major education in the School of Physics and Astronomy, particularly through research participation.
- Hazel V. Swanson Scholarship: This fund supports scholarships in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
Graduate Fellowships
- Dr. Leonard F. Burlaga/Arctowski Medal Fellowship: This fund provides funding for graduate fellowships in the School of Physics and Astronomy to be used for tuition or as a stipend.
- Allen Goldman Fellowship: This fund honors Allen Goldman, former Head of the Physics Department, by providing fellowships for graduate students in the Physics Department.
- Robert E. Greiling, Jr. Fellowship: This fund supports graduate students enrolled in School of Physics and Astronomy working towards their degree.
- Robert E. Greiling, Jr. Scholarship: This fund provides financial support to graduate students enrolled in the School of Physics and Astronomy. Preference will be given to students with an interest in nanotechnology who are lawfully in the US on a temporary student visa, then to students who are residents of a state other than Minnesota.
- Robert E. Greiling, Jr. Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Elementary Particles: This fund supports graduate students enrolled in the School of Physics and Astronomy, with preference given to students with an interest in elementary particles and cosmic rays.
- Anatoly Larkin Fellowship: This fund provides fellowships for graduate students involves in the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute.
- Hoff Lu Fellowship: This fund supports graduate fellowships in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Homer T. Mantis Conference Travel Award: This fund provides a travel award for graduate students to present their work at a conference of the American Physical Society or the American Geophysical Union.
- Robert O. Pepin Fellowship: This fund provides fellowship support to graduate students in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Physics Student Quality of Life Fund: This fund supports graduate student events, projects, and other needs as determined by the School Head in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and student leaders.
- Mikhail Voloshin Fellowship: This fund provides fellowships for exceptional graduate students working in the field of high energy physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
Research initiatives
- Allen Goldman Faculty Support Fund: This fund supports faculty in the School of Physics and Astronomy in honor of Professor Allen Goldman.
Outreach Programs
- Physics Force: This fund supports a K-12 outreach program through the School of Physics and Astronomy, bringing the excitement of science on a grand scale to thousands of school-age students and the general public each year.
- Physics Outreach and Community Education Fund: This fund supports outreach and community education sponsored by the School of Physics and Astronomy.
- Universe in the Park
Public Lectures
- Karlis Kaufmanis Lectureship: This fund provides support for lectures by professional scientists in various fields designed for school children, University students, and the general public.
- Irving & Edythe Misel Family Lecture Series: This fund provides support for the public lecture series hosted by the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute. These lectures are designed to spark public interest in physics.
- Abigail & John Van Vleck Lectureship: This fund provides honoraria for a public lecture in the field of physics, sponsored by the School of Physics and Astronomy.