Photo credit: Duke Today
Profs. Calvin Howell and Ronen Plesser along with graduate student Kristine Callan and staff member Derek Leadbetter were featured in the Duke Today article “Fun With a Rocket-Propelled Faculty” for their outreach efforts. Read the article online here.
Physics DGS assistant Donna Ruger was quoted in the DukeToday article “Rent a Swath of Duke Forest” about the Duke Forest picnic shelter rented for the annual picnic. Read the article here.
Prof. Bob Behringer and Lab Administrator Derek Leadbetter did some exciting science outreach during the month of March.
On March 7th, Bob–with Derek behind the scenes–and Profs. Warren Warren and Ken Lyle from Chemistry presented a program “Science Magic” to 70 Duke Campus Club members. Campus Club is an organization of women involved in one way or another with Duke (faculty, faculty wives, staff, volunteers, etc.).
Some of the comments after the show from those who attended:
Highlights of the show were Bob propelling himself across the room on a “rocket,” diffracting glasses, and liquid nitrogen ice cream.
On March 16th, both Bob and Derek led a demonstration of science feats to a group of volunteers from the Duke Hospital Auxiliary. Again, the group was amazed at what they saw and had lots of questions.
On March 22nd, Bob with Derek’s help behind the scenes, presented a similar program at Pathways Elementary School in Orange County for 60 children between the ages of 5 and 10. When asked what was the favorite thing, the 5th graders said, “The pig in the parabolic mirror.” The kindergartners wrote thank you letters. Here is what one said:
“Dear Dr. Behringer, I glad you here for you do cool stuf. It was asm. We liket wen you was on the rocet. Luf yor stuf.
The Durham Board of County Commissioners has appointed Duke Physics Administrative Manager Randy Best to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission as the representative for Duke University. He will begin participation in the next meeting, March 20. Congratulations, Randy!
Graduate student Kristine Callan performs a demo with elementary students
January 25, 2012 was the first science fair of the spring semester for the physics outreach group. Physics graduate student Kristine Callan, undergraduates Lauren Musso (physics), Hunter Douglas (engineering), and Chad Liu (engineering) accompanied Derek Leadbetter to host Duke’s physics demo tables at North Chatham Elementary’s Science Night. The evening was a huge success, attended by hundreds of elementary school students. Our volunteer student team received many well deserved accolades. Upcoming science fairs scheduled for the spring semester include Githens Middle School, Creekside Elementary, NC Science Festival, and Duke Alumni Weekend.
View more photos on Flickr here.
Richard Nappi in the Staff Machine Shop
When in need of a custom-designed tissue press, a mouse-exposure chamber, an umbilical cord blood collector, photoelastic disks, or almost any other apparatus made of metal or plastic, those in the know turn to the Duke Physics Instrument Shop. “We do all types of plastic and metals works,” says manager Bernie Jelinek. “We do welding, brazing, silver soldering, and a little bit of sheet metal. We do all types of machining—milling, turning, grinding.”
The Instrument Shop, located on the bottom floor of the physics building, is stocked with dozens of machines including three computer numerical controlled (CNC) 4-axis mills and a CNC lathe. Its services are available to anyone in the Duke community, local nonprofits, and others for a fee of is $63.25 per hour to design, build, and repair tools and equipment. In addition to Jelinek, the Instrument Shop is staffed by senior instrument makers Bill Peterson and Phil Lewis. (more…)