(submitted by Rama Bala)
Fall 2019 was a busy and exciting semester for physics students. Three of our Maroons, Morgan Hale (’22), Sophie Martin (’21), Rosie Hamed (’21), attended a 3-day long national conference for physics students. According to the conference organizers ‘PhysCon 2019 brought together over a thousand students of physics and astronomy with mentors, alumni and renowned scientists in Providence, RI for a life-changing experience to explore how we all have the capacity to Make Waves & Break Boundaries.’ Attendees had the opportunity to hear from luminaries in the field, go on tours, engage in workshops, and build our community.
These outstanding young women were also delighted to meet one of our accomplished graduates Dr. Jake Bennett (2008), currently an assistant professor at Mississippi. According to Jake “It was really great to see Roanoke College well represented at the national conference!”
Morgan Hale presented results of her research on Mars data analysis project, that she worked during the summer under the supervision of Dr. Rama Bala, at the conference. While a student at Roanoke, Jake had participated in several research projects working with professors in our department.
Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP 2020).
This year saw a record number of participants, 6 female students and 2 women faculty, from Roanoke College Physics at CUWiP. Roanoke has a steady increase in participant every year since 2015. CUWiP is a 3 day long conference, organized by the American Physical Society . This conference is organized at multiple locations throughout the country, so that students can go to a location closest to their home institution. “The goal of APS CUWiP is to help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing them with the opportunity to experience a professional conference, information about graduate school and professions in physics, and access to other women in physics of all ages with whom they can share experiences, advice, and ideas. The national and local organizing committees of APS CUWiP strive to create a welcoming environment for all, including undergraduate women and gender minorities.”
The Roanoke delegation, (L to R) Razan ‘Rosie’ Hamed, Jean Getz, Rachel Lindsay, Sophie Martin, Adrienne Springs, Morgan Hale along with physics faulty member, Dr. Hiba Assi (who took this picture), participated at the Maryland location.
Physics faculty member Dr. Rama Bala organized a session on experiences in transitioning to a four year college for physics, at the CUWiP at the Pittsburgh location.
Even before the ‘Zoom’ mania took over college campuses in recent weeks, as a default tool for remote teaching, our Roanoke women in physics attending the Pittsburgh and Maryland sites, connected with each other via zoom during the conference plenary talk.
