The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
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The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
From left, junior José Rojas, a mathematics/physics major, and sophomore Fiona Lorenzen, an applied physics major, study colloidal particles, microscopic particles that are held in water, with optical tweezers.

CNS students combine diverse skills in ongoing research project

By Trey Nitza, Contributing Writer • October 29, 2024
In a small lab on the second floor of the Center for Natural Sciences, students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy have been working on a unique project: studying colloidal particles, microscopic particles that are held in water, using optical tweezers — a microscope combined with a laser to hold and trap particles. 

Getting Your Money’s Worth: Clinton B. Ford Observatory

By Mei Dennison, Lucia Iandolo, Ava Suffredini, Sammie Macaranas, and Christian Gratto • April 17, 2024

In this episode of Getting Your Money's Worth, Lucia Iandolo and Mei Dennison learn about the Ithaca College Clinton B. Ford Observatory with Physics and Astronomy Professor Luke Keller.

Senior Emily Leach examined the impact of a pilot Foundations in Physics course on students' test scores and overall grades in Physics 101 and 102. Leach conducted this research as part of the college's Summer Scholars program.

Student research analyzes impact of pilot foundational physics course

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • October 18, 2023
Over the summer, senior Emily Leach, chemistry and applied physics double major, analyzed grades from two physics courses that ran during Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 to determine if a foundations section of Physics 101 would increase student success in Physics 101 and 102. 
From left, senior Ted Mburu and junior Matthew Weil conducted research in the areas of environmental physics and physics education and presented at a conference March 5–10.

Two IC students win award at physics research conference

By Jadyn Davis, Staff Writer • March 29, 2023
Ithaca College junior Matthew Weil and senior Ted Mburu were awarded the Best Undergraduate Research Award at the American Physical Society March Meeting.  

The Clinton B. Ford Observatory’s new Telescope is now in place

By Morgana Zendejas Peterson and Thomas Kerrigan • October 19, 2022

In 1998, the college built the Clinton B. Ford Observatory with funding from Clinton B. Ford — former trustee of the college — the National Science Foundation and Ithaca College. The observatory is primarily used by the Department of Physics and Astronomy for astronomy classes and research projects for physics majors.

Observatory under repair in hopes of viewing night in fall

By Jadyn Davis, Staff Writer • April 20, 2022
With IC's main observatory telescope out of commission, faculty and students are working to make sure the telescope is ready for use by Fall 2022.
Wythe Marschall, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University, spoke to Ithaca College students and faculty about the lack of inclusion of scientific knowledge from marginalized communities.

Department of Physics and Astronomy holds guest speaker event

By Elizabeth Kharabadze, Contributing Writer • October 20, 2021
The Department of Physics and Astronomy seminar took place Oct. 19 and discussed the lack of inclusion of scientific knowledge from marginalized communities.
The 14-page plan includes action items for Faculty and Staff Education; Student Education; Representation; Student Support; Community; Curriculum and Pedagogy; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leadership. 

Physics and astronomy department forms plan to fight discrimination

By Olivia Stanzl, Contributing Writer • February 25, 2021
The Department of Physics and Astronomy has created an Anti-racism and Inclusion Action Plan to combat discrimination and microaggressions within the department.
'Re:Mixing' - "Star Gazing Music" with Beth Ellen Clark Joseph

‘Re:Mixing’ – “Star Gazing Music” with Beth Ellen Clark Joseph

By The Ithacan, Arleigh Rodgers • December 9, 2020

The Ithacan · 'Re:Mixing' - "Star Gazing Music" with Beth Ellen Clark Joseph In this episode, host Arleigh Rodgers discusses out-of-this-world songs with Beth Ellen Clark Joseph, chair of the Department...

Sophomore Antara Sen researched asteroid 101955 Bennu with NASA throughout the spring and summer. Pictured is a region of Bennu close to its north pole, showing the day and night sides of the asteroid.

Q&A: IC student conducts research with NASA

By Deena Houissa, Contributing Writer • September 21, 2020
Sophomore Antara Sen conducted research with NASA over the last nine months, findings that will be published in a paper she is co-authoring.
Colleen Countryman, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was a member of the team from North Carolina State University, her alma mater and former place of employment, that won the 2017 Campus Technology Impact Award for Teaching and Learning for the NCSU MyTech app.

Professor creates app to make physics more accessible to students

By Madison Fernandez, Staff Writer • November 14, 2017
Colleen Countryman, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said the aim of MyTech is to demonstrate real-life applications to physics.
From left, John Schwartz, Charles Spencer, Peter Seligmann, Ahren Sadoff and Paulen Smith are the founding faculty of the Department of Physics.

Ithaca College Physics Department celebrates 50th anniversary

By Annika Kushner, Contributing Writer • September 30, 2015
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Ithaca College physics department hosted festivities for about 50 faculty, alumni and students Sept. 26.
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