Physics and Astronomy
Welcome to the Department of Physics and Astronomy at BGSU! Here we explore how the universe works – from the vastness of the cosmos to the nature of subatomic particles. We do that by studying the properties of matter and energy and the laws that govern them. It’s not surprising, then, that physics and astronomy have helped us to understand our place in space-time and led the way to new technologies. With society’s ever-increasing pace, the need for discovery accelerates the demand for trained physicists. Physicists and astronomers are exceptional problem solvers with skills that are in high demand in a wide range of scientific and engineering careers in industry, academia, and government.
Students actively participate with our faculty on cutting-edge scientific research in the fields of astrophysics, materials science, nano-science, solid-state physics, and computational physics. In addition, our Planetarium and Observatory offer opportunities for astronomy research, education, and community engagement activities. These experiences are crucial for developing the credentials that graduate programs and employers seek.
Events
For information on BGSU Planetarium shows open to the public, including dates, times, and titles please follow the link above. Planetarium Director Dr. Kate Dellenbusch is developing a set of Fall shows, followed by rooftop observing at the BGSU Observatory (weather permitting).
Photo: Craig Bell, BGSU
Wow! Did you see the total solar eclipse in BG on April 8, 2024? We hosted a watch party at the Doyt Perry stadium that drew 5-10,000 people including BGSU students, faculty, staff, and visitors from near and far! You can see news articles, photos, and other artifacts at our Eclipse Memories webpage. In the weeks before the eclipse, we also hosted a series of evening talks with wide-ranging topics relating to science, history, music, art, and literature; recordings are available on BGSU's YouTube channel. More links and information remain available at the BGSU Eclipse webpage and/or the BGSU Firelands Eclipse webpage.
Is Physics for you?
What can you do with a physics degree?
A degree in physics opens the door to a wide array of exciting and challenging careers.
News and Stories
Student Awards
Congratulations to our award-winning students from 2024. Shown above are undergraduate Physics majors Matthew Fyfe (UL), Maxwell Kannen (UR), and Hallie Knorr (LL) who won Overman Awards for academic excellence. Thomas Judd (LR) received the Bowman Family Undergraduate Research Award for his work in Dr. Sun's lab on confirming the increase in the crystal lattice of PbS nanosheets, contrasting it with the behavior of bulk PbS.
Our graduate Overman Award winners are shown below, Sudhir Panthi, Andrew Prostor, Akul Rishi, Sohan Muslim, and Julia Evangelista (clockwise from UL). Congratulations on your academic achievements!
A New Physicist
We are excited that Dr. Madhusadan Ojha is joining us as an Assistant Teaching Professor in physics. Madhu holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He did postdoctoral research at the University of Toledo on the structural and electronic properties of high entropy alloys, and has taught a wide range of physics courses at institutions across Ohio including UT, OSU–Lima, and the University of Dayton. He is an accomplished teacher, and we welcome his expert help in the coming year!
Skies over BG
October has produced some amazing sky shows. First, we had another nice visit from the Aurora Borealis on October 10, and since then comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has been gracing our western horizon. Scroll to the bottom of this page for some images taken by Nick Doughman and Katie Douglas, undergraduate members of our Stargaze Staff.
New Astronomer!
We are excited that Dr. Andrew McNeill has joined the Physics and Astronomy Department as an Assistant Professor of Astronomy. Andrew’s research focuses on determining and understanding the shape and rotational properties of minor planets throughout our Solar System with particular interest in the internal cohesive strength of kilometer-sized rocky bodies. He uses photometric data to study the brightness changes of minor planets throughout our Solar System from Near Earth Asteroids to objects beyond the orbit of Neptune.
He is an experienced observer with experience on telescopes in Spain, Chile and the United States and looks forward to passing on his interest and experience in observational astronomy to students at BGSU. He expects he (and interested students!) will be busy in the near future when Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) comes online and produces a huge amount of data from the Southern Sky.
He is involved in ongoing international collaborations to identify and observe 'extreme' asteroids, those with highly unusual shape or rotation periods, with collaborators in Europe, North America and Africa. This involves both direct observing and the use of astronomical sky surveys. Some of his recent papers can be found here.
Andrew comes to BGSU with deep experience in mentoring student research, and in teaching undergraduates courses like Introduction to Planetary Astronomy, Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics, and Modern Physics. He also has taught a seminar on Planetary Defense from potentially hazardous asteroids. He aims to use BGSU's 0.5-m telescope in his teaching and research.
Originally from Northern Ireland, he obtained both a MSc in Physics and PhD in Solar System Astrophysics from Queen’s University Belfast. Before coming to BGSU he spent five years at Northern Arizona University as a Postdoctoral Scholar and two years at Lehigh University as a Visiting Assistant Professor.
Diving into Dots
Dr. Zamkov's research group studies semiconductor nanomaterials, also known as quantum dots. The discovery and development of quantum dots won three scientists the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2023. BGSU’s students are helping progress this research, which has many important applications, from high color purity LED TVs to the advancement of biomedical technology. The work done in Dr. Zamkov’s lab has led to collaborations with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and more.
Graduate students Dulanjan Harnkahage, Jiamin Huang, and Barbra Kayira spend their days in the lab synthesizing nanomaterials and characterizing them with multiple techniques. They also have opportunities to work with laser spectroscopy in their research. This means they are usually working on a few different projects at a time throughout the day. Occasionally, they break away from the lab to attend a national conference on nanomaterials.
The students emphasize that the research done in Dr. Zamkov’s lab is great for careers in both academia and industry. They mention an important aspect of being involved in a new and innovative field is being able to handle failure, which happens all the time. They say to choose research that you are passionate about and allows you to learn from hardships. Trying out different research areas in the Physics and Astronomy department can help hone in your interests and help you decide if quantum dot research is the right fit for you.
-Hannah Means
BGSU Observatory sky images shown below: (Top) Nick Doughman captured this wide-field view of comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from the rooftop observatory at BGSU. (Second) Katie Douglas caught another view of the comet, more zoomed in, on Oct 15. (Third) Katie got another comet view through an 8-inch reflecting telescope and 26 mm eyepiece. (Bottom) Nick captured the aurora, glowing in the north on Oct 10.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Physics are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate thorough conceptual understanding of the basic field of physics;
- Describe and manipulate fundamental physical constructs and solve problems with mathematics and computational methods;
- Use basic experimental apparatus common to the study of physical phenomena;
- Communicate scientific ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
The Physics program will undergo Program/Cluster Review during the Academic Year 2019-20.
Updated: 10/21/2024 09:56AM