Randolph physics students organization wins national award

The Randolph College chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been recognized again as one of the best SPS chapters in the nation.

This month, the national society honored the Randolph chapter with an Outstanding SPS Chapter Award. Fewer than 10 percent of SPS chapters, or about one per state, receive this designation. Randolph’s chapter has earned the title for eight out of the past nine years.

“I am proud of these students for yet again earning this Outstanding Chapter award,” said Peter Sheldon, a Randolph physics professor and advisor to the SPS. “This acknowledges their work in conducting research and in teaching the community about science.”

Randolph’s SPS organizes and runs the annual Randolph College Science Festival, which attracts more than 1,000 people to various events that celebrate science and teach about its connection to all aspects of life. The students also host events for other Randolph students and work on “build projects,” such as a giant Newton’s cradle—with bowling balls suspended from a wooden frame—that the group has been building this semester.

The award letter from Toni Sauncy, director of SPS, specifically mentioned the Science Festival and a science Jeopardy activity as reasons for the Outstanding Chapter designation.

“You and your officers have earned a moment in the spotlight to recognize the efforts that you make to build community and propel students into their careers as prepared professionals,” Sauncy said in the letter.

Scientist who helped discover the Higgs boson to kick off Randolph Science Festival

A scientist involved in one of the most important recent scientific discoveries will headline the Randolph College Science Festival in March.

Don Lincoln, a Fermilab scientist, will present the Science Festival’s keynote address, “Fireworks in July – An Insider’s Account of the Discovery of the Higgs boson,” at 7:30 p.m. on March 21. It will kick off four days of events that help people of all ages learn about—and have fun with—science.

The Randolph College Science Festival helps people discover the science that powers innovations we all love. Find out more on the Science Festival website, or read a detailed list of events below.

Lincoln worked on the team of scientists that used the Large Hadron Collider in Europe to test for the existence of the Higgs boson, a subatomic particle that is important to scientific theories about the beginnings of the universe. Last summer, the team announced that it had discovered what appeared to be a Higgs boson.

“The discovery of the Higgs boson is probably the biggest scientific discovery of the century,” said Peter Sheldon, a Randolph physics professor who organizes the Science Festival. “The large-scale science Dr. Lincoln is here to talk about impacts everyone, and he is able to really bring it to life.”

Lincoln is known for explaining deep scientific principles in a way that is easy for non-scientists to grasp—for example, he has written books and delivered a TED Talk about the Higgs boson, and also has a YouTube video with more than a million views. “He is able to show the beauty and express the importance of this and other discoveries,” Sheldon said. “He is a speaker you do not want to miss.”

After Lincoln’s keynote address, Science Festival will continue on Friday when Lincoln leads a class at Randolph College at 11:30 a.m. Members of the public may attend if they contact Sheldon in advance as seating is limited.

Other Science Festival events this year include:

Friday, March 22

The Center for Student Research Open House—Come learn about student research opportunities and achievements at Randolph College. 2:30 p.m., West 106
Women in Science Panel—Learn about how the College’s alumnae have built careers in science. 3:30 p.m., Nichols Theatre, Student Center
Poetry Competition Reading—More than 1,000 students have submitted science-themed poems to this year’s contest. 6:30 p.m., Wimberly Recital Hall, Presser Hall
A Scientist Goes to the Movies: The Avengers—Randolph mathematics professor Marc Ordower will dress as Nick Fury and offer scientific commentary about this popular film. Wear your own superhero costume for a chance to win a prize! 8 p.m., Nichols Theatre, Student Center

Saturday, March 23

Science Day Fun for Little Scientists—Randolph students will lead children in age-appropriate science-based activities at the Randolph College Nursery School. Noon and 1:30 p.m. (Requires pre-registration.)
Science Day—This popular event will include science-based activities for students in grades 3–6. (Requires pre-registration.)
Star Party—View stars, planets, and other astronomical bodies at Winfree Observatory. In the event of rain, a slideshow will be shown. 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 24

Art and Animals Drawing Contest—Draw animals from the College’s collection of birds and mammals. 1–3 p.m., Martin Science Building
Drop-in Science Activities—Science demonstrations including robots, lasers, nature, and more. 1–3 p.m., Martin Science Building
Pinewood Derby Regional Competition—We host this annual race for the Cub Scouts again. 1–4 p.m., Houston Memorial Chapel

Randolph College's 2012 Science Festival doubles attendance

More than 1,400 people of all ages got a taste of the magic of science March 23-25 during Randolph College’s 2012 Science Festival.

The Science Festival is in its fourth year and is designed to spark an interest in science in people of all ages by making science fun and accessible. The festival revolves around interactive exhibits and kid-friendly activities while also including lectures with leaders in the science community. Randolph’s Society of Physics Students runs the event each year with the help of more than 90 student volunteers.

“The student volunteers did an amazing job making all the events happen, and making them happen well,” said Peter Sheldon, a Randolph College physics professor and director of the Science Festival. “We grew Science Festival significantly this year, with more activities and more attendance, and we could not have done it without the huge community support.”

Michael Shermer, founder of Skeptic magazine, kicked off the event with a classroom demonstration and public lecture on Thursday, March 23. Other events included a poetry contest for students in K-12, the popular Science Day for third through sixth graders, a drop-in event featuring hands-on science activities, the opportunity to view and critique the movie Twister with a scientist, the regional Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, and much more.

Randolph College provides Science Fest free to the community with the help of generous individual and corporate sponsors: Lead Sponsor: The News & Advance, AREVA, Edison2, Frito-Lay, Future Focus Foundation, Dominion Electric Vehicles, Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, High Peak Sportswear, Meriwether Godsey, Stewart Langley Properties, Pepsi, Marge Dillard ’4848, and The Honorable Elliot S. and Rosel H. Schewel.

Society of Physics students wins national recognition for the sixth year running

The annual Science Festival, where Randolph College students lead science demonstrations
and activities for children, teenagers, and adults, helped the Randolph chapter of the Society
of Physics Students win an Outstanding Chapter designation again.

Randolph College's physics students stay on the move: Throughout the year, you can find them fine-tuning potato guns, riding roller coasters to explore the physics at play, or helping Cub Scouts perfect their Pinewood Derby cars.

Those activities and outreach efforts have again caught national attention. The national office of the Society of Physics Students national office has just awarded the Randolph College Chapter with the Outstanding Chapter status for the sixth year in a row.

The Randolph College Chapter of the Society of Physics Students works on a variety of projects. Its largest activity is the annual Science Festival, when the College hosts science activities and demonstrations for people of all ages with the help of more than 90 student volunteers. This year's Science Festival will take place March 22 - 25.

This year, the group also plans to build a canon that will shoot T-shirts out to fans at Randolph College athletic events. They just do not stop!

Get Ready for Randolph ScienceFest

The Randolph College Society of Physics Students is proud to bring you the Second Annual Randolph College Science Festival, March 25-27, 2011.

Begun as a Science Day for kids in 2005, we are joined by science, humanities and arts departments across the campus, and by numerous presenters to bring a weekend of activities for all.

All activities are free and open to the public, and are for all ages.

Learn more at www.RandolphScience.org

Physics Club Wins National Award

The Randolph College chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) has been named an Outstanding Chapter by the National Society of Physics Students for 2008-2009.

This is the fourth national Outstanding Chapter award for the club, having earned the honor in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08.

"We have an outstanding group of students who are passionate about physics," said faculty advisor Peter Sheldon, professor of physics. "We won this award because of their dedication to bringing science to the public."

The award is the culmination of a very eventful 2008-09 academic year for the group.

• The chapter won the 2008 Blake Lilly Prize for their work with Randolph's annual Science Day for local elementary school children. That event also won them the Randolph College award for Best Philanthropic Event.


• SPS hosted activities for all students including field trips to an amusement park to enjoy the physics of rollercoasters and the Smithsonian Institution, a photo contest, a project to design and build a t-shirt gun, and a Wii tournament.


• In addition, four physics majors received travel grants from SPS National to attend and present research at the American Physical Society National Meeting.


• SPS President Wai Sze Cheung, with the help of SPS, coached a group of children in the FIRST Robotics tournament.


• SPS ran the Lynchburg area’s first Science Festival, and their signature event, Science Day, attracted about 300 children, teachers, and their families.


• Randolph hosted the Society of Physics Students’ Zone 4 Meeting, a regional student physics conference.

Sheldon praised the 2008-09 officers of the SPS for their leadership and all the clubs members for their enthusiasm They were ...

• President: Wai Sze (Winncy) Cheung
• Vice President: Tiffany Paonessa
• Secretary: Catherine Khoo
• Treasurer: Yanpaing Oo
• Historian: Nema Marjana

Links

• Learn more about Randolph College Physics Department
• Dr. Peter Sheldon discusses what it's like to study physics at Randolph
• Society of Physics Student web site
• Randolph Physics Videos on YouTube
• Physics Department in the News
• SPS presents The Human Hamster Wheel

Peter Sheldon Named Finalist in National Competition

Randolph College physics professor Peter Sheldon has been named a finalist in the national Society of Physics Students (SPS) Outstanding Advisor award competition.

Sheldon is one of just 18 professors nationwide chosen in the competition. The winner will be announced during the winter meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Professors are chosen for the award through a competitive nomination process. The Award Committee chooses the national winner based on leadership, student leadership development, support, and the encouragement provided by the advisor.

Gary D. White, director of the SPS said the professors chosen to be finalists “represent the best of those that serve as mentors to physics students.”

In addition to leading Randolph College’s active SPS chapter, Sheldon serves as director of the dual-degree engineering program, the Summer Research program, and is assistant coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Physics Students Teach Cub Scouts the Science of Speed

Members of the Randolph College Society of Physics Students spent their Saturday morning with the Cub Scouts of Pack 48. They conducted a hands-on workshop, applying the lessons of physics to build faster Pinewood Derby race cars.

A longtime scouting tradition, the Pinewood Derby challenges scouts to build a wooden race car from a standard kit and then race them on a track. The competition begins within a pack and carries over to regional councils.

Professor Peter Sheldon and his students gave a physics lesson on how weight, gravity, speed, stability, friction, drag and other variables affect a car's performance and then broke out into groups to test different designs and setups.

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