On Saturday, December 10th, local elementary and middle school students participated in Physics Superspies, a Physics Discovery Day outreach event on WavAudience participation! Angel Torres and audience volunteer demonstrating the power of an electromagnet.es and Satellites.  Outreach Coordinator Angel Torres kicked off the program with a series of captivating demonstrations that had students energized! The demonstration show was designed to prepare students for a fun series of hands-on activities that further demonstrated the properties of the electromagnetic spectrum and how scientists use different wavelengths to study the universe.  Thanks to the expertise of physics majors Jade LeShack, Lincoln Doney, Wenxi Wu, David Bour and Bergen Dahl, the attendees learned new concepts as they completed their Discovery Day physics passport at each activity station. Undergraduate volunteers were able to utilize their knowledge beyond the classroom to answer questions from inquisitive participants.

Attending parents enjoyed the program and were appreciative of the activities. One parent stated, “My son is a huge physics and math fan. He had a great day learniA miniature model of a galaxy in "infrared" light.ng through fun interactive demonstrations. Thanks for having such a cool event!” Activity stations included simulating the launch of a satellite into orbit using stomp rockets, creating waves across the visible spectrum with Slinkys, and understanding the effects of magnetic fields on satellites through iron filings and magnets.

This Discovery Days program was developed by Outreach Coordinator Angel Torres and Director of Education Donna Hammer.  New to the program, a collection of “miniature galaxies” in bottles using colored Jell-O and tiny pieces of candy was developed by Torres. By using specific colored filters, attendees were able to reveal the galaxy inside Time to Launch! Undergraduate Bergen Dahl, Donna Hammer, and attendees posing with their rockets.of an opaque bottle (universe). These galaxies allowed students to personally engage with using different wavelengths, through light filters, to see all the features of a galaxy.  In order to demonstrate the curvature of spacetime, Hammer designed a model of personal spacetime hoops. Each participant was able to simulate satellites orbiting a celestial body using metal spheres and marbles. Students increased the number of “satellites” until they created a solar system.

The Physics Outreach Team is excited to host more events this Spring. Discovery Days are geared toward upper-elementary school students and are complemented by Physics is Phun for high school audiences. To stay informed on future Discovery Days and upcoming outreach events, visit our outreach page and join our mailing list.

As a 2022 Physics Congress (PhysCon) local host, UMD Physics was a popular destination for undergraduate attendees to visit on the first day of the conference. Over 80 undergraduate students from US colleges and universities visited campus during the 2022 National Physics Congress (PhysCon) event held in Washington, DC. PhysCon Lunch at UMD Although the students had different ideas about their futures, they shared a passion for physics and an interest in learning more about graduate school at the University of Maryland.

PhysCon SPS Chapter ShowcaseVisitors arrived on campus to find a large group of UMD physics majors and graduate students waiting to welcome them to the department. The program for the day was designed to give a snapshot of the department by showcasing exciting research including Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Computing, Biophysics, Particle Physics, Geophysics, and Astrophysics. Yanda Geng and 2022 PhysCon attendeesTo provide a window into graduate life at UMD, a graduate student panel engaged visitors in a discussion about their personal trajectories and career goals with a PhD in physics.  A highlight of the day was the Undergraduate Quantum Association (UQA)’s interactive quantum-focused discussion during lunch. Following the lively lunch, the day ended the way every event should, with a bang, as Angel Torres, Outreach Coordinator, propelled a pencil through a piece of plywood!

The packed day of activities was organized by Director of Education and SPS Advisor, Donna Hammer.  Pleased with the outcome of the visit, Hammer shared, “Our physics department is home to an extraordinary group of students, faculty, and staff.  Their dedication and commitment to the physics community is the foundation of today’s success.”

Please see UMD PhysCon video highlights:

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Sankar Das Sarma has again been included on Clarivate Analytics list of Highly Cited Researchers, a compilation of influential names in science.

Das Sarma is the Richard E. Prange Chair of Physics, the Director of the Condensed Matter Theory Center and a Fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute. 

After receiving his Ph.D. from Brown University in 1979—studying under UMD alumnusSankar Das Sarma John Quinn (Ph.D., '58)—Das Sarma joined the UMD faculty in 1982. He was named a Distinguished University Professor in 1995, and in 2008 received the Kirwan Faculty Research Prize for his groundbreaking work in topological quantum computing.

In 2013, Das Sarma received the CMNS Distinguished Faculty Award in recognition of his stellar career. In 2020, a paper he co-wrote was included in Physical Review B's list of the "milestone" papers published in its first 50 years of existence. 

Das Sarma has been included in all previous listings of highly-cited researchers: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2001.

College Park Professor Chris Monroe also appeared on the list.

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023,  Eastern Standard Time (UTC -05:00)