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Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat resistant

hugginsm — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:43:23 +0000

Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat resistanthugginsm May 13, 2026

Student Reese Hufnagel and Professor Matthew Ray examine the material solutions and ‘designing for demise’ to counter public safety risks

This article appeared in Phys.org, Astronomy Magazine, The Mirage, NewsBreak, and others, and originated from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

When it comes to space debris, what goes up is coming down more often – and not safely.

When spacecraft launch, some components, including nonreusable rocket boosters, are jettisoned to decrease weight, leaving them to intentionally burn up as they reenter the atmosphere. Satellites also enter the atmosphere at the end of their life, supposedly burning up. But in many cases, they are not doing so as predicted.

Debris from partially burned-up spacecraft components and satellites reentering Earth’s atmosphere can pose a risk to people and structures on the ground. The surge in launches, driven largely by private players such as SpaceX, is turning a once-remote risk into a growing threat.

Our materials research group at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is studying the materials that allow reentry debris to survive. We look for ways to safely modify their exceptional heat-resistant qualities to make them safer for atmospheric reentry.

Debris landing on Earth

Reentry debris has fallen on both private and public property around the world multiple times since 2021. Some of the most notable events involve pieces from SpaceX Dragon’s carbon fiber trunk, which stays attached to the crewed capsule until just hours before its reentry. These trunks are larger than a 15-passenger van and used for storage.

Trunk debris from the Crew 7 mission to the International Space Station has landed in North Carolina, and fragments from the Crew 1 mission landed in New South Wales, Australia. Similarly, debris from the Axiom 3 mission landed in Saskatchewan, Canada.

A large piece of space debris from a SpaceX Dragon capsule was found by a campsite groundskeeper in North Carolina in 2025.

In addition to trunk debris, carbon fiber components that hold pressurized gases to adjust a spacecraft’s orientation also make up a lot of recovered reentry debris. Some of these most recent recoveries have been in Australia, Argentina and Poland.

Most of the debris that reenters the atmosphere burns up, so why are these pieces making it down to Earth’s surface?

Atmospheric reentry

Satellites such as SpaceX’s Starlink reside in low Earth orbit, typically between 190 and 1,240 miles (300 and 2000 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. To stay there, they need to move really fast, at about 17,000 miles (27,000 km) per hour. To reach this speed, a rocket with a million pounds of fuel had to accelerate it, and part of this energy is still contained within the satellite’s momentum.

As an object in orbit drifts down, closer to Earth’s upper atmosphere, it starts to collide with air molecules, slowing the object down. The amount of heat generated from this interaction rapidly consumes the satellite, melting metal at over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,600 degrees Celsius).

More launches

Countries around the world have been launching items into space since the 1950s, so why is reentry a concern now?

Starting in the 1960s, about 100 objects were launched into space every year – or at least that was the case until 2016. Since then, the number has been increasing exponentially. In 2016, 200 objects launched. But in 2025, that number was 4,500, meaning 20% of all objects launched into space since the 1950s were launched last year.

Most of these launches came from companies in the United States, such as SpaceX and Rocket Labs. Companies like these, along with those outside of the U.S., have plans for large satellite constellations composed of hundreds of thousands to a million satellites.

The more objects and payloads launched, the more reentry events occur. Satellite operators are required to remove their decommissioned satellites from orbit after 25 years to comply with regulations set in place by international committees. Groups across the world, including the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S., have pushed to shorten the deorbit window to five years. Because of these guidelines, the full influx of reentry debris events from these recent launches will not be felt for another 10 or more years.

The objects launched and policy decisions made today will have a lasting effect on future safety.

Carbon fiber

As the world has progressed technologically, efficiency for launching items into space has too.

Satellites and spacecraft are becoming lighter, stronger and more heat resistant because of materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics and new metals. These strong materials are sought after because they’re lightweight, but they can also cause deorbiting debris to withstand reentry temperatures.

Carbon fiber, once used exclusively in space technology, is now found in common items such as bicycle frames and racing car bodies. It is still the gold standard for fabricating high-strength, low-weight materials for spacecraft components such as rocket fuselages, interstaging – the protective housing found between the rocket stages – and pressure vessels that experience extreme temperatures and high mechanical stress and strain.

Simple metals such as aluminum and steel melt and burn away, while complex materials such as carbon fiber, which is manufactured at up to 5,000 F (3,000 C), burn away unpredictably, changing the way jettisoned components break up upon reentry.

Since the early 2000s, a majority of recovered space debris contains either carbon fiber-reinforced plastic sections or metal components wrapped with carbon fiber. The carbon fiber can act as an unintentional heat shield for heavier, more harmful debris.

This map shows locations where confirmed space debris has been recovered. With the increase in launches, the European Space Agency predicts that future space debris could fall practically anywhere across the world. European Space Agency

Design for demise

Design for demise is a major area of research focused on mitigating the risk of reentry debris. Instead of relying on controlled and meticulously timed deorbits that send components that survive reentry into the ocean at the end of their lives, spacecraft components are engineered to ensure they completely disintegrate while deorbiting through the atmosphere.

Design for demise can take many forms. These range from changing to more heat-susceptible materials to relocating harder-to-burn components to areas of the spacecraft that will be hotter during reentry, or using linkages that break apart at high temperatures to separate structures into smaller components to help them burn up.

With so much focus historically on spacecraft being made from the lightest, strongest and most heat-resistant materials available, it may seem counterintuitive to intentionally make some materials weaker. The key is making materials smarter, so they maintain their strength during their mission but weaken under the heat of reentry.

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Student Reese Hufnagel and Professor Matthew Ray examine the material solutions and ‘designing for demise’ to counter public safety risks satelite-reentry.jpg

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��Ͽ� professor elected as Fellow of American Physical Society

goersab — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 19:14:11 +0000

��Ͽ� professor elected as Fellow of American Physical Societygoersab October 23, 2025

McCullough receives prestigious nomination for impactful research, service

Abbey Goers

��Ͽ� Professor Laura McCullough, chemistry and physics, was recently elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a prestigious honor from her peers for her outstanding contributions to the field and “sustained, significant, and impactful research on and service toward promoting gender equity in physics.”

The American Physical Society (APS) is 150 years old and is considered the main international physics society. “It’s the powerhouse of physics societies, and its work covers an extremely wide scope,” McCullough said.

APS helps physicists connect with colleagues and collaborate across more than 30 fields and subfields, including astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, data science, energy research, medical physics, quantum information and climate physics. Units also cover a breadth of topics, including public policy, history, physics education research and more.

McCullough is one of four fellows chosen by the APS Forum on Diversity and Inclusion this year. She was honored for her career’s work on improving the physics climate for women and other minoritized groups. “By making physics more welcoming to everyone, physics as a field becomes better. And that is good for society as a whole,” she said.

Physics professor's passion for teaching honored with UW System Excellence Award

McCullough loves helping students learn challenging subject, works to increase women in STEM fields

McCullough has taught at ��Ͽ�, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, for 25 years. “Within STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), there is so much more awareness now of the importance of diversity. When I gave my first presentation on women in physics in 1996, it was the first such research of that type. My publications on women in STEM leadership are some of the first ever in that field. So much more work has been done since then. It makes me very hopeful,” she said.

McCullough’s applied research doesn’t focus on figuring out the underlying causes of systemic discrimination but rather on the theories that inspire actions to make a difference, from research on gender bias to chairing the APS climate site visits program.

“I look back and see how different the world is from when I started. I’ve always identified as a teacher first, physicist second. Technology has made such a difference in both disciplines. Students have much more going on and are having more mental health issues, so I’ve become much more flexible. I’ve realized the importance of meeting students where they are. The classroom is about them, not me or what I hope they learn. Physics has always had a bad reputation for being hard, and I feel that attitude is diminishing. My students are more accepting when I say that everyone can learn physics. I love that,” she said.

Physics professor honored by American Association of Physics Teachers

McCullough recognized for her work in helping break down gender barriers for females in science

Each year, APS Fellow nominees represent fewer than 0.5% of the society’s total membership. McCullough was nominated by Jennifer Blue of Miami University, Ohio, and Charles Henderson at North Carolina State. The process was started by Ramon Barthelemy at University of Utah.

McCullough received the Universities of Wisconsin Teaching Excellence Award in 2022 and the American Association of Physics Teachers’ Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT in 2019.

��Ͽ�’s chemistry and physics department offers undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology, applied science, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, as well as minors in chemistry, environmental health, materials science and physics.

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Curious Kids: Why is the sky blue?

hugginsm — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 22:01:59 +0000

Curious Kids: Why is the sky blue?hugginsm January 20, 2025

Dean Dan Freedman answers the question of a 'curious kid.'

This article appeared in the Seattle PI and MSN.com, and originated from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts, as part of Curious Kids, a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

You might think that explaining why the sky is blue would be kind of simple. But even a brief explanation of it requires a lot of science. The colors of everything you see are produced in different ways. Some of those colors are explained with physics, others by my own field of chemistry.

The nitrogen and oxygen that you are breathing right now are made up of very small particles called molecules. A molecule of nitrogen or oxygen is really, really small. Each molecule is only about 0.4 nanometers, or 16 billionths of an inch. It would take 250,000 nitrogen molecules to equal the width of one strand of your hair. You can think of the molecules as behaving like very tiny balls that constantly bounce around.

When sunlight travels through the atmosphere, it passes between lots of those teensy nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Sometimes the light runs right into one of them.

In short, the sky looks blue because the blue portion of sunlight is much more likely to bounce off the molecules in the atmosphere than the other colors of light.

Tennis balls and marbles

Now, picture the nitrogen and oxygen molecules as tennis balls and the light as heaps of marbles.

When one of those light marbles hits a nitrogen or oxygen tennis ball, the tennis ball “eats” the marble and then very quickly spits it back out again, but in a random direction. That process is what physicists call scattering.

It was around 1870 when the British physicist John William Strutt, better known as Lord Rayleigh, first found an explanation for why the sky is blue: Blue light from the Sun is scattered the most when it passes through the atmosphere. His discovery is why the scientific term for this effect is called Rayleigh scattering.

The other gases in the atmosphere can be really important too, such as the effects of carbon dioxide or methane on the global climate. But they have only a very small effect on the color of the sky.

If there were no scattering, the sky would be dark like it is on the Moon, which does not have an atmosphere.

A rainbow represents all the different components that make up sunlight. As that light passes through the water droplets suspended in the air, it is broken up into the component colors called the visible spectrum – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, more easily remembered as ROY G. BIV.

Light at the blue end of the rainbow is scattered more efficiently than the other colors. It is as if the tennis balls are very selective in terms of which marbles they eat, and they prefer the blue ones over the other colors.

The result is that the blue light is scattered across the sky so you see blue everywhere on sunny days. The rest of the colors mainly travel straight through the atmosphere.

There’s a scientific explanation for why red and orange streaks stretch aross the sky at dawn or twilight. / Elenakirey/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Redder when the Sun sets and rises

Of course, the sky is not always blue.

And Rayleigh scattering also explains why the sky tends to be reddish when the Sun is close to the horizon – at sunrise and sunset.

When the Sun is near the horizon, its light passes through a lot more of the atmosphere to reach the Earth’s surface than when it is directly overhead. The blue and green light is scattered so well that you can hardly see it. The sky is colored, instead, with red and orange light.

Colors mean a lot to us in so many different ways. Understanding the science behind colors and expressing ourselves through art with colors have been important for humans for our entire recorded history. That’s something to keep in mind as you decide what color shirt to wear tomorrow morning.

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High aspirations: Recent grads leverage Prehealth courses to pursue medical careers

polingj — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:34:10 +0000

High aspirations: Recent grads leverage Prehealth courses to pursue medical careerspolingj October 15, 2024

Brooks, Charest begin medical school, following in footsteps of recent alum who benefited from focused lab, research experiences

In 2010 when the $43 million, gleaming Jarvis Hall Science Wing addition was dedicated at ��Ͽ�, Gov. Jim Doyle and others called it the finest science facility in the state.

By at least one measure, the building with state-of-the-art lab equipment and classrooms is living up to its lofty billing: It has turned out dozens of graduates with a focus in Prehealth Sciences who have gone on to successful careers in professional health fields, including as doctors, pharmacists, dentists, chiropractors and more in Wisconsin and beyond.

Two recent graduates are beginning medical school this fall, Anna Brooks at the UW-Madison and Olivier Charest at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. “I am extremely grateful for all the doors that Stout has opened for me,” Brooks said. “It’s an amazing place to go to college.”

Anna Brooks, a 2023 ��Ͽ� applied science graduate with a focus on Prehealth Sciences, celebrated her white coat ceremony after beginning medical school this fall at UW-Madison. / Contributed photo

Prehealth Sciences is a focus area that offers targeted preparation for admission to professional schools. It can be added to ��Ͽ�’s preparatory bachelor’s programs, including biology, chemistry, physics, applied science, biochemistry and molecular biology, and health, wellness and fitness. The programs provide students with lab-based classroom and research experiences, part of the polytechnic advantage.

Brooks and Charest were aiming for medical school all along, knowing Prehealth Sciences would put them on the right track. They appreciated the mentorship of professors like Jim Burritt, Jen Grant and Dr. Alex Hall. Focused and inspired, they conducted research projects, mentored other students and were involved on campus and in the community, earning scholarships and awards and graduating with honors.

“The strength of UW Stout for Prehealth students is that not only do we have a lot of hands-on opportunities, but class sizes are small. Students really get to know their professors, who also really get to know them,” Hall said. “This allows for a lot of collaboration, research opportunities and mentorship.”

Anna Brooks works on a research project in a ��Ͽ� lab. / ��Ͽ�

‘This is exactly what I want to do’

Brooks recalled one class where students worked on removing a gene from a strain of yeast and another in which they led their own project studying the impact of various medications on cancer cells that had been created in the lab by the professor.

“I’ve heard from other students at big institutions who didn’t have the hands-on research opportunities I had at Stout, like the Cadaver Lab,” said Brooks, who loved the small class sizes and ability to work closely with her professors.

Brooks, who was born in Ukraine, graduated in May 2023 from ��Ͽ� in applied science then was chosen for a 10-week internship at UW Medical School Urology Lab. In 2022, she interned at the University of Washington Medical School.

Anna Brooks accepts her diploma in applied science from ��Ͽ�. / ��Ͽ�

While applying to medical schools in 2023, she worked as a phlebotomist at Mayo Clinic Red Cedar in Menomonie. “I witnessed the whole synergy of the team and what a physician does. It was a pleasure to see that kind of collaboration,” she said. “It reassured me that this is exactly what I want to do.”

She remembers the day in January when she received a call from a dean at UW-Madison telling her she’d been accepted into the medical school, something she first considered as a 10-year-old while coming across a medical publication. She celebrated with her Mayo Red Cedar co-workers, exclaiming, “I’m going to be a doctor!”

Olivier Charest, a 2024 graduate, began medial school this fall at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. / Contributed photo

‘The support is there and the equipment top notch’

Charest, who graduated in applied science this past May, also was a Blue Devil athlete. He played hockey but saw his career derailed in his second season by a knee injury. He had other knee injuries going back to his high school days; one subsequent interaction with a physician who helped him avoid surgery with a knee strengthening program sparked an interest in medicine as a career.

“If I could have the same impact that doctor had on me, the empathy she had toward my situation, if I could add this to any patient I see on a daily basis that’s what I’m really looking forward to as a doctor. Most patients come in in a vulnerable position. I was able to be in the shoes of my future patients,” he said.

Charest had a competitive internship in summer 2023, one of 18 chosen from 300 applicants, at the University of Rochester Medical School in Rochester, N.Y., focusing on pediatrics. “I saw the research side and the clinical side. Being able to see what I’ll do in the field was great,” he said.

Olivier Charest, left, with Professor Jen Grant and student Ava Cinealis, accepts a ��Ͽ� research award. / ��Ͽ�

While at ��Ͽ�, Charest became a certified nursing assistant and volunteered as a CNA in palliative care at Dove West Healthcare in Eau Claire and in the emergency department at Red Cedar Mayo. “Many people believed in me and paved the way for me to succeed, so being able to have these opportunities meant the world to me,” he said.

His education at ��Ͽ� gave him the independence to explore opportunities in the labs and through research. “The program teaches you a lot of qualities you need in the field and helps you grow a little faster. The support is there, and the equipment is top notch.”

Kym Ludwig Klimek, a 2013 graduate, earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UW-Madison and is a pharmacist in Green Bay. / Contributed photo

From Prehealth Sciences to professionals

Charest and Brooks are excited to take the next step in their careers this fall. They will have four years of medical school, followed by a three- to seven-year residency, depending on the field of medicine they choose.

The University of Sherbrooke, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, is about an hour’s drive from the Montreal suburbs where Charest grew up. Brooks has moved to Madison with her husband, also a ��Ͽ� graduate.

Another spring 2024 graduate, Chaeyun Jung, began pharmacy school this fall at the University of Minnesota.

December 2023 graduate Henry Scheit is attending St. Catherine University in St. Paul for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Trever Koester, a 2018 graduate, finished Harvard Medical School and is a surgical resident doctor at the University of Michigan Medical. / Contributed photo

They add to an already long list of graduates in the past 15-plus years choosing a variety of health and medical fields. They include:

Kym Ludwig Klimek, 2013 graduate, finished pharmacy school at UW-Madison and is a pharmacist in Green Bay.
Nolan Green, 2015 graduate, is a doctor of osteopathy with Mayo Clinic. He graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dylan Meyer, 2015 graduate, did post-doctorate research at Harvard Medical School and is a research scientist at Vertex Pharma in Boston.
Matt Flesher, 2017 graduate, graduated from the St. Scholastica physical therapy program and works at Tamarack Health in Hayward.
Trever Koester, 2018 graduate, finished Harvard Medical School and is a surgical resident at University of Michigan Medicine.
Neal Wrobel, 2019 graduate, earned a Ph.D. in biomedical science at Rush University in Chicago and is a biomedical research scientist at Rush University Medical Center.
Issabella Stueck, 2020 graduate, attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and is a chiropractor in Appleton.

Other recent alum are working as dentists, physician assistants, nurses, surgical first assistants, athletic trainers, clinical lab technicians and clinical trial coordinators.

###

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Inspiring Graduate: Gervase Thompson, B.S. Applied Science; B.S. Mechanical Engineering

goersab — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:20:00 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Gervase Thompson, B.S. Applied Science; B.S. Mechanical Engineeringgoersab May 13, 2024

‘My education here at ��Ͽ� has prepared me well to venture out into the world.’

Inspiring Graduate: Gervase Thompson (’24)

Hometown: Brule
Degree: B.S. Applied Science & B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Concentration: Physics
Minors: Mathematics; Materials Science

During his five years at ��Ͽ�, Gervase Thompson excelled both in academics and athletics, balancing the demanding lifestyle of a student athlete.

As an Honors College student and outside linebacker for the Blue Devils football team, he maintained a 4.0 grade-point-average while earning dual degrees in applied science and mechanical engineering.

Gervase Thompson receives his diploma from Chancellor Katherine Frank / ��Ͽ�

For his academic achievements, Thompson was one of 48 senior student athletes this spring who received the ��Ͽ� Scholar Athlete Award. He was one of 10 ��Ͽ� senior football players named to the 2024 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society. He was also nominated for the 2024 WHG Humanitarian Award.

Thompson earned his dual bachelor’s degrees on May 4, along with 1,037 graduates. He is seeking a career outside of the Midwest.

“There is still so much left in the world for me to see, and my education here at ��Ͽ� has prepared me well to venture out into the world,” he said.

How has your ��Ͽ� experience changed you?

Stout has molded me to be an effective, hands-on problem solver. The polytechnic education model was an important factor in my educational experience.

The coursework provided me with unique insights into the world of engineering and physics that a standard education style would not have.

Gervase Thompson in a mechanical engineering lab at ��Ͽ� / ��Ͽ�

Whether it was working on projects in the Fryklund Hall Material Removal and Forming Processing lab or analyzing materials with the scanning electron microscope in Jarvis Hall, I was gaining practical experiences a standard textbook could not provide.

Another aspect of my education that will have a lasting impact on me is the student-to-instructor ratio. The small class sizes facilitate more one-on-one interactions with professors, which allowed me to grow within the curriculum at a more rapid rate.

How well has ��Ͽ� prepared you to work in your field and why?

My education at Stout has prepared me very well to transition into a full-time career. With my majors of mechanical engineering and applied physics, I have developed a diverse and unique skill set that will be highly effective in the field of engineering. Both majors provided me with unique perspectives on problem solving, with a fundamental focus on analyzing problems and breaking them down into solvable pieces.

Gervase Thompson maintained a 4.0 grade-point-average while earning dual degrees / ��Ͽ�

I have developed a well-rounded technical proficiency through my coursework. Having taken a wide range of courses from Mechanical Principles and Fluid Mechanics to quantum and classical mechanics, I am able to approach problems from multiple angles.

Communication and collaboration are two more key takeaways from my education that have prepared me for my future career. Both of my majors emphasized the importance of effective communication and collaboration skills. Having the ability to analyze and communicate information clearly and concisely in an industry setting is crucial for success. For example, it can lead to decreased lead times on the production lines or in product development, which, in turn, leads to an increased throughput and successful business with satisfied customers.

What stands out about your ��Ͽ� experience?

What stands out to me about my Stout experience was my professors. There was an incredible wealth of knowledge shared amongst my instructors across both the engineering and applied science departments. They were all deeply committed to student success, while possessing a profound understanding of their respective fields.

The amount of industry-specific knowledge was also first class. Instead of working from a textbook verbatim, I was constantly exposed to real-world scenarios that have had a lasting impact on me.

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?

Football was the most impactful part of my Stout experience outside of academics. It was like having a second family on campus. Knowing over a hundred different guys on campus each year was one of the best parts. It was extremely competitive and was the best form of stress relief for me outside of classes.

Gervase Thompson played outside linebacker for the Blue Devils / ��Ͽ� Athletics

Over the course of my football career here, I was fortunate enough to be an Honorable Mention and 2nd Team All-Conference linebacker my junior and senior years respectively, a 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy national semifinalist, and the 2023 WIAC Max Sparger Football Scholar Athlete Award recipient.

I was also involved with two organizations on campus: the Honors College and Multicultural Student Services. The Honors College provided me with some unique experiences when I was fulfilling my general education requirements. The Honors courses were some of the most enjoyable classes I took while at Stout.

As a member of Multicultural Student Services, I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship for four years of my education. I will always be grateful for their help financially because it allowed me to focus more on school instead of worrying about sourcing additional school funding.

What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?

For me, the biggest challenge was balancing the student athlete lifestyle with rigorous course loads each semester. The duality of this lifestyle was very demanding. It restricted the amount of free time I had and really tested my perseverance and mental strength.

Gervase Thompson, center, with his capstone group demonstrating their NVent Hinge project / ��Ͽ�

To overcome this obstacle, I kept pushing forward, taking it one day at a time. Sooner than later, all the demanding tasks of being a Scholar Athlete became second nature and I had formed the habits to be successful in anything I pursued.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am most proud of maintaining a 4.0 GPA while playing football. Pursuing this dual degree has not been an easy task. There were lots of early morning workouts and late nights in the library. Waking up tired and going to bed exhausted.

Looking back, all the sacrifices I made to get where I am today were worth it. Choosing this path allowed me to grow mentally in ways I did not think were possible, and I am truly grateful for it.

Additional thoughts

It is astonishing how my life at Stout and my life back at Northwestern High School have become so intertwined. There are many more connections I could name.

I was lucky enough to have a former Northwestern High School and Stout graduate, Coach Jake Schiff, provide me with the opportunity to continue my football career at the collegiate level by recruiting me to play here at Stout.

My younger brother Adam soon followed me here academically to pursue a degree in plastics engineering, along with his high school girlfriend, who is a student athletic trainer here. My good friend from high school, Justin Sedin, decided to transfer here to play baseball and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best players in the WIAC. Justin’s younger brother Luke will be a sophomore next year and is looking to contribute at a high level on the football team at the quarterback position.

Honors College student and Scholar Athlete Gervase Thompson is seeking a career outside of the Midwest / ��Ͽ�

Chancellor Frank and I started our careers here at Stout around the same time. As I am wrapping up my Stout career, I just want to comment on how thoroughly impressed I am with her dedication to assimilate with student life, especially that of the student athletes at this university. She is extremely supportive of athletics, and it shows through her commitment to attend as many sporting events as she can.

One thing about Chancellor Frank that sticks out to me is how she personally reaches out either by handwritten letters or email to congratulate student athletes on their accomplishments.

Those are first class gestures that I deeply respect because it shows how much she cares about this university.

One of my all-time favorite interactions with Chancellor Frank occurred off campus. I happened to be walking around the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, and I ran into her while crossing the street. We stopped and had a casual conversation in the middle of the street on an early summer Saturday morning. It is little moments like this that will stick with me forever after leaving Stout.

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‘My education here at ��Ͽ� has prepared me well to venture out into the world.’ Inspiring grad Gervase Thompson

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Stout Scholar proud of dual STEM degrees, leadership and volunteering on campus

goersab — Mon, 22 May 2023 18:12:28 +0000

Stout Scholar proud of dual STEM degrees, leadership and volunteering on campusgoersab May 22, 2023

Follow Thompson’s senior year as the third-generation student graduates early

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��Ͽ� inspiring graduate and Stout Scholar Nathan Thompson did in four years what might take others more – graduated with a double major in applied science and mechanical engineering.

With high school college credit and by enrolling in summer and Winterm classes, Thompson, of Woodville, met his goal and graduated with honors, Summa Cum Laude, on May 6, one of 1,173 graduates.

“The double major is a great opportunity to expand your horizons and delve into topics you may not have seen before. It’s a rewarding experience to take classes in different backgrounds, and there are several minors available,” he said.

Nathan Thompson celebrates his graduation outside of Bowman Hall / Nathan Thompson

Thompson earned his applied science concentration in physics and minors in materials science and mathematics, which he was able to complete with no additional classes because of the double major.

He is interested in manufacturing and materials science research, which applies him to draw on his interests in physics and his engineering skillset and apply them to the manufacturing industry. He also plans to return to ��Ͽ� to earn his Master of Science in manufacturing engineering.

“It’s embracing the best of both worlds,” he said. “I want to explore all of my options for post-graduate education. I have my eye on ��Ͽ�. The master’s program is entirely online, offering a lot of flexibility. Wherever I end up taking my career, I can still continue my education.

“My ��Ͽ� experience has helped me to become more eager to learn and be more curious about industry. The education at ��Ͽ� is pivoted toward industry, and course requirements provide skills that can jump-start careers. The wide variety of labs and co-op experiences help expose you to where your education can take you after ��Ͽ�.”

Nathan Thompson and Campus Preview Day tour guides with Chancellor Katherine Frank / Nathan Thompson

Continuing his family legacy, Thompson is a third-generation ��Ͽ� graduate. His mother, Kirstin (master’s in education, 1999), and grandparents, Richard (B.S. in technical education, 1965; and master’s in counseling, 1970) and Mary (B.S. home economics, 1965; and master’s in home economics, 1969), celebrated with him at commencement.

The Stout Scholars Scholarship awards three outstanding incoming students each year with $5,000, renewable for up to four years, for a total of $20,000. Stout Scholars represent ��Ͽ�’s commitment to students’ success in their studies and their career readiness.

This is the fourth and final story in a series following Thompson’s college experience at ��Ͽ�. Fellow Stout Scholar Erin O'Brien, applied mathematics and computer science graduate, shared her experiences as well.

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Follow two Blue Devils on their college journeys

Collaboration is key in capstone and engineering

For his senior capstone project, Thompson was assigned to complete the Lawn Dice Marking Project, along with team members Joseph Patterson, of Hudson; Sydney Robinson, of Lakeville, Minn.; Rebeka Wesenick, of Aniwa; and Sam Wesenick, of Wausau. The team was tasked with marking six-sided dice. Another team was tasked with rounding the edges of the dice, and a team from the previous semester designed an automated system for cutting 4-by-4 posts into the uniform dice blocks.

The dice will be given to visitors, families and supporters who tour the engineering department.

Nathan Thompson and his capstone team present their Lawn Dice Marking Project / ��Ͽ�

While some programs have students complete solo capstones, the engineering capstone was a team project. Thompson, the team lead, believes it is “absolutely essential to be able to work in a team environment in the engineering field. Engineering requires a diverse skillset. You may collaborate with a manufacturing engineer or computer and electrical engineer. There’s a broad range of backgrounds involved. You must be able to work with people whether or not they have the same education as you.

“The engineering capstone course pushes students into realistic experiences, giving a background in project management, team leadership, work deliverables and allows them to explore what an industry project would look like, as well as connecting with other students and developing a social network,” he added.

Thompson and his team created an automated hopper system to feed the wooden blocks into place between six aluminum branding plates and brackets, which they also designed and engineered. They tested the temperature and duration needed to mark each side simultaneously. Their system marks one die in 30 seconds, with six dice completed in three minutes.

The team explored creative ideas for the side marked with the single dot. Thompson custom-designed a branding plate featuring the ��Ͽ� ‘S’ in the Computer Assisted Design Lab and machined it in the CNC Lab in Fryklund Hall.

Their project was sponsored by ��Ͽ�’s Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering.

“Nathan is a bright, engaging and passionate student. He raises the level of a class just by being there and being himself – asking questions and bringing constant positivity,” said mechanical engineering Program Director Vincent Wheeler, capstone project adviser.

Nathan Thompson displays the Stout 'S' on a wooden die, part of his team's capstone design / ��Ͽ�

As an Honors College student, Thompson explored more of his interests. “There are plenty of enhancement events to explore a wide variety of topics and to work with faculty who are passionate about their subjects. With a faculty mentor, you can complete a project you’ve always wanted to do,” he added.

Thompson’s Honors College project was to design a mechanical engineering task for high school students entered in SkillsUSA Wisconsin, a regional competition held each February at ��Ͽ�. He and his mentor Associate Professor Devin Berg tasked students with building a structure using a variety of tools, including straws, craft sticks and tape, to model an elevated housing unit in a flood zone.

The event, however, was canceled because of a snowstorm, but “hopefully the materials can be used again next year,” Thompson said. “The project was meant to expose students to that realm of engineering, thinking about climate change and sustainability.”

Working with him on his honor’s contract, Berg found Thompson to be a “thoughtful leader who contributed his creativity to the design of an engineering team challenge for high school students.”

Volunteering and reaffirming students’ decisions

Volunteering is a big part of Thompson’s life. It was a highlight of his college experience, and he plans to continue to volunteer as a graduate.

“There are a great many ways a company can be involved in their area, like how ��Ͽ� is so involved in the Menomonie community,” he said. “I would like to continue to volunteer once I get my foot into the industry.”

He mentioned the industry partners, like Graco, Advanced Molding Technologies, OEM Fabricators and F&M Plastics, which sponsor capstone projects, as an example. “Industry partners offered up projects for students to complete, and then students can look to those professionals and connect with them, helping to steer them into the industry.”

Nathan Thompson giving a tour of campus to prospective students, families and supporters / ��Ͽ�

Thompson served as a campus guide with the Admissions Office, leading more than 50 tours this academic year. During Campus Preview Days, he led visiting prospective students, families and supporters on tours, as well as students interested in engineering on a more specialized tour of the engineering facilities in Fryklund Hall.

“Campus Preview Days offer an opportunity for visiting families to meet with Admissions Counselors, Student Services and University Housing representatives. Before the tour, there's a Q&A session with a panel of student tour guides, where families can ask about students' personal experiences on campus. The experience adds a level of authenticity for prospective students that are nervous about college life,” Thompson said.

“Preview Day is the event that I attended as a high school senior that helped guide my decision to enroll at ��Ͽ�,” Thompson said. “Students on these tours are in the same position I was in four years ago. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to know would I feel safe? Would I be working on projects every day? What skills would I learn? Is it affordable?

“Ultimately, my goal is to help students reaffirm their decision to attend ��Ͽ� and encourage prospective students to apply. Students come from every background. They come from out of state and right here in Menomonie. A lot of them are still deciding where they want to go. There are many universities in Wisconsin, but few polytechnic universities in the nation, and that’s something that should always be pushed when someone is considering ��Ͽ�,” he added.

Thompson received a lot of questions from parents and student supporters during tours, like, “Is ��Ͽ� a suitcase campus?”

His answer for them is, “��Ͽ� is a university where there is always something going on, even on the weekends, to get involved on campus. There are concerts, music, dances and craft nights. You can hike, bike, canoe and walk along our nature trails, including the Red Cedar Trail.”

Nathan Thompson volunteering at the Rotary Meal Pack-a-Thin / ��Ͽ�

Over his four years at ��Ͽ�, Thompson was also involved with the American Foundry Society, Engineers Without Borders and Lutheran Campus Ministry and volunteered at events like the Rotary Meal Pack-a-Thon.

“I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished in my four years here,” Thompson said. “I’m proud to have made an impact on students who plan on coming here and who are already here and to have been able to do so much for the community as a student. It’s a most rewarding experience.”

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Three commencement ceremonies on May 6 at ��Ͽ� celebrated the progress, perseverance and success of 1,173 graduates.

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Champions of research: Faculty, students recognized with annual awards

polingj — Mon, 08 May 2023 20:17:30 +0000

Champions of research: Faculty, students recognized with annual awardspolingj May 8, 2023

Joshua Rusnak, applied biochemistry and molecular biology major studying bacteria, one of nine to be honored on Research Day

Joshua Rusnak, a junior at ��Ͽ�, has known for a long time that he wants to be a scientist and go into research.

“In grade school our science teacher told us that everything was made of elements and those elements were made of atoms. From that moment I thought, ‘That’s it. Understanding that and how it works is the only thing that I can see,” said Rusnak, of Minneapolis.

That passion for science brought him to ��Ͽ� for the applied biochemistry and molecular biology major. The lab-based program has allowed him to dive into research, especially on the subject of bacteriophages, viral entities that infect some types of bacteria. Bacteriophages someday could be a new way to treat drug-resistant infections.

Joshua Rusnak works in a ��Ͽ� microbiology lab surrounded by agar plates, in which bacteria and fungi are grown using a layer of nutrient in a Petri dish. / ��Ͽ�

In recognition of his success and the promise he shows, Rusnak has been named this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.

“It is exciting and validating to have the work I have put toward research recognized,” Rusnak said. “Research can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, so the recognition feels like a badge of honor, like you’ve truly come into yourself as a scientist.”

Rusnak, whose adviser is Assistant Professor Brian Teague, was one of nine to be honored during the Research Day presentations and awards held recently at the Memorial Student Center.

From left, faculty Outstanding Researcher award winners are Laura McCullough, Pranabendu Mitra and Tina Lee. / ��Ͽ�

Faculty award winners are:

Tina Lee, social science, Outstanding Research Mentor
Laura McCullough, chemistry and physics, Senior Outstanding Researcher
Pranabendu Mitra, food science, Emerging Outstanding Researcher.

Other students honored and their faculty advisers are:

Delaney Hoffman, of Dorchester, senior, video production: College of Arts and Human Sciences, Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher; Keif Oss
Sadhana Thokachichu, of Khammam, India, Master of Science in food science and technology: Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher; Mitra.

Honorable mention student awards are:

Jonathan Alesch, of Shell Lake, Master of Fine arts, design; Erik Evensen
Britney Serafina, of Baldwin, senior, environmental science, CSTEMM; Amanda Little
DJ Walker, of Menomonie, senior, applied social science, CAHS; Lee, Thomas Pearson, Chris Marshall.

From left, student Outstanding Researcher award winners are Sadhana Thokachichu, Joshua Rusnak and Delaney Hoffman. / ��Ͽ�

The faculty mentor and graduate student awards are new this year.

The faculty mentor honor recognizes a highly noteworthy individual who has demonstrated excellence in supporting student research and fostering students’ educational, professional and personal growth through participation.

Research Day is hosted by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, which supports research across campus. The annual event featured projects and presentations by nearly 300 students on May 2 and the launch of the annual Journal of Student Research.

Students Ben Bryans, foreground, and Joshua Rusnak conduct an experiment in a ��Ͽ� lab. / ��Ͽ�

Three years of research immersion

Rusnak has been a lab teaching assistant for two semesters and part of Teague’s research group. Since February, Rusnak has isolated seven bacteriophages that have been loaded into a DNA sequencer for analysis.

“I’ve mentored over 100 undergraduate researchers, and Joshua is definitely in the top five,” Teague said. “The scope of Joshua’s interests and the sophistication of his projects keep expanding, culminating in the bacteriophage project where I am more or less helping him access the resources he needs, letting him use my research space and otherwise staying out of his way!” Teague said. “He has developed from a student doing mentored research to a full-fledged junior collaborator and contributor to the broader scientific enterprise.”

Joshua Rusnak talks about his research during Research Day on campus. / ��Ͽ�

Last fall, in Teague’s Bioinformatics and Big Data course, Rusnak sequenced, assembled and annotated the genome of an uncommon bacterium that is potentially related to hospital-acquired infections and colony collapse in bee hives, Teague said, then uploaded his work to the National Center for Biotechnology Information database for access by researchers around the world.

Rusnak, who applied for and received a Student Research Grant funded by Stout University Foundation, hopes to continue his bacteriophage research in graduate school. He also presented his work at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Eau Claire in April.

He started doing research as a first-year student. Skills he has learned include molecular cloning, sample preparation, inventory and record keeping, how to make a standard curve, how to apply and use math to solve real-world problems and much more.

He said his access to professors, mentors, labs and equipment at ��Ͽ� have “exceeded my expectations.” Core courses in his major have included semesterlong research projects. ��Ͽ� has three times more labs than classrooms, part of the university’s applied learning focus.

“Research has greatly helped to solidify the often difficult concepts we learn in the classroom and move them to a tangible space. Research is the space where you can observe theory come to life,” Rusnak said, noting he enjoys the collaborative process with Teague and other students. “The adviser-advisee relationship has been one of the most important relationships I have and has shaped the scientist I am today.”

###

Joshua Rusnak, a junior at ��Ͽ�, has known for a long time that he wants to be a scientist and go into research. Joshua Rusnak plates

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Stout Scholar gains hands-on experiences leading research, helping others on and off campus

goersab — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:15:00 +0000

Stout Scholar gains hands-on experiences leading research, helping others on and off campusgoersab August 25, 2022

Follow Thompson's third year as he serves as an ‘excellent Stout ambassador’

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From the start of his college career, Nathan Thompson has wanted to build character through leadership and volunteer opportunities within his dual major, campus jobs and extracurricular activities.

Having completed his junior year at ��Ͽ� in the applied science and mechanical engineering programs, with a concentration in physics, Stout Scholar Thompson continues to add to his resume with hands-on experiences on and off campus.

Stout Scholar Nathan Thompson / ��Ͽ�

This summer, Thompson is a mechanical engineering intern at Oxbo, a world leader in niche agricultural equipment, in Clear Lake. Oxbo manufactures equipment for the harvesting of corn, coffee, beans, olives, grapes, citrus fruits and more.

“I am learning new skills in SolidWorks 3D Computer Aided Drafting, helping clients find replacement parts, and updating parts to achieve international standards and improve harvester production life,” he said.

The Cooperative Experience and Internship Program through the Career Services office had a record 1,130 students participate in the 2021-22 academic year.

Thompson, of Woodville, also served as a lab tech in ��Ͽ�’s Controls and Instrumentation and 3D Printing labs.

“The CI Lab gives us the most hands-on feel for what we’re doing,” Thompson said, “from learning how to use various electrical sensors to designing hydraulic and electrical control circuits to redesigning common manufacturing processes through Programmable Logic Controllers, or PLCs."

In the 3D Printing Lab, he helps students from various courses, most notably the Materials and Manufacturing Processes course.

“Most printing requests come in the latter half of the semester, when groups are finalizing their project designs and need custom parts. In total, more than 200 students use our lab each year for manufacturing their designs,” he said.

Nathan Thompson (second from left) and the Oxbo internship team researching pea combine harvester yield and losses. / Photo provided by Nathan Thompson

Leadership in research

Not only did Thompson have the opportunity to assist his peers in labs outside of class, he also helped lead them in one of his courses as well. Juniors and seniors in the Advanced Physics Laboratory course lead first- and second-year students in research in the prerequisite course, Introduction to Research Methods in Physics.

“The 439 seniors are expected to guide 139 students, who often have little to no physics experience prior to the prerequisite course,” Thompson explained. “The topics we researched are expanded from concepts explored in our advanced coursework, including optics, quantum mechanics and fluid dynamics.”

Thompson and a group of his Advanced Physics classmates led first- and second-year students in a three-month-long project, culminating in a final research paper and presentation at ��Ͽ�’s annual Research Day held on May 3.

Their research was on two-dimensional fluid flow, which applies Bernoulli’s principle on a two-dimensional sample of fluid, Thompson explained.

Nathan Thompson presenting at Research Day 2022. / ��Ͽ�

“Our project was to construct and test an experimental environment for evaluating the flow of an electrolytic fluid in the presence of magnetic fields and applied voltage,” he said. “We then used videos captured from our setup to evaluate the average speed of the fluid and its related Reynolds number, a value typically used by engineers.”

He thought presenting the group’s research was a rewarding experience.

“It was a pleasure to share everything that we had learned with faculty, students and visitors. I loved being able to share my group’s successes and struggles with other students and see what my classmates had to present,” he said.

Helping his peers across campus

As a tour guide with the Admissions Office, Thompson leads multiple tours each week, introducing students and supporters to campus. Tours feature buildings central to each ��Ͽ� student’s college experience, like the Memorial Student Center and the University Library.

Living on campus, he enjoys showing the residence halls to new students. “I enjoyed living in McCalmont Hall in the heart of campus this year,” he said. “I don’t have to commute, there are so many on-campus events to attend and it’s accessible to MSC.”

Thompson and other student tour guides offer program-specific information for students tailored to fit their anticipated majors, he explained. Most post-student-led tours are led by a program director, where students can talk more in depth about their desired major.

Mechanical engineering Program Director Vince Wheeler is happy to see Thompson take on so many roles on campus. “Nathan’s enthusiasm is infectious. He pushes those around him to do better and to enjoy themselves. He was great to have in my class and is an excellent teammate when we do campus tours,” he said.

Denise Goers, a first-year adviser in the Advisement Center, introduced Thompson to the dual major and set him “on track to go anywhere in mechanical sciences,” he said.

“Seeing Nathan progress as a student and leader is a pleasure,” Goers said. “I was happy to see him working as a tour guide. He is a great example of a successful involved student, and this makes him an excellent Stout ambassador.”

Thompson is involved in ��Ͽ�’s chapter of the American Foundry Society, an extension of the national organization, and Lutheran Campus Ministry, leading prewritten sermons with different congregations across Menomonie.

He’ll serve as AFA’s president this upcoming year, helping to create leadership and community casting events, inviting others to carve designs into cuttlebone and pour liquid tin to make jewelry.

“Anyone can do it,” he said. “And I invite anyone to join the campus ministry. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore their faith on campus.”

Thompson is also a Week One Orientation leader, helping to connect new first-year students to campus as they become familiar with university policies and participate in social activities.

“It’s an incredible experience helping students sign up for classes and meeting new people,” he said.

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Hero Caption: Stout Scholar Nathan Thompson programming industrial machinery in the Controls and Instrumentation Lab.

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Physics professor's passion for teaching honored with UW System Excellence Award

polingj — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 11:58:28 +0000

Physics professor's passion for teaching honored with UW System Excellence Awardpolingj April 5, 2022

McCullough loves helping students learn challenging subject, works to increase women in STEM fields

After more than 20 years, Professor Laura McCullough’s motivation when she enters the classroom at ��Ͽ� hasn’t changed.

“On the first day of class, I tell my students that I am not here to teach them physics; I am here to help them learn physics. It’s all about them,” McCullough said.

McCullough’s dedication to her profession and students is being recognized by the UW System with a Teaching Excellence Award, the System’s highest such honor. She will receive the award Friday, April 8, at the Board of Regents meeting at UW-Stevens Point.

“These outstanding UW educators inspire students and colleagues alike to achieve their full potential,” said Regent Cris Peterson, chair of the selection committee. “We celebrate their dedication and innovative approaches to student success.”

The Teaching Excellence Award is in its 30th year. McCullough is the first from ��Ͽ� to receive it.

Laura McCullough has taught physics at ��Ͽ� since 2000. / ��Ͽ�

Physics, for some students, can be intimidating. McCullough’s goal is to make it less intimidating, especially for students taking college-level physics for the first time.

“I love taking a roomful of students who may come in terrified of physics and bringing them to a place where they are not just comfortable with physics but actively able to see and engage in the science that is all around us every day. I love helping students who are certain that they’re going to fail realize that not only can they learn this stuff, but they can enjoy it,” McCullough said.

McCullough’s teaching philosophy is student-centered. She has used standards-based grading for 10 years; students must pass learning objectives that demonstrate their understanding of the material, a method that supports students with learning disabilities. She also includes course content and activities that focus on career placement.

“In today’s college, the goal for grades should be a demonstration of learning, not a comparison to other students,” said McCullough, who teaches in the department of chemistry and physics.

During the pandemic, she adapted her instructional techniques to engage with students online, such as recording lectures using Learning Glass, a “lightboard” that allows an instructor to face students while writing or sketching on transparent glass. In 2021, she earned ��Ͽ�’s Outstanding Educator Award in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.

McCullough knew in high school that she wanted to teach physics in college. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics and a Ph.D. in science education, the first from Hamline University and the other two from the University of Minnesota. She began teaching at ��Ͽ� in 2000.

“I love sharing my passion for the science of the physical world with my students. ��Ͽ� is a perfect place to do all of that, with its emphasis on hands-on work and its focus on the practical side of being a polytechnic university,” she said.

Laura McCullough works with students in one of her physics classes this spring. / ��Ͽ�

Thus, in her classroom, students might: see McCullough use a balloon to help explain charges of static electricity and how to use an electroscope; have to wire a light bulb with a battery; use a slinky to understand sound waves; use a popper toy to help understand energy; and use a sound meter, mirror and guitar for other practical examples.

“I have so many demonstrations and activities designed to draw my students into doing the science and not just thinking about it, and ��Ͽ� supports that style of learning,” she said.

��Ͽ� offers a minor in physics and an applied physics concentration within the applied science program. Students from numerous other majors within CSTEMM also take physics courses.

“While Dr. McCullough instructs all levels of physics courses, she is most passionate about teaching entry-level physics,” said Glendali Rodriguez, provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs. “She desires to positively impact student critical thinking and the development of understanding at the onset of their college education. Her success is evident via strong enrollments in her courses and outstanding instructor evaluations as a reflection of her student-centered instructional practices.”

Research on women in science, physics

McCullough’s main research interest is gender and science, especially women in physics and STEM fields.

She published the book “Women and Physics” in 2016; developed a physics gender bias website, which originated with a National Science Foundation grant; presents her research regionally and nationally; has served on the UW System’s Women and Science Advisory Board for nearly 20 years; and was co-team leader of the U.S. delegation to the International Conference on Women in Physics from 2019-21.

“When I started physics graduate school, I was the only woman in a group of 20, which made me realize that there was a big problem in physics,” she said. “Despite decades of efforts, women continue to be underrepresented in many STEM fields, mine included. Only 20% of physics degrees go to women, despite women making up more than 50% of college graduates.

“Many people who would be great assets to the field are turned off or turned away by STEM as it is currently taught and practiced, and that is a terrible waste of both talent and enthusiasm. We should want to improve the representation of minoritized groups for simple fairness, but if that’s not reason enough, think of all the discoveries that will never be made and the work that will go undone because of people who were turned away,” McCullough said.

McCullough said receiving the award “is a validation of decades of work and focus and joy. It has already boosted my energy and enthusiasm in my classes.

“As a culture, we talk about valuing teaching and teachers, but we don’t always follow through on that emotional ideal with tangible, real-world actions. If we care about what our children and young people are learning, and how we want to raise them to act and become their best selves, we need to recognize the impacts teachers have on their lives, and we need to invest time, attention and funds on the people and institutions that are educating future generations.”

Other Teaching Excellence Award recipients this year are a social work professor from UW-Superior and the UW-Parkside communication department. Recipients each receive $7,500. Learn more from the UW System news release.

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McCullough loves helping students learn challenging subject, works to increase women in STEM fields Laura McCullough class1

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Chemistry & Physics Department

��Ͽ�'s Department of Chemistry and Physics offers applied science degrees and minors. Our courses focus on the fundamental sciences that impact every aspect

Hero Caption: Professor Laura McCullough uses balloons in a physics class this spring to help students learn about static electricity. McCullough is a 2022 recipient of the UW System Teaching Excellence Award. / ��Ͽ�

Laura McCullough

Teaching Interests: Introductory physics courses, meteorology, and light & color.

Research Interests: Gender and leadership in STEM, gender and science and physics education research.

Full Name: Laura McCullough

Job Title: Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Chemistry & Physics Department

Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Laura E. McCullough CV (209.43 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Science Education

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Physics

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.A. Physics

University: Hamline University

CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Physics professor honored by American Association of Physics Teachers

polingj — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 15:20:59 +0000

Physics professor honored by American Association of Physics Teacherspolingj July 22, 2019

McCullough recognized for her work in helping break down gender barriers for females in science

A University of Wisconsin-Stout professor will be honored Tuesday, July 23, for her work in helping break down gender barriers for females in science, especially physics.

The American Association of Physics Teachers will present Laura McCullough with the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT.

“It has been a pleasure to help an organization that has been so valuable to my career and to be recognized for work that I feel is important to physics overall," McCullough said.

Homer L. Dodge is the founder of AAPT.

“When I started physics graduate school, I was the only woman in a group of 20, which made me realize that there was a big problem in physics,” she said. “This has led me to 25 years of working on issues of gender and science.”

The percentage of women earning bachelor’s degrees in physics or engineering is around 20%, while chemistry has around 45% women, she said. “Given the importance of the STEM fields to the future of the nation and the world, we must ensure that we are welcoming everyone to science and not turning away talented people for reasons of appearance, sex or background.”

AAPT called McCullough’s contributions to the organization and the physics community “significant.” AAPT cited her leadership roles with the organization, including serving on several committees as chair and vice chair. McCullough also presents regularly at conferences and has “published extensively on issues of gender in the classroom, particularly in physics,” AAPT said.

“Her work in physics education research sheds light on how the classroom can be more inclusive, particularly to female students,” AAPT said.

McCullough has led the development of a physics gender bias website, which originated with a National Science Foundation grant.

She attended the 2017 International Conference on Women and Physics and will be a team leader for the U.S. delegation in 2020.

In 2016, McCullough published a book, “Women and Physics.”

Earlier this year, McCullough also was recognized for her work in the area of women and science when a scholarship was named after her at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She attended a ceremony and met the first recipient of the Dr. Laura McCullough Scholarship, which supports an underrepresented student in a STEM field.

McCullough, of Stillwater, Minn., has a Ph.D. in science education and a master’s in physics from the University of Minnesota, along with a bachelor’s in physics from Hamline University. She began teaching at ��Ͽ� in 2000; she has served as a department chair and received several campus teaching honors.

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Professor Laura McCullough works with a student at ��Ͽ�.

McCullough recognized for her work in helping break down gender barriers for females in science Laura McCullough

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STEPS for Girls adds leadership program

��Ͽ� senior Kylie Anderson never quite realized how much she uses nonverbal communication until she tried to build a structure from Lego blocks.

Hero Caption: Professor Laura McCullough is receiving an award for her efforts to break down gender barriers for females in science.

Laura McCullough

Teaching Interests: Introductory physics courses, meteorology, and light & color.

Research Interests: Gender and leadership in STEM, gender and science and physics education research.

Full Name: Laura McCullough

Job Title: Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Chemistry & Physics Department

Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Laura E. McCullough CV (209.43 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Science Education

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Physics

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.A. Physics

University: Hamline University

CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

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