As students explore their interests and career goals, it is normal to change majors and minors during the undergraduate years. We advise you to speak with a program counselor throughout this process if you have any questions about your curriculum change, and to consult DegreeWorks to see the requirements for your desired major/minor, as well as your credit progress. (note: if you are incoming freshman and have not started at UP yet, contact the admissions office to change your curriculum).
Physics
How to Read your Schedule
Either you just received your first college schedule (YAY), or you are a college student with lingering questions on how to read your “student detail schedule” on SelfServe. Either way, we are here to help. Here are a few tips to help you read your schedule with ease and expertise:
Congratulations to CAS in #PilotsGive!
Congratulations to the College of Arts and Sciences, which placed second in total donors in #PilotsGive! Thanks to your efforts, 128 donors made contributions to CAS, surpassing our minimum goal of 100 donors to unlock the $200,000 pledge from Kunal Nayyar! Great job, everyone! Together, we all add UP!
Kunal Nayyar ‘03 Challenge Gift for Performing Arts
Kunal Nayyar ’03, star from the Big Bang Theory, has pledged to give $200,000 to support the Performing Arts Department in the College of Arts and Sciences. Kunal hopes to inspire at least 100 donors to make a gift to any designation in the College of Arts and Sciences campaign. When this goal is reached, his gift will provide support for performing arts students and programs.
Join the challenge starting tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.! On April 4-5 from noon to noon, the UP community will come together for our first ever day of giving:#PilotsGive. With nearly $400,000 in challenge funds available, University of Portland has an ambitious goal of securing 1000 donors in one day! #PilotsGive is OUR chance to make UP stronger. pilotsgive.up.edu Together we all add UP!
Paul E. Wack, 1919-2013
From UP Beat
Physics professor emeritus Paul E. Wack passed away in the morning on Tuesday, November 19, at the age of 94. He came to The Bluff in fall of 1949 and was one of the first faculty to move into the newly-completed Engineering building (now Donald E. Shiley Hall). His contemporaries included legendary campus physics teachers Br. Godfrey Vassallo, C.S.C., and Merle Starr, namesake of a small observatory which once was located behind the Bauccio Commons.
Paul retired officially in May of 1986, but continued to teach until 1999, making him the longest-serving active faculty member in University history at 50 years. His various duties included serving as chair of the Deparment of Physical and Life Sciences from 1966 to 1973; membership on the Academic Senate from 1978 to 1983, and chairing the Rank & Tenure Committee from 1977 to 1979. He won the Culligan Award, the University’s highest faculty honor, in 1961.
Services will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 26, at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service there will be a reception in the school hall. Paul is survived by his son Edwin Wack; daughters Mary Brandenburg and Ellen Wack; grandchildren Lauren Wack, Kelly, Kendall, and Bobby Brandenburg, and Paul Alan Wack; and his sister, Elizabeth Doyle (Aunt Liz). His wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen, passed away in 2009, as did his eldest son, Paul Wack Jr., in 2010. Through all of life’s trials Paul was unfailingly positive and upbeat, and a devout and humble member of the Catholic faith. Our prayers and condolences to his family and colleagues.
Science and Religion Lecture
From UPBEAT
Shannon Mayer, Physics, and Rev.Thomas Hosinski, C.S.C., Theology, will discuss the possibilities surrounding the integration of science and faith with their presentation of “Science and Religion” on Wednesday, April 10, at 4 pm, in Buckley Center room 163.
Their talk, sponsored by the Garaventa Center, is free and open to all. Mayer will provide examples of how faith and science are integrated in the life of a professional scientist. Hosinski will reflect on how religion and science complement each other, so that together they give us a deeper understanding of reality.
The lecture will be preceded by a brief ceremony presenting the annual Garaventa High School essay contest awards, beginning at 4 pm. For more information contact the Garaventa Center at ext. 7702 or powell@up.edu.
Bob Butler Wins OAS Outstanding Teaching Award
Congratulations to Bob Butler for receiving the Oregon Academy of Science 2013 Outstanding Higher Education Teacher in Science and Mathematics! The award was presented on March 2, 2013.
The Oregon Academy of science promotes scientific research and education in Oregon. Divisions of the Academy represent all areas of the natural sciences and social sciences. The Academy encourages participation by research and applied scientists and educators from all fields. Discipline sections work to encourage the communication among Oregon scientists both private and public through the annual OAS meeting. The annual OAS meeting acknowledges contributions by outstanding university and K-12 educators demonstrating dedication to the advancement of science education. Additionally, each year the Academy acknowledges an Oregon scientist who has made outstanding contributions in their field.
Robert Butler joined the Department of Chemistry and Physics as Professor of Science in 2004. He earned a B.S. in Physics and Geology from Oregon State University in 1968. He completed his M.S. in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1972 in the Department of Geophysics at Stanford University. From 1972 to 1974, he was a Research Associate in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota. From 1974 to 2004, he was with the Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor, and then University Distinguished Professor. Dr. Butler is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America. Professor Butler’s research projects on application of paleomagnetism to geochronologic and tectonic problems have involved fieldwork on six continents. Recent scholarly work has included (1) magnetostratigraphy of Cenozoic sedimentary sequences of Nepal, (2) paleomagnetic studies of Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics of western South America, (3) terrain motion and uplift history of the Canadian Cordillera and southeastern Alaska, (4) paleomagnetic studies of vertical axis rotations of the northern Tibetan Plateau and Tarim Basin, China, (5) enhancement of Earth science teaching through computer visualization of geological processes space and time, especially K-12 applications of GIS, (6) geochronology of hominid fossil and stone tool bearing deposits in Ethiopia, (7) field-based Earth Science teacher professional development. Dr. Butler teaches Earth System Science, Natural Hazards of the Pacific Northwest, and Introduction to Marine Science.
Engineering + Science Fair
The Engineering + Science Fair will take place on Friday, February 22nd, 1:00pm-4:00pm in Shiley Hall.
The following companies are recruiting mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology students in addition to engineering students for internships and job opportunities at the fair:
- Cooper Zietz Engineers (specific majors to be announced)
- Garmin (specific majors to be announced)
- Fast Enterprises – Mathematics majors
- Expeditors – Mathematics majors
- Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Survey (specific majors to be announced)
- Portland General Electric – Mathematics majors
- Nalco – Chemistry majors
- Rentrak – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics majors
- Clean Water Services (specific majors to be announced)
- Cvent (specific majors to be announced)
- US Army Corps of Engineers – Mathematics majors
- Intel Corporation – Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics majors
- United States Marine Corps Officer Programs – all majors
- Siltronic (specific majors to be announced)
Career Services is helping students to prepare for the event via their “How to Work a Job Fair” workshops. These will take place on Wednesday, February 20th and Thursday, February 21st at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Students are encouraged to go learn some tips and tools for attending the career fair. All workshops are 30 minutes and conducted in the Career Services office, lower level of Orrico Hall.
In addition, Career Services is offering extended drop-in hours (10:00am-4:00pm) for resume review on Wednesday (2/20) and Thursday (2/21). No appointment is necessary and free resume paper is available.
Physics Alumni Success
Abraham Olson, physics major (class of 2007) had the opportunity this summer to participate in the 62nd Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting in physics in Germany. He was one of 592 young scientists selected from around the world to spend a week in Lindau, Germany to meet with 27 physics Nobel Laureates.
Abe is currently a Ph.D. student in the physics department at Purdue University. He is also the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2009) and a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (2007).
Physics Poster Session
On Nov. 17th, the University of Portland Physics Department hosted an undergraduate poster session for students doing research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics at universities in the Willamette Valley. Undergraduate student presenters attended from the University of Portland, Reed College, Lewis and Clark College, Willamette University, and Pacific University.
The poster session was part of an on-going effort by the Northwest Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics consortium (NWAMO) to strengthen undergraduate research in AMO physics in the Willamette Valley.