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Academy Seniors Share Research at Argonne National Laboratory

October 24, 2011 | Academics, News, People, Research, Students, WKU | No Comments

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by Will Bickett, Academy Avatar

A group of second-year students at  the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU presented their physics research at Argonne National Laboratory’s Annual Undergraduate Symposium.

Will Bickett, Lydia Brothers, Andrea Eastes, Christian Jolly, and Ben Rice, along with a group of other WKU students were selected by the Department of Physics and Astronomy to share their findings.Students not only got the chance to tour the immense facility and see firsthand the ground-breaking research being done there, but also to give talks about their research and attend a variety of other presentations.

The Argonne National Laboratory is the oldest and one of the most prestigious of the nation’s research facilities.  With its roots reaching back to the Manhattan Project, Argonne has been the birthplace of countless discoveries and marvels of human innovation.  Since 1946, Argonne National Lab has vastly broadened its initiatives to include Hard X-Ray Sciences, Leadership Computing, Materials for Energy, Electrical Energy Storage, Alternate Energy and Efficiency, Electrical Energy Storage, Nuclear Energy, Biological and Environmental Systems, and National Security.  The Laboratory also houses the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System or (ATLAS) which is the world’s first superconducting particle accelerator and the Advanced Photon Source or (APS) which is a massive synchrotron X-Ray research facility that produces the world’s largest and brightest X-Rays.

“The APS was by far one of the most impressive research facilities I’ve ever seen,” said Jolly. ” The sheer amount and variety of research done was very inspiring to me as an upcoming astrophysicist.  Surprisingly enough, I also really enjoyed the biology talks done at the conference. They were fascinating and very well done.”

Jolly wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the conference and the lab though. All the students vastly appreciated the opportunity to participate in an event at one of our nation’s most prominent research labs.

ChicagoThe trip was hardly all work and no play though. Students lived like Chicagoans and dined on Giordano’s famous Chicago-style stuffed pizza, Portillo’s Hot Dogs, and other fine Chicago favorites.  As a reward for their excellent work in presenting on Friday, Students were set free in the Windy City on Saturday to be blown about and throughout.  After being dropped off on Chicago’s number one tourist attraction or Navy Pier, Academy students bought Chicago Go-Cards and set out.  Traveling by trolley, students rode in style through the crowded streets while listening to the bizarre and insightful facts provided by the fabulous tour guides.  Students also ascended to the tops of both the sky-scraping Willis Tower and John-Hancock Building, placing themselves at the paramount of the famous Chicago Sky-line.  Academy students, being typical nerds, finished up the day exploring the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere, Adler Planetarium, and the U.S.’s largest indoor aquarium, Shedd Aquarium.

When asked about the trip, Eastes added that the research and social experiences for the trip were “world class.”

“Argonne is world class facility where cutting edge research is taking place every day,” Eastes said. “Seeing where this is happening and learning about exciting research being done by other undergraduates while sharing my research was a fantastic experience.   The icing on the cake was definitely having time to explore Chicago, visit places like the Hancock building, the skydeck, the shed aquarium, Navy Pier, Adler planetarium, and have pretty amazing trolley tours of the city.”

So if you ever find yourself with the chance to visit the Chicago area, be sure to stop by Argonne, you might need security clearance first though and check out those world class facilities. Also, swing by downtown Chicago and see the sights, but be sure to never ask for ketchup on your hot dog.

Visit these links if you want to learn more about:

The Argonne National Lab: http://www.dep.anl.gov/index.html

The Jeweler’s Building or other famous Chicago Architecture: http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Building/1064/35-East-Wacker-Drive.php

Adler Planetarium: http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/

Or Shedd Aquarium: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

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By Corey Alderdice

Brown Shares Research at UNL Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics

November 17, 2009 | Academics, News, Student Success | No Comments

UNLs 2009 Conference Participants
UNL's 2009 Conference Participants

Katie Brown (Shelby ’10) quickly realized the opportunity to conduct scientific research was something that would set her apart from the crowd of other high school students.

As a student at the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University, she began a research project with Dr. Ed Kintzel during Summer 2009.

Her work went from    as a participant in The University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s 2009 Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics.  Held October 30-November 1, 2009, the conference presented an outstanding opportunity for students like Brown to expand upon their current research experiences, interact with physics students from other universities, and attends scientific talks given by invited physicists from other Midwestern universities.

Brown’s presentation focused on the behavior of atoms in graphite surfaces.  The real-world implications of her study will help to further applications and research with graphite and materials sciences.

“I shared research on the reconfiguration of atoms near step edges we observed on the surface of graphite using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy,
Brown noted.  “In a little more simplified terms, I observed atoms reconfiguring on graphite surfaces due to their proximity to step edges.

As one of the conference’s youngest participants, Brown expressed she was a bit nervous leading up the session.  “Presenting to such a large community of my peers was a nerve racking prospect,” Brown said.  “but after getting on stage I was able to focus on my research and connect with the audience.

In addition to lectures, social activities also provided time for participants to share their experiences and interests with other students, as well as visit with physics faculty members from UNL and other Midwestern universities. These experiences provided opportunities for students to develop their ability to convey ideas, establish relationships with other physicists, and obtain advice and guidance for pursuing career goals.

“In attending this conference, I gained a broader understanding of the vast opportunities for research for undergraduates,” Brown said.  “Also, I was able to connect and network with students from across the nation.

For Brown, research is an important first step in preparing for careers in advanced STEM disciplines.

“Research is a very important part of the Academy experience because it allows you to apply the knowledge you learned in the classroom, practically,” Brown noted.  “If you foresee research in your career, it is a great way of actively preparing for your future educational prospects and even your occupation.”

Not only did Brown have the support of Academy staff members and her research supervisor.  Ask Brown who one of  the greatest advocates for getting young women interested in math and science, and her reply is simple: her mom.

“My mother is an active promoter for women in the STEM fields; she started a Girls in Science Club at her middle school,” Brown said.  “Starting initiatives throughout the state at the grade school level and even carried through to High School will help get more young women interested in the STEM fields.”

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By Corey Alderdice