Elizabeth George

Mailing Address:
Physics Department
Wittenberg University
PO Box 720
Springfield, OH 45501-0720

Office:
Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center 308B
Phone: (937) 327-7854
FAX: (937) 327-6340
email: egeorge@wittenberg.edu

Teaching

Spring 2008:
- Physics 220: Modern Physics
Fall 2007:
- WittSem 100L: Patterns in Nature
- Physics 313: Electronics
- Physics 360/460: Junior/Senior Seminar
Spring 2007:
- Physics 213: Thermodynamics and Optics
- Physics 214: Intermediate Physics Lab
- Physics 215: Special Relativity and Applications
- Physics 325: Nuclear and Particle Physics
- Physics 360/460: Junior/Senior Seminar
Fall 2006:
- WittSem 100L: Patterns in Nature
- Physics 205: Topics in Contemporary Physics
- Physics 360/460: Junior/Senior Seminar
Spring 2006: On sabbatical leave at the University of Wisconsin--Madison

Subatomic physics and the weak interaction. The weak interaction is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. This force is responsible for nuclear beta decay, and makes possible some of the nuclear reactions that power our sun. I'm working on experiments to make precision measurements of observables in nuclear beta decay in order to test the Standard Model of the weak force. These experiments are being done in collaboration with Paul Voytas at Wittenberg and with colleagues at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (current student involvement: one student).

Development of polarized beams and targets. I am interested in new methods for making spin-polarized nuclear beams and targets. My Wittenberg colleague Paul Voytas and I are working on a project to investigate light-induced atom desorption (LIAD) and its possible applications to the polarization of alkali metal atoms (current student involvement: one student).

Physics pedagogy. In the summer of 1997, I attended an NSF-sponsored workshop at Dickinson College on interactive teaching methods, including microcomputer-based laboratories (MBL) and video-based labs (VBL). In July 1998, I took part in the University of Washington's Faculty Development Workshop on Teaching Physics by Inquiry. I am interested in using, and evaluating the effectiveness of, these tools and methods for teaching physics. I'm currently involved in a project to investigate the learning effects of MBL and VBL in the introductory physics laboratory, with emphasis on conservation of momentum and energy. The Undergraduate Physics Laboratory project page has more information about this research, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Université de Montréal.

Other interests: Astronomy:
Sky and Telescope magazine
Photographs: Moon (55 KB) taken at prime focus of the Madison Astronomical Society's C-11 telescope
Sundog (66 KB) over southern Wisconsin

History of science:
Biographies of some of my scientific heroes: C. S. Wu, Ernest Rutherford, Michael Faraday, Raymond Davis Jr

Baseball:
Society for American Baseball Research
Kansas City Royals
St Louis Cardinals
Ohio Village Muffins
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe. He may solve the very secret of eternity itself. But for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of the hit-and-run." -- Branch Rickey

Personal pictures:
summer 2000 dory trip through the Grand Canyon
Abby!

And finally... what my computer is doing when I'm not using it:
the Great Mersenne Prime Search

egeorge@wittenberg.edu
Last modified: 16 May 2008 EAG