In What Ways Can I Help?

          Physics

Throughout the 20th century, advances in physics have been responsible for mankind's amazing technological progress. In the 2Pt century, basic physic research continues to play a critical role in the advancement of the physical and life sciences. Here at West Virginia University, the Department of Physics has become the leading research unit within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. At the same time, over 30% of the faculty in Physics have been awarded the university's top teaching award - the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. Within the university, the physics department has been at the forefront of involving undergraduate students in research and graduating masters and doctoral students. In the Morgantown community, the Tomchin Planetarium and Observatory continue to serve over 2,500 people each year. The Department of Physics is one of the best units within WVU, and we need your support to keep it that way.

We seek support from all those who recognize the importance of basic physic research, the vital role that quality physics education plays in developing critical thinking skills in those students taking physics courses, and the impact of a high quality physics research program in the community and the state of West Virginia.

PHYSICS PRIORITIES

• An endowed chair or professorship in radio astronomy/astrophysics to attract a nationally recognized radio astronomer capable of taking advantage of the unique facilities at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia
• Funds for a lecture series to bring distinguished speakers, such as Nobel laureates in physics, to campus to work with our faculty and students
• Funds to expand the Tomchin planetarium in order to better serve the community, especially public school students and teachers
• An endowed undergraduate enrichment fund for student travel to scientific conferences, as well as endowed funds for scholarships
• Funds to purchase upgraded equipment for the upper division undergraduate physics laboratory course as we begin to use that course as part of a program to permit undergraduates to emphasize specific areas of physics, e.g., optics, astrophysics, materials science, computation and nonlinear dynamics