Friday, January 17, 2014

Argonne - TCS

The Theory and Computing Science building at Argonne is home to MIRA, the fastest computer available for open source science, and some amazing architecture.

Here are a few interesting facts about MIRA:
  • It is the 5th fastest computer in the world
  • It has a computing power equivalent to 48,000 desktop computers
  • Anyone, including undergraduates, can submit a project proposal to request time on MIRA

The bottom floor of the TCS building is a zen garden. The architect believed that the random but geometric design fostered productivity and creativity. Also all of the offices on the back side of the building had balconies that overlooked the forest. Who wouldn't want to work there?


One research project at TCS examined how to enhance communication and collaboration on research projects through technology. This display worked a lot like a touch screen and was interactive. The map was of a real mountain and water was formed wherever you touched.

Adventures at the Museum of Science and Industry

Today we went to the Museum of Science and Industry and visited the U-505 exhibit. This submarine was used by the German Navy during WWII. On June 4, 1944, the American forces used depth charge attacks on the submarine, jamming the rudders and causing the submarine to descend farther down into the sea. Since the pressure at depths past 755 feet would crush the submarine, Captain Herald Lange was forced to surface the submarine. When the Americans began to attack at the surface, Lange decided to try to sink the ship by flooding it. American Captain Daniel V. Gallery and his men boarded the submarine and successfully prevented it from sinking, thus successfully capturing the ship. The U-505 was donated to Chicago by the United States Navy in 1954 and has been exhibited in the museum ever since.

 U-505 Submarine

- Jillian and Kayla

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Introductions

There are seven Augsburg undergraduate physicists attending this conference and we would like to tell you a bit about ourselves.

Elianna Bier:

I am a senior physics and chemistry double major as well as the self-elected leader of the Augsburg Women in Physics. I want to obtain my Ph.D. in medical physics, have applied to several schools, and have a few graduate school visits planned for the upcoming months. I am also on the swim team at Augsburg and specialize in the 100 and 200 yd backstroke. Although I had an internship at Argonne National Laboratory in the summer of 2012, I am really excited to go back for a tour and learn more about the current research.

Emma Capman:

I am a senior physics major. Over the past few years I've worked in the space physics lab with Mark Engebretson and have presented posters at two conferences. This summer I went to the University of Maryland, College Park for an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) in miniature robotics. I am considering graduate school and careers in mechanical engineering, materials science, and physics. I'm excited to learn more about careers at this conference. I am heavily involved in the theater department at Augsburg, working in the scene shop, as well as designing sets, lights, and sound for a couple productions.

Jillian Hommerding:

I'm a senior physics major. After graduation, I plan to work in the industry for 1 year before going to graduate school for mechanical engineering. My ultimate goal is to work in the automotive industry, preferably for Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany.  I am excited for the opportunity to attend this conference. At this conference, I am looking forward to seeing presentations in space physics. 

Sadie Tetrick:

I am a sophomore physics and mathematics double major. I would like to continue in physics in my future by attending graduate school. I enjoy shopping and long walks on the beach. I also tutor mathematics at Augsburg College and volunteer at my local high school tutoring students. I am really excited to meet more professional women in physics and gain more knowledge about what I can do with a physics degree.

Kayla Washenberger:

I am a sophomore physics major with a possible double major in chemistry. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I hope this conference gives me some ideas. Recently, I have been working with Professor Murr on a project involving electromagnetic fields in and around cars. I enjoy playing with my ferrets and long walks on the beach with Sadie. I can't wait to learn more about jobs revolving around physics and all the women who are involved.

Sam Swanson:

I am a first year physics and finance double major. In the future I would like to attend graduate school and eventually find a job in industry. When I am not working on physics problems, I enjoy playing golf on the Augsburg golf team and snowmobiling. I also have a secret passion for moose of all things. I am excited to learn about different physics careers and hope the conference will introduce me to new paths I can follow as a physicist.

Krista Kingsley:

I am a first year physics and mathematics double major. I hope to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota and eventually work for the government. I also aspire to one day obtain my pilot's licence so I can travel to Canada at my leisure. This conference will hopefully give me more ideas for what I could do with my physics degree and help me meet other women in the field.

And We're Off

Leaving for the airport.


We arrived to find that our flight is only 1 hour and 10 minutes delayed. Oh well, more time for blogging.

A Conference In the Making

It has been almost four months since I got an email from Professor Stottrup inquiring if I was interested in attending CUWiP, and it didn't take long for me to reply that I wanted to go. The next day he asked me if I wanted to advertise this conference to other female physics majors and organize our attendance. I agreed and quickly started tracking people down and everyone seemed eager to attend. With this excitement, the Augsburg Women in Physics group was created. We held a few informal meeting to get to know each other and discuss the conference. These were all successful and were a great opportunity to form bonds between female first years and upperclassmen in a major that is male dominated.

Acceptance to the conference was not guaranteed because they often have more applicants than space. We all filled out our applications which included a 200 word essay on why we wanted to attend and the impact it would have on us, and waited for an answer. In early December, we received our acceptances and booked our airline tickets. One of the things that makes this conference special is that the conference provides all of the lodging and meals which greatly reduces the cost of participation. As for travel, we give a big thank you to the Augsburg physics department for funding us and thus making the conference cost free to the Augsburg attendees.

This conference is especially important to us because there are currently no female physics professors at Augsburg. This is an amazing chance to interact with successful female physicists, interact with peers from across the Midwest, and hear about current research. I am thrilled to be attending this conference with the other Augsburg Women in Physics and sharing in the excitement, and experience this conference will provide.

--Elianna Bier

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

2014 Midwest Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP)

The time has almost arrived! The Augsburg Women in Physics leave tomorrow afternoon to attend the CUWiP in Chicago. The conference has a lot to offer from a tour of Argonne National Laboratory or Fermilab to Keynote speakers in various fields of physics and everything has a special emphasis placed on encouraging women in physics. The full conference schedule can be seen below and we will provide daily updates on our experiences.

Program
Thursday, January 16th
5:00pm - 9:00pmCheck-in/Registration (dinner on your own)
7:00pm - 9:00pmReception at International House with appetizers and liquid nitrogen ice cream
Friday, January 17th
8:00am - 8:45amBreakfast at your hotel
Students will take either the Fermilab or Argonne Tour
Buses leave promptly at 9:00am
Fermilab TourArgonne Tour
9:00am - 10:30amTravel from hotel to FermilabTravel from hotel to Argonne
10:30am - 12:30pmTour of FermilabTour of Argonne
12:30pm - 2:00pmLunch at Fermilab with women scientists and engineers from Fermilab and local companiesLunch at Argonne with women scientists and engineers from Argonne and local companies
2:00pm - 4:00pmContinue tour of FermilabContinue tour of Argonne
4:00pm - 6:30pm
Travel from Fermilab to I-HouseTravel from Argonne to I-House
5:00pm - 6:15pmCheck-in/Registration for people not attending tour
6:30pm - 8:30pmBuffet dinner at I-House
7:15pm - 7:25pmWelcome from Tom Rosenbaum, Provost
7:25pm - 7:35pmWelcome from Rocky Kolb, Dean of Physical Sciences
7:35pm - 7:45pmWelcome from Savannah Thais, Undergraduate Committee Member
7:45pm - 8:30pmWilletta Greene-Johnson, Loyola University
Saturday, January 18th
8:00am - 8:30amCheck-in/Registration
8:30am - 9:15amNetworking breakfast at International House(breakfast buffet)
9:15am - 10:00amAnastasia Belozertseva, ThoughtWorks, Inc.
Emily Casey, ThoughtWorks, Inc.
10:00am - 10:30amBreak
10:30am - 11:15amSusan Coppersmith, University of Wisconsin, Madison
11:15am - 12:15pmUndergraduate Research Panel
Kaitlyn Lee, Undergraduate
Cacey Stevens, REU Coordinator
Carol Thompson, Undergraduate Mentor
12:15pm - 1:00pmLunch
1:00pm - 2:30pmKeynote Speaker: Debra Fischer, Yale - Broadcast from Penn State conference site
2:30pm - 4:00pmUndergraduate poster session
4:30pm - 6:00pmLab tours (UChicago research groups)
7:00pm - 8:00pmBanquet dinner
8:00pm - 8:05pmOpening remarks from Young-Kee Kim, The University of Chicago
8:05pm - 8:10pmRemarks from past APS President, Michael Turner, The University of Chicago
8:10pm - 8:15pmPresent poster awards
8:15pm - 9:00pmEvalyn Gates, Cleveland Museum
Sunday, January 19th
7:00am - 8:00amBreakfast at your hotel
8:30am - 9:30amCareer panel
Grace Wolf-Chase, Adler Planatarium
Ellen Martinsek, Jones College Prep High School
Erin Abouzaid, Stony Brook Foundation
Monica Plisch, American Physical Society
Kawtar Hafidi, Argonne National Laboratory
9:30am - 10:15amCecilia Gerber, University of Illinois at Chicago
10:15am - 10:45amBreak
10:45am - 11:30amMichelle Larson, Adler Planetarium
11:30am - 12:30pm
Parallel Discussion Sessions
Research as a Graduate StudentApplying to Graduate School
Nicole Fields
UChicago Graduate Student
Natalie Krzyzanowski
Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, Graduate Student
Lisa Nash
UChicago Graduate Student
Stuart Gazes
Undergraduate Chair, Physics
Jobs/Networking
Joseph Bernstein
Associate Director, Career Advancement
12:30pm - 2:00pmLunch
2:00pm - 2:45pmHeather Whitney, Wheaton College
2:45pm - 2:50pmClosing remarks, Young-Kee Kim, The University of Chicago
3:00pm - 4:00pmWriting workshop, Tracy Weiner, UC Writing Program