|
Campus News If you haven't been to the AUM campus in a few years, there have been quite a few changes. Dr. Roy Saigo became the new Chancellor in 1994 and this year Dr. Roger Ritvo joined the administration as the new Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Other new academic faces have appeared across the campus, in recent years, some replacing a number of retiring faculty, including our own Dr. John Hamilton. Goodwyn Hall was expanded in 1993, through the addition of an annex which contains new classrooms, offices, and biology labs. AUM Fest and Mardi Gras are two recently introduced annual campus events and members of the community are encouraged to visit the campus and join in the festivities.
Multimedia in the Classroom This past year has seen Dr. Bill Richardson and Mr. Randy Russell introduce multimedia computer technology into their classes. For example, Dr. Richardson makes use of this technology to produce three dimensional images of organic molecules that can be projected onto a large screen. The images can be rotated through any axis and provide students with a unique view of the structure of macromolecules. It is hoped that this new approach will enhance student comprhension of difficult concepts such as stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms.
Alabama Crystal Competition This fall, elementary students around the state will again be involved in the Alabama Crystal Growing Competition. Under teacher supervision, fifth and sixth grade students will grow crystals of alum and submit them, together with a written report of the project, for judging. The student submitting the best crystal will receive a $500 savings bond. The winning student's teahcer will also receive $250 worth of science equipment for use in his or her classroom. At least six other students will receive second place awards of a $100 savings bond each. This is the third year Physical Sciences Department has organized the competition and it is the second year that the Montgomery Chapter of the Air Force Association has sponsored the contest. Over three hundred brochures have been sent to schools throughout the state. The competition is being organized by Dr. Nick Thomas.
|
Project LABSS Funded For the past three years, the department has worked on a project to simplify the inclusion of students with physical disabilities in chemistry laboratory courses. This is a joint project between department members (Drs. Mahaffy and Teggins) and the Center for Special Services, and has received grants totalling $300,000 from the U.S. Department of Education. A manual containing twenty-four experiments has been produced. Requests for copies of this manual have been received from more than fifty universities around the United States. New Faces in the Department In the last few years, two new faculty have joined the department. Randy Richardson is the new physical sciences laboratory coordinator. Mr. Richardson graduated from AUM in 1994 with a Masters degree in education. More recently, Miriam Findley joined the faculty as a full time instructor last year. Mrs. Findley had previously taught in the department as an adjunct instructor for several years. Mrs. Findley replaces the vacant position created with the retirement of John Hamilton, whom some of you may remember. Dr. Hamilton has moved north to Kentucky and now finds time for his favorite pastimes including fishing, preaching and chicken rustling. Information on PHS Graduates Needed The department wants to keep in touch with former students who graduated from AUM with a physical sciences degree. If you know of any ex-AUM student in this category, please ask him or her to call (334) 244-3315 or write with a current address. We also want to spotlight the achievements of our graduates in each newsletter. If you would like to share some of your achievements with us we would love to hear from you. Any of the following pieces of information would be useful:
Please send information to Dr. Nick Thomas, Physical Sciences Department, P.O. Box 244023, AUM, Montgomery, Al 36124-4023 Or email Dr. Thomas at:
|
The Department of Physical Sciences
Newsletter is developed, produced, and published by Dr. Nick
Thomas. Minor editing by the department webmaster may be
necessary for web publishing.
Return to the
School of Sciences or
Physical
Sciences Home Page.
years attended AUM