PHYS328 - SCIENCE SEMINAR

Spring 2001

Biography - The Life and Work of 20th Century Physicists

Instructor:	Dr. John D. Reid
Email:	jreid@lhup.edu
Web Home Page:	http://www.lhup.edu/~jreid
Office:	226 Ulmer
Office Phone:	893-2078
Office Hours:	mon & wed: 11-1, Tues: 12-1 OR by appointment!
Meeting Time:	T, Th: 11-12:15
Book:	From X-Rays to Quarks, E. Segre, Freeman, 1980

Course Description: Our knowledge about the universe has advanced tremendously in the last 100 years. Not only is the science interesting, but the lives of the men and women who developed the science is fascinating as well. Who are these people? What motivated and inspired them? What was their world like? How did they interact with their colleagues and others in their lives? The emphasis of this seminar will be the people that made significant contributions to our understanding of nature's fundamental laws, such as Albert Einstein, Marie and Pierre Curie, Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, Enrico Fermi, and Richard Feynman, to name just a few. The work of these people has had a major impact on the world ranging from the arms race to transistors to lasers, to medicine, etc. Group discussions, oral presentations, and written reports will serve to facilitate the seminar.

GRADING:
	Tests	30%
	Presentation	30%
	Paper	10%
	Attentance	10%
	Assignments	10%
	Participation	10%

Tests
There will two tests during the semester worth 15% each. The tests will be open notes. The questions will be short essay questions covering material discussed in the seminar. (The second test will be given during finals week. There will not be a cumulative final exam.)

Presentations
Each student in the class is expected to research and do a biographical study on the life of one physicist. Each student will obtain (through a library search) and at least two books on the physicist's life. Choice of biographies must be approved by the instructor. No two people may do the same biography. Each student will lead one scheduled presentation, which focusses on at least one of the books.

Each presenter will be required to make an appointment with the instructor no later than 1 week prior to their presentation. This meeting is meant to help the student prepare for their presentation. Students are expected to come prepared for this meeting. They will be evaluated on their level of preparation for their presentation and this evaluation will be graded as an assignment

The person leading the seminar on the physicist will be given the grade for the presentation. This person will be helped by two assistants and the instructor. The format of the presentation will be

15 overview brief background on the physicist

30 min summary of the
biographical study a summary of the students research

15-20 discussion questions posed to the presenter and by the presenter an any other relevant discussion

15 overview	brief background on the physicist
30 min summary of the biographical study	a summary of the students research
15-20 discussion	questions posed to the presenter and by the presenter an any other relevant discussion

Paper
A paper will be required as part of the student's presentation. The paper is due no later than 1 week from the date of the presentation. Late papers will have points deducted.

Attendance
Attendance is required as it is critical to the success of the success of seminar. Each absence will result in a reduction of 1/2 a letter grade.

Assignments
In addition to the above there may be other assignments announced.

Participation
Participation is class discussions is part of what a seminar is about. It is expected of you and I will keep a record of it.

Speaker Series
The Geology & Physics Dept will invite speakers from outside the university to give talks at LHU. Credit equivalent to 1 test question will be given to students attending the talks. (That's 10% of a test.) Students can attend and get credit for as many talks as we have. Students who cannot or do not wish to attend the talks can receive the same credit by writing a short (2 page) paper on a related topic. (The papers are due on the Tuesday following the talk.) The talks will be announced in advance.

Notes
It is expected that you will keep notes during seminar (including discussions, presentations, videos, etc).

WEB
The internet contains a wealth of useful information. Be aware, however, that some of that information does not meet the standards required for publication in recognized scientific references. In particular, information found on the net may not have undergone the peer-review process routinely required for formal publication. If you use the internet, you are responsible for choosing only those sources associated with recognized scientific or educational organizations. If you are not sure about the suitability of a source, ask about it.