PHYS328 - SCIENCE SEMINAR

Spring 2002

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: 2-3
OR by appointment!
Meeting Time: T, Th: 11-12:15
Book: From X-Rays to Quarks, E. Segre, Freeman, 1980
Course Description: The lives of 20th century physicists have had a major impact on the world including changes in our fundamental understanding of the universe, technical innovations (e.g., transistors, lasers, medicine), politics (e.g., arms race, use of nuclear weapons), and social issues (e.g., sex discrimination, religious persecution). The lives of the men and women who played a major role in these developments is fascinating. Who are these people? What motivated and inspired them? What was their world like? How did they deal with the problems they encountered in their lives? How did they interact with their colleagues, families and friends? This seminar will focus on some of these people such as Albert Einstein, Marie and Pierre Curie, Lise Meitner, Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, Enrico Fermi, and Richard Feynman, to name just a few. Group discussions, research, oral presentations, and written reports will serve to facilitate the seminar.
GRADING:
Tests 30%
Presentation 30%
Presentation 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 all material discussed in the seminar. (The second test will be given during finals week. There will not be a cumulative final exam.)

Presentation
Each student in the class is expected to do research and do a biographical study on the life of one physicist. Each student will obtain (through a library search) at least three 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 at least 2 weeks 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 main presenter will have two assistants (helpers). The helpers will each give a short presentation, which will be an overview of the physicist's life and work. They will be required to write a short paper summarizing their presentation. The helpers will receive grades under the heading of "Assignments". The format of the presentation will be:
15 overview brief background on the physicist by 2 helpers
40 min summary of the
biographical study 		a summary of the student's research
15-20 discussion questions posed to the presenter and by the presenter and any other relevant discussion

Presentation 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. The paper will be a written version of the presentation. It should cover at least as much as the actual presentation and more. It should include a separate section at the end (separate from the rest of the paper) that gives a summary of the question and discussion portion 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
Assignments include work assigned other than the presentation. The work done by helpers (described under "Presentation") is one of the assignments that will be given. 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).

References
All papers will require proper references. Please see the course web page that gives examples of proper referencing: http://www.lhup.edu/~jreid/328_s01_bibref.htm

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.