University of Memphis Department of Physics and Materials Science

In observance of Earth Week and Earth Day, as long as it doesn’t rain, join me to get a cosmic perspective of Earth! Come to the Memphis Voyage Solar System scale model on the UM campus, just south of the theater building. We will be launching a little robot representing a photon of light traveling from the model Sun to the model Earth. It will move at the 10 billion to 1 scaled down speed of light into the solar system!

Thursday April 20 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm.
Saturday April 22 at 10:00 am-noon
Free parking across Central and Zach Curlin on Saturday!
Limited Golf Cart assistance will be available.

I am sharing a video by Devin Clark, reporter for the University of Memphis paper, The Daily Helmsman. He made this video about The Grand Opening of the Memphis Voyage Solar System, a 10 billion to 1 scale model. He attended several events and interviewed me and Dr. Bennett.
https://vimeo.com/817818467

U of M Holds Grand Opening for Memphis Voyage Solar System This is "U of M Holds Grand Opening for Memphis Voyage Solar System" by Devin Clark on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Please join us for the Grand Opening of the Memphis Voyage Solar System - one of only a few of these 10 billion to 1 scale models nationwide and the first in the Mid-South region! Presenters include UM Pres. Hardgrave, our Chair, Dr. Firouzeh Sabri, Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, originator of the model, and the Campus School 5th grade. Whenever you are ready to experience it, Take the Voyage! See below for related events on March 24 and 25 for those who can't attend mid-day. Families and teachers may be especially interested in Dr. Bennett's talk on Saturday at 10 am on How to Use the Memphis Voyage Solar System to Teach about Earth and Space Sciences.

"Pathway to a Post Global Warming Future" is our 2023 Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics. It will be delivered by Dr. Jeffrey Bennett on Friday, March 24 at 6:30pm in the UC Theater. Reception at 6:00 pm in the UC Atrium. This is a free public lecture intended to engage everyone. Please join us.

Save the date of Friday, March 24, 2023!

Daytime: GRAND OPENING OF THE MEMPHIS VOYAGE SOLAR SYSTEM MODEL- a 10 billion to 1 scale model of the Solar System that is 2000 ft long!

Early evening: LOIS MCGLOTHLIN DONALDSON ENDOWED LECTURE IN PHYSICS with reception.

DR. JEFFREY BENNETT WILL SPEAK AT BOTH EVENTS. The exact schedule is still being determined, but please join us for either or both!

The year in Newsletters...
2022 Holiday Newletterhttps://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/dpms_holiday_2022.pdf
2022 Summer Newsletterhttps://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/images/dpms_summer_newsletter_2022_final.pdf
2022 Spring Newsletterhttps://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/images/dpms_student_newsletter_web.pdf
2021 Holiday Newsletterhttps://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/images/dpms_holiday_newsletter_2021.pdf

Dr. Michael Garland, retired faculty member and former Chair of our Department, passed away on Jan 1, 2023 in Florida. He was one of the original Physics faculty members when the UM Department of Physics was established on July 1, 1966. Becky Garland, his wife of 44 years, asks that memorial donations be made to the Physics and Materials Science Department Foundation Funds at supportum.memphis.edu/physics and the obituary written by his family is below. A memorial seminar is being planned for Fall 2023.

Alums and faculty are invited to send photos and memories to [email protected] with subject line "Garland" for collection and/or share them below in a post.

Obituary
Dr. Michael McKee Garland, former Chair and Professor of the Physics Department at the University of Memphis (1965 - 1999), and a respected professor in this field for approximately 34 years passed away on Jan 1, 2023.
“Mick” as he was known by his family, friends and colleagues was 83 years of age. He had an illustrious career with UM. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Science from Austin Peay State University and a PhD in Physics from Clemson University under a Harvard Rhodes Scholarship.
His students, colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family regarded his education, talent, sense of responsibility, dedication to his calling, wit, and charm beyond measure. His exploration into physics had no bounds. He enjoyed teaching
graduate classes, the Physics of Music class to Music Majors and doing research, hence he received the Distinguished Teacher award in 1978. He also did research at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. He was a seeker in this world.
After his retirement in 1999, he remained in the Memphis area for a couple of years before moving to Bradenton, FL. He so loved the climate of Florida, and said it was paradise. He remained a student of life and learning during his lifetime.
Mick was born to Charles Richard Jr. and Frances Garland. Their home was a neighborhood centerpiece in the burgeoning community of Clarksville, Tennessee. Mick was the younger of twin boys born in 1939. His Father passed away when the boys were 9. Frances, with the support of her family and her job at Austin Peay State University raised her two sons.
Mick’s early homelife encompassed several cats, a dog named Polly and two sons. He was an avid horticulturalist and master gardener. He and his sons built a cabin on land he bought in middle TN. He also built an authentic harpsichord by hand. Often his weekends found him playing banjo with a neighborhood group of skilled musicians that delighted both the band and their respective audiences with Bluegrass tunes. Nearly all sessions included him singing a fan favorite, “Good Ol’ Mountain Dew.”
He and Rebecca (Becky) Aslinger married in 1977. Much of his later years were filled with adventures of sailing their boat, traveling, gardening, and enjoying their pool. He never needed a reason to be outdoors, nature was his favorite preoccupation.
He leaves behind his wife, Becky, of 44 years, two sons Michael McKee Jr. (m. Cynthia), 64, Paul Geoffrey (m. Sheryl), 62, his twin brother, Charles Richard Garland III (m. Gertrude), his Father- in-Law Wayne Aslinger, Brother-in-Law Jerry (m. Mary Ann) and Sister-in-Law Allison (m. Jim). His six grandchildren are Michael McKee Garland III (Trey), Marissa Jeffrey, Megan Roggendorff, Caitlin Garland, Jeremy Garland, and Ellen MaHaffey. His nine great-grandchildren are Logan,

Rowan, Alexis, Avie, Loki, Connor, Makenna, Noah, and Violet and his one great-great granddaughter is Layla. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews, and a special nephew and godson Alex Hans.
He was a soft-spoken, disciplined man, a good provider, a caring Dad, a loving husband, and an impressive teacher. Mick was a man of many qualities who was known for his wry sense of humor. He touched the lives of countless people. This world won’t be as poignant without him.
It was a joy to have you be a big part of our lives. You will be missed. We hope to see you again one day.
Gratefully, the family of Michael McKee Garland
Donations for a physics scholarship fund should be designated for University of Memphis Physics and Materials Science Department Foundation Funds - https://supportum.memphis.edu/physics

On March 25 join us for our annual Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics. It is IN PERSON with a reception for the first time since 2019! If you live outside of the Memphis area, contact [email protected] for more information.
Our speaker will be Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Stevenson Professor at Vanderbilt University.
She will talk about gravity waves, their detection by LIGO, and what we have learned so far from this relatively new technology. The first gravity wave detection occurred on Sep. 14, 2015. She is very personable and is excellent at explaining complex concepts in ways that are easy for the general public to understand.
Dr. Holley-Bockelmann joined the Astrophysics faculty at Vanderbilt in 2007. She received her B.S. in Physics at Montana State University and her PhD in Astronomy in 1999 at the University of Michigan. She did postdoctoral work at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Massachusetts. In 2004 she joined the Center for Gravitational Wave Physics at Pennsylvania State University and has done research on supermassive black holes and rogue black holes.
As a first generation college graduate within a family that sometimes lived below the poverty level, Dr. Holley-Bockelmann has a deep interest in broadening the participation of women, minorities, and first-generation college students in science. She is Co-Director of the Fisk-to-Vanderbilt Master's to PhD Bridge Program which is designed to mentor a diverse cohort of graduate students to develop the skills needed to succeed as a PhD scientist.
Here is a link to the recording of this lecture. Here is a link to the recording:
https://www.memphis.edu/physics/news/lecture2022.php

THIS FRIDAY AT 3:00 ON ZOOM.....

There will be a memorial for Dr. Don Franceschetti on January 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Please register to join us on Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/yysjcwtd.

We previously announced that Dr. Don Franceschetti passed away on July 1, 2019, but due to issues related to the pandemic the memorial had to be postponed. Dr. Franceschetti left his mark on the Department and the University through his leadership, service, and excellent research contributions. The Department is grateful to him for his dedication to the success of our students and years of service in leadership roles.

2022 Speaker for our annual Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics!

On Friday Mar 25, 2022, our speaker will be Dr. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann. She is the Stevenson Professor in Astrophysics at Vanderbilt University, and she will talk about gravity waves, their detection by LIGO, and what we have learned so far from this relatively new technology. The first gravity wave detection occurred on Sep. 14, 2015. Dr. Holley-Bockelmann is very personable and is excellent at explaining complex concepts in ways that are easy for the general public to understand.

https://www.memphis.edu/physics/news/lois-mcglothlin-donaldson.php

Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics When Lois McGlothlin Donaldson attended the University of Memphis as a young woman she majored in Art History. After her college years, as she grew older, she became fascinated by the obvious beauty in Hubble telescope images of deep space nebulae. Here was art of a different sort and with a history...

Historic PhD events for our department....

First graduate with a PhD in Engineering Physics-April 2021- Jiyang Chen who studied under Dr. Thang Hoang.

First hooding of a graduate with a PhD in Engineering Physics- Dec 2021 -Romakanta Bhattarai who studied under Dr. Xiao Shen, as shown in the hooding photo below.

The PhD program in Engineering Physics is what our department accessed through the Engineering College before we were able to get our own PhD program in the College of Arts and Science, which we now have.
Learn more at https://www.memphis.edu/physics/news/index.php

In case you missed it, here is our first semiannual newsletter of the Department of Physics and Materials Science. The links here are not live, but you can visit our physics website to engage and learn more at https://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/index.php

Headlines:
Chair's Corner
Welcome to Dr. Shawn Pollard
Accepted Proposals on first JWST Cycle
Two Physics Faculty Recipients of the Ralph E. Powe Award
We Now Offer PhD in Applied Physics
Dr. Mohamed Laradji recognized as an APS Fellow
Alumni Spotlight Page
Faculty Gathering
The Voyage Scale Model Solar System
Memorial gatherings in 2022:
Remembering Emeritus Professor Dr. Don Franceschetti -Jan 28, 2022
Remembering Emeritus Professor Dr. Narahari Achar-April 22, 2022

There will be a memorial for Dr. Don Franceschetti on January 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. in the Shelby Room of the University Center (UC Room 342). For those unable to attend in person, it will be possible to register and attend via Zoom (https://tinyurl.com/yysjcwtd).
We previously announced that Dr. Don Franceschetti passed away on July 1, 2019, but due to issues related to the pandemic the memorial had to be postponed. Dr. Franceschetti left his mark on the Department and the University through his leadership, service, and excellent research contributions. The Department is grateful to him for his dedication to the success of our students and years of service in leadership roles.

The announcement in pdf form is available at memphis.edu/physics.

On Dec 25, 2021 the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to launch at 6:20 am CST. It was most recently delayed from the 23rd to the 25th due to inclement weather conditions at the launch site in French Guiana. The design, construction, testing, and placement at the launch site has taken more than 25 years! It is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will hopefully be able to give us answers to some of the deepest questions we have about our Universe. It is folded up like a piece of origami in the biggest rocket in the world right now. After launch it will take 2 weeks to unfold itself.
To watch the launch online, you can go to NASA TV or register for a watch event with more extras at:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/james-webb-space-telescope-registration-167215593341?aff=cc

James Webb Space Telescope Join NASA to participate online in the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope

Happy Holidays! Here is the Department of Physics and Materials Science Holiday Newsletter!
https://www.memphis.edu/physics/newsletters/images/dpms_holiday_newsletter_2021.pdf

www.memphis.edu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8iev-FVnoE

The upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on December 25, 2021, is an exciting event for the scientific community. We are pleased to hear from Dr. Francisco Muller Sanchez from the Department of Physics and Materials Science at the University of Memphis to describe what this event means for him and his group, and how the data they obtain will be used in their research. For more information, please visit www.memphis.edu/physics.

James Webb University of Memphis The upcoming launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on December 25, 2021, is an exciting event for the scientific community. We are pleased to hear from D...

At the off-campus event below I will be speaking about the Memphis Voyage Solar System Model which will be a permanent addition to our Main Campus, and Apollo flight controller Bill Weppner will speak about Apollo 15 on the 50th anniversary of its landing.

On Friday, July 30, the Pink Palace Museum of Science and History (MoSH) hosts Stargazing on the Lawn, 7:00-10:00 pm. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased online at the site below.
Besides stargazing through lots of telescopes on the lawn, admission includes short planetarium shows every 20 min., astronomy related activities, my talk at 7:30 pm about the Voyage Solar System Model coming to the UM campus, and a talk at 8:30 pm by Apollo flight controller Bill Weppner who will share Apollo Memories in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 15! Both talks will be in the Pink Palace Mansion Theater.
Our department is partnering with MoSH, Rhodes College, and the Memphis Astronomical Society to produce this event, and several of our students will be assisting attenders with stargazing through the telescopes.

https://www.memphismuseums.org/pink-palace-museum/events/observing-on-the-lawn/

Stargazing on The Lawn Come explore the stars and planets through telescopes on the front lawn of the Pink Palace Mansion and enjoy other astronomy-related activities at MoSH. See and learn about different types of telescopes and enjoy a host of fun activities for all ages. There will be short planetarium shows describi...

Virtual PHYSICS SUMMER CAMP JULY 12-16!
🌠 Please SHARE! 🚀

Rising High School Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors can ATTEND FROM ANYWHERE and learn about Astronomy, Space Science, Optics, and Physics Applications in Biology and Materials.
FREE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN at this link:
https://fs3.formsite.com/casforms/93xiquc9gq/index.html

This UM-sponsored crowd fundraiser is for a new exciting project at the Department Of Physics and Materials Science. The Voyage Solar System Model has a 10 billion to 1 scale, and is the same 2000 ft. length as the one along the walkway by the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Our request for the purchase and permanent installation of such a model for our Main Campus has UM approval, but is contingent on our department raising the money to pay for it. We aim to be one of the first 5 entities in the country to commit to purchasing this model, and, if we are, we will receive $5000 seed money. The Voyage Solar System Model will include scaled representations of the Sun, planets, asteroid belt and Pluto along a North-South existing walkway which passes the East end of Manning Hall. This model will be a focal point for STEM education on campus and also provide our students, school groups and other visitors with the experience and change of perspective that only a scale model of our solar system can. We ask that you share this MomentUM Fundraiser and consider making a donation today. We have matching funds for the first $20,000 in donations.

https://momentum.memphis.edu/project/25271

Voyage Solar System Model for Main Campus & Region Help University of Memphis raise $20,000 for the project: Voyage Solar System Model for Main Campus & Region. Your gift will make a difference!

At 3:00 pm on Friday, March 26, our UM physics alums, students and SPS members are invited to meet with Dr. Meg Urry from Yale University in a Zoom Meet and Greet!
Please welcome her with a visit before she delivers her lecture on Black Holes, Galaxies, and the Evolution of the Universe later that day at 6:30 pm.
Register for the 3:00 Meet and Greet here. It is a different link than the one for her 6:30 pm lecture:
https://memphis.zoom.us/.../tZUqc-qsqzkpG9byvcfNewKS...

Reminder - Learn about Black Holes, Galaxies and the Evolution of the Universe on Friday night!
Join us on March 26 at 6:30 pm CST on Zoom to hear Yale University astrophysicist Dr. Meg Urry deliver the 5th annual Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics.Since it is virtual this year, you can easily attend whether or not you are local. After Dr. Urry's talk we invite any attending Physics alums to visit in one or more breakout rooms! Register at memphis.edu/physics.