These Augsburg University STEM students have had a busy summer in 2025! They conducted undergraduate research, built and flown high-powered rockets, obtained L1 certification in rocketry, and attended a drone workshop. Yesterday, they volunteered at the NASA exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair.
This past Saturday, Augsburg students successfully launched four high-powered rockets. This was a great learning opportunity for students and the result of all sort of support: Minnesota NASA Space Grant, local mentor volunteers, Tripoli Minnesota (tripolimn.org). Thanks to all!
Just sharing some of the cool stuff happening in the School of Natural Sciences at Augsburg University. We have a corpse flower about to bloom. Check out the update over on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reel/DL-ak0W...
Augsburg Physics Students Giving Presentations
Congratulations to the Departmental Honors Students in Physics: Daniel, Eleanor, Jimmy, Sean. And thank you to their hard-working faculty, Profs. Case, @moumitadg.bsky.social , and Hickox-Young for making engaging research projects possible at Augsburg University.
Prof. Moumita Dasgupta started her 2 year term as President of the Minnesota Area Association of Physics Teachers today. Congratulations @moumitadg.bsky.social !!!
Baby Shark contestants
Congratulations to Sean Gaffaney for placing second in Augsburg's Baby Shark entrepreneurial contest, run by our amazing colleagues in the School of Business. Thank you to Prof @moumitadg.bsky.social for encouraging your keystone science class to take on this challenge!
Augsburg Physics faculty and students pose for a picture.
The hustle of the end of another semester is here, and for our seniors, it is a chance to celebrate their accomplishments. I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with my colleagues in physics at Augsburg University's Honors Convocation.
Augsburg Physics majors at their end-of-year research celebration.
Augsburg University was thrilled to host @jiwasa.bsky.social as our Sverdrup Visiting Scientist. We end this event with a celebration of undergraduate research. It was super cool that Dr. Iwasa could spend time with our students, discussing their work. Below are Auggie physicists at their posters.
Great work to Prof. Jason Tan and the rest of the Biology Department for hosting such a fantastic Sverdrup Visiting Scientist. Thank you! I am looking forward to her convocation today at 11:00.
Augsburg's Society of Physics Students and Prof Degner Riverso @sarahdegner.bsky.social hosted a great event yesterday combining our physics, making, and threaded and fabric arts! Very cool, thank you.
These astrobiology talks are free (FREE!!!) for anyone in the world to attend on April 2, 9, 16, and 23rd at 7pm, PST. Cool topics like "From the Deep Ocean to Deep Space" and "Exploring Mars with the Perseverance Rover". Register at: www.eventbrite.com/e/uw-astrobi...
I am so grateful for the panel of Augsburg University alumni who shared real stories and experiences of navigating careers in STEM and parenthood. Thank you Luis, Mahelet, and Sumaya for sharing during Augsburg's career day focus.
Augsburg @ MnSGC Student Symposium
Augsburg University had a great turnout at the MnSGC NASA Student Symposium. Students from across MnSGC gave great presentations, and it was a good opportunity for faculty to network.
Great way to kick off the 2025 MnSGC NASA Student Symposium with James Kakalios!!!
Working class Americans live 6 years shorter lives than the wealthy. Doctors believe economic stress is a major factor in that disparity.
I asked Americans to describe how stress impacts their lives & well-being. The responses were heartbreaking.
Here are some of them:
Photo of Alexis Cooper in front of her poster titled "Polymer-assisted assembly of cell-mimetic giant vesicles in physiological ionic solutions". She has long black hair, is wearing a grey suit, and is smiling. She has posted her results on the bioRxiv, so you don't have to be able to see this image to learn about her results.
Awful things are happening TO science in the U.S. But maybe I can tell you about something great happening IN science. Alexis Cooper from @ucmerced.bsky.social has scaled up and also scaled down the papyrus method of making vesicles. She will be at the JUST-B session at #bps2025 today!
Today's President’s Symposium: Biophysics for a Sustainable Future features the current challenges of sustainability in society as they align with the BPS mission:
A few years ago, the Augsburg Physics Department started a LinkedIn group for alumni. I was thrilled to see a former adjunct instructor post a potential entry-level position at her company. Helping the next generation of scientists get started in their careers is something we can all do.
A great start to winter break. Augsburg's Society of Physics Students received an Outstanding Chapter Award. Congratulations to Luke Omodt, chapter president, and Moumita Dasgupta, SPS faculty advisor!
www.spsnational.org/awards/outst... Augsburg University, listed with the greats, in 2024!
Huge appreciation for everything you do! And congratulations for getting NIH funded and being a great department chair.
If we all find 100 posts to like every day, engagement and good will on @bsky.app grows exponentially.
Is it worth a few minutes to make the platform stronger ?
Prof. Beckman, I just submitted a LOR and thought I would reward myself with a little social media. Your post made me smile. Thanks for the work you do on behalf of our students!
This Fall, Augsburg's Physics department has hired the amazing @kristineloh.bsky.social to teach our Science of Food and Cooking course. Kristine even contributed a brand new lab to our course on foams and vegan meringues. Thank you Kristine!
Tonight, Professor of Mathematics Matt Haines and I spent time listening to the fantastic musicians from across campus as Augsburg's Schwartz School of the Arts held a concert featuring chamber music and a jazz/vocal concert. I enjoy seeing the "hidden" physics and math students representing STEM.
We are fortunate to have generous alumni at Augsburg University. That generousity comes in many forms, for example Noah Aleshire (Honeywell Areospace) is sharing his expertise in high powered rocketry with our NASA MnSGC rocketry team. Thanks Noah!
www.linkedin.com/in/noah-e-al...
#STEM
Back Cover Illustration
Moumita Dasgupta, one of the many amazing School of Natural Sciences faculty at Augsburg, just published in Soft Matter: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
Her team claimed the back cover! If you are an Auggie, you can get the article at @lindelllibrary.bsky.social
#SoftMatterPhysics
#Physics