There were three of us, with very different backgrounds, that worked in the lab this FIRST (ATLAS outreach) summer.  However, we all agree that this program should continue.  It was CHALLENGING (who has critical knowldege of particle physics prior to working in the field?), REWARDING (what teacher doesn't appreciate being taught physics by 20 year olds?), and FUN (what kind of person would turn down money in exchange for learning?)
 

     MIA ONODERA

“If I'm going to work over the summer, I couldn’t ask for more than my experience at SCIPP.  It was very educational, the people were wonderful, and I had the opportunity to learn about topics I had never dreamed of or cared about exploring.  I hope that this summer program for teachers continues because it was an extremely rewarding experience.”

I currently teach 8th grade math at Redwood Middle School in Saratoga.  I moved to the Bay area two years ago, and still thoroughly enjoy the perfect weather, regardless of El Nino effects.  I enjoy coaching and playing sports; my favorite is soccer.  I love teaching and, therefore, have no immediate plans to change my career.  Nonetheless, I’ve taught middle school math and science and high school math.  With experiences such as this summer, maybe the next move will be high school physics…NOT!

This summer I mainly worked on characterizing low resistivity detectors.  We determined the depletion voltage using two methods: CV curves (electronics only) and charge collection (through the detector).   The detectors will be irradiated and similar measurements will be made in the hopes that the low resistivity detectors show longer life spans.
 

     NANCEE BOICE

“It was terrific; great experience, friendly and helpful staff; especially the undergrad students in explaining more difficult 'physics' concepts."

I teach 7-12th grades, physical science- astronomy, geology, chemistry, and physics.  Archaeoastronomy is my special interest. I am currently working on my masters in archaeoastronomy and in the future, I would like to work at Mayan excavation sites, develop curriculum or return to museum outreach.

My first assignment was with Professor David Dorfan working on the “Milagro” project, located in New Mexico for detecting high-energy gamma rays from location sources in space (i.e. black holes, galactic centers, supernova).  Suspended above the detectors is a “football-field” sized mesh wire to deflect lightning discharges- we were to design a plan to keep ice off of it, run a current through it, design transformers and whatever other considerations were necessary for it to perform its function.
 

DEIRDRE ROBERTS

Through IISME and NSF, Deirdre was at Columbia University presenting her summer research to other teachers and faculty while this web page was being constructed.  Therefore, she will add her personal comments at a later date.  But isn't this a great pic?  

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