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The physics labs can be found here!
Physics is the study of nature at its most fundamental level. As such, it is the science upon which all other sciences and technologies are based. Because it is so basic, a major in physics is ideal preparation, not only for further study in physics, but also for advanced study in such diverse fields as biophysics, medicine, astrophysics, chemical physics, engineering, meteorology, and computer science.
Winter 2012 Physics Seminar Series
Title: "Convection in the Earth: Place Tectonics and Mountains"
Speaker: Dr. Claire Currie - Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: 5-171 (Library Building)
Plate tectonics provides an elegant explanation for the geological evolution of the Earth. However, there are places where the concept of rigid tectonic plates fails, such as the wide mountainous areas of western North and South America. The motion of tectonic plates is primarily driven by thermal convection within the Earth. Two scales of convection are recognized: a large-scale system extending to depths of at least 660 km and localized convection at the base of the tectonic plates. Small-scale convection (SSC) appears to be critical for mountain-building processes. Through SSC, continental plates can be thinned becoming weak and susceptible to deformation. During mountain-building, catastrophic SSC events have a dramatic effect on surface elevation, deformation and magmatism.
Ultra-cold Neutrons Professor Elie Korkmaz (5th from left in above photo) of the UNBC physics program is part of a newly established research collaboration aimed at building the world's most intense source of ultra cold neutrons (UCN) at the TRIUMF laboratory in Vancouver, BC. This facility will allow scientists to perform to very high precision key experimental studies aimed at sharpening our understanding of nature by exploring new physics that goes beyond the standard model of particle physics. The collaboration involves scientists from a number of Canadian and Japanese institutions and will build on experience gained with the UCN facility currently in operation at the RCNP laboratory in Osaka, Japan. The photo shown was taken during a recent UCN collaboration meeting that took place at TRIUMF in January 2010.
Fictional Physics What it means to be human in the face of scientifically improbable circumstances is the theme being explored in Remembering the Future, a work of science fiction written by first-time literary author and UNBC Physics professor Mark Shegelski (right). The recently released work is a collection of fourteen science fiction stories that explore many universes, time travel, and seemingly impossible situations. This work of fiction is Dr. Shegelski's 60th publication. Click here to view the press release.
Innovative Professor UNBC professor Matt Reid (right) won the John Humphrey's Memorial Forest Innovator Award at the Northern BC Business and Technology Awards for his research into the application of terahertz technology in the forest industry. He also received the Collaborative Research Award. More . . .
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