Past News Items

Past news about important events that have occured in the Physics and Astronomy Department.

 

2011

Duncan E. Poland, 1934–2011

2010

Dr. Rahimi served as interim Provost

2009

Department Observes International Year of Astronomy with 100 Hours of Astronomy April 2–5

2008

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST) was launched 11 June 2008, Education/Public Outreach is at SSU

SSU physics grad Roberto Ramirez honored by Harvard

Dr. Cominsky named a fellow of the California Council On Science And Technology

2007

Student project featured in Press Democrat (pdf download)

Department has two new professors

Department honored Dr. Dunning and celebrated remodeling of Darwin Hall with reunion in 2007

We’re back in Darwin Hall

2006

New York Times praises black hole planetarium show produced by Dr. Cominsky and colleagues

Press Democrat features forthcoming Galbreath Observatory

Planning underway for Galbreath Wildlands Preserve Observatory

2005

Dr. Shi, nanotechnology featured in Press Democrat

Dr. Hichwa profiled in Press Democrat (pdf download)

Dr. Cominsky profiled in Press Democrat (pdf download)

Dr. Cominsky, E/PO Group featured in North Bay Bohemian

2004

Department’s new, off-campus telescope named GORT

Dean Saeid Rahimi honored with “Spirit of Sonoma” Award

Swift gamma ray burst mission launched 20 November 2004 — Education site is at SSU

Phil Plait’s “Bad Astronomy” selected one of top websites by Scientific American

Curricular changes in 2004-06 catalog

Physics majors win scholarships  — Apply by 15 January for next year

New professor has joined Department

Dean Saeid Rahimi featured in newspaper article

Tiffany Borders featured again on Hubble Heritage website

Joanne del Corral honored as outstanding teacher by student group

International Symposium on Multiparticle Dynamics was held on campus in Summer 2004

2003

Dean Rahimi obtains $300,000 federal grant to improve photonics lab

Peter Rooney (’86) featured on American Physical Society website

Sonoma State leads CSU in physics majors in Fall 2002

Sixty-sixth “What Physicists Do” public lecture series began Sept. 8, 2003

Tiffany Borders featured on Hubble Heritage website

Department hosted regional meeting of physics teachers April 4-5, 2003

2002

Physics graduate Roberto Ramirez is one of SSU’s Distinguished Alumni in 2002(more)

Dr. Bryant Hichwa joining faculty

$1 million Agilent lightwave lab coming soon

Keck lab will house scanning electron microscope

Drs. Izaguirre and Weiss win grants

Dr. Plait publishes Bad Astronomy book

Sixty-fourth “What Physicists Do” series began Sept. 9, 2002

2001

SSU physics grad Roberto Ramirez wins major teaching award

Physics majors win scholarships

Research opportunities available for students

Dr. Tenn is new Chair

Dr. Rahimi named Dean

Two new professors have joined the Department

Changes in calculus sequence affect physics majors

SSU physics student Allan Baker builds Foucault pendulum at South Pole

2001 Reunion was a great success

2000

Drs. Cominsky & Whitlock win big grants for space education

Dr. Rahimi wins Excellence in Teaching Award

1999

“Cosmic Genesis and Fundamental Physics” conference at SSU was great success — Proceedings

Dr. Rahimi receives Lockheed Martin grants for student research

1998

Ben Owen (BS, '93) wins award for year's best Ph.D. dissertation at Caltech