The Ground State

I know I just wrote about the new Integrated Science Facility fairly recently and all, but I just realized I skipped probably the most important part. So, sorry about this, but back to Anderson Hall!

The physics department primarily inhabits Anderson Hall’s underground floor, more commonly referred to as the Ground State. Here you’ll find assorted physics classrooms, teaching labs, and lots of hard-at-work students. Over midterms season, I found myself spending . . . a lot . . . of time there, and now I’d like to share my thoughts on the place.

The common room (?) area is covered in whiteboard on one side, and taking a quick look at it never fails to entertain…

Here you’ll also find a mini “physics library” composed of a bunch of helpful textbooks. I use this often — I find it quite helpful to review tricky concepts by returning to them with reading and practice problems from different sources, each with their own unique styles and perspectives.

After you finish up a given round of studying, there are also these little guys to aid in the relief of your study break! They’re embarrassingly fun to scoot around on, and surprisingly helpful in burning up restless energy.

But my favorite thing about the Ground State has to be the community that’s already formed there. At any point in the day (or night . . .), you’ll find a diverse crew of students working, struggling, and laughing through their studies. It’s an incredibly supportive space — the type of area you always hear about in college brochures and campus tours, where everyone’s working hard, but has a good attitude about it, and is genuinely willing to help anyone who needs it. Take a moment to simply step back and take in the sights and sounds of the space, and you’re virtually guaranteed to overhear something fascinating, or hilarious, or both.

Within the Ground State, even in the latest hours of the night (or morning?!), there’s a sense that you’re all in it together. You wouldn’t think I’d fall in love with the subterranean concrete box I just spent dozens of hours of my life studying for a physics midterm in, but I genuinely have. It sort of feels like home.

Lucas is in his sophomore year at Carleton, bringing with him a passion for all things nerdy and a talent for overthinking and awkwardness (and self-deprecation). He hails from Pasadena, California, and yes, he realizes it gets cold out here. He currently sees himself majoring in Physics, although he hopes to explore Cinema and Media Studies, Chemistry, Economics, and Computer Science (among many other subjects) as well. He misses his bearded dragon. Meet the other bloggers!