STEM News

A unique collaboration between Carleton professors Kim Smith and Dan Hernandez brought a new level of sophistication to how students are taught science and environmental studies.

A unique collaboration between Carleton professors Kim Smith and Dan Hernandez brought a new level of sophistication to how students are taught science and environmental studies.

Something about Carleton pushed him to be different, John Cannon ’15 says.

Although he considered himself an average student in high school, coming to Carleton opened up a world of possibilities for him. “They push you to learn who you are here,” says Cannon, from Toronto. “And I realized I could be anyone I wanted to be.”

Nelson Christenson, George H. and Marjorie F. Dixon Professor of Physics, is the recipient of a $210,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to do Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) astronomy research. His three-year project “RUI: Parameter Estimation, Data Analysis, and Detector Characterization for LIGO” continues the international collaborative analyses of data in search of gravitational wave signals, including signals from massive black hole systems and supernova produced signals. As many as six undergraduate researchers will apply novel statistical strategies to parameter estimation and data analysis, and identify detector disturbances for Advanced LIGO.

Computer science majors Laura Biester ’16 and Adam Canady ’16 are California bound after landing fellowships through venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.

As three of Carleton’s computer science standouts head to Morocco for a prestigious programming tournament, their achievement reflects a growing number of students—especially women—exploring the major.

“You’ll have a computer that will be able to understand you. The better you concentrate, the faster the computer will know what you want.”

David Liben-Nowell, associate professor of computer science, has been named a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and was invited to speak at the Fifth Indo-American Frontiers of Science symposium held in Agra, India, in early April 2013.

Carleton College juniors Zach Wood-Doughty ‘14 (Madison, Wisc.) and Nick Jones ’14 (Evanston, Ill.) have earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. John Cho ’14 (Los Angeles) earned an honorable mention. Both of Carleton’s winners are computer science and math double majors. Only 14 of the 271 students who were awarded Goldwater Scholarships were computer science majors, marking a major accomplishment for those Carleton departments and the two students. The Goldwater Scholarship tries to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

Emily Stevens ’85 is a managing producer for SciGirls, an award-winning public television show that encourages young girls to excel in math and science.