What Physicists Do
Physics 123 Spring 2018
(First 5 weeks) Fridays, 6a (3:30-4:30), Olin 141 1 Credit; S/CR/NC
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is pleased to announce this year’s Physics 123 Line-up. “What Physicists Do” is our annual series of five lectures by invited speakers, many of whom are Carleton Physics alumni. It is intended to introduce students to a broad range of real-world physics and to give some perspective on the kinds of work done by people with a physics background. The course is open to all interested students who have taken PHYS 151; those considering a major in physics are particularly encouraged to enroll.
The presentations are in OLIN 141 on Fridays during 6th period (3:30-4:30pm). The only requirement, beyond attending five talks, is to read an assigned article beforehand and then to submit a short (one page) typed essay afterwards commenting on both the talk and the reading. Speakers will be available for informal discussions over refreshments afterward. Questions: Arjendu Pattanayak, Olin 337, x7166, arjendu@carleton.edu
April 13 Sophie Bushwick ‘11 “Communicating Science with a Popular Audience”
At its best, popular science communication excites and unites the public. Compelling stories inspire people all over the world to celebrate the discovery of gravitational waves or watch a new rocket launch live online. All too often, however, inaccurate and decontextualized reporting leads to TV news stories about how, say, dark chocolate prevents cancer. This talk will discuss how to share science with a popular audience, and to do it well. Learn what it takes to embark on a career in science journalism, and the ups and downs you’ll encounter along that path. If you prefer to stay on a research track, we’ll also discuss how scientists can communicate effectively with the press and share their work directly with a popular audience.