University of Richmond hosts four-day physics "short course" that's free and open to everyone, regardless of science background

The University of Richmond’s Department of Physics will host a free four-day short course on nuclear physics and public policy on April 13-16. The course is open to the general public and is specifically designed for anyone, regardless of science background, who wants to better understand physics’ affect on today’s big political topics: nuclear power, nuclear weapons, scientific policy and homeland security.

The course will be led by Dr. Patrick Regan of the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom and Dr. Con Beausang and Dr. Jerry Gilfoyle of the University of Richmond.

Regan has done extensive research on the measurements of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in the environment using applications of gamma-ray spectroscopic techniques. He is frequently engaged by British and international media to comment on issues related to radiation physics.

Dr. Con Beausang and Dr. Jerry Gilfoyle are both physics professors at the University of Richmond. Beausang studies low-energy nuclear structure physics, gamma-ray spectroscopy, stockpile stewardship and environmental radiation. Gilfoyle researches electro-nuclear physics, computational methods and nuclear non-proliferation and science policy.

The four-day course will include four evening lectures, Monday through Thursday (April 13-16). Each lecture is independent so participants may choose to attend just one lecture or may opt to attend all four. In addition to the lectures, the faculty will run two lunchtime laboratory experiences that begin at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 16. The labs run until 3:30 p.m. and require separate registration so that participants can be guaranteed a lab space. Participants should register for the labs, which are free, by E-mailing cbeausan@richmond.edu.

This program is jointly sponsored by the Office of International Education and the School of Arts & Sciences.

Seminar Schedule

Monday, April 13
Open Lecture, 5:45-7:45 p.m.
Nuclear Basics: What are atoms made of? What is radioactivity? In addition to discussing the nucleus, alpha, beta, and gamma decay, fusion and fission, the talk will cover environmental and manmade radiation sources and the methods by which radiation is detected. No registration required. Gottwald Science Center Auditorium.

Tuesday, April 14
Laboratory Experience, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Participants will be introduced to an environmental radiation laboratory and led through a series of simple experiments to demonstrate radiation detection and measurement. E-mail cbeausan@richmond.edu to register.

Tuesday, April 14
Open Lecture, 6:15-8:15 p.m.
Nuclear Alchemy: How are the elements made? The talk will explain nucleosynthesis or the creation of the elements in stars, including exploding stars, novae and supernovae, x-ray bursters and seeding the cosmos with new elements. No registration required. Gottwald Science Center Auditorium.

Wednesday, April 15
Open Lecture, 6-8 p.m.
Applications of Nuclear Physics on Earth: Nuclear power, nuclear weapons and nuclear medicine. Topics include homeland security, dirty bombs, nuclear bombs and the Litvinenko story. No registration required. Gottwald Science Center Auditorium.

Thursday, April 16
Laboratory Experience, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
This lab will continue some of Tuesday’s experiments. E-mail cbeausan@richmond.edu to register.

Thursday, April 16
Open Lecture, 6-8 p.m.
Nuclear Extremes: (Some) current research frontiers in nuclear science. The talk will address modern nuclear physics research. No registration required. Gottwald Science Center Auditorium.

Posted April 7, 2009