Physics & Astronomy

Dickinson College

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Physics & Astronomy

The Department of Physics & Astronomy is an acknowledged national leader in physics education for developing the Workshop Physics program, an innovative activity-based method for learning introductory physics. In classes, from the most basic to the most advanced, students engage in activities and projects complemented by interactive lectures.

All upper-level students do research in a state-of-the-art building with facilities for projects in optics, nonlinear dynamics of complex systems, plasma physics, pattern formation in magnetic fluids, material science, environmental physics and astronomy.

Students interested in astronomy help run the Kanev Planetarium and conduct research on the 24-inch telescope of the college’s Michael Britton Observatory.

Chair: Brett PearsonAssociate Professor of Physics and Astronomy pearsonb@dickinson.edu
Department Coordinator: Tonya Millermillert@dickinson.edu

Phone: 717-245-1413
Fax: ---
Location: Tome Hall - Rector Science Complex Mailing Address

Department Features

Study Abroad

Current Courses

Student-Faculty Research

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs:

Bank of America
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Teach for America
Tesla
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Revenue Solutions, Inc.
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Raytheon Technologies
Quintiq
United States Department of Agriculture
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital
Decisive Analytics Corporation

Graduate Schools:

University of Illinois
Dartmouth College
University of Colorado
Arizona State University
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of Michigan
Harvard
MIT
Columbia University
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
Wesleyan University
University of California, Berkeley
Clemson University

Where Our Students Have Done Research

Coherent, Inc.
Vassar College
University of Monash (Australia)
Princeton University
Lehigh University
Wellesley College
Oak Ridge National Lab
Fermi National Accelerator Lab
University of Maryland
Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education
Kanazawa University
NASA/JPL

Student Perspective

"The Dickinson physics curriculum—shout out to the incredible faculty!—uses small-group, inquiry-based courses to allow students to take ownership of the concepts covered during lectures through hands-on experimentation. Throughout my time at Dickinson, the physics department pushed us to make connections between the coursework concepts and the world around us. This approach provided me with the tools and knowledge necessary to explore a range of topics creatively and from different perspectives, and the liberal arts are an important aspect of this balance.”

—Natalie Ferris ’18

Physics & Astronomy

All News Department News

Student Snapshot: Lia Gilmore ’25

Student Snapshot: Lia Gilmore ’25

Meet Lia Gilmore ’25, a physics major and social-media wiz who's studying astronomical data reduction.

Physics Major Graduate School Acceptances 2022

Physics Major Graduate School Acceptances 2022

Graduating seniors accepted to Drexel University and University of Chicago.

Sharing Scientific Research—and Passion

Sharing Scientific Research—and Passion

Students present original scientific research on everything from the geoarchaeology of stone steps to the impact of climate change on snapping turtles.

Dickinson Students Publish Physics Paper With Renowned Mathematician

Dickinson Students Publish Physics Paper With Renowned Mathematician

Dickinson physics students team with Priestley Award winner and bestselling author Steven Strogatz to study the physics of synchronization using metronomes.

Student Snapshot: Gavin Frueh

Student Snapshot: Gavin Frueh '24

Meet Gavin Frueh ’24, a physics major who served a summer internship at the Dickinson College Farm.

Student Snapshot: Maitland Witmer ’22

Student Snapshot: Maitland Witmer ’22

Learn more about why physics major Maitland Witmer ’22 says the professors are the best part of her Dickinson experience.