Department News

November 7, 2008
UT Arlington Today -
Physics alumni mixer featured astronaut, new planetarium show
The Physics Department hosted its inaugural physics alumni mixer Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Planetarium at UT Arlington and the atrium of the Chemistry and Physics Building. The event featured Dr. Sam Durrance, a former space shuttle astronaut and professor of physics at Florida Institute of Technology, who described his experiences during his shuttle flights during the 1990s. Also, a new planetarium show, "Ice Worlds," was presented, followed by the reception in the atrium. Approximately 80 people attended the event, arranged by Physics Chair James Horwitz, Professor Ramon Lopez and College of Science Development Director Shelly Frank, with assistance from Planetarium Director Levent Gurdemir and Lori Norris, the College of Science special events coordinator. Among the physics alumni in attendance were Stewart Allen (1963), Jack Fisher (1962), Don and Carol Johnson (1970), Bob Hatfield (1988), Percy Vaughn (2006) and Dr. Manori Nadesalingam (2007). The UT Arlington Physics department will be sponsoring a number of exciting events during the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (http://astronomy2009.nasa.gov/ ). Area Physics, Space, and Astronomy enthusiasts who wish to be involved in or attend any of these or other UTA Physics activities are encouraged to send their contact information and any background information of note to Jim Horwitz, horwitz@uta.edu and Nila Veerabathina, nilakshi@uta.edu .