Hixson Lied Science Building Room G81, Creighton University - 2500 California Plaza - Omaha NE - 68178 - Seminars
Physics Department Seminar 11-20-2009
A physicist at the Collegium: A Colloquy between Faith and Reason
Dr. Gintaras Duda
Department of Physics, Creighton University
The Collegium is a week long conference/retreat for faculty from Catholic institutions to explore Catholic identity, Catholic tradition, and the interplay between faith, science, and reason. Faculty are deliberately mixed so that discussions between arts, science, theology, and engineering faculty can occur, hopefully leading to deeper and richer discussions. Here in the physics department at Creighton we have long struggled with fundamental questions such as: 1) What is the role of a physics department in a Catholic and Jesuit institution? 2) How is a physics department at a Catholic Jesuit institution different than at a secular institution? and 3) perhaps at a more personal level, how does one integrate science and faith or even how does one construct a worldview in which science and faith are complementary rather than being mutually exclusive? This talk will give a physicists perspective on these questions as influenced by the collegium, personal reflection, and Catholic theologians and teaching.
10-03-2008 Physics Seminar - Joey Butterworth
Modeling Ultra Peripheral Collisions
Joey Butterworth
Physics Department, Creighton University
Through the use of Monte Carlo methods, we are able to simulate electromagnetic interactions of nuclei that traveling by one another--Also known as ultra peripheral collisions. This presentation will give a brief look into Monte Carlo methods and how they are applied to the simulation of ultra peripheral collisions.
10-03-2008 Physics Seminar - Lauren Dwyer
The Nuclear Science Merit Badge
Lauren Dwyer
Physics Department, Creighton University
Each March, Creighton University hosts a workshop for local Boy Scouts to learn the uses, applications, and basics of nuclear science. As part of outreach efforts, a webpage has been created that serves as a comprehensive resource for the Nuclear Science Merit Badge for all scouts nationally. The webpage has several features that help a scout complete the badge.
Physics Seminar October 30, 2009
A Thermodynamic Approach to Control Gene Expression: Targeting of
DNA Intramolecular Structures with Complementary Strands
Dr. Luis A. Marky, PhD
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and
Eppley Institute for Cancer Research
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Antisense, antigene and siRNA strategies are currently used to control the expression of genes. To this end, our laboratory is currently mimicking the targeting of mRNA by targeting DNA hairpin loops with their partially complementary strands. We use a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV melting techniques to investigate the reaction of a variety of DNA hairpin loops (single end loops, dumbbell, threeway junction with two loops and a hairpin with a long bulge) with single strands that are complementary to the bases in the loop and to one strand of their stem, forming duplex products with dangling ends, nicks or with a displaced strand. We determine standard thermodynamic profiles for the unfolding of the hairpin loop and duplex product of each reaction.
Physics Seminar October 16, 2009
Research Opportunities in Polymer Science and Technology: Computer Hardware
Dr. Augustus Ouano
It’s hard to overstate the importance of Polymers in the 21st century economy; in fact life would be very difficult, indeed impossible, without it. 50 years ago, advance technology was more an art than science. Now, technology cannot advance without using the tools that Chemistry and Physics offers. For example, a good understanding of the dissolution kinetics of polymers (Polymer Chain Dynamics) is crucial to micro and nano silicon technology (VLSIC). Hard disk drive capacity would have been limited to MBs rather than TBs without understanding the Physics of wear (Tribology). These areas offer many opportunities for Chemists and Physicists to do interesting and good research.
Physics Seminar October 9, 2009
"Hitting the Road on Mars: The Legacy of the 2004 Mars Exploration Rovers
and the next Missions to Mars"
and particularly, by our nearest planetary neighbor- Mars. From the early
Mariner and Viking missions, to the more recent voyages- Mars has been a
challenging destination. The 'Mars Exploration Rovers' landed on Mars in
January 2004, and have been successfully exploring for over 5 years. Come
hear the story of these ongoing rover missions, and about our next steps in
the robotic exploration of Mars.
Physics Seminar September 25, 2009
Understanding Power Laws of Flood Data to Unlock the Physics of Floods
Ricardo Mantilla, Ph.D. IIHR- Hydroscience & Engineering
College of Engineering
The University of Iowa
Physics Seminar September 18, 2009
On Friday September 18: Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle will hold an interactive session with students to talk about his tenure as engineer and switch to politics.
Follow this link for his biography: http://www.co.douglas.ne.us/omaha/mayor/about-the-mayor. I would encourage you to attend as this would be an excellent opportunity to get to know the personal story of a leader in the Omaha community. Please plan on attending and bring at least someone else to attend this seminar.
Physics Seminar September 11, 2009
- Ms. Orfa Link, whose training as a physicist has given her skills to thrive as Associate Director in Admissions at Creighton University
- Mr. Patrick Heinz, who shifted from a BS degree in biology to fiber optics engineering currently working with Qwest.
Physics Seminar September 4, 2009
This Friday at 12:30 pm (HL-G59) we have an extremely interesting seminar: Each faculty will deliver a 5-minute presentation on her/his research.
Please plan on attending as you will have the chance to learn about what each faculty does for research!
