Thursday, March 24, 2016

Am I Iron Man?

I looked at this blog for the first time in quite a while and found that it has been four years since I posted anything. I almost forgot how to even make a post on this site. A lot has happened since then, but what seems to drive me to post something on the blog appears to be the U.S. Particle Accelerator School.

Since January 2012 -- the last post -- I helped organize a session of the USPAS sponsored by Michigan State University and held in Grand Rapids, MI, during the summer of 2012 and co-taught a course during that session on the design of electron synchrotrons. My next teaching opportunity at the USPAS was in January 2015 at Old Dominion University in Virginia. There, we had a slightly smaller class size, but a great group of young people nonetheless.



And then, most recently was this past January 2016 when our "Fundamentals" course was held at the University of Texas at Austin. This was a great class with a wonderful group in one of my favorite towns in the U.S.
 
At the Sunday night dinner at the beginning of the USPAS session, the School presented me with what they are calling their "Iron Man" award "in recognition and appreciation of exceptional contributions in teaching at USPAS sessions."  Since 1988 I've been lucky to have had over 500 students in my classes, having taught a total of 15 times at the school.   For more info see the Fermilab Today, NIU Today, Northern Star articles.

It has been very nice to have the support of my colleagues and close friends in the field all these years and to know that these educational efforts have had an impact. Check my web site for additional pictures of the USPAS events and other activities from the past four years.