Beth Parks | |
---|---|
Born | Mary Elizabeth Lampert 28 May 1966 |
Citizenship | U.S.A. |
Alma mater | Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physics |
Institutions | MIT Department of Physics, Colgate University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology |
Thesis | "High frequency electrodynamics of the cuprate superconductors in the vortex state" (1995) |
Doctoral advisor | Joseph Orenstein |
Website | meparks at colgate.edu |
Beth Parks is an American physicist. She is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Physics.[2][3] In addition to her research, Parks supports physics education through multiple channels.[4]
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Parks attended Virgil I. Grissom High School. She earned an AB in physics with a certificate in theater and dance from Princeton University in 1988, an MA (1991) and PhD (1995) in physics, from the University of California at Berkeley.[5] She began her teaching career at St. Columbkille High School, in Massachusetts, 1988–89. After performing post-doctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,[6] she began physics at Colgate University in 1997.
Her research has used time-domain terahertz spectroscopy to study single-molecule magnets[7][8][9] and GHz resonators made from carbon nanotubes. She also has ongoing projects to quantify insulation in buildings and to make solar trackers appropriate for developing nations.[10] Her design mounted solar panels so that they were balanced with a leaking bucket of water. The panels pivoted to face the sun as the leaky bucket reduced in weight during the day.[10]
Parks characterized a diffusion demonstration and studied air pollution in Uganda.[11][12]
Parks has taught physics at the university level for over 20 years. In addition, she co-authored the textbook, Modern Introductory Physics.[13]
She has explored different methods of teaching physics. For instance, the introductory course on Atoms and Waves was taught in both a standard format and in a "flipped" style. The flipped classes used videos, multiple choice questions, followed by additional clarification videos. Even students in the standard class watched the videos and 85% of the students said they would choose another flipped class.[1]
ISBN 978-0387790794 ISBN 0387790799