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Beth Parks

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Beth Parks
Beth Parks in 2015[1]
Born
Mary Elizabeth Lampert

(1966-05-28) 28 May 1966 (age 58)
Huntsville, Alabama
CitizenshipU.S.A.
Alma materPrinceton University, University of California, Berkeley
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsMIT 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 advisorJoseph Orenstein
Websitemeparks 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 since September 1, 2020.[2][3] In addition to her research, Parks supports physics education through multiple channels.[4]

Education and early career

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 teaching chemistry at St. Columbkille High School, in Massachusetts, 1988–89. After performing post-doctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,[6] she began as a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University in 1997. Parks is currently a professor.

Research

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]

Contributions to teaching physics

Parks has taught physics at the university level for over 20 years. In addition, she co-authored the textbook, Modern Introductory Physics.[13] She is editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Physics, which is the American Association of Physics Teachers’ journal focusing on university-level physics education.

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]

Parks has taught classes in Fundamental Physics, Atoms and Waves (introductory course for physics & astronomy majors), Mathematical Methods for Physics, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Special Relativity, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, and Solid State Physics. She has also taught courses in broader subjects such as Comparative Energy Policy: U.S. and U.K., Renewable Energy, Environmental Studies Senior Seminar, and Energy and Sustainability.[14]

Awards and honors

Selected publications

  • Modern Introductory Physics, 2nd edition, C. H. Holbrow, J. N. Lloyd, J. C. Amato, E. Galvez, and M. E. Parks, Springer, 2010. ISBN 978-0387790794, ISBN 0387790799
  • "Research-inspired problems for electricity and magnetism," Beth Parks, American Journal of Physics 74, 351 (2006).March 27, 2006 Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology http://www.vjnano.org Archived 2016-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
  • "Photon quantum mechanics and beam splitters," C.H. Holbrow, E. Galvez, M. E. Parks, American Journal of Physics, 70, 260 (2002).
  • "Editorial firsts," Beth Parks, American Journal of Physics 88, 791 (2020).
  • "Seeking solar rays and illumination in Uganda", an article based on Parks' experience on the Fulbright was published in the Colgate Scene in 2016. [16]
  • "Climate teaching tidbits," K. Forinash, R. Tobin, B. Whitten, R. Wolfson, B. Parks Am. J. Phys. 91, 755–756 (2023) [17]

References

  1. ^ a b "Comparing Learning in Flipped and Standard Introductory Physics Classes". YouTube. June 9, 2015
  2. ^ "Beth Parks to Become Next Editor of the American Journal of Physics" AAPT. April 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "Colgate University's Beth Parks Named Editor of the American Journal of Physics" Women in Academia Report. May 20, 2020
  4. ^ "Why Aren't More Theories Named After Women? Teaching Women's History in Physics ," Beth Parks, The Physics Teacher, Vol. 58, pp. 377 – 381, September 2020
  5. ^ "Beth Parks". Colgate University Directory. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  6. ^ "Physics Department Faculty and Staff 1996-1997" (PDF). MIT Physics Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1996-12-25. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  7. ^ "Linewidth of single-photon transitions in Mn12-acetate," Beth Parks, Joseph Loomis*, Evan Rumberger, David N. Hendrickson, and George Christou, Physical Review B, 64, 184426 (2001).
  8. ^ "Inhomogeneous broadening of single photon transitions in molecular magnets," Beth Parks, Joseph Loomis*, Evan Rumberger, En-Che Yang, David N. Hendrickson, and George Christou, Journal of Applied Physics, 91, 7170 (2002).
  9. ^ "Effect of mechanical stress on the linewidth of single photon absorptions in Mn12-acetate" Beth Parks, Lea Vacca*, Evan Rumberger, David N. Hendrickson, George Christou, Physica B, 329-333 pt. 2, 1181-2 (2003).
  10. ^ a b Improving solar cell efficiency with a bucket of water by American Physical Society on TechXplore March 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "Spatio-temporal variation in the concentration of airborne particulate matter (PM10) in Uganda," Silver Onyango, Beth Parks, Simon Anguma, Qingyu Meng, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019.
  12. ^ "Validation of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height Estimated from the MODIS Atmospheric Profile Data at an Equatorial Site," Silver Onyango, Simon K. Anguma, Geoffrey Andima, and Beth Parks, Atmosphere, 11, 908, 2020.
  13. ^ Modern Introductory Physics, 2nd edition, C. H. Holbrow, J. N. Lloyd, J. C. Amato, E. Galvez, and M. E. Parks, Springer, 2010.
  14. ^ "Beth Parks | Colgate University". www.colgate.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  15. ^ "On the Bright Side". Colgate Scene. Summer 2016.
  16. ^ "Fulbright Experience of Faculty Member Beth Parks in Uganda". news.colgate.edu. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  17. ^ Forinash, Kyle; Tobin, Roger; Whitten, Barbara; Wolfson, Richard; Parks, Beth (2023). "Climate teaching tidbits". American Journal of Physics. 91 (9): 755–756. Bibcode:2023AmJPh..91..755F. doi:10.1119/5.0170182. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
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