{"id":28801,"date":"2020-06-18T10:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T15:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=28801"},"modified":"2020-06-18T09:44:11","modified_gmt":"2020-06-18T14:44:11","slug":"austin-peay-professors-bring-diverse-science-lessons-to-governors-school-of-computational-physics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2020\/06\/18\/austin-peay-professors-bring-diverse-science-lessons-to-governors-school-of-computational-physics\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Peay professors bring diverse science lessons to Governor\u2019s School of Computational Physics"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AustinClarksville, TN<\/strong> – In a typical year, the Governor\u2019s School for Computational Physics at Austin Peay State University (APSU) includes two field trips to renowned nearby science centers.<\/p>\n

But this year isn\u2019t typical.<\/p>\n

\"Friction<\/a>

Friction Stir Welding. (APSU)<\/p><\/div>\n

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The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic canceled those trips to the National Space Science Technology Center and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and the other to the National Center for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.<\/p>\n

To give this year\u2019s 37 high-achieving high school Governor\u2019s School students as rich a college experience as possible, APSU\u2019s Dr. B. Alex King invited seven science professors from across campus to give presentations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have scientists from other departments on campus coming in to give a little research talk about the sorts of things happening in their areas,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n

The guest lecturers are geosciences Dr. Chris Gentry, geosciences Dr. Kallina Dunkle, engineering Dr. Russ Longhurst, chemistry Dr. Allen Chaparadza, physics Dr. Justin Oelgoetz, astrophysics Dr. Allyn Smith and medical laboratory science Professor Jane Semler.<\/p>\n

The guest lectures give the students a peek at other sciences they could study in college.<\/p>\n

Glaciers, caves and water<\/h3>\n
\"What<\/a>

What is Karst?<\/p><\/div>\n

For example, Dunkle\u2019s presentation \u2013 \u201cGlaciers & Models & Caves, Oh My!\u201d \u2013 guided the students through the study of glacial modeling, specifically studies done on the geology left by ancient retreating glaciers in Wisconsin, and karst topography, which is the geology that leads to sinkholes in the Clarksville area. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019m going to be looking at this afternoon is I\u2019ll give you kind of an introduction of how in the world do all of these things fit together into the realm of geosciences,\u201d Dunkle told the class. \u201cI\u2019m on the geology side and my particular area of expertise is in what we call hydrogeology and that has to deal with water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her work focuses on where water comes from and what contamination issues that might present for the water supply. Studying how glaciers and karst topography shape the earth \u2013 especially below the surface \u2013 helps scientists like her better understand how water travels through the ground. <\/p>\n

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Engineering, friction and research<\/h3>\n

Longhurst\u2019s talk \u2013 \u201cThe Engineering Profession and Engineering Related to Research at APSU\u201d \u2013 introduced the students to the different types of engineering and engineering research APSU students are doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cEngineering is a very rewarding career and profession, and I encourage you to pursue that path,\u201d Longhurst said. \u201cAnd a degree in engineering can be applied to many different things outside the profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two areas of research happening in Austin Peay State University\u2019s engineering physics program are friction stir welding \u2013 a process that uses frictional heat to join materials \u2013 and making electromechanical devices, robotics and manufacturing processes more dynamic. <\/p>\n

What is Governor\u2019s School? <\/h3>\n

The Tennessee Department of Education offers 11 programs to high-achieving juniors and seniors across Tennessee. Topics cover science, the arts, business, technology, humanities, international studies and teaching.  <\/p>\n

The state provides scholarships to all the students to cover the costs of tuition and, in a typical year, room and board. <\/p>\n

Austin Peay State University provides the Governor\u2019s School for Computational Physics, which is an introduction to computational problems in physics and engineering. The students earn four credit hours \u2013 for Physics 2500 and Physics 2501 \u2013 by completing the school.  <\/p>\n

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To learn more <\/h3>\n