Physics Professor Jerry Artz presented pedagogical research, and undergraduate students Leo Jones, McKenzie Wagner, and Lucas Liabraaten each won awards for their poster presentations on their undergraduate research with Professor Lifeng Dong at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
All students utilized Hamline University’s Scanning Electron Microscope. Professor Artz presented results from five years of research on a method of improving student learning through a novel use of physics homework. The students presented three different areas: Leo on his energy storage supercapacitor research, McKenzie with her use of Bismuth thin films for lead detection, and Lucas with his nanoparticle synthesis for detecting lead in drinking water.
The presentation titles were as follows:
- “An Idea for Promoting Honesty, Integrity and Learning in Solving General Physics Homework problems,” Jerry Artz
- “Utilizing Natural Activators in Wood for Sustainable Biochar Production in Coin-Type Supercapacitors,” Leo Jones
- “Exploring Eco-Friendly Deposition of Bismuth Thin Films for Lead Detection,” McKenzie Wagner
- “Optimizing Eco-Friendly Nanoparticle Synthesis for Lead Detection in Drinking Water,” Lucas Liabraaten