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Presented by: Dr. Benjamin Nachman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Monday, June 17th, 2024
7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Duane Physics and Astrophysics Building, room G1B20

2000 Colorado Ave,
�鶹ӰԺ, CO 80309

Price: free

Abstract: Particle, nuclear, and astrophysics experiments are producing massive amounts of data to answer fundamental questions about the basic constituents of our universe. While researchers in these areas have been using advanced data science tools for decades, modern machine learning has introduced a paradigm shift whereby data can be directly analyzed holistically without first compressing it into a more manageable and human understandable format. How will the machines help us explore the unknown? Can they be trusted to give us the right answers? I’ll attempt to address these questions and others with a talk about the use of modern machine learning, including generative AI, in the study of fundamental interactions.

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Outstanding Graduate for Service Award

Tyler McMaken: For outstanding service contributions to the physics department over six years including:

• Leadership of the CU-Prime Student Group which provides connection and mentorship between Physics graduate and undergraduate students. This leadership has involved coordinating a regular research talk series, hosting annual debates, teaching the 'Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry' class (Phys 1400) and most recently organizing the inaugural ‘Physics Undergraduate Research Expo’.
• Founding and growing the ‘Grand Canonical Ensemble’ (the Physics Department music group).
• Outstanding teaching contributions to the department both as a TA and lead instructor.

CU Physics Award for Graduate or Undergraduate TA Excellence

Luke Adams: For outstanding contributions to the Phys 2020 teaching team

Cai Cash:  For invaluable contributions to the Phys 2010 and 2020 teaching teams for many semesters, creating a welcoming, encouraging environment for many students as well as working behind the scenes to analyze and improve the structure of the class. 

John Dirkmaat: For outstanding contributions to the Phys 2600 and Phys 2210 teaching teams over the 2023-24 academic year. In both semesters he has really gone above and beyond in helping the students learn, doing extra help session hours, and working individually with students to be sure they are fully understanding the material. 

Charles Hurrell: For outstanding contributions to the Phys 2150 (experimental Physics 2) teaching team. Charles has been instrumental in the success of Phys 2150 this semester, going above and beyond to set up and fix labs as students had problems with them and reschedule students who missed labs

Tin Nguyen: For outstanding contributions to the Phys 2010 teaching teams over several semesters

Gabriella Seifert: For outstanding contributions to the Phys 1240 teaching team both working individually with students and suggesting ideas to improve the class. 

CU Physics Award for Outstanding Service

Iona Binnie: For outstanding service contributions to the Physics department, including leadership of the Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (WaGMiP) group and development of plans for the 2025 APS Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CU*iP), which will be held at CU-�鶹ӰԺ.

Cai Cash: For outstanding contributions to the Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community (PISEC) program over many semesters.

Luke Coffman:  For outstanding service contributions including co-leading the Society of Physics Students (SPS), writing a proposal and winning a Dean's Innovation Fund grant and using it to organize the inaugural Physics Undergraduate Research Expo. 

Alex Fix: For outstanding contributions to the Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community (PISEC) program.

Anya Grafov: For outstanding service contributions to the Physics department, including development of plans for the 2025 APS Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CU*iP), which will be held at CU-�鶹ӰԺ.

Owen Grimes: For outstanding service contributions including co-leading the Society of Physics Students(SPS), writing a proposal and winning a Dean's Innovation Fund grant and using it to organize the inaugural Physics Undergraduate Research Expo. 

Cameron Hares: For outstanding contributions to the Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community (PISEC) program.

Joanna Lis: For outstanding service contributions to the Physics department, including leadership of the Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (WaGMiP) group.

Claire Savard: For outstanding service contributions to the Physics department over many years, in particular to the 'R^3' departmental diversity committee, the graduate application fee waiver program and the 'grand canonical ensemble' music group. 

William Javier Solorio Hernandez: For outstanding service contributions to the Physics department, including leadership of the Community of Support for Marginalized Students (COSMOS) group.

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Applications are now open for fall 2024 undergraduate research funding! Awards of up to $2,250 per student are available to support part-time research projects in the fall semester. 

Earlier this year, the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Innovation Fund provided funding to improve access to undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Expo and a research fellowship fund.

The undergraduate research fellowships are designed to build on connections made at the Undergraduate Research Expo held in April, and to help kick-start a research project where funding may otherwise be limited.

Students selected to receive a fellowship will need to secure a research project and mentor by the start of the fall 2024 semester. Students without a research mentor will receive assistance finding one. 

Applications are due by 11:59pm on May 17, 2024. Students from underrepresented and minority groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Contact Aaron Barrios with questions about this program. 

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Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of Quantum Scholars are now open! Receive a $2,500 fellowship and join a cohort of leading CU �鶹ӰԺ students committed to learning more and advancing our efforts in quantum sciences and engineering.

The program includes:

• $2,500 fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year
• Talks from leading scientists in the quantum field
• Tours of national labs and quantum companies
• Connections to internship and employment opportunities
• Educational opportunities including a quantum hackathon

Quantum Scholars is open to full-time undergraduate students majoring in a field that overlaps with Quantum Sciences including physics, engineering physics, computer science, electrical engineering, etc). Students from underrepresented communities in Quantum Science and Engineering fields are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit the Quantum Scholars Program site for more information and eligibility requirements, and  by May 6, 2024.

Questions about the Quantum Scholars Program can be directed to Professor Noah Finkelstein or Professor Mike Ritzwoller. 

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As part of the Saturday Physics Lecture Series, The Department of Physics Presents: 

"Quantum computing: what is it and how far along are we?"

Presented by: Daniel Slichter, NIST, �鶹ӰԺ

2:30 p.m.

Abstract: Imagine if the act of looking at an object caused it to move – or imagine you had a pair of dice that always rolled doubles, but of different numbers each roll. These counterintuitive phenomena are commonplace in the realm of quantum mechanics, which describes systems that are generally very small, very cold, and/or very isolated from the rest of the world. Over the past 40 years, scientists have developed ideas for harnessing the strange features of quantum mechanics to build “quantum computers”, machines where information storage and computation is carried out by objects that behave quantum mechanically. A large-scale quantum computer would in principle be able to perform certain kinds of computations that would be impossible on even the largest classical (i.e. non-quantum) supercomputers. I will describe some of the basics of quantum mechanics and quantum computing, including why it is so technically challenging to build a “useful” large-scale quantum computer. I will also give some perspective on where things stand in the quest for quantum computers that will provide an advantage over existing computing technology.

The Saturday Physics Series consists of five to seven scheduled talks oriented toward adults and high school students. Lectures occur on specific Saturdays afternoons throughout the school year, typically in Duane G1B30. Unless otherwise noted, lectures begin at 2:30 p.m., and usually last about one hour. Material is aimed at the level of high school juniors and seniors. The series is free, open to the public, and no reservations are required. Simply show up and enjoy the show! 

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