Dr. Juliet Brosing
Professor of Physics
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR 97116
Ph: x2840
Office: Strain 107
brosingj@pacificu.edu
Education
B.Sc., Humboldt State University, 1976
M.Sc., Florida State University, 1978
Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1983
I have been teaching at Pacific since 1987 and I love it. My background is radiation biophysics. I did my Ph.D. at the British Columbia Cancer Center and my post doc at the University of Rochester Cancer Centers. I have several interests related to the physics department. I conduct research at the nuclear reactor at Reed College, in Portland. This is really interesting and allows Pacific students to work at a nuclear facility. I also help teach the Radiation Safety Officer course each summer at Reed.
I am currently teaching Workshop Physics, our calculus based physics sequence. I LOVE this class! Dr. Priscilla Laws at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania has carefully crafted this curriculum. There are no lectures, it is all hands-on, and it really addresses a lot of the misconceptions that are common in physics--and it is lots of fun!! This has really stimulated my interest in pedagogical issues.
I am also working at restarting a summer science camp for 7th and 8th grade girls. It was started in 1992 with a grant from Department of Energy by Dr. Mary Fehrs, also in the physics department, and Dr. Anita McClain, in the School of Education. I taught in the camp for the first 4 years, and then took over as director in 1997, and ran it for 6 more years. For various reasons, the camp was not taught for the last 6 years. We are working at restarting it for summer 2009! The camp is designed to give girls the support network they need to continue on in math and science through high school and into college. We study such topics as fractals, endangered species, radiation, plant ecosystems, etc. We have lots of field trips, to such places as the Reed Reactor, Intel (who generously helped fund the camp for several years), Merix, the Primate Center, etc. We have one overnight coast trip to explore marine biology and to have fun, of course.
During the past few years I have been working with colleagues on two books. W.T. Griffith, who retired from Pacific physics department, invited me to be co-author on his very successful text Physics of Everyday Phenomena (http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0073512117) . The sixth edition has just been published (September 2008) with both our names on it! I was surprised how incredibly satisfying it was to hold in my hand a book with my name on it! I was also working on a text with two physical therapists (Ken Bush and Jim Swain) called Diagnostic Imaging for Physical Therapists (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/711200/description#description) . I have written the chapter on the Physics of Medical Imaging. This is due to be published on October 21, 2008!
On the home front I am happily married and have a wonderful daughter who graduated in May 2008 with a BS in business from University of Redlands. She went to elementary and high school in Gaston. She is now attending PSU working on her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology (I wonder if she will be able to influence my organizational skills!) My husband works for Horizon Airlines. We live out in Cherry Grove with 1 dog, 1 cat, and lots of deer and birds. Gardening is a constant challenge. I also own three potato guns and physics parties at my house generally involve a lot of noise!