About Me!

Education:

B.A. Physics 1994 Hamline University
M.S. Physics 1997 University of Minnesota
Ph.D. Science Education 2000 University of Minnesota: "The Effect of Introducing Computers into an Introductory Physics Problem-Solving Laboratory"
(Available for download)

Interests:

Teaching physics and physics education research

Research on women in science issues

I enjoy bicycling, tennis, and x-c skiing, depending upon the weather. I also do counted cross-stitch when I have some free time and idle hands. I enjoy baking the basic good yummies: cookies, apple pie, scones. I can't eat them, though, since I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, an intolerance to gluten, so no wheat or regular flour for me! I have five wonderful cats, Isabelle, Jordan, Nutmeg, Ashbless, and Leith who keep me amused.

I like things celtic. I got married in Edinburgh, Scotland, and really love scottish clothes, celtic knotwork, tartans, the language, (some of) the food (although haggis isn't all that bad), all sorts of things!

I also love reading, mostly science fiction and fantasy. My husband and I have created a list of our favorite and highly recommended SF&F books (rather long!). Try our favorites and let us know if there are authors and books you highly recommend.

I enjoy spending time with my husband, Kelly. He writes science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories. His first published novel, WebMage, came out in July 2006. Go, buy! He has been published in Weird Tales (#317 and #332 have short stories, #323 and #329 have a poem, another short story is forthcoming), Tales of the Unanticipated (#21 and #22), and has sold to Reality's Escape. He also sold a story to Absolute Magnitude (forthcoming). In 2000, he won a place in the most prestigious contest for amateur science fiction and fantasy authors: the L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. You can buy the anthology (vol. XVII) in most any bookstore! You can check out his website at www.kellymccullough.com.

He is also the science fiction writer for a very neat middle school science curriculum called Interactions in Physical Science.

Professional Activities:

Research: I am currently interested in lots of things, but what am I doing?

• Studying the effects of context on students' responses to a physics conceptual test—see my recent talks at national meetings and elsewhere
• Wondering why there seem to be a higher percentage of women in physics education than in physics

Other things: I usually present a poster at Stout's Research Day, and I've been attending various workshops and conferences on teaching and physics. I've gotten several invitations to speak at other schools about my research. Check out my Physics Education page to download recent presentations.

Picture of me on the slope of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland. We went in 2001 with four friends and had a fantastic time. You can see that it was rather windy that day...

This picture also allowed me into the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists!

Pointless fact: One of my friends is the creator of the FreeDOS project.

Last updated: 09/19/06

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