No Regret…

For the past month, we had conducted online conversations with very successful scientists, specifically, physicists. One group was assigned to a scientist of its choice, the other to another. Our group was to interview Mr. Kenneth Ford, a nuclear physicist, a high-school teacher and a writer. He wrote textbooks a college student or anybody who does his research could use, and another one about flying. All that and more, I found out only in his profile, what more in the personal conversations.

I didn’t get to talk to him much, for we, students, had been bombarded with so much homeworks and projects this quarter. At first, I didn’t know what to say. All I know is that I don’t want to give a bad impression of us, Filipinos. It took me almost an hour thinking of what am I to say, and another to post it in the forum. Funny, it may seem, I even used some lists of guide questions. Thank God those things were created.

We know how it goes, read, read, and read, then go from there. I read everything first, before making my piece, simply because I didn’t want to ask the same questions. It would be stupid for me to do such thing. Somehow, I believe I did well enough. I posted some questions for him, and lucky me, he replied within a short period of time, not more than three hours.

Alas! I read his reply, got amazed, and realized that scientists are, still, people. They are human beings whom one can talk to. He answered in a pleasant tone, as if we’ve been talking for a long time already. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. Come to think of it, this interviewing thing is a good idea after all. Honestly, I thought of it as just “jibberish” at first, but now I know, it’s not. It’s definitely more than that.

I can say, I learned a lot from reading from one forum to another. You know, things an ordinary person never seems to understand about scientists and their profession. In some way, I tend to look at life differently now, as if I have this urge to make a decision for myself now, of what I like my future to be. I tell you, it’s such a wonderful feeling. You really should see, fell, experience for yourself and go conduct your own interview, participate in public forums. And lastly, get your eyes opened, learn, and finally understand what I’m talking about.

I’m sure, dear reader, you’ll enjoy.

Chad Orzel
Union College Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Science and Engineering Center Room N334
Schenectady, NY 12308

BIOGRAPHY
Chad Orzel was born and raised in central New York, near Binghamton, and attended Williams College, graduating with honors in Physics in 1993. He went on to graduate study in the Chemical Physics Program at the University of Maryland, College Park, and received his Ph.D. in 1999 for work on ultra-cold atomic collisions done in the group of Dr. William Phillips at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. After graduation, he spent two years as a post-doctoral associate at Yale, studying Bose-Einstein Condensation. He joined the faculty of Union College in 2001, where he does research on the laser cooling and trapping of krypton atoms.


Physics Degree: Ph. D.

Employer: College or University : Union College Department of Physics and Astronomy

Job: Physics research : Atomic / Molecular / Optical , Teaching college

Job Description:
I'm on the faculty at Union College, a private small liberal arts college in Schenectady, NY. I teach classes in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and do research in my lab on campus with undergraduate Physics majors. My current research project is to use laser cooling to trap and detect single atoms of krypton from samples of other noble gases, which is important for research groups building a new generation of astrophysical particle detectors based on liquid neon or xenon.

I'm an academic scientist, which is the track that most graduate students intend to pursue. My job is a little unusual in that I'm not at a major research university, but rather a small liberal arts college, where I teach only undergraduates, not graduate students.
Previous Work Experience: Physics research


Henry Greenside Department of Physics
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0305

BIOGRAPHY
I am currently a professor of Physics at Duke University. I was an undergraduate at Harvard University where I majored in mathematics and physics and got my PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics at Princeton University. I have worked in several areas of theoretical physics including: condensed matter physics (asking a question like whether a superconductor can ever be a ferromagnet), fusion plasma physics (working on the American project to create a star on Earth that generates energy the same way that the Sun generates energy, by nuclear fusion, this would largely solve the energy crisis and global warming crisis in one shot), pattern formation (understanding how complex patterns form in nature) and currently how brains work (theoretical neurobiology). I use a mix of mathematics and computer simulations to explore scientific problems that are motivated by experiments carried out by other scientists.
Physics Degree: Ph. D.

Employer: College or University : Duke Univeristy

Job: Physics research : Biophysics / Medical Physics, Teaching college

Job Description:
As a professor, I spend about fifty percent of my time during the school year (September through May) teaching physics classes to undergraduate students and graduate students at Duke. The rest of my time, including the three months of the summer, I spend doing research, usually in collaboration with some graduate students and postdocs in my research group. My group makes trips to different parts of the States to attend scientific conferences where we present our latest scientific results and try to learn from others what is being done. My group writes up and publishes discoveries made by my group in various scientific journals so that others can appreciate what we have done and perhaps benefit from our research. Professors at universities typically carry out a mix of teaching, research, and travel. A PhD was absolutely essential to learn how to do independent research and to learn how to learn on my own.
Previous Work Experience: Physics research


James Chisholm
351 W. University Blvd.
Cedar City, UT 84720

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. James R. Chisholm is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics at Southern Utah University. Before coming to Utah, he was a postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Fundamental Theory at the University of Florida, a post he held for two years. As a graduate student, he served as a U.S. Department of Education GAANN Fellow, and performed research at the University of Chicago and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, earning an M.S. in Physics in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Physics in 2005, both from the University of Chicago. He spent a summer between undergraduate and graduate school performing research at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. As an undergraduate, he received a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, and performed research at Northwestern University, the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics before receiving a B.A. from Northwestern University in 1998, triple majoring in Physics, Astronomy and the Integrated Science Program. Dr. Chisholm has been interested in physics and astronomy since he was a young child. He has performed research in a broad range of fields, from experimental high energy physics to optical and X-ray astronomy to his current research area, theoretical early universe cosmology. In addition to interests in cosmological inflation, his more recent work has been the theoretical study of the production and evolution of primordial black holes, and what they, if discovered, could tell us about the earliest moments of the universe.
Physics Degree: Ph. D.

Employer: College or University : Southern Utah University (SUU)

Job: Physics research : Physics research : Astrophysics / Astronomy Teaching college

Job Description:
Currently an Assistant Professor of Physics at Southern Utah University, where I teach undergraduate level physics and other science courses, as well as perform research in theoretical cosmology. Yes; those who become collegiate professors generally have a background and Ph.D. in physics.
Previous Work Experience: Physics research


Kenneth Ford
729 Westview Street
Philadelphia, PA 19119

BIOGRAPHY
My early career was in university teaching and research (nuclear and related theory), with some work at Los Alamos and as a consultant to the aerospace industry. I migrated to administration and textbook writing, and had a stint as a college president. After retiring from the directorship of the American Institute of Physics, I tried my hand at high-school teaching, worked for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and wrote three books for the general reader.
Physics Degree: Ph. D.

Employer: Non-profit / Professional Organization : retired

Job: Teaching high school, Other

Job Description:
I am currently a writer and editor. I do a little tutoring and am available (although rarely tapped) as a substitute teacher at two local private schools. My physics Ph.D. prepared me well for academic research and teaching, which I quickly learned to love. Before long I was tempted by new challenges, and thus fell into administration and management. I wrote my first book when I was in my thirties. In my seventies I returned to writing. The background in teaching and research are essential for the writing and editing career (except for my last book, which is on flying).
Previous Work Experience: Physics research
Teaching high school
Teaching college
Science communication
Management


Wes Gohn
U-3046
2152 Hillside Rd
Storrs, CT 06269

BIOGRAPHY
I am from Indiana, but have spent the past four years in Connecticut studying nuclear physics. I grew up in a small town in Southern Indiana, where I knew from a very young age that I wanted a career in the sciences. After my sophomore, I left home to finish high school at a science and math academy in Muncie, IN. After graduation I went on to study physics at Indiana University, where I had the great fortune to work on many exciting research topics including the study of thermonuclear explosions on neutron stars and collisions of gold nuclei traveling at the speed of light. After four years at IU I enrolled in the PhD program here at UConn, where I remain today. My career goal is to become a professor of physics at an institution where I can continue doing fundamental research while also working with students.
Physics Degree: Master's Degree

Employer: College or University : University of Connecticut (UConn)

Job:Physics research : Nuclear Physics, Teaching college, Student

Job Description:
I am a PhD candidate in nuclear physics, meaning that I do research full time in preparation for a dissertation. The goal of my current work is to learn about the things inside of protons (quarks and gluons); specifically how they move around inside. The experiment on which I work is carried out at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia, but I spend most of my time in Connecticut and work via computer. I am following a typical career path for someone with my goals, though many people with physics degrees go on to pursue other things instead of attending graduate school. My education has (and is continuing to) prepare me for this career. I have never forgotten the foundations that were laid for me by my high school physics courses.
Previous Work Experience: Physics research
Teaching high school
Teaching college
Student

Ms. Rhea Katipunan, our Physics teacher.
All our adopted Physicists. :]]
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An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.

He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?

( Student is silent )

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella. Is GOD Good ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

( Student does not answer )

Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ? All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD ? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son ? Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes. Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn't.


( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as Cold. Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat. We cannot Measure Cold. Heat is Energy. Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

( There is Pin - Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness ?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the Absence of Something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . . But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it's called Darkness, isn't it ? In reality, Darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you ?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought. It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing. Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this Process is an On - Going Endeavor, are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor's Brain ?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . . No one appears to have done so. So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have No Brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?

( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

It turned out later that the student is Albert Einsten.

ABCEDE
- known for his ultimately sacred white hair and his flat Motorola cell phone. His commitment to his someone, North Star makes him persevere in his studies. You will be sure that’s him when you see someone texting hiding his cell phone between his thighs. By the way, he has no bones in his back due to his flexibility.

AGRA
- he is the Einstein’s greatest loser. From his ultimately corny jokes, you will not easily get his point of view even if he explains it a lot, yes A LOT. In Einstein, AGRA is the metonymy of EMO so that means if you’re EMO, you’re AGRA. Even though, those qualities degrade him, he is still a good and responsible person

BADION
- the Adonis of Einstein because he is very hot according to the girls. He is the heartthrob of the class. If you see a man holding a fan, specifically green, certainly that’s him because he is also known as the man with a fan.

JD CASTILLO
- the first gentleman and the superstar. He is the best actor in the class known for his loud voice and stomping feet. He is flirtatious and also hotty, maybe that’s why the president’s heart was captured T_T.

M CASTILLO
- no, they are not brothers from the one above, it’s only a coincidence. This guy is officially GC especially in Math. He solved the unsolved and even taught the class about nose bleeding, freaky freak problems. I guess he is inspired XD.

CARLS
- You better prepare yourself for this guy because of his famous killer smile. He always smiles even while eating, reading, anything. He is not paranoid or something, he is just happy. By the way, he always reads novels with #1 National and New York Times Bestseller on it.

JUAN
- “Rudolph the red nose reindeer… “, that’s what are we reminded of since Christmas is near. He is another divine wizard in Math. In short, a math wizard. You’ll never know what he will do next because of his sudden, unexpected actions. Kinda creepy though ;)

LATINA
- also called as “Latina the Great”, know for his greatness. No one knows what is the point of origin of this “the Great” term but surely he is “The Great”, especially his famous ‘R’. No one can wait on his ‘R’ pronunciation. Surely, he is the great and no one can get it.

MANDAC
- the techy, yet quiet??guy of Einstein. All your problems, class projects, genre of music are easily solved by him through computer. You can’t believe how he remix songs excellently. Well, he is also the CONTESTANT in the STEP contest and that’s why he had a debt of giving us cheeseburger. Burger, burger, burger, burger!!

MARPA
- the outcast of Einstein. He has a different world among his classmates. He created those boring Love Maps and even the freaky Love World. Also, he is the guy who is rarely or is never called by his first name, Daniel. Almost 101 ways to pronounce his surname with varieties, slangs and more. I wonder what he is doing now.

PINGOL
- the PAPAlicious of Einstein. He is famous for his 6-layer abs signature. He is also called as the “Bench Body” and the girls were freaking and screaming when they see his abs. Knowing this, he is also vain. He is narcissistic, if that’s the term. :-?

QUINTANA
- LA VIE BOHEME, Seasons of Love…. I am bored hearing these songs from him over and over again. But hey, he is very good in singing. He is our male singing sensation/ American Idol. His first name is David but he does not look like David Archuleta or David Cook. He is more handsome than them (Echos). Well, get ready for pleasure when you hear his songs.

RONDARIO
- he is very respected in Einstein because of his politeness. He calls everyone with a high pitched voice such as Tito __________(input a name for boys) and Ate ______________(input a name for girls). Almost everyone was influenced by him. That’s why, we call him Kuya BENE.

ROQUEL
- The Kuya of Einstein. He is known for his small bag yet he is smart. I guess that’s why he had this charisma especially to someone *_*. Well, he makes the class happy through his serious yet funny antics. Another is that he is good in choreography in dancing in which the whole class is FREAKed. Multi-talented guy, huh.

SANTOS
- “Is that a post? Where? I guess it’s Carlos” That’s what people say about him, especially me :)). A 6 feet something tall, he looks like a black post. Frankly to say but he was noted not only to his height but also to his skin color ^^. Well let’s not discuss that. He is a playboy in our class. He is well known for his dirty tactics not for you to know so cover your ears when you hear him discuss dirty.

GIRLS

CABUHAT
- Put your earplugs when you hear her. She is noted for her loud voice but she managed to project and articulate it excellently. Also, beware of her because she is one of the SSG officers in our school. But still, she is kind and sweet- sometimes.

CARBONERA
- No its not an Italian dish, hehehe. She is known for her reverberating chuckles. Even though, she is somehow very happy when she laughs, she looks like a shy type girl. She is friendly and is easy to cope with. Also, she is good at acting especially her notable, ALKALDE role. Hope that we could see her ALKALDE role again.

ELEAZAR
- The number one in terms of not attending the practice… but miraculously she attended the recent practice APLOZ! She makes the class alive through her corny but sometimes funny jokes and her exaggeration on her relation with an ST. Being with her will make your day full because she is a bubbly person.

EMBUSCADO
- The official Einstein’s mother. When anyone sees her, you will respect her. Maybe because of her disciplinary action that makes the class organized. Her kindness and tolerance to the class resembles her as a mother. Knowing her talent, she plays guitar and a good singer. Truly, she is a package.

GUYANO
- she is our Madam President. From the looks, anyone would notice her as a boy because of her actions and her back like future. Even though she is strict in terms of class tasks, she can also manage time being happy with her friends or with her best male friend. She had also the charisma that influences the class progressively. Keep going Madam President!! 

JAVIER
- Get ready those who have debts in the class fund because this girl will surpass you. She is our class treasurer or we should say the prime minister. When there is a class project that needs to be paid, better pay off before you see her hands approach your wallet . Well that’s only in terms of finance. She is as good and responsible person as she is in collecting money.

LITE
- Angel, that’s what people call her. What should we say to this multi-talented, GC girl. She is a complete package because she possesses the beauty and brains. She is excellent in choir as a Soprano 1 and even good at dancing. Also, she is our source in our notes. I guess she is inspired™.

MILALLOS
- There are 101 ways to call her or I should say 125. It’s because of her name Rezylle (Try to pronounce this name) She is our pit stop when there are class projects or just a horror movie experience. We call her place the “UNDERGROUND”. In class, she has an articulated, loud voice that makes her some sort of powerful. Also, she makes our class united and one.

MORALES
- She is the class’ Hottie, according to one of our classmate. She is an intense, number one fan of a Japanese singer, Teppei (I hope that you don’t know this guy) She is friendly and kind but don’t piss her off, she is dangerous. Also, better protect yourself when you are near to her. She will touch you, so beware.

OLEA
- The class’ center of attention and affection. She is all-around in the class like doing assignments and time to be with her friends. She is also dependable and responsible. If you have ink crisis or need to print your work, she is your emergency. Also, if you need to feel comfortable, her violet fan is your reliever. That show’s her dependability.

OROLFO
- :]]]]

SANTOS
- The charming girl of Einstein. She is the most graceful dancer ever. Yep, she is a dancer that can make seductive moves. But she is respectable in our section because someone will get angry if we do something to her. Anyways, she is very friendly and very helpful. Also she can cope up and adapt to the things around her. Almost nothing more can be compared to her.

SIERRA
- The ideal girl of the class. She had the timeless beauty that boys are attracted of. Well she has also the brains. Thus, she is also the beauty and the brains but she is childish. Her being childish makes the class alive. But please be careful for she doesn’t like baby dolls, especially only the heads. (Kinda weird huh)

SUNIGA
- the silent-type of Einstein. She is well known for her techy i-Pod as if she was EMO. She usually teased by some of our classmates “Busted” because of some misunderstanding. Well, at least they’re back. You will always see her listening music or sleeping. And by the way, she rarely eats.

TALANA
- the silent killer of Einstein. Unexpected things always happen to her. You’ll never know what is her next move. She is the one of the top achievers in the class. That’s why, she is silent. She is soft spoken yet she said that she is the noisiest in her house. (Imagine that) Well, she is friendly especially to her bestfriends (Isn’t it obvious??)