WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy

09/03/2026

Join the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Organization (PAGSO) for a night sky viewing event on Saturday, September 19, featuring telescopes and interactive demonstrations... all led by real astronomers and astrophysicists! 🔭🌚

Everyone is welcome to attend this free community event on Saturday, September 19 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. We will be set up on the front porch of White Hall facing Willey Street (135 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV 26505).

Pro-tip: If you're planning to attend the WV Moonlight Market in Downtown Morgantown on 9/19, we'll be just around the corner! Stop by to say hi to us and to the Moon! 🛍️

If you have any questions, please contact Susie Paine ([email protected]).

Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology ()
WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences ()


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08/31/2026

Welcome Back Pizza Party and PAGSO Bake Sale 🍕🎉 [Part 2]

We had such a blast getting everyone together (and who doesn't love pizza and sweets?!). Proceeds from the PAGSO Bake Sale will help to support graduate student activities and scholarships during the upcoming school year. 💙💛

Already looking forward to our next big gathering... our Annual Fall Picnic on 9/19 at Chestnut Ridge Park! 🤩🍂🌰

08/31/2026

The Department of Physics and Astronomy kicked off the new school year with our pizza party, PAGSO bake sale, and group photo... because science is always better with good food and great people! 🍕🎉

Let’s go, Mountaineers! 💙💛

[Part 1]

📷 Sloane Heagerty | WVU Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology

08/27/2026

First-year graduate student Ellie White is a two-time alumna of Marshall University, most recently earning her master's degree in physics this year. We are thrilled that Ellie joined our department this fall, and encourage you to check out this fantastic article about Ellie in Marshall Magazine! 🔭

We especially love this quote Ellie gave when asked what she has learned so far that's worth passing on: "One thing would be the importance of being persistent,” she said. “Some people think you have to be really smart or really good at math to study science, and I would say I’m not naturally a ‘mathy’ person. A lot of these things were very difficult for me to learn, but I think the thing that got me through it was being persistent and sticking with it and asking lots of questions."

Welcome to WVU, Ellie! Read the article now:
🔗 https://www.marshallmagazine.com/summer-2026/exploring-the-unknown/

08/26/2026

Summer 2026 was BUSY for the West Virginia University Department of Physics and Astronomy! We welcomed new team members, made progress on important research, and still managed to fit in some sightseeing. Visit our website to catch up with us ✨

Read the article on our website:
🔗 https://physics.wvu.edu/news-and-events/department-news/2026/08/21/summer-2026-in-review-on-the-move-with-wvu-physics-and-astronomy

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08/21/2026

Graduate student Annie Kate Turner and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Catherine Regan visited Japan this month to attend the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) 2026 conference at the Fukuoka International Congress Centre. While there, they reconnected with Zhi Gu "Patrick" Li, a 2025 graduate of our Physics PhD program.

Both Annie Kate and Catherine are members of Prof. Christopher Fowler's plasma and space physics research group. At the conference, Catherine gave a talk, "Energy Transfer via Wave-Particle Interactions at Mars: Statistical Study over 10 Years of MAVEN data," and Annie Kate presented a poster, "A MAVEN and MEX Analysis of the Impact of Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) Orientation on the Dayside Plasma Structure of Mars."

When the conference ended, the pair spent additional time in Japan sightseeing, including a visit to the Fukuoka Art Museum before catching a bullet train to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. They visited the Osaka Castle, several temples and shrines, and made time to visit Tokyo Disney Sea!

08/13/2026

Hey, Mountaineers... welcome home! 💙💛

We are so excited to see faces new and familiar on campus. We missed you! Let's make this an unforgettable year. ✨🔭

Visit our website and social media year-round for updates on opportunities to get involved with the Department 👇
🔗 physics.wvu.edu

08/10/2026

Why wait to get into research? Get started as soon as you can! ✨

Your first years of college are a great time to explore, ask questions, and discover what you are passionate about. Join Prof. Micky Holcomb in Fall 2026 to learn more about magnetism, build hands-on research skills, and get an early start on your research journey. No prior experience necessary!

📚 Open to first-year WVU undergrads
🧲 Explore magnetism & materials science
🚀 Start your research journey early!

WVU undergraduates may register for PHYS 293B Introductory Research - Magnetism (CRN: 87496 | TR 1:00pm-1:50pm). If you have any questions, please contact the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy.

07/31/2026

Dr. Catherine Regan has been busy sharing her passion for planetary science with the community! 🪐🔭✨

Dr. Regan recently served as the keynote speaker at the annual StarQuest Festival hosted by the Central Appalachian Astronomy Society at Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia. Her presentation explored the history and future of Mars exploration and drew a packed audience.

This week, she continued her outreach efforts with an Astronomy on Tap talk at Lolev Brewery in Pittsburgh titled "Mars Dust Storms: Fact or Fiction?" -- once again, to a full house!

Connecting the public with scientific research is an important part of our mission, and we're always excited to see faculty, students, and researchers like Dr. Regan engaging audiences and inspiring curiosity beyond the classroom.

07/31/2026

Hey, we recognize some of these faces! Check out the most recent newsletter from the Penn State Center for Science and the Schools to learn more about a recent $5 million grant to enhance elementary STEM education. The STEM Pioneer Teachers Corps WVU team is led by Prof. Gay Stewart and includes Vanessa Licwov-Channel and Prof. Paul Miller, along with the WV pioneer teacher cohort: Rachel Kellar, Mystee Ansari, Tracey Lea, Nikki (Faith) Harper, Heather Puglisi, Tiffany Pace, Jennifer Scott, Nellie Cottle, and Cynthia Brown.

🚀 Be Transformed by our July Newsletter! , , & await!

📰 Inside this issue:

✅ Meet the Pioneers: Stories from 3 of our 27 Fellows: Shinese Harvey (NJ), Emily Book (PA), and Mystee Ansari (WV).

✅Award-Winning Impact: Dr. Kathleen Hill and the team were recognized at the Penn State AI Awards for our Shaping AI in Education Tour.

✅Data Literacy Summit: CSATS is honored to serve as a featured keynote and session presenter at the upcoming PDE Data Literacy Summit on October 6th!

✅AI Literacy for Teachers: Learn how high school teachers can apply for the AI Literacy program (Deadline August 20th!).

✅AI systems bring a unique "jaggedness" to education—excelling at complex tasks while needing the pedagogical grounding of experienced educators. We are dedicated to helping schools find "the signal through the K-12 AI noise."

✅ All this and more... 😊

🔗 Read the full newsletter and explore these stories here: https://conta.cc/45rBeQq