New Diamond award for Excellence in Physics

May 17, 2009: As Dr. Josh Diamond is retiring, a new award has been created in honor of his long and tremendous service. Jason Soohoo '09 will be the first recipient of the award, in recognition of his outstanding work in Physics at Siena.

Small Satellite Takes on Large Thunderstorms

November 17, 2008: Siena College and the Goddard Space Flight Center were jointly awarded a $1 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to lead a new satellite mission, called 'Firefly,' that will explore the elusive link between lightning and sudden bursts of high-energy radiation in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Read more...

"Integrating innovative and creative educational efforts with front-line research is what NSF is all about," said NSF Deputy Director Kathie L. Olsen. "The new CubeSat program uses the transformational technology of CubeSats to do just that. The Firefly mission is a terrific example of a program that will pursue scientific discovery, while providing unique and inspiring educational opportunities." NSF Press Release...

NASA Press Release: "Cosmic Crash"

A team of astronomers that includes Prof. Rose Finn of Siena College discovered a pileup of cosmic proportions! This collision involves four galaxies that are slamming into each other and kicking up billions of stars in one of the largest cosmic smash-ups ever observed. These clashing galaxies, spotted by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, will eventually merge into a single, behemoth galaxy up to 10 times as massive as our own Milky Way. This rare sighting provides an unprecedented look at how the most massive galaxies in the universe form. To learn more, please visit: Caltech - Spitzer Space Telescope or NASA - Spitzer Space Telescope.

Original Source: NASA News Release

Citation: Astrophysical Journal Letters 665:L9-L13

Why Physics? Why Siena?

Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Feynman, Hawking

Some of the greatest intellects in human history have devoted their lives to the study of physics. Why? Because they had an strong desire to understand how the physical world works, and then to understand why.

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. -Albert Einstein

Physics Majors Patti Carroll, Clare Boothe Luce Scholar, and Trevor Quirk at Kitt Peak National Observatory. -Photo by Dave Harvey

One Student at a Time...

The Department of Physics aims to develop in its students a comprehensive grasp of the principles of physics. The program emphasizes the concepts and techniques that have led to our present state of understanding of the physical universe. The department offers a flexible and comprehensive program. Placed in the context of a liberal arts environment, the generality and applicability of Physics grant the major three broad options upon graduation. He or she is well prepared to pursue graduate study in Physics or an allied field, to embark immediately upon a professional career in science, or to enter one of the numerous careers which require or are enhanced by a broad knowledge of science in today's technological society.

Our Academic Programs...