Einstein "revealed" in Dec. 3 presentation by MC professor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 18, 2008
Written by Hannah Smith '10

“Einstein Revealed: Relatively Speaking,” a presentation by Dr. Roger Miller, associate professor of physics at Maryville College, is planned for 7:30 p.m., Dec. 3, in the College’s Lawson Auditorium.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be the fourth presentation offered by the College’s Science Literacy Lecture Series.

Miller will take an in-depth look at the life of Albert Einstein and how Einstein’s personal experiences shaped both his revolutionary theory of relativity and his views on quantum mechanics. Additionally, the professor will take a broad look at some of the scientific discoveries that Einstein made throughout his lifetime.

Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in 1983 from Central College in Iowa, where he double majored in mathematics and physics. He earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Arkansas in 1990 and since joining Maryville College’s faculty in 1993, has taught a variety of physics classes at MC, including introductory physics sequence (both algebra-based as well as calculus-based), modern physics, analytical mechanics, astronomy and electricity and magnetism.

The field of his dissertation research was in surface physics, where he studied the interaction of slow, multi-charged ions scattered from a gold surface.

Miller has also performed research in atomic physics in groups at the University of Tennessee and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Largely student-initiated and driven, the MC Science Literacy Lecture Series arose from in-class discussions and out-of-class faculty-student dialogue on culturally relevant science topics, including global warming and cancer biology. The Series is designed to convey such topics to the general public in order to both provide a brief overview of the subject matter and quell the illusion that science is inaccessible to all.

For more information, contact Misty Gillespie, at 865.981.8164 or misty.gillespie@maryvillecollege.edu.

Maryville College is ideally situated in Maryville, Tenn., between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville, the state's third largest city. Founded in 1819, it is the 12th oldest institution of higher learning in the South and maintains an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Known for its academic rigor and its focus on the liberal arts, Maryville is where students come to stretch their minds, stretch themselves and learn how to make a difference in the world. Total enrollment for the fall 2009 semester is 1,103.