Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Welcomes Dr. Gordon Jones as Featured Guest for May Science Speaker Series

• April 25, 2023

NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Dr. Gordon Jones as a featured presenter for its Science Speaker Series next month. His presentation, “Lessons From A Bed of Nails: The Physics of Floating” will take place on May 10 at 7pm on Zoom. This event is free to all.

 

Using child-friendly demonstrations, Dr. Jones will use a bed of nails, a vacuum bazooka, and a floating bowling ball to explain why our ears pop in airplanes and why heavy ships float.  

 

Gordon Jones is the Stone Professor of Physics at Hamilton College. After studying Atomic Physics at Williams College, he received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics at Princeton University in 1996. He then combined these fields working with neutron beams at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His work has continued at Hamilton College since 1999, focusing on both polarizing neutrons to study magnetic materials and on watching neutrons decay to study fundamental laws of nature. He has introduced over 100 undergraduates to the joys and frustrations of research. He has been honored with the American Physical Society Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution and the Samuel and Helen Lang and John R. Hatch teaching awards at Hamilton.
 

This series is generously presented by our lead sponsor, Bank of America. For additional details or to register, please visit https://www.mariamitchell.org/science-speaker-series.

 

The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

 

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For Immediate Release

April 25, 2023

Contact: Logan Gomes, Director of Advancement

lgomes@mariamitchell.org

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