WWU Department of Physics and Astronomy Honored by The American Physical Society’s Committee on Education

The American Physical Society’s Committee on Education recently awarded Western Washington University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy with the COE Award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education, one of two undergraduate programs from the United States in 2015 to receive the award.

According to the American Physical Society, the department is “dedicated to strong undergraduate education with emphasis on student-centered teaching practices and an exceptional research experience.” The department has 14 faculty members and serves more than 5,000 students annually.

Andreas Riemann, professor of Physics and Astronomy and the department’s chair, said that about half of undergraduates who take classes in the department are able to do research with faculty members on a range of topics.

“We are really excited to be recognized as having a program which does a good job educating not only majors in our department but all students who take classes with us,” Riemann said. “Our students get great research experience.”

For more information, contact Western Department of Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor Andreas Riemann at (360) 650-3659 or andreas.riemann@wwu.edu.