First UB Physics & Arts Summer Institute deemed a success
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

James O'Leary explains how a spark chamber works during the conclusion of the University at Buffalo's Physics & Arts Summer Institute held on Aug. 4 at Fronczak Hall. O'Leary, a 2006 graduate of Williamsville North, will be studying physics at UB in the fall.

It hasn't been a summer of sleeping late and watching TV for seven Western New York students. Instead, they spent four weeks, six hours a day, studying physics at the University at Buffalo.

Hally Stone, 17, will be a senior next month at Williamsville South High School and during the past month created one of the highlights of the UB Physics & Arts Summer Institute.

With the assistance of Katharine Prokop of Elma and Christine Penfold of East Aurora, she created a cosmic-ray shower box, which was demonstrated on Friday at the institute's demonstration reception.

"It was interesting to work in the actual physics field," Stone said about the program.

Stone added that before this summer she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue studying physics, but the program deepened her interest and has been a good preparation for college.

"We studied parts of physics I hadn't worked with before in high school," she said.

Her cosmic-ray shower box started with just an idea and an interest in the theory, and the students' hard work earned them recognition from Depew High School teacher Craig Uhrich, who taught at the institute.

Also taking part in the summer program was James O'Leary, 18, a 2006 graduate of Williamsville North High School. O'Leary who will be attending UB in the fall, said he plans on majoring in physics, and this summer helped him prepare and become familiar with the Physics Department.

He said he attended the institute, "for the experience and to keep learning. I studied harder topics than in high school."

O'Leary kicked off the demonstration reception by explaining the spark chamber that had been constructed by a UB professor and physics machine shop.

He described the physics behind the chamber to the crowd in such a way that proved he was prepared to enter a higher level of learning.

The program, held in Fronczak Hall, began on July 10 with students arriving at 9 a.m. and studying for six hours. For the next four weeks they met four times a week before concluding the program on Aug. 4.

Doreen Wackeroth, an assistant professor in the Physics Department, said she was very pleased with how well the program went considering it was the first time.

"It was better than I had hoped for; the students were so wonderful," she said. "They worked really hard and really liked coming in every day."

Students from the institute also created a Web site to highlight the work: www.physics.buffa lo.edu/pasi and www.physics.buf falo.edu/ubex po.

The institute was sponsored by UB and the National Science Foundation. The work completed by the students will be part of a physics and art exhibit in the UB Department of Physics.