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2003

Femtosecond Micromachining of Transparent Materials, at International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy (Erice, Sicily), Friday, May 23, 2003:
talk_487.pdf
We present an overview of femtosecond microstructuring of transparent materials. Bulk structuring of transparent materials can be achieved by focusing high-intensity femtosecond pulses. The morphology of the structures depends on the incident energy per pulse and on the focusing conditions. At high focusing conditions the damage threshold in silicate glasses is just a few nanojoules. This energy range is available from an oscillator. We have demonstrated laser writing of embedded waveguides in silicate glasses with a femtosecond oscillator. Laser machining at high laser repetition rate... Read more about Femtosecond Micromachining of Transparent Materials
Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?, at Third Annual Rensselaer Colloquium on Teaching and Learning, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY), Monday, May 12, 2003:
talk_463.pdf
Education is more than just transfer of information, yet that is what is mostly done in large introductory courses -- instructors present material (even though this material might be readily available in printed form) and for students the main purpose of lectures is to take down as many notes as they can. Few students have the ability, motivation, and discipline to synthesize all the information delivered to them. Yet synthesis is perhaps the most important -- and most elusive -- aspect of education. Students get frustrated because they are unable to grasp simple concepts. Instructors get... Read more about Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?
Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?, at Physics Colloquium, SUNY Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), Thursday, April 17, 2003:
talk_457.pdf
Education is more than just transfer of information, yet that is what is mostly done in large introductory courses -- instructors present material (even though this material might be readily available in printed form) and for students the main purpose of lectures is to take down as many notes as they can. Few students have the ability, motivation, and discipline to synthesize all the information delivered to them. Yet synthesis is perhaps the most important -- and most elusive -- aspect of education. Students get frustrated because they are unable to grasp simple concepts. Instructors get... Read more about Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?
Nano-textured Surfaces, at DEAS Industrial Outreach Workshop, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA), Friday, April 11, 2003:
talk_471.pdf
Arrays of sharp, conical microstructures are obtained by texturing the surface of a silicon wafer using femtosecond laser-assisted chemical etching. The one step, maskless texturing process drastically changes the optical, material and electronic properties of the original silicon wafer. These properties make the textured silicon viable for use in a wide range of commercial devices. First, near-unity absorption of light, from visible to infrared wavelengths, offer opportunities for use in optically active devices such as solar cells and detectors. Second, chemical functionalization of the... Read more about Nano-textured Surfaces
Educational Activities, at DEAS Industrial Outreach Workshop, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA), Thursday, April 10, 2003:
talk_472.pdf
The Center actively promotes interdisciplinary education and outreach through a variety of initiatives. Participants contribute to outreach to the general public through collaboration with the Boston Museum of Science, outreach to K-12 in-service teachers, research experiences for undergraduates and K-12 teachers, interdisciplinary courses for graduate students, and postdoctoral fellowships for women and minorities. The program involves faculty, postdoctoral fellows, collaborators and graduate students associated with the Center and benefits a broad constituency of society.
Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?, at Fysiikan paivat 2003, Suomen Fyysikkoseura, University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland), Saturday, March 22, 2003:
talk_473.pdf
Education is more than just transfer of information, yet that is what is mostly done in large introductory courses ? instructors present material (even though this material might be readily available in printed form) and for students the main purpose of lectures is to take down as many notes as they can. Few students have the ability, motivation, and discipline to synthesize all the information delivered to them. Yet synthesis is per-haps the most important ? and most elusive ? aspect of education. Students get frus-trated because they are unable to grasp simple concepts. Instructors get... Read more about Memorization or understanding: Are we teaching the right thing?

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