By: Brie White, Staff Writer
Junior Lillian Fant became a physics major after her father met the head of the department, Dr. G. Mackay Salley, and shared with him her interest in mathematics and calculus during her senior year of high school. Salley suggested she come for a visit, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Dr. J. Daniel Lejeune, professor of physics, is retiring, and with his retirement has come the search for a new professor to fill the slot. Carolyn Martsberger, from Loyola University in Chicago, has been chosen to fill the position. Fant believes Martsberger will potentially take on some introductory courses, mechanics courses and research possibilities.
Fant explains that four physics majors were invited to have coffee and meet the candidates of this search, answering and providing questions each party had. The two juniors and two seniors got to “feel out the professors.” Subsequent to this, the professors each gave two presentations, one emphasizing teaching style and one on their research.
“She was really good in both presentations, especially in the teaching presentation because she had a demonstration. It was really cool to give a physical representation of what’s going on and a tangible representation rather than just a lecture,” says Fant. “I like that she has a teaching style that is consciously aware of how students are responding and processing.”
Currently, there are three female declared physics majors, Fant being one of them.
“It’s a good way to apply math to real life. I enjoy learning how the world works and being able to describe that in the language of mathematics,” says Fant.
As far as women in physics, she states, “Science is sometimes considered rigorous, or challenging and kind of scary. There’s a stereotype that women aren’t supposed to be good at math, but I think it’s becoming more common for women to excel in critical thinking.”
Fant does claim that it would please her to see more women in the physics field, especially at Wofford.
“They definitely want to keep women in the department. I’m not sure I would’ve pursued physics had my dad not met and talked with Dr. Salley. Him suggesting I sit in on the course was so clarifying for me. I think this new professor will add approachability.”
As for what Fant knows about Martsberger thus far is that her main focus is “physics with biology, and her research is tied to the nonlinear dynamics of the heart. She does experimental and clinical trials, along with mathematical modeling.”
From Fant’s exposure to Martsberger, she mentions that her research seeks to make life easier for cardiologists by creating a program that could assist doctors in detection and mechanical efficiency. Martsberger starts with the physics department this fall.
