Jatila van der Veen, Ph.D. Lubin Experimental Cosmology Group, Planck sub-group, Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara 2225 Broida Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Greetings,
I am currently a post doctoral researcher in physics and cosmology education, serving also as the lead Education and Public Outreach Coordinator for the Planck Mission through NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My primary focus is on developing educational materials for cosmology.

My current passion is completely reforming the teaching of introductory physics, so as to start with symmetry and contemporary physics, utilizing connections with fine arts and cosmology, to make physics accessible to a more diverse population. I call such a model Aesthetic Physics Education

In Fall of 2008 I will embark for a new adventure as an Assistant Professor of Education and Physics at Purdue University, Calumet Campus , near Chicago.

Dissertation
	Complete Dissertation: Symmetry and Aesthetics in Introductory Physics: An Experiment in Interdisciplinary Physics and Fine Arts Education
	Chapter 0 - Preliminary Pages.
	Chapter 1 - Introduction
	Chapter 2 - Supporting Literature
	Chapter 3 - Case Studies
	Chapter 4 - The Curriculum
	Chapter 5 - Analysis of Student Comments
	Chapter 6 - Analysis of Student Work
	Chapter 7 - Analysis of Video Data
	Chapter 8 - Summary, Conclusions, Recommendations
	References
Links to Papers
	The Role of Narratives in the Co-Construction of Community Identity in Physics Paper in progress
	Doing Physics, Performing Gender? A sociolinguistic approach towards understanding the persistent gender gap in physics
	Small Scale Anisotropies: The Final Frontier
	Results of 2006 Dance and Physics Questionnaire
Links to Curricula
	Symmmetry and Aesthetics in Introductory Physics Course from Winter, 2007
	Labs for a Lambda-Dominated Universe
Slides from Recent Talks
	Art and Physics in Education, a talk given at the KITP Journal Club
	Why Teach Noether Before Newton a talk given at Purdue University, Calumet on June 20, 2008

Courses for 2007-08

Symmetry and Aesthetics in Contemporary Physics Winter, 2008

Other Links of Interest

UCSB Experimental Cosmology Page

Planck Surveyor Home Page

My complete CV

Link to my personal Dance Page

I am a member of the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists

I am a member of the UCSB Middle East Ensemble Dance Troupe

I am a member (since 1989!) of the American Association of Physics Teachers

I had the honor of being one of two winners of the contest to name the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

In Memoriam: My Beloved "Prince" Mischa I adopted Mischa from German Sheppherd Rescue of Burbank, CA on March 8, 2003 He left this world peacefully on June 25, 2008. You can click on the link to make a donation.

~*~ Last updated Junr 30, 2008 ~*~