Carl Wieman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carl Edwin Wieman
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Wieman in 2024
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| Born | March 26, 1951 Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.
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| Alma mater | MIT Stanford University |
| Known for | Bose–Einstein condensate |
| Awards | E. O. Lawrence Award (1993) Fritz London Memorial Prize (1996) King Faisal International Prize in Science (1997) Lorentz Medal (1998) The Benjamin Franklin Medal (2000) Nobel Prize in Physics (2001) Oersted Medal (2007) Yidan Prize (2020) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | University of British Columbia University of Colorado Boulder University of Michigan Stanford University |
| Thesis | Polarization Spectroscopy and the Measurement of the Lamb Shift in the Ground State of Hydrogen (1977) |
| Doctoral advisor | Theodor W. Hänsch |
| Doctoral students | Wendy Adams Christopher Monroe |
Carl Edwin Wieman (born March 26, 1951) is an American physicist and expert in education. He currently works at Stanford University and is also a professor at Cornell University.
In 1995, while at the University of Colorado Boulder, he and Eric Allin Cornell made a big discovery. They produced the first true Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC). This is a special state of matter that happens when atoms are cooled to extremely low temperatures, almost absolute zero. For this important work, he, Eric Allin Cornell, and Wolfgang Ketterle (who also studied BEC) won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001.
Carl Wieman is now a professor of physics and also works in the Stanford Graduate School of Education. This shows his strong interest in both science and teaching. In 2020, he received the Yidan Prize for his great contributions to improving how science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are taught.
Contents
Carl Wieman's Life and Discoveries
Carl Wieman was born in Corvallis, Oregon, in the United States. He went to Corvallis High School. He earned his first degree (Bachelor of Science) from MIT in 1973. Later, he received his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) from Stanford University in 1977. He also received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Chicago in 1997.
In 1998, he was awarded the Lorentz Medal for his scientific achievements. Then, in 2001, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics with Eric Allin Cornell and Wolfgang Ketterle. This award was for their important studies of the Bose-Einstein condensate. In 2004, he was named the United States Professor of the Year among all doctoral and research universities.
In an interview in 2020, Carl Wieman talked about his early life and how he became a physicist. He shared how teachers and his parents influenced his journey. He also spoke about his path into science education and how he started PhET Interactive Simulations, which provides free online learning tools.
Improving Science Education
Carl Wieman joined the University of British Columbia in 2007 to lead a new project focused on science education. He also kept working on the science education project he started in Colorado. In 2013, Wieman moved to Stanford University. There, he works in both the physics department and the Graduate School of Education.
For many years, Wieman has been very active in trying to make science education better. He has done a lot of research on how science is taught. From 2005 to 2009, he was the Chair of the Board on Science Education for the National Academy of Sciences.
Wieman supports and uses a teaching method called peer instruction, which was developed by Eric Mazur. In this method, teachers ask multiple-choice questions during class. Students answer right away using small wireless devices called "clickers." If many students choose the wrong answer, they discuss it with each other and then answer again. This helps students learn from each other. Carl Wieman believes that traditional lectures are not the best way to teach science. He once wrote an article titled "Stop Lecturing Me," explaining his views on active learning.
In 2007, Wieman received the Oersted Medal. This award recognizes people who have made important contributions to teaching physics.
PhET Interactive Simulations
Carl Wieman is the founder and chairman of PhET. This is a project based at the University of Colorado Boulder. PhET offers many online simulations that help improve how physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math are taught and learned. These simulations are free and easy to use, making science more engaging for students.
Wieman was also a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board. He served as the Associate Director of Science for The White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2010 to 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Carl E. Wieman para niños
