Professor Michael Wood, PhD, will present a talk titled “How to Build a Proton” on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in Science Hall 1053.
Dr. Wood will share findings from his most recent sabbatical, where he conducted research supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The presentation is free and open to the entire campus community as well as the general public.
Abstract:
Research is an integral aspect of the job of a university faculty member. Since original research seeks to answer a question that has not been answered, it keeps the faculty member up to date in the field and advances the greater body of knowledge. It benefits the individual, the university, and society. A sabbatical is a time set aside for a professor to focus solely on research. The professor can finish a project without distractions or spend the time to get involved in a brand new field. In this talk, I will describe my sabbatical during the 2024-2025 academic year where I continued my research in experimental nuclear physics on how to build a proton. The proton and neutron are the constituents in every atomic nucleus. It is made from 3 quarks, the fundamental building blocks of nuclear physics. To measure the dynamics of how the three quarks combine into a stable proton, nuclei of deuterium, carbon, iron, and lead were bombarded with high-energy electrons from the accelerator at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, a Department of Energy national laboratory. My talk will illuminate how big science can explain such a small thing.
Karl F. Kozlowski, Associate Dean, Division of Business, Communications, & Health Studies
