Dear Readers,

If you're like me, summers are spent catching up on tasks that we didn't have time for during the year. Days are longer, and warmer, and we try a little harder to get things done. This summer, I've already had the opportunity to organize my e-mail inbox, scratch off a few books from my reading list, take some classes and even start my first garden (that didn't live for very long). I love summer, mostly because it gives us the opportunity to really enjoy what we're working on.

Welcome to the Special Summer Edition of the Photon. There are so many exciting things going on in the department, that we couldn't wait, until fall, to share it with you. The halls have been filled with eager kids from around the community, who have enrolled in several of UMD Physics' Summer Camps, our research groups continue to work hard and the staff are here bright and early every morning doing what they do best. Fortunately, all of our summer projects are ultimately worthwhile.

This past June, several members of our faculty traveled to China for various endeavors. In addition to their safe return, we were thrilled to view the colorful pictures from their trip. Additionally, Professor Jacobson traveled to Europe to give talks at several universities and many of our faculty appeared in various news outlets, including Professor Robert Parks who filmed a news segment for Al-Jazeera.

Physics students have also been working hard this summer and their efforts are paying off. Recently, Jianglai Liu was the 2006 recipient of the Jefferson Science Associates (JSA) thesis prize and both Sogee Spinner and Paul Hohler received the Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowship Award for the 2007-2008 annual year.

I hope that you are all keeping busy this summer and enjoying the fun and relaxed adventures that this season brings.

Best,
Carole