Seamus Lagan

Biography

Professor Seamus Lagan has taught at Whittier since 1988. In 2000 he was awarded the Harry Nerhood Teaching Excellence Award. He served as Associate Dean for the Liberal Education Program from 2001 to 2003. He has taught classes at all levels in the Physics department ranging from courses for non-science students (Astronomy, The Physics of Light) to introductory calculus-based Physics to upper-division Quantum Mechanics. He has team-taught a course, Chaos in Science and Literature, has “paired” a Physics course with a Science Fiction class and has taught in the Whittier Scholars Program several times.

Research Interest

The use of computer technology in the teaching of undergraduate Physics, especially in an interactive environment with students working in groups,The incorporation of computation into the undergraduate Physics major, especially at the upper level,Complex behavior in simple systems e.g. chaos, self-organization,Statistical Physics