A Physics Graduate Has Her Head in the Clouds

As an undergrad at Siena, Madeline Hagen '19 (above, 2nd from right) was a standout physics major. After grad work at Carnegie Mellon University, she's now back on the Siena campus as manager of the physics engineering lab. She just conducted a two-day workshop for local high school teachers that she herself helped run during her previous Saint days.

Hagen revived the cloud chamber workshops created by Matt Bellis, Ph.D. professor of physics, to instruct six local teachers to build the devices that will allow them and their students to "see" radiation. Two students - Sara Hamilton '29 (below, right) and Robert Oechslin '28 - worked with her to prep for the July 20-21 workshop, which they helped her facilitate.

"Cloud chambers make the invisible visible," explained Hagen. "They allow students to see evidence of radiation with their own eyes, transforming an abstract concept into something tangible and memorable."

She said local teachers who attended this Siena workshop a decade ago are still using the chambers they built.

"We're excited to help a new group of educators create experiences that will inspire students for years to come. One of the most rewarding parts of this workshop is seeing its lasting impact. By providing this workshop at no cost, we're giving educators a classroom resource while helping them earn CTLE credit and bring engaging, hands-on physics to their students."

Hamilton helped organize and conduct the workshop with Hagen, and noted that it is beneficial not only for the teachers attending, but also for the students who will use the cloud chambers in their classrooms.

"Through years of redesign and refinement, we have developed an affordable, compact cloud chamber using readily available materials, making it practical for teachers to implement in their classrooms," she said. "Cloud chambers bring an abstract scientific concept to life by allowing students to observe particle trails firsthand. This creates a more meaningful learning experience than watching a video or listening to a lecture on radiation, helping students become more engaged, curious, and better able to connect scientific concepts to the real world."

Oechslin said reviving the Siena cloud chamber workshop was "an amazing experience.

"It was so rewarding to share our design and help the high school teachers build their own cloud chambers to bring back to their classrooms," he said. "Huge thanks to Sara and Maddy, who truly made this happen, and to Dr. Bellis for supplying everything we needed for a successful workshop."

The workshop is supported by Bellis' National Science Foundation grant, as well as Siena's School of Science and CURCA.