Spring 2022
Mineralogy (AS.270.222)
Introduction to the classification, crystallography, and physical properties of minerals. Weekly lab topics include field identification, crystal morphology and symmetry, optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. One field trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of History and Research Archives is planned.
4 units. Wednesday and Fridays 9-10 am (lecture), Wednesdays 3-6 pm (lab) in Olin 206
Spring 2021
Mineral Physics Recitation Flyer
Mineral Physics Recitation: Science Writing (AS.270.333)
From tweets to journal articles, scientists use the written word to convey their ideas to the public and colleagues alike. This course covers how to better communicate scientific inquiry, research, and discovery through writing. Students will read examples of effective science writing, learn the core components of science writing, and practice the writing and revision processes. Throughout the semester, we will alternate between communicating for technical and non-technical audiences in workshop-style classes. Assignments will include reading and writing science fiction, news articles, and journal articles. This course hopes to give students the skills to write about science with clarity, ease, concision, and even joy.
2 units. Meeting times (via Zoom) TBD.
Link for meeting times poll: https://www.when2meet.com/?10748275-XbEhR
Socially distanced office hours on campus.
Recommended prerequisites: background in chemistry, physics, materials science and/or mineralogy.
Intended for graduate students and upper-level undergraduates.
Fall 2020
Intro to Mineral Physics Flyer
Introduction to Mineral Physics (AS.270.426)
Mineral Physics is the study of mineralogical problems through the application of condensed matter physics and solid-state chemistry. Investigations of the thermodynamic and transport properties of minerals at the atomic scale are used to interpret observational data from seismology, geodynamics, geochemistry, and planetary science, an important step toward solving many geologic and geophysical problems. Students in this course will also be introduced to the high pressure and high temperature experiments that measure the physical and mechanical properties of minerals, which is crucial to understanding planetary interiors.
3 units. Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am -10:15 am via Zoom. Socially distanced office hours on campus.
Recommended prerequisites: background in chemistry, physics, materials science and/or mineralogy.
Spring 2020
Topics in Mineral Physics (AS.270.683)
Mineral Physics Flyer: Spectroscopy
Mineral Physics is the study of mineralogical problems through the application of condensed matter physics and solid-state chemistry. In this course, students will learn about the foundational and developing research capabilities in Mineral Physics, with an emphasis this semester on Spectroscopy. Topics will include electron spectroscopy and X-ray scattering (both elastic and inelastic) techniques.
Topics in Mineral Physics is a special topics course that rotates in subject and may be taken multiple times for credit.
1-3 units. **Update: Class is 1 hour on Tuesdays at 10:30 am. Please email wicks@jhu.edu for location.
Pre-Requisites: Structure of Materials (EN.510.311/601), Mineralogy (AS.270.222) or permission of the instructor
Fall 2019
In addition to Independent Research (AS.270.503), I am offering two courses this Fall semester
Mineralogy (AS.270.222)
An introduction to the properties, occurrence, and origin of the basic constituents of the Earth, including minerals and rocks. Introductory training in the recognition and analysis techniques of minerals in the laboratory and the field.
4 units. After a poll, class times will be Tuesday and Thursdays 9-10 am (lecture), Mondays 9-noon (lab) in Olin 206
Topics in Mineral Physics (AS.270.683)
Mineral Physics Flyer: Dynamic Compression
Mineral Physics is the study of mineralogical problems through the application of condensed matter physics and solid-state chemistry. In this course, students will learn about the foundational and developing research capabilities in Mineral Physics, with an emphasis this year on shock compression and experiments at High Energy Density. Topics will include experimental investigation of equation of states, phase transitions, changes in optical and transport properties and other strain-rate dependent phenomena.
Topics in Mineral Physics is a special topics course that rotates in subject and may be taken multiple times for credit .
3 units. After a poll, class times will be Wednesdays 1-2:30 pm (lecture+lab), 4:00-5:30 pm (seminar)
Pre-Requisites: Structure of Materials (EN.510.311/601), Mineralogy (AS/270.222) or permission of the instructor
Spring 2019
Topics in Mineralogy (AS.270.339)
This semester, join HEMI’s Designer in residence and MICA professor Jenna Frye in a modified version of her popular experimental fabrication course, EPIC FAIL. Discover how thinking with your hands, embracing risk and failure and playful exploration with educational toys can invigorate your research in mineralogy and deepen your understanding of crystallography visualization. This course is designed as a hands-on, deeply collaborative workshop where we will investigate the role of creative fabrication technology and invention as it relates to communicating scientific research to outside audiences. Together we will make, tinker and fail our way to improved visualization and presentation strategies so that others may more fully access the complexities in our work. Topics in Mineralogy is a special topics course that rotates in subject and may be taken multiple times for credit. This course is designed for those interested in mineralogy, and we recommend concurrent enrollment in Planetary Interiors, Space Weathering, and/or Advanced Mineralogy seminar.
4 units. 01-28-2019 to 05-03-2019 | T 01:30 PM – 04:30 PM | Homewood Campus, Olin 206B
Space Weathering (AS.270.406)
This course will introduce and explore multiple topics of Space Weathering – the interaction of solar system bodies with the space environment. Through a combination of lecture, reading, research, and discussion the course will explore physical and chemical processes of solar and cosmic radiation and particles, micrometeorites, etc., on the surfaces of planets. We will also explore interaction of the space environment with planetary magnetic fields and atmospheres, and with non-planetary materials (such as spacecraft, and astronauts).
01-28-2019 to 05-03-2019 | Wednesdays, 2-3 PM | Homewood Campus
Pre-Requisites: Mineralogy (AS.270.222) or permission of the instructor
Fall 2018
Cosmochemistry (AS.270.326)
Students in this course will gain an understanding of the origin of various forms of matter in our Solar System and beyond, along with its evolution through geologic processes. Beginning with the concepts of nucleosynthesis and stellar evolution, this course will then cover the condensation of matter, meteoritics, and petrogenetic evolution of differentiated, rocky bodies (i.e. asteroids, the Moon, Mars). Evolution of matter in extra-Solar planetary systems (i.e. exoplanets) will also be broached. In lab we will examine thin sections of meteorites, lunar material, and terrestrial analogs. A field trip to the Smithsonian Meteorite Collection is planned. Graduate and advanced undergraduate-level students are encouraged, as are interdisciplinary students with an interest in planetary science.
4 units.
Lecture: 08-30-2018 to 12-07-2018 | MW 03:00 PM – 04:15 PM | Homewood Campus, Olin 247
Lab: 08-30-2018 to 12-07-2018 | F 01:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Homewood Campus, Olin 247
Available to the following students: Grad students, Rising Seniors, Rising Juniors
Mineral Physics Recitation (AS.270.333)
This course is designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing geophysics research in the topics of solid state physics or inorganic chemistry. It will consist of a weekly seminar paired with a separate paper reading+discussion group, covering a range of topics on the frontiers of mineral physics. Themes rotate each semester, and Fall 2018 will be paired with the Mineralogy Lecture Series on Modeling and Experimental challenges in Cosmochemistry>
2 units. Paper Discussion: T 06:00 PM – 07:00 PM | Seminar: W 04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Spring 2018
Mineralogy (AS.270.222)
An introduction to the properties, occurrence, and origin of the basic constituents of the Earth, including minerals and rocks. Introductory training in the recognition of minerals and rocks in the laboratory and the field.
4 units.
Lecture: 01-29-2018 to 05-04-2018 | TTh 01:30 PM – 02:45 PM | Homewood Campus, Olin 203
Lab: 01-29-2018 to 05-04-2018 | W 01:30 PM – 04:30 PM | Homewood Campus, Olin 203