Full name Peter James Scott Watson
Place and Date of Birth: Basingstoke, England , 26.8.42
Marital Status: Married (Margaret Mason), two children: Genefer (b 1974) and Marcus (b 1976)
Education:
During 1977-78, I was on an exchange with Ahmadu Bello University, in Nigeria. I have had three sabbaticals: the first (1982-83) was spent at the Schweizerische Institut für Nuklearforschung in Villigen, Switzerland. The second (1989-90) was divided between the University of Edinburgh and C.E.R.N., Geneva. The final sabbatical was spent principally in Ottawa. In addition, in 2002-03 I had a one-year administrative leave, principally spent at Oxford.
Undergraduate Teaching Experience
While a post-graduate student and a post-doctoral fellow at Oxford, I gave tutorials to undergraduates in applied mathematics and theoretical physics. I also gave a graduate lecture course at Durham. While at Ahmadu Bello University I taught courses on optics and both introductory and advanced nuclear physics. In addition to those listed below, I have given special courses on behalf of the C.E.S.L. (now C.A.L.S.) The first, in 1976, was to a group of Venezuelan students, the second (1983) to Libyan students.Courses given (or to be given) at Carleton:
Honours Project Supervision:
Courses Given
In 1976-77 I was responsible for a group of Venezuelan students under a special arrangement (The Ayacucho Project). This involved co-ordinating various aspects of their scientific and linguistic education, teaching of a special course designed to improve scientific English and an introductory science course.
While at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, I was involved in the writing of a high school physics text, and the planning of a Nuclear Physics M.Sc. course. The book was not published because of the deterioration of the Nigerian economy.
During 1985, I introduced a seminar program for undergraduate students (the "Brown Bag Talks") , given weekly by members of the Department. This was repeated in 1990/91, and subsequently televised on ITV channel. Although these have been successful in attracting a reasonable audience, they failed in their primary goal of attracting undergraduates.
In more formal aspects of teaching, I wrote the laboratory manual for 75.010, and changed the course so that it made some reference to physics of the last three hundred years. This course was finally discontinued due declining enrollment in 1990.
With Dan Kessler, a course on Astronomy and Astrophysics, (75.220; originally 75.120) was developed from scratch. I have recently taken this course over again, and developed a multimedia presentation for it. This integrates graphic material with animations of various kinds into an "electronic blackboard" presentation, which is now available to students outside of the lectures.
In 1988/89, Michael Ogg and I introduced a course in Computational Physics (75.502), which has now become part of the regular program. Although obviously modeled on similar courses elsewhere, this took into account our special interests at Carleton and is not only an introduction to computing facilities in the department but also tailored to be suited to high energy physicists and medical physicists.
Pat Kalyniak and I developed a quite new style of course as 75.298 (Research in Physics). Our starting point was the observation that all courses given in physics are of a very traditional form, consisting of lectures where the material is factual and imparted in a very linear fashion, and include almost nothing of the culture and history of physics. This course looks at how research in physics was (or is) done in practice. Although the response was very enthusiastic from the students who took the course, the numbers were small, and it is an experiment which cannot be continued under present constraints.
In 1991 a proposal was put forward for a B. A. program in Environmental Studies. In its original form, this contained no compulsory courses in science whatever. Since this seemed inappropriate, a committee, consisting of Peter Kruus, Ildi Munro and George Carmody and myself, was asked to design a course for students with no previous experience in science whatever. The resulting course, 60.100, (Science for Survival, subsequently renamed Science for Today) has been taught to well over 1000 students in three years and has fulfilled its major purpose. It is amusing to note that in the first year of the course we carried out a "value added" experiment: we used a 12 question test to evaluate the student's prior knowledge of science in September, and, without warning, used the identical questions on the final exam. The average mark obtained on this rose from 3 at the beginning to 8.5 at the end!
In 1995 I was asked to suggest and design a science course (02.410), for the fourth year of the "Bachelor of the Humanities" program. This course uses some areas of physics as a model for the study of science as a whole. In particular it looks at controversial ideas, with the intention of showing how the culture of a period in history and the scientific discoveries of the time have an often symbiotic relationship.
Experience from this course has led to the design of a new course, PHYS 2903, Physics and the Imagination. This explores the interaction between Physics and Culture, in the broadest sense. The calendar description reads: "Physics has had a profound influence on music, philosophy, literature, film, and art. This is examined in a conceptual, non-technical, manner. A selection of topics will be studied." For example, one segment looks at time: time as perceived, the measurement of time, time in 20th century physics and the ideas of curved spaces, time in literature and film and finally the limits to prediction. A survey of opinions showed that all the students would recommend the course to others.
In summer 1991, Alfred Carter and I prepared a version of 75.105 for broadcasting over the instructional television network. Although the course content is fairly standard, I felt that simply filming live lectures using conventional blackboard or overhead projector techniques seemed badly suited to the medium. Again the "electronic blackboard" technique allows the inclusion of a good deal of animation, as well as the guarantee that no (or very few!) mistakes will appear on screen. Informal feedback from students has been very positive. This work has received wider circulation in a somewhat unexpected fashion: in 1997 we were approached by the World Bank to allow this course to become part of the African Virtual University, and the course was broadcast 3 times, to a number of sites throughout Africa. Undoubtedly the most interesting part has been delivering live tutorials to sites as diverse as Addis Ababa, Kumasi and Dar Es Salaam.
As an outcome of serving on a committee (in 1991) on helping first-year students overcome their difficulties, I became very interested in computer assisted learning. An examination of currently available packages from commercial companies or outside universities suggested that they all had serious deficiencies. I therefore led the development of a flexible tutorial system, known as CATaMac. The idea behind this was to provide a large number of typical problems in a rapidly accessible form for first year students. It evolved and grew over the years, and provided a continuous on-line testing facility (TestaMac) in addition to the tutorials. Unlike many similar systems, we made a serious effort to evaluate student response to the system, via Steven Macko, a graduate student in psychology. A demonstration version of CATaMac was included on the "The Innovators CD". This CD-ROM is a collection of some 40 projects put together by Apple Canada to show the diverse applications of computers in education, at all levels from kindergarten to graduate. Over the last two years, the system has been made obsolete by Web-based methods, which we have incorporated into the curriculum.
My work on computer-assisted teaching of various kinds has aroused some interest in the physics community and elsewhere. This has led to a number of invited talks or short presentations including being a (remote) part of a panel discussion on the "Technology and Education" day put on by the Instructional Development Centre at Queens University, and meeting with members of RMC to advise on setting up CAL there.I have also given talks at EOSET and OAPT meetings. I served as chair of the Division of Physics Education of the C.A.P. in 1995.
High School Interactions
I have always regarded it as extremely important to do as much work as possible with high schools, since our future students depend vitally on the image that Carleton projects in the school system. I have given more than 20 high school talks over the years, including ones at special enrichment days for the West Quebec Board and the Belleville Board. I have also given several talks to local high-school teachers, and was instrumental in arranging for the conference of the Ontario Association of Physics Teachers annual meeting to be held here in 1993.
Intermittently since 1983 I have been involved with mini-courses for high-school students. The first one was entitled "Life, the Universe and Everything" and taught by various members of the Department: it covered a wide variety of topics in pure and applied physics. This was continued by other members of the department for some years. I subsequently taught my own course "Science and the Imagination". This was a much more off-beat course, in which I examined a number of very controversial ideas (such as Velikovsky, telepathy and cold fusion) in order to try to reach some conclusions on how science works in practice. This was given in 1986,1987, 1988 and 1989. In 1991, in response to suggestions from the high schools, Pat Kalyniak and I introduced a mini-course called "Yes, No and Maybe: Why Quantum Mechanics Makes it Reasonable to be Uncertain". This was a more or less conventional introduction to quantum mechanics. Student response to these courses has been very favourable: for example in 1989, 75 % rated their enjoyment of the course and 85% rated the level of learning as high or very high. Pressure of other work has prevented me from offering mini-courses in the last few years, but I intend to do so again in the future.
Most recently I gave a talk at a teachers workshop at the CAP conference in Saskatoon.
Other Educational Activities:
I have given a number of popular talks, mainly on Astronomy and Cosmology to adult clubs and students in the Ottawa area, and several interviews on the radio, mainly on CBO and CKCU. In collaboration with Richard Hemingway, I prepared a six-part television series on "The Basis of Matter", which was produced for CTV. and shown as part of The University of the Air series in 1982 with a repeat in 1983. I was part of the Carleton University "Raven Lunatics" team for the @Discovery.ca quiz in 1995.
LinR: Recently I have been approached to give a course to the Carleton LinR (Learning in Retirement) program. I gave a series of six lectures entitled "The Rise and Fall of Everything" starting in January 2005.
I have written a number of book reviews, for Physics in Canada, New Scientist and the Ottawa Citizen, and have had two lengthy articles (on science policy and on physics and reality) published in the Citizen.
From 1st July 1990 to 30 June 1996, I was chair of the Carleton University Physics Dept.: the position was renewed for a second three-year term in 1993. During this time I was responsible for the day-to-day running of the department, including representing it at all levels both inside the university and outside. I have been responsible for a number of innovations, including the extensive use of computer-assisted tutorials for first year students, introduction of new courses in computational physics and research in physics. During this time first year course enrollment increased from 700 to 1100, and graduate student enrollment from 24 to 39. Particularly satisfying was a survey performed by the Institute of Scientific Information in Pittsburgh, which rated the department second in Canada in terms of the influence of research publications.
Most recently (2007) I have been Undergraduate Adviser.
I have worked in a variety of fields of theoretical physics. These include:
Research Grants:
NRC/NSERC
Papers Referred for:
Grant Applications Reviewed for: N.S.E.R.C., F.C.A.C., N.S.F.
Membership in Professional Societies:
In addition to many internal seminars, I have given invited talks at:
Publications in Refereed Journals
"Bouncing Neutrons and the Neutron Centrifuge" J. Phys. G 29, 1451, (2003)
"Flux-Bubble models and Mesonic molecules" (with M. Boyce and J Treurniet). Nuc. Phys A652, 189, (1999)
"SU(3) String-Flip Potential Models and Nuclear Matter" (with M. Boyce) Nuc. Phys. A580 500 (1994)
"Oersted States: the Quantum Mechanics of a Particle Interacting with a Superconducting Cosmic String" (with W. J. Romo and M. K. Sundaresan), Nuc. Phys. B386, 115 (1992)
"The Possibility of a Liquid Crystal Phase in Nuclear Matter" (with A. B. Migdal) Phys. Letts. B252, 32 (1990)
"Towards a Quark Model for Nuclear Matter", Nuclear Physics A494, 543, (1989)
" Probing the Contribution of Gluons to the Proton Spin" (with P. Kalyniak and M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Letts. B216, 397, (1989)
"The Phenomenology of Free Gluons", with R. Rinfret, Phys. Letts., B200, 177, (1988)
"A Flux Tube Model of Hadrons in Nuclear Matter", with P. Mathieu, Canadian Journal of Physics, 64, 1389, (1986).
"New Limits on Anomalon Production in d-d Scattering", with R. L. Clarke et al., Phys. Rev. D33, (1986)
"Search for Bound States of Neutrons and Negative Pions", (with F. W. de Boer et al.), Phys. Rev. Letts. 53, 423 (1984).
"Vacuum Pressure Screening in a Nucleus", (with P. Mathieu), Phys. Letts. 148B, 473 (1984).
"Anomalons" Physics in Canada, 39, 43, (1983).
"The Slowdownatron: A Suggestion for Increasing Stopping Rates by Using Shaped Magnetic Fields and Absorbers", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Can. J. Phys. 61, 1184, (1983).
"Tests for Models of Anomalons", Phys. Letts. 126B, 189, (1983).
"Limits on the Production of Anomalous Secondaries in Deuteron-Deuteron Collisions at 7.9 GeV/c", (with R. L. Clarke, J. E. Hardy, R. J. Hemingway, D. Kessler, A. C. McPherson, W. J. Romo, R. Saly, M. K. Sundaresan, B. Judek and M. Losty) Phys. Rev. D27, 2773, (1983).
"Coloured Models for Anomalons", (with V. Elias, W. J. Romo, R. Saly, M. K. Sundaresan, and B. Campbell) Phys. Rev. D27, 1468, (1983).
"The Optical Activity of Intergalactic Space", (with J. N. Clarke and G. Karl), Can. J. Phys. 60, 1561, (1983).
"Are Anomalons Coloured?", (with R. Saly and M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Letts. 115B, 239, (1982).
"New Currents at CHEER", (with L. Krauss, H. C. Lee and A. C. McPherson) Can. J. Phys. 59, 1754, (1981).
"Neutrino Exchange and Long Range Interactions", Phys. Rev D21, 2675, (1980).
"The Judek Effect and Colour Excitations of Nuclei", (with W. J. Romo) Phys. Letts. 88B, 354, (1979).
"On "Lego" Towers", Journal of Recreational Mathematics, in press.
"Muon Number Nonconservation in Muonic Atoms and at High Energies", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Rev. D17, 703, (1978).
"Muon Catalysis of Hot Fusion", (with E. P. Hincks and M. K. Sundaresan) Nature 269, p. 584, (1977).
"Partners for the E(1420)", (with L. A. Copley) Phys. Letts. 61B, p. 477, (1976).
"A New Determination of the Pion Mass from Pionic Atom Transitions", (with A. L. Carter, J. S. Wadden, M. K. Sundaresan, M. Dixit, H. Mes, E. P. Hincks, A. Zehnder, H. Anderson and C. K. Hargrove) Phys. Rev. Letts. 37, p. 1380, (1976).
"Four Ways to do Without Charm", (with L. A. Copley and M. K. Sundaresan) Lettere al Nuovo Cim. 16, p. 491, (1976).
"'Triangulising' a Set of Points", (with R. W. Gaskell) J. Rec. Maths. 8, p. 108, (1976).
"The Vanishing Cabibbo Angle and Muonic Capture Rates", Phys. Letts. 58B, p. 431, (1975).
"Triangulation and Pick's Theorem", (with R. W. Gaskell and M. S. Klamkin) Math. Mag, 49, B5, (1976).
"Hadronic Vacuum Polarization Corrections in Muonic Atoms", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Rev. D11, p. 230, (1975).
"The Discrepancy Between Theory and Experiment in Muonic Atoms: A Critical Review", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Can. J. Phys. 52, p. 2037, (1974).
"Two Variable Rational Approximants: A New Method", Journal of Physics A7, L167, (1974).
"Algorithms for Differentiation and Integration" in "Padé Approximants and Their Applications", ed. P. R. Graves-Morris, Academic Press, London, (1973).
"Is There a Light Scalar Boson?", (with L. Resnick and M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Rev D8, p. 172, (1973).
"Higher Order Vacuum Polarization Corrections in Muonic Atoms", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Phys. Rev. Letts. 29, p. 225, (1972).
"Vector Meson Dominance and Electromagnetic Interactions in Relativistic Quark Models", (with M. A. Gonzalez) Nuovo Cimento 12A, p. 889, (1972).
"Electron-Vibrational Energy Transfer" (with M. A. Gonzalez and G. Karl), J. Chem. Phys. 57, p. 4054, (1972).
"Relativistic Quark Models Based on the Bethe-Salpeter Equation", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Annals of Physics 71, p. 443, (1972).
"The Bethe-Salpeter Equation with a Near Harmonic Interaction", (with M. K. Sundaresan) Annals of Physics 59, p. 373, (1970).
"A Model Calculation with Perturbed Dispersion Relations", (with N. Mehta) Nuclear Physics B18, p. 585, (1970).
"Backward Scattering in the Quark Model", Phys. Letts. 25B, p. 287, (1967).
"The Dynamics of Quark Models", (with E. J. Squires) Annals of Physics 41, p. 409, (1967).
"Inelasticity and the One Channel N/D Method", (with E. J. Squires) Nuovo Cimento 42, p. 77, (1966).
Publications in Refereed Conference Proceedings
"The Electronic Classroom" CAM94 Physics Meeting ed. A Zapeda , p 294 (A.I.P.
Proceedings 342, 1994)
"Limits on ν-ν Scattering" (with I. Melo) Proceedings of Fourth Lake Louise Winter Institute, Ed. Astbury et al., p 312, (World Scientific 1994)
"SU(3) String-Flip Potential Models and Nuclear Matter" (with M. Boyce) MRST `94 Proceedings, ed. J. R. Cudell, K. R. Dienes & B. Margolis , p187 ( World Scientific, 1994)
"The Possibility of Free Gluons", Proceedings of Fourth Lake Louise Winter Institute, Ed. Astbury et al., p443 (World Scientific, 1992)
"Nuclear Matter and Quark Models", The Quark Structure of Matter (Proceedings of the Yukon Advanced Study Institute (World Scientific 1985)).
"Hadron States Inside Nuclei", (with P. Mathieu), Intersections Between Particle and Nuclear Physics (Steamboat Springs, p. 774)(A.I.P. Conference Proceedings 123 1984).
"Anomalons, Hidden Colour and the NN System", Proceedings of the L.A.M.P.F. II Workshop, Los Alamos 1983 (LA-9933-C) p. 778.
"The α(Zα)2 Contribution to Vacuum Polarization in High Z Muonic Atoms", (with M. K. Sundaresan) given at the Santa Fe Conference on Intermediate Energy Physics.
"Algorithms for Differentiation and Integration" in "Padé Approximants and Their Applications", ed. P. R. Graves-Morris, Academic Press, London, (1973).