The Department of Physics and Astronomy at OU was founded in 1909. Since then, it has had a tradition of educating scientists, engineers, and science teachers who have distinguished themselves as researchers and leaders in industry and academia. With its three degree programs (Physics, Astrophysics and Engineering Physics) it has attracted a large number of graduate and undergraduate students with a wide range of interests.
Research in the department is supervised by a relatively young, vigorous faculty of 29 scientists who function in four cohesive research groups: astrophysics; atomic, molecular, and chemical physics; high energy physics; and solid state and applied physics. There is also an adjunct program in the National Severe Storm Laboratory. Externally funded research expenditures exceed two million dollars a year and the publication rate is that of nationally-ranked physics and astronomy departments.
The department has a reputation for excellence in teaching as well as research. The faculty hold numerous awards in teaching at the State, University and College level. Innovative programs have been an integral part of this Department since its inception and are still its tradition:
OU physics graduates include the current Presidential Science Advisor, one president of a state university, one U. S. Ambassador, five founders of corporations, one famous Arctic explorer, the founder and first editor of The American Journal of Physics, three other journal editors, three inventors, seven research lab managers, seven departmental chairpersons, one Rhodes Scholar, two Guggenheim Fellows, 75 university professors, and more than 500 other people devoted to advancing knowledge and improving the quality of life.