Michigan Tech Physics Professor Says Humor Goes a Long Way to Help Students Understand Dense Subjects

Over the years within Michigan Tech’s physics department. The university has employed several professors who have brought physics into a more fun space. And recently one physics professor published his latest book that makes the dense subject matter more approachable.

“Yes, I think both the website, the Astronomers of the Day, and my book, faster than light, can be used in even high schools. They can read that and they can try to understand complex topics and see how it is i present it. My presentation methods aren’t unique to me. There is multiple choice, and in the multiple-choice, there are usually two or three good ones and one that’s funny, because I believe that humor is a place in the classroom to break up the tension. It’s called comic relief. So I try to use that as much as possible. That seems to be a relatively effective way of engaging the students. Students can think in their mind what’s going on and think, oh, yeah, I used to think that or I do think that and now I understand why. And so engaging what students might have already thought is one good way I think of teaching physics and astronomy.” Professor Robert Nemiroff, Physics Department, Michigan Technological University

Professor Robert Nemiroff says that he finds bringing humor into the classroom and to a subject some might find overwhelming can help make concepts easier to grasp. During his time on campus, Nemiroff has been involved in several projects that have brought science to more of the general public. Such as his involvement in the team that installed the Fisher Hall telescope. Or his work to co-found NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day.

“The picture itself is interesting we call the picture like the hook people so I want to know more about that and so to learn more about it you can read the title of the image that you can read is about a hundred and fifty words or so explanation which is written on a lot of levels it’s really very basic level even someone in elementary school can understand but we also have hyperlinks and we also have information there so even people who are professional professionals in the field can look at it and say oh wow I didn’t know that so we. It’s written on really a whole bunch of levels, and so it can be used in classrooms in elementary schools up into high schools and college.” Professor Robert Nemiroff, Physics Department, Michigan Technological University

Nemiroff adds that he isn’t the only professor on campus to help students grasp tough science subjects. And he is proud to call the physics department at Michigan Tech home. Those interested in learning more about Professor Robert Nemiroff or want to find out more about his new book titled Faster than Light: How your shadow can do it but you can’t find more information online.

Learn more about Professor Nemiroff here.

Faster than Light: How Your Shadow Can Do It but You Can’t

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day