Technology transfer award for a quieter airplane toilet

Kent Gee, Scott Sommerfeldt, and Scott Thomson (Mechanical Engineering) received the BYU Technology Transfer Award.  This award recognizes faculty members who hve made significant research contributions that have led to the development of useful commercial products.  They received the award for inventing noise-reduction technology for vacuum-assisted toilets used on airplanes.  Further information can be found at //physics.byu.edu/department/news/60


August 20

News and Events

Image for Adam Fennimore's Insights for Students
Adam Fennimore's Insights for Students
Alumni Adam Fennimore shares career insights for current students
Image for New Faculty Member, Dr. Greg Francis
New Faculty Member, Dr. Greg Francis
Dr. Greg Francis joins faculty, specializing in Physics Education
Image for Dr. Ragozzine's Nice, France Obersvatoire Sabbatical
Dr. Ragozzine's Nice, France Obersvatoire Sabbatical
Darin Ragozzine collaborates with leading planetary scientists in France
Image for Steve Summers' Insights for Students
Steve Summers' Insights for Students
Alumni Steve Summers answers interview questions for current students
Image for BYU’s Rising Astronomers Take Center Stage at the Winter AAS Conference
BYU’s Rising Astronomers Take Center Stage at the Winter AAS Conference
In early January 2025, a group of 16 students from Brigham Young University’s Physics & Astronomy Department showcased their research at the prestigious American Astronomical Society (AAS) in National Harbor, Maryland.
Image for Dr. John Colton’s Sabbatical to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Dr. John Colton’s Sabbatical to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Dr. John Colton embarked on a six-month sabbatical at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado to explore the use of terahertz radiation in probing the chiral properties of hybrid perovskite materials, a research area previously unfamiliar to him.
Image for Nathan Powers, Updated labs and AAPT lab committee work
Nathan Powers, Updated labs and AAPT lab committee work
Dr. Powers initiated the effort to update BYU’s physics undergraduate lab curriculum in 2015. The revamped curriculum, aimed at teaching students how to construct knowledge from experiments.
Image for BYU Women Represent at CUWiP 2024
BYU Women Represent at CUWiP 2024
21 women student attend conference at Montana State University, where students engaged in keynote speeches, panels, and research presentations.
Image for Dr. Stephens’ Sabbatical to University of Arizona
Dr. Stephens’ Sabbatical to University of Arizona
Dr. Stephens participated in a research project at the University of Arizona focused on studying brown dwarfs using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Image for Society of Physics Students Awarded Outreach Grant
Society of Physics Students Awarded Outreach Grant
BYU's SPS is selected for Marsh Award for their outreach plan with Boys & Girls Club
Image for Rocket Noise and Bird Songs
Rocket Noise and Bird Songs
Hart, Gee, and their research group study the impact of rocket noise on wildlife