External Advisory Council Visits Campus to Advance Student Success

External Advisory Council Visits Campus to Advance Student Success

On February 27, the BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomed members of its External Advisory Council (EAC) to campus for an in-person meeting focused on strengthening and supporting the department’s students and by helping to create stronger pathways to employment and career success after graduation.

Throughout the day, council members met with students, offering mentorship, career advice, and insights drawn from their professional experiences. They shared stories from industry, research, and academia, providing valuable perspective on the many paths available to physics and astronomy graduates.

In addition to connecting with students, the council collaborated with faculty and staff to discuss opportunities, challenges, and strategic ways to better serve current and future students. The event highlighted the department’s strong support from engaged alumni and partners who are committed to helping BYU physics and astronomy students succeed.

The External Advisory Council now has three committee: 

  1. Student Preparation Committee focused on identifying resources and opportunities for students, including internships, and helping students prepare for career fairs and interviews.
  2. Alumni Engagement Committee focused on creating a more connections between alumni and students.
  3. Department Advisement Committee focused on providing ideas to the department regarding how to improve student preparedness in light of current industry trends.

As the committee work begins, the EAC will begin reaching out to alumni for additional support on new initiatives.

News and Events

The BYU Physics & Astronomy department recently introduced the Applied Physics: Acoustics degree.
After 3 years of being offered as 513R, elementary particle physics is finally an official course and accepted for credit in the physics major!
BYU Physics and Astronomy Professors Dr. Davis and Dr. Vanfleet recently received the 2024 award for outstanding achievement in technology transfer from the BYU Technology Transfer Office.
Dr. Michael Ware hopes to help students develop the skills to navigate discussion of science and religion
The university's new electron microscopy facility opened in fall of 2025, offering atomic-level imaging and student-led research.
Brian Anderson and his students celebrated BYU's 150th birthday by blowing out candles using high-intensity focused sound waves.
This year’s Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Kent Gee, delivered his forum address on the science of sound and how he and BYU students have contributed to significant research in the acoustics industry.
In July 2025, Drs. Branton Campbell and Harold Stokes (BYU Emeritus Professor) will receive the Kenneth N. Trueblood Award from the American Crystallographic Association for exceptional achievement in computational crystallography.
A group of undergraduate students braved the heat and heights of the ESC roof to install a new weather station. The station is up and running, and will hopefully record data for years to come.
Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne Inspires BYU Students with the Future of Gravitational-Wave Science
Four Decades Under the Stars: Honoring Dr. Mike Joner and the Legacy of West Mountain Observatory.
Connecting Experience to Opportunity: External Advisory Council Supports Career Pathways and Job Success for BYU Physics and Astronomy Students.
From Trapped Ions to Quantum Frontiers: Dr. AJ Rasmusson Launches Experimental Quantum Physics at BYU.
Dr. Gus Hart received the 2024 Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award for his work in computational material science and his continued innovation in computational methods.
This winter, ten students in BYU’s new “Advanced Planetary Astrophysics” taught by Darin Ragozzine course gained hands-on experience in planetary science research, mastering interdisciplinary skills to prepare for future careers in astronomy.