Laurence A. Marschall

Larry Marschall, W.K.T. Sahm Professor of Physics, teaches courses in astronomy, physics, and science writing. Educated at Cornell University and the University of Chicago, he joined the Gettysburg faculty in 1971. He has been a visiting Professor at Boston University (1987 and 1995) an Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ (2002), and a visiting scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics(1986, 1994, and 2001) and Yale University (1980). In 1998, he received a Distinguished Teaching Award from Gettysburg College, and in 2005 the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society for his role in fostering undergraduate and public education in astronomy nationwide. Dr. Marschall's areas of research include observational studies of binary stars, very young stars, and supernovas and recently, asteroids. He is also known among astronomers for his work in astronomy education, both in promoting the use of electronic cameras for undergraduate research at small observatories, and in directing Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy), which develops innovative computer exercises in astronomy that are used by tens of thousands of students in all 50 states and 50 foreign countries. Since 1992, Project CLEA has received grant support of over $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation, and has twice been awarded national prizes for educational software from the journal Computers in Physics.