Welcome . . .

to the UWRF Physics Department, part of the University of Wisconsin System's Center of Excellence for Undergraduate Physics and Chemistry. 

We are dedicated to helping students learn physics by providing a rigorous curriculum within a supportive environment.

Our mission includes excellent teaching, individualized advising, quality scholarship and public outreach.  (Prospective student letter)

Physics World 2013 Breakthrough of the Year

On Friday, December 13, 2013, London-based publication Physics World honored IceCube as the 2013 Breakthrough of the Year for the first observation of cosmic neutrinos and success in construction of the observatory.  Physics World hosted a Google hangout Friday at 4pm UTC/10am CST with Francis Halzen in Madison, Wisconsin and James Roth at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.  The hangout is archived on their youtube page.

UWRF ranks in top 10% nationally for future Physics PhDs (9th of 221 public non-PhD, 24th of 279 public incl. Engineering PhDs, 70th of 795 overall) from NSF data 1966-2009.

UWRF earned 3rd place in Wisconsin's 2013 NASA Collegiate Rocket Competition, engineering division, and won 1st place in the 2011 non-engineering division. Two teams are currently designing rockets for the 2014 event.

UWRF hosted the Science Olympiad Border Battle, Jan. 26, 2014.

Check the Observatory Schedule for our next stargazing session and public astronomy talk.

Scholarship opportunities exist to help support your studies. 

What does a physics major do?

Check out the incredibly diverse careers using physics.