Our Peeps

Our Peeps
The People Behind the Tie Dye T-shirt

groups

Brian Jones
Director

Brian Jones is a popular instructor in the Physics Department at Colorado State University. He spends a good deal of time studying how people learn and thinking about ways to make instruction at all levels more effective, and is a co-author of a recent Physics textbook from Addison Wesley. In addition to sharing science with students all over the region, Brian shares his interest and knowledge of science with a broad audience, from college students to preschoolers, and refuses to accept the notion that there are people who can’t learn and understand science. (read more...)

Sheila Ferguson
Teacher in Residence

Sheila Ferguson has been interested in science her whole life, from her early studies in archaeology to her recent investigations of angular momentum—how to put a spin on it, shall we say. Sheila spent over 20 years as a Poudre School District teacher before joining the Little Shop of Physics. She has a master's degree plus 90 hours of additional study in science and education and is rated "highly qualified" for secondary science instruction. Since joining LSOP in 2000, she has presented programs at over 200 schools and over 2000 teacher workshops. Sheila is actively involved in developing instructional materials for science teachers. She has co-authored instructional materials sold for American Educational Products and has been a co-instructor for the Physics Teaching Experience service-learning course. Her goal is to teach people that science is fun for everyone. (read more...)

Nisse Lee
Coordinator of Assessment and Outreach

Growing up in a small town has taught Nisse to love the little things (of all sizes) in life - from swirling cloud pattern to swirling nebulae deep in space. In May of 2008, Nisse earned her Bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in physics and mathematics and plans to soon begin pursuit of a Master's in education. Nisse loves the satisfaction of "high efficiency teaching" as she calls it: dropping into a student's life and hopefully making a large difference, whether that difference be academically or just to show them that there are many people out there who care and want to see them succeed. Nisse volunteered and interned for LSOP while working on her undergraduate degree, has taught science for Upward Bound's summer program, and often teaches laboratories and recitations for CSU's physics department - but her heart lies with Little Shop. "Everyone on the crew will tell you the same thing: This is the best job they've ever had and ever will have," says Nisse. "Because every single day you go home feeling like you made a difference to somebody. That is a very powerful thing."

Interns & Volunteers

	Kenn Lonnquist Physics Graduate Career plans: I am working on a Masters in Physics... and then we'll see. How did you get involved in LSOP: I was a member of the Society of Physics Students, and Brian stopped by and told the group a little about LSOP. I decided to check it out, liked it, and have spent the last couple years working with the program! Experiment you made: "Lightbulb Laser Art". For fun, I built a few of my own over the last few years. They make great gifts! Favorite LSOP moment: Every now and then, we get to share LSOP with some really excited kids. They grab you by the hand, and pull you to each experiment, asking you to show it to them. Seeing their faces light up at each new station is great!
	Chris Perez Applied Mathematics Major Career plans: Graduate school for renewable energy How did you get involved with LSOP: I found out about Little Shop of Physics two years ago when I was a student at Front Range Community College, and my professor, Wilson Winner, brought my class to see the Little Shop at CSU. Later, I applied for an internship, and I've been working with the Little Shop ever since. Experiment you made: The plasma ball. I like things involving electricity. Favorite LSOP memory:When a kid who seemed uninterested came up to me afterword and said "thank you" and shook my hand.
	Matthew Creighton Biology Major Career Plans: Make stereos or speakers or robots...something cool like that. How you got involved with LSOP: I got involved at the suggestion of my seminar teacher. She thought that I'd be a good fit for the Little Shop...and she was right! Experiment you made: Pressure Cooker! Favorite LSOP memory: Playing my experimental speaker so loud someone had to pound on the wall...
	Tyler Hutson Art Major (Ceramics Concentration), Mechanical Engineering Major Career plans: Still deciding - hopefully something in the field of alternative energy How did you get involved in LSOP: I wandered by the Shop one Tuesday, asked what was going on and they put me to work! Experiment you made: The Disk Spinner because I got to see it through from design to completion. Favorite LSOP memory: It was on the trip down to New Mexico. The kids were sitting in the back, just chilling out, then we started doing some amazing science and they all moved up to the front of the room - so excited about what was happening!
	Sean Beal Physics Major Career plans: to be a K-12 science teacher How did you get involved in LSOP: My dad was in LSOP and always talked about it. When I started at CSU I stopped by and they put me to work! Experiment you made: Favorite LSOP memory:
	Amanda Gossel Natural Science Major with Emphasis in Secondary Biology Education Career plans: To be a high school science teacher How did you get involved in LSOP: I met Brian at a luncheon and working for Little Shop sounded like a great experience! Experiment you made: Favorite LSOP memory:
	Nicole Price Zoology Major, Nutrition Minor Career plans: To be a K-12 science teacher How did you get involved in LSOP: I took physics from Brian Jones and heard about working with Little Shop. Experiment you made: Favorite LSOP memory:
	Zach Paiz Computer Science Career plans: Probably something like network management but I'm not sure yet! How did you get involved in LSOP: Lupe from El Centro thought that Little Shop would be a good fit for me - and she was right! Experiment you made: Favorite LSOP memory:
	Oliver J. Homan Poudre High School Student Career plans: engineering or a computer job (I am a computer geek after all) How did you get involved in LSOP: I started as a volunteer and just kept going LSOP has been a great experience for me over the last 10 years, as I grew up Experiment you made: a xylophone out of wrenches aptly names Wrenchimes Favorite LSOP memory: Being able to get up in front of my own classmates and demonstrate physics with LSOP was amazing.

Little Shop Alumni and Alumnae

	Nanjoo Kwon Visiting Scientist Nanjoo spent a year on sabbatical from her position at the Gyeongin National University of Education in South Korea working with the Little Shop of Physics. Although Nanjoo has years of experience teaching at all age levels, she states that being on the road with Little Shop of Physics was an unforgettable experience imbedded with innumerable life lessons. Nanjoo has returned to her post in South Korea and, like all our LSOP family members who have moved on, she will be missed. (read more...)
	Jeremy May Physics and Natural Science Education major What You're Doing Now: Student teaching at Berthoud High School How you got involved in LSOP: Being a physics major I hang around this part of campus a lot and couldn't help but learn about the LSOP. I became intrigued and started asking people about it and before I knew it I was talking to Brian about it. Little Shop Last Word: There was one girl who was very intrigued and very helpful offering to help us when we were setting up and after. I asked if she'd seen the Little Shop before and she said she always goes to the Open House and that she wants to be in the Little Shop some day."That's my dream," she said. She eventually got to be on the TV show. That's my favorite memory.
	Nicole Prentice Graduated May 2009 - Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences, Minors in Biomedical Science and Spanish Little Shopper from 2007-2009 What You're Doing Now: I am working at Swedish Medical Center as a Patient Care Tech (Nurse Aide) How you got involved in LSOP: I took Brian's class for 1 year and then saw a flyer for internships with LSOP and asked Brian if I could be a part of it without being a physics major. Without doing cheerleading, I was able to be a part of something great for 2 years (late 2007- early 2009) Little Shop Last Word:
	Christa Koos Graduated 2009 Little Shopper from 2007-2009 What You're Doing Now: How you got involved in LSOP: Little Shop Last Word:

This page is still under construction - many more friends and faces will appear soon!