Dale Stille, an Instructional Resource Specialist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been named a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).
The APS Fellowship Program recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions in physics research, important applications of physics, leadership in or service to physics, or significant contributions to physics education. Each year, no more than one half of one percent of the Society’s membership (excluding student members) is recognized by their peers for election to the status of Fellow. This year, 153 Fellows were selected and recognized for their contributions to science.
The APS Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public nominated Stille for his “outstanding, innovative, and selfless contributions to outreach and engagement that promote the understanding and appreciation of physics education, physics, and astronomy among diverse audiences.”
Stille has been with the University of Iowa and the Department of Physics and Astronomy for 37 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake Iowa, and a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Iowa. He is a member of APS, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the Physics Instructional Resource Association. He provided content for the broader impact of many large NASA space physics and other grants for the Department. Stille coordinates the Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations website, which has hundreds of physics and astronomy demos, lessons, and resources for teachers.
He is also one of the coordinators of the Department’s Hawk-Eyes on Science and Hawkeyes in Space outreach programs. For more than 18 years, these programs have brought the excitement of science demonstrations to Iowans of all ages. These successful and well-received outreach programs are led by dozens of department faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students, who give dozens of demonstrations each year both on and off campus. Their combined efforts have made Hawk-Eyes on Science one of the nation’s premier university-based science outreach programs, one of a small handful of programs to receive both the World Year of Physics and LaserFest grants from the APS.