I have been teaching physics and astronomy at Normandale full-time since the fall of 1988. During the 1997-1998 academic year I was the Visiting Professor of Physics at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. Check out the Air Force Academy Observatory web site! I've also taught physics at the University of Minnesota , Augsburg College , and St. Olaf College.
In the course of my academic career, I have had the good fortune to work with several outstanding astronomers and physicists who also were superb teachers. I am especially indebted to the late Dr. Edgar Everhart of the University of Denver and the late Dr. Phyllis Freier of the University of Minnesota. Ed, the discoverer of two comets that bear his name, showed me how to teach astronomy and guided my discovery of the orbital characteristics of earth Trojan-type asteroids . Phyllis, who discovered heavier nuclei in the cosmic radiation, taught me to leave no stone unturned when trying to understand how nature works. She too was my mentor as a college physics teacher.
More recently, I worked with my dissertation advisor, Dr. Patricia Heller , to provide college physics faculty with information, resources, and encouragement in the use of cooperative learning and physics problem solving.
Several years ago, I read an article in National Geographic on Native American astronomy and the Wyoming Medicine Wheel. That ultimately lead to a passionate interest in not only archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy , but also the history and culture of the Native American peoples. Dr. Mike Zeilik, the author of Astronomy: The Evolving Universe , shares that enthusiasm, as well as a taste for spicy New Mexican food. Mike asked me to write the introductory section, "How to Study Astronomy" for his book. I also am the author of "How to Succeed in Physics" in University Physics by Young and Freedman, as well as the Instructor's Solutions Manual , Vol. 1, for the 10th Edition. Roger Freedman also asked me to revise the Instructor's Resource Manual for the 7th edition of Universe. My favorite archaeological sites include those of the Anasazi culture at Chimney Rock, Mesa Verde , and Hovenweep in southwestern Colorado, and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. I have visited the Wyoming Medicine Wheel on many occassions.
Little known fact about me: I had lunch with King Olav V of Norway when I was a student at St. Olaf College .
Favorite saying: Mitakuye Oyasin, "We are all related." (Lakota or Western Sioux)
Education:
Ph.D., Science Education, University of Minnesota . Dissertation: Physics Problem Solving in Cooperative Learning Groups .
M.S., Astrophysics, University of Minnesota . Thesis: A Monte Carlo Simulation of Cosmic Ray Propagation.
M. Div., Theology, Luther Theological Seminary , St. Paul, Minnesota. Thesis: Paul's Use of the Psalms in Romans .
M.S., Physics and Astronomy, University of Denver . Thesis: Horseshoe and Trojan Orbits in the Elliptical Earth-Sun Problem .
B.A. cum laude, Physics, St. Olaf College , Northfield, Minnesota.
Research Interests:My first professional contribution
to the field was at the
Fifth Oxford Conference on
Archaeoastronomy held in Santa Fe in 1996.
In May, 1997, I presented a talk on Lakota astronomy at the Dakota
History Conference sponsored by the
Center for Western Studies at Augustana
College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This copyrighted online
version of Lakota Celestial
Imagery: Spirit and Sky may not be further distributed,
published, copied or altered.
I am gradually constructing a web site devoted to Lakota Ethnoastronomy . Check
it out for more information!
I have been published in several professional journals . Articles citing my research in cooperative group problem solving have appeared in the American Journal of Physics and the Handbook of Research on Science Teaching and Learning. I have given numerous talks on physics education at meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers . Publishers of college physics and astronomy textbooks frequently ask me to review manuscripts and give my suggestions on how a textbook might be improved. Input from my own students gives me many ideas! I'm also a member of the American Astronomical Society .
Other Scientific Interests:
Comets and Asteroids; Origin and propagation of Cosmic Rays.
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Chimney Rock is a place where the ancient peoples of the southwest (usually called the "Anasazi") practiced some incredible astronomy . Here are photos taken in Colorado: A "fall color" shot taken at Lake Dillon , mountain biking at Vail Pass , along the 4-wheel drive road to the old mining town of Ruby , and the Big Meadows campground near Wolf Creek Pass. I worked one summer in Grand Teton National Park and have returned there many times to backpack, hike and camp.
When I was in graduate school at the University of Denver, I did some work at the observatory on the top of Mt. Evans (4,313 m). In 1997, the University installed a new telescope at the newly built Mt.Evans Meyer-Womble Observatory . (In the background of the photo on the observatory home page, you can see the A-frame structure dating from the 1940's where Bruno Rossi did his important experiment on the decay of muons.) This photo of me was taken in September, 1997, on a trip to the top to see the telescope and meet its designer, Eric Meyer. Everytime I journey up Mt. Evans I see bighorn sheep and rocky mountain goats.
New Mexico is indeed the Land of Enchantment, as this photo of Taos Pueblo shows. If I travel near an astronomical observatory, such as the VLA , I stop to visit.
My favorite big cities include Seattle and San Francisco.
I also like beaches and snorkeling at places like Trunk Bay at St. John , U.S. Virgin Islands. Costa Rica is a wonderful place. They grow the best coffee in the world. Me gustan mucho Costa Rica y la pura vida! In March, 2002, I visited Cuba with 24 other Normandale faculty members : Great people , old cars , rural scenes from the past , salsa music , and revolutionary slogans (that's a Coco Taxi in front of the sign)! I also visited Scotland in August, 2002.
But, Minnesota is home and my favorite region of the state the North Shore of Lake Superior, particularly the area near Grand Marais, where in the summer of 2005, we built a cabin!. The "mountain" biking, hiking, and cross country skiing are second to none!
All original photos Copyright, (C), 1998, 2000, 2002 by Mark Hollabaugh.
By phone: 952-487-8461
By FAX: 952-487-8101
Last updated: 3 January 2005
Some of the links
on this page are sites not located at Normandale
Community College . Normandale Community College, and Dr. Mark
Hollabaugh, are in no
way responsible for the content found on these sites. In addition, the
content or location of these sites in no way reflects the opinions,
standards
or policies of Normandale Community College.
