Science is the study of the natural world based on facts learned though experimentation and observation. As a discipline it requires curiosity, creativity, imagination and focus. It uses the tools from many other disciplines to develop, present and share ideas about the world and borrows clues from many other disciplines to identify areas for investigation. While science as a whole is divided into two interrelated subdisciplines – physical science, which focuses on physical phenomena, and life science, which focuses on life and living systems – collectively, the area of science improves our understanding of the world and how it works. If the physical world, whether at a micro-level or beyond this planet, fascinates you, one of the many sciences that make up physical science may be right for you.
Students interested in the physical sciences may earn an Arts and Sciences Transfer (A.S.) degree in one of several majors.
Learn more about physical science majors.
Deborah Levine, Ph.D., associate professor
Astronomy
410-777-1280
[email protected]
Jason Barbour, Ph.D., professor
Physical Science
410-777-1217
[email protected]
Robert Carp, professor
Chemistry
410-777-2264
[email protected]
Dan Ferandez, professor
Physical Science
410-777-2031
[email protected]
Eric Fons, associate professor
Physics
410-777-2154
[email protected]
Katherine Keough, assistant professor
Physical Science
410-777-2828
[email protected]
Deborah Levine, Ph.D., associate professor
Astronomy
410-777-1280
[email protected]
Anthony Santorelli, Ph.D., professor
Physical Science
410-777-1484
[email protected]
Shyamala Sivalingam, Ph.D., associate professor
Chemistry
410-777-2157
[email protected]
Maureen Sherer, professor
Chemistry
410-777-2261
[email protected]
Lynn Tracey, Ph.D., professor
Chemistry
410-777-2846
[email protected]
Andrew Yolleck, assistant professor
Physics
410-777-2205
[email protected]
Meranda Byers, physics laboratory manager
410-777-2881
[email protected]
Elizabeth Ward, chemistry laboratory manager
410-777-2224
[email protected]
Philippe "Phil" Espitallier, GBTC technical specialist
410-777-2997
[email protected]
Steve Lannon, AMIL technical specialist
410-777-2022
[email protected]
Jason Burkholder, physical sciences laboratory specialist
410-777-2272
[email protected]
Cristal Garcia-Lara, chemistry laboratory specialist
410-777-2069
[email protected]
Leon Sparks, chemistry laboratory specialist
410-777-1183
[email protected]
Kelli McBride
410-777-2281
[email protected]
Rachel Ryckman, administrative coordinator
410-777-2643
[email protected]
Anthony Anderson, program assistant
410-777-2105
[email protected]
James Seeders, program assistant
410-777-2108
[email protected]
Interested in getting even more out of your academic experience? Look no further! AACC offers a wealth of opportunities to engage in authentic, student-driven research.
If you're taking a science course, these resources are for you! They were developed to help you complete your science course requirements successfully.
AACC's Super Science Club provides an opportunity for students and members of the community who are interested in earth science, chemistry, astronomy and much more to share their enthusiasm about the subjects!
Events are centered around increasing student awareness of the AACC science and math programs. Club members expose students to careers in these disciplines through lectures by guest speakers and local field trips. They promote these sciences to the public through student-run events and participation in local events. Examples include Planet Walk, held in conjunction with the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, and "star parties" using the telescopes at the AACC observatory on a regular schedule that are open to the public and club members. The club has also collaborated with other student clubs, including the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA), on planting efforts on the Arnold campus (Pride Pollinator Garden).
Field trips are paused for right now, but we hope to get back to our normal pattern as described below soon.
Several of our courses regularly include field trips as part of the curriculum. For example, each fall and spring term, oceanography, meteorology, earth-space science and environmental science students are given the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities during three-hour educational cruises aboard a skipjack or a schooner sailing vessel. These cruises are coordinated through the Living Classrooms Foundation and usually are conducted in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Students participate in several activities on board the sailing vessels, including raising and lowering the sails, trawling for fish, taking water quality measurements, deploying a plankton net and investigating oyster anatomy. In addition, students are exposed to interesting stories and landmarks surrounding Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, including Fort McHenry.
The belief that science is fun is at the core of Jason Barbour’s approach to life. He loves to incorporate demonstrations in his lectures to engage his students, help them learn the material and give them positive memories of the class. Two of his favorite demonstrations involve a fire extinguisher/skateboard rocket and a bed of nails.
Learn More About Jason