Steve Lindaas

Steve Lindaas is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He has been an advisor for both SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma for a number of years while also serving as chair of the department for almost a decade. Departmental faculty place their highest priority on establishing a student-centered environment in and outside the classroom, which is attributed to the success of the SPS chapter. Dr. Lindaas has contributed elements that have become well established traditions such as the ceremonial passing of the SPS torch (a rechargeable LED path light) to new officers where they recite office pledges, as well as adding a challenge for inductees to demonstrate inducing electricity using a hand generator and galvanometer to the Sigma Pi Sigma Induction Ceremony. Others have promoted the (ugly) holiday sweater contest at the winter gathering, in addition to halloween costume fun. A departmental initiative, led by Dr. Lindaas, dedicated a research lab to be used for a SPS student lounge. This has been instrumental in creating community and is consistent with the student-centered focus of the department. Other departments at the university have since adopted and created similar student lounges. Dr. Lindaas uses lots of demos (big and small) to engage and enhance lectures. He has been active in AAPT offering “Demo Kit in a Box” workshops with a colleague that have promoted the “just in time demo” concept. It was natural for Dr. Lindaas to support students’ interests in creating a demo show, and encouraging them to take the lead in creating every aspect of the show. SPS has hosted a Halloween Open House and an Annual SPS Demo Show in the Spring for over a decade. During the pandemic SPS adapted to virtual format and published videos, however SPS is glad to be back in-person so that they can hear the audience's accolades. Once again the department supports these efforts by serving as demo advisors, finders and co-creators, as well as being an enthusiastic test audience. Dr. Lindaas noticed a few years ago that the demos could use more how-to information for the person running the demo. The department stepped in to offer a “Demo Descriptor Award” to be given to the best write-up of a demo.

Dr. Lindaas was initially involved in x-ray holography research but has transitioned to sustainability topics and applied robotics. This led to advising a subgroup of SPS students interested in competing in the NASA Space Grant Consortium challenges. The team placed third place in the 2021-2022 “GLEAM Lunar Robotics” and first place in the 2020-2021 “Exploration-Flying Quadcopter Challenge” intercollegiate competitions. The students were motivated to then self organize and participate in the national space grant consortium Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE) program. All of Dr Lindaas’ efforts are focused on engaging students, creating community and
expanding students’ horizons.