Outreach

Dr. Jakli's lab is always actively involved in community outreach.  In addition to accepting multiple REU students each summer, the lab regularly hosts interested high school students and Dr. Jakli's graduate students are frequently available to give lectures and lab tours to visiting grade school students, special interest clubs and other members of the public.

Outreach Experience

Summer/Fall 2008: Hudson High School Field Trip.  150 Hudson High School students visited the Kent State science departments. At the LCI, John Harden provided lab demonstrations, Stefanie Taushanoff showed off the LCI cleanroom and Nick Diorio and Stefanie discussed why they chose to go to graduate school at the LCI.  Liquid Crystal Day: John Harden provided lab demonstrations.  Parent's Day Open House: John Harden provided lab demonstrations while Stefanie Taushanoff and Jeremy Neal gave lectures and demonstrations about nematic liquid crystals and TN displays.  REU/Internships: Saba Hamidi was this summer's REU student, while Andy McBain joined the lab the summer before his senior year at Archbishop Hoban High after his chemistry teacher met an LCI faculty member at a political rally. Spring, 2008: Stefanie Taushanoff and Nick Diorio participate in a mentoring program at Stanton Middle School, and take part in the kids' Physics Day at Cedar Point. Previous interns and REU students include: Ohio State engineering students Mark Murphy (2007) and Paul Murphy (2008) Cody Notz, whose 2004 project about night navigation in migrating birds based on the piezoelectric properties of lyotropic systems found in cell membranes went on to earn him scholarships to two universities (Case Western and Wooster College). Youngstown State student Jaclyn Kusluch, Allegheny College student David Barnes, and Calvin College chemistry major Tina Heetderks Psmere Tessema and Walsh High student Thomas Caston (2006) Above: John explains nematic liquid crystals to Hudson High students, 2008.  Below: Richelle explains measuring flexoelectricity using an interferometer to junior high school students, 2007.

Recruiting

Antal Jakli gave a lecture “Challenges in liquid crystals research” at Allegheny College, Department of Physics, Meadvile, PA (April 14. 2005)      In February, 2005, Antal Jakli participated in the annual meeting of the National Society of Black Physicists, in Orlando, Florida, where I represented both CPIP/LCI and the Department of Physics.      Antal Jakli have hosted 12 students from the Central State University on August 1st, 2005, and presented the possibilities to do graduate studies at Kent State University