NEWS & EVENTS
- Prof. Berg and collaborators are published in the Physics Today magazine, March 2018 issue.
The 16th Electromagnetic and Light Scattering Conference (ELS-XVI) will be held at the University of Maryland/College Park, MD, USA from 19-25 March 2017. It will build on the remarkable success of the previous ELS conferences held in Amsterdam, Helsinki (twice), New York, Vigo, Halifax, Gainesville, Bremen, Salobreña, St. Petersburg, Bodrum, Hatfield, Taormina, Lille, and Leipzig. The main objective of the conference is to bring together scientists and engineers studying various aspects of light scattering and to provide a relaxed atmosphere for in-depth discussions of theoretical advances, measurements, and applications.
Scope: The specific topics that will be covered include (but are not limited to) the following:
- new theoretical developments, numerical simulations, and laboratory measurements of light scattering by nonspherical and morphologically complex particles and particle groups
- detection and characterization of atmospheric particulates using laboratory, in situ, and remote sensing techniques
- scattering of light by terrestrial aerosols and clouds
- scattering of light by oceanic particulates
- scattering of light by solar system objects, exoplanets, and exoplanetary environments
- scattering of light by various astrophysical objects
- applications of light scattering methods in biology and biomedicine
- light scattering in densely packed particulate media
- near-field and coherent effects in light scattering, optical trapping, and manipulation
- light scattering methods to control material properties and technological applications
Special sessions
- Study of aerosol and environmental chemistry through analyses of light scattering
- Tropospheric aerosols: the NASA perspective
Abstract submission
Please e-mail your abstract by 15 January 2017 to nadezhda.zakharova@nasa.gov with a copy to michael.i.mishchenko@nasa.gov. Only Word files will be accepted. Please use the following Word template (right-click on the words "Word template" and use the "Save Link As..." option).
Invited talks (tentative list)
- Sharon Burton (NASA LaRC), Characterization of tropospheric aerosols with polarization lidar
- Nikolai Khlebtsov (Saratov University), Optimal design of gold nanomatryoskas with embedded Raman reporters
- Daniel Mackowski (Auburn University), The discrete dipole adding doubling method for scattering by plane parallel layers of densely packed particles
- Philip Marston (Washington State University), Insight into scattering from the evolution of glare points
Contributed talks (tentative list - more to be added)
- Michael Mishchenko (NASA GISS), What makes a multi-particle group a discrete random medium?
Awards: There will be five Elsevier awards presented at the conference:
- The 4th Hendrik C. van de Hulst Award for fundamental lifetime contributions to the discipline of electromagnetic scattering (see announcement).
- The 2016 and 2017 Peter C. Waterman Awards presented to early career scientists in the category of electromagnetic scattering (see announcement).
- The 2016 and 2017 Richard M. Goody Awards presented to early career scientists in the category of atmospheric radiation and remote sensing (see announcement).
Conference Conveners: Ludmilla Kolokolova, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Matthew J. Berg, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA; Jay D. Eversole, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA; Michael Mishchenko, NASA GISS, New York, USA; Gorden Videen, Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD, USA
- Prof. Berg and collaborators demonstrate a solution to the classic inverse problem (2017)
Using the unique abilities of digital holography combined with a spatial-filtering technique, a new experiment was achieved that measures the light-scattering pattern due to a microparticle wile also resolving an image of the particle. Thus, the scattering pattern can be unambiguously associated with the size, shape, and orientation of the particle producing it. More information can be found [here].
Beginning the summer of 2015, Dr. Matthew Berg will start a major research program aimed at characterizing aerosol particle in a contact-free manner using digital holography. More information can be found here.
- Prof. Berg is named Researcher of the Month for the MSU College of Arts & Sciences.
Dr. Matthew Berg is the College of Arts & Sciences Researcher of the Month for (December). You can read about Dr. Berg's research at http://www.cas.msstate.edu/research/. Please also take a look at previous researchers of the month by clicking the archive tab. The College has a tremendous amount of expertise and research success tied to our diverse faculty.
- Announcing workshop, "Bioaerosols: Characterization and Environmental Characterization," March 26 - 28, 2014, Austin Hilton, Austin, Texas.
Organizers & Chair: Matthew Berg, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Bioaerosols such as bacteria, fungal spores, pollen, and their fragments, can influence public health and the environment. As such, it is important to understand how best to characterize these particles and assess their influence on various systems. For example, some particles can be used as biological warfare agents, while others may influence the climate as efficient cloud condensation nuclei. The properties and sources of these particles are not currently well understood, and the ability to reliably and systematically detect most bioaerosols is still met with significant challenges. In particular, small fragments of intact microorganisms, e.g. bacterial vesicles, and ruptured pollen fragments, are difficult to characterize by conventional techniques and may be systematically missed, adding further uncertainty. Recent advances in techniques capable of detecting and identifying bioaerosols have spurred a resurgence of interest in this area. As such, the purpose of this meeting is to bring together a cross-disciplinary group with interest and expertise in the characterization and influence of bioaerosols. In particular, early-career and established researchers working at the cutting edge in areas related to bioaerosol science have been invited from the following focus areas:
(1) Advanced detection and identification techniques: DNA/RNA sequencing, light scattering, fluorescence, and biological agar-culturing;
(2) Laboratory studies of bioaerosol properties;
(3) In-field indoor and outdoor measurements of bioaerosols.
- Announcing a Special Symposium of the American Association of Aerosol Research 32nd annual meeting September 30 -- October 4, 2013, in Portland, Oregon: Bioaerosols: Characterization and Environmental Impact
Organizers: J. Alex Huffman, University of Denver, Denver, CO; Matthew Berg, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Bioaerosols, such as bacteria, fungal spores, pollen, and their fragments, play important roles in public health both outside and in the built environment, can be used as warfare agents, and may influence the climate system as efficient IN and CCN. The properties and sources of these particles have not been well understood, and the ability to reliably and systematically detect bioaerosols is still met with significant challenges. In particular, small fragments of intact microorganisms (e.g. bacterial vesicles, ruptured pollen fragments) are difficult to characterize by conventional techniques and may be systematically missed, adding further uncertainties. Recent advancements in analysis techniques capable of detecting and identifying bioaerosols have helped to promote a resurgence of interest in the influence bioaerosols may play in various systems. The process of understanding such interactions requires interdisciplinary collaborations between often widely separated academic and industrial research fields. The purpose of this symposium is to bring together an interdisciplinary mix of researchers with expertise and interest in characterization of bioaerosols and the role these aerosols play in various systems. Submissions in all areas related to bioaerosol science are appropriate, but are especially encouraged in the following focus areas:
(1) Advanced detection and identification techniques: chemical (e.g. DNA/RNA sequencing), physical (e.g. light scattering, fluorescence), and biological (e.g. agar-culturing); including whole and fragments, sub-micron and super-micron
(2) Laboratory studies of bioaerosol properties
(3) In-field (indoor and outdoor) measurements of bioaerosols
(4) Environmental impact, especially on clouds and climate
- DoD MURI Proposal Planning Workshop Held in Memphis, TN (2012)
This workshop brings together experts in the field of electromagnetic scattering from 18-19 May 2012 to discuss basic-science research aimed at the characterization of particulate media. The overarching goal was to identify the future avenues of research most promising to advance the field.
- Dr. Berg receives the Elsevier/JQSRT 2011 Peter C. Waterman Award (formerly the Young Scientist Award)
"The Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer (JQSRT) focuses on three areas; Quantitative Spectroscopy, Radiative Transfer, and Electromagnetic Light Scattering. Since 2007, the three Editors-in-Chief of JQSRT have been working closely with the Elsevier Publisher to identify the best young researchers who have contributed to their respective fields. The JQSRT Young Scientist award was established to acknowledge contributions from talented young researchers under the age of 36 and these awards are traditionally presented during a conference related to one of the three focus areas of the journal."
Michael Mishchenko, Editor-in-Chief, JQSRT, Electromagnetic and Light Scattering
Laurence Rothman, Editor-in-Chief, JQSRT, Quantitative Spectroscopy
M. Pinar Mengüç, Editor-in-Chief, JQSRT, Radiative Transfer
Laura Schmidt, Publisher, JQSRT, Elsevier