History

 

The MACCS (Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies) project is a joint venture between the Augsburg College Physics Department and Boston University's Astronomy Department to study natural interactions in the Earth's space environment. Since 1991, faculty and students at the two colleges have worked together to build, calibrate and install magnetometers and computer-based recording systems at eight villages at the northern end of Hudson Bay, on Baffin Island and on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

The National Science Foundation has awarded a research grant which provides Augsburg and Boston University with money for the MACCS project to continue operating magnetometers at the remote sites.

The grant funding this project will continue to provide exceptional educational benefits to Augsburg College and Boston University students. In addition to the value of hands-on learning of how science is actually done, the cooperative and international nature of environmental science makes it a tremendous educational experience. Our students have the opportunity to meet both young scientists and established physicists from many countries. It's a definite plus for undergraduate students interested in scientific careers.

The people who have worked on the project are:
Augsburg College	Boston University
Faculty and Staff
Mark Engebretson engebret@augsburg.edu Professor of Physics Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences	W. Jeffrey Hughes hughes@bu.edu Professor of Astronomy Center for Space Physics
Jennifer Posch posch@augsburg.edu Assistant Scientist	Erik Steinmetz steinmee@augsburg.edu MACCS Project Manager
Current Project Assistants
Laura Simms Erik Johnson, Class of 2009

Past Project Assistants
Undergraduate Terry Okonek, Graduated 1993 Andy Sackreiter, Graduated 1994 Jeff Cameron, Graduated 1996 Lars Dyrud, Graduated 1997 Kim Schmidt, Graduated 1997 Jason Exley, Graduated 1998 Larye Pohlman, Graduated 1998 Auggie Negele, Graduated 1998 Eric Klatt, Graduated 1998 Jack Stover, Graduated 2000 Ryan Cobian, Graduated 2001 Matthew Klatt, Graduated 2001 James de Silva, Graduated 2001 Kevin Rassmussen, Graduated 2002 Alexa Halford, Graduated 2003 Jesse Woodroffe, Graduated 2003 Ryan Nevin, Graduated 2004 Geoff Shelburne, Graduated 2005 Heather Greene, Graduated2005 Jon-Erik Hokenson, Graduated 2005 Steve Quick, Graduated 2006 Erik Lundberg, Graduated2006 Matt Broughton, Graduated 2006	Graduate Eftyhia Zesta, Ph.D 1997 Ann Walker, MA 2000 Alex Ivanov David Murr, Ph.D 2003 Carol Carveth
	Undergraduate Rene Allard, Graduated 1996 Matt Kowaleski, Graduated 1996 Alex Fayer, Graduated 2002 Sarah Alves, Graduated 2002 Kristin Cass, Graduated 2003 Vicki Stockley, Graduated 2006