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 sub-disciplines – physical science which focuses on physical phenomena and life science which focuses on life and living systems – collectively the areas of science improve 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.
Jason Barbour, Ph.D., professor
Physical Science
410-777-1217
jpbarbour@aacc.edu
DRGN 240
Jason Barbour, Ph.D., professor
Physical Science
410-777-1217
jpbarbour@aacc.edu
DRGN 244
Robert Carp, professor
Chemistry
410-777-2264
rtcarp@aacc.edu
DRGN 231
Dan Ferandez, professor
Physical Science
410-777-2031
dvferandez@aacc.edu
DRGN 243
Eric Fons, associate professor
Physics
410-777-2154
ewfons@aacc.edu
DRGN 234
Katherine Keough, assistant professor
Physical Science
410-777-2828
kmkeough@aacc.edu
DRGN 242
Deborah Levine, Ph.D., associate professor
Astronomy
410-777-1280
dalevine@aacc.edu
DRGN 241
Anthony Santorelli, Ph.D., professor
Physical Science
410-777-1484
asantorelli@aacc.edu
DRGN 242
Shyamala Sivalingam, Ph.D., assistant professor
Chemistry
410-777-2157
ssivalingam@aacc.edu
DRGN 241
Maureen Sherer, professor
Chemistry
410-777-2261
masherer@aacc.edu
DRGN 231
Lynn Tracey, Ph.D., professor
Chemistry
410-777-2846
ljtracey@aacc.edu
DRGN 232
Meranda Byers, physics laboratory manager
410-777-2881
mfbyers@aacc.edu
DRGN 201
Elizabeth Ward, chemistry laboratory manager
410-777-2224
emward@aacc.edu
DRGN 211
Philippe "Phil" Espitallier, GBTC technical specialist
410-777-2997
pjespitallier@aacc.edu
GBTC 304
Steve Lannon, AMIL technical specialist
410-777-2022
stlannon@aacc.edu
AMIL 402
Jason Burkholder, part-time physical sciences laboratory specialist
410-777-2272
jlburkholder@aacc.edu
DRGN 200
Cristal Garcia-Lara, chemistry laboratory specialist
410-777-2069
cgarcialara@aacc.edu
DRGN 200
Leon Sparks, chemistry laboratory specialist
410-777-1183
lisparks@aacc.edu
DRGN 200
Kelli McBride
410-777-2281
kkmcbride@aacc.edu
DRGN 272G
Rachel Ryckman, administrative coordinator
410-777-2643
reryckman@aacc.edu
HLSB 272A/DRGN 237
Anthony Anderson, program assistant
410-777-2105
akanderson@aacc.edu
HLSB 272
James Seeders, program assistant
410-777-2108
jeseeders@aacc.edu
DRGN 238
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