Vita for John David Gavenda
Professor Emeritus of Physics and of Education
The University of Texas at Austin


Born:
March 25, 1933, in Temple, Texas


Education:
Rio Hondo, Texas, Public Schools1939-1950 
University of Chicago1950-1951(Liberal Arts)
University of Texas1951-1954B. S. in physics
University of Texas1954-1956M. A. in physics
Brown University1956-1959Ph. D. in physics

Positions Held:
1949-1950Control Room Engineer, KBOR Brownsville, TX
1951-1952Radiotelegraph Operator, Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Austin,TX
1952-1956Technical Staff Assistant, Defense Research Laboratory
University of Texas
1956-1959Edgar Lewis Marston Fellow, Brown University
1959-1962Assistant Professor of Physics and Research Scientist, Defense
Research Laboratory, University of Texas
1962-1965Associate Professor of Physics, University of Texas (On leave
during 1963 while appointed as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute
for the Study of Metals, University of Chicago)
1965-1967Associate Professor of Physics and of Education, University of Texas
1967-1999Professor of Physics and of Education, University of Texas
(On leave Jan-Jun 1969 as NATO Senior Fellow, University of Oslo)
1999-Professor Emeritus of Physics and of Education, University of Texas

Professional Organizations:

American Physical Society (Fellow)
        Helped organize the Texas Section and served as Vice-Chair, Chair,
        and Secretary-Treasurer
American Association of Physics Teachers (Fellow)
        Chaired several national committees
Texas Academy of Science (Fellow)
Sigma Xi
Texas Association of College Teachers

Honors and Awards:

Phi Beta Kappa, University of Texas 1954
Robert N. Little Award for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Higher
        Education in Texas from the Texas Section of AAPT 1988
UT Natural Sciences Advisory Council Award for Teaching Excellence 1994
Distinguished Service Citation from the AAPT 1996 [Citation published in
        Am. J. Phys. 65, 596 - 597 (1997)]


Teaching Experience:

   General physics courses for non-majors; introductory sequence for majors and for engineers; quantum mechanics, atomic physics, and electricity and magnetism for upper-division majors; solid state physics for graduate students. Supervised fifteen Ph. D. candidates in Physics and four in Science Education.



Physics Research:

   Engaged in the study of the interaction of conduction electrons with lattice vibrations in metals. These investigations have used the magnetic field dependence of the attenuation and velocity of high-frequency sound waves at liquid helium temperatures as a means of measuring the interaction. Recent work has been directed toward the use of surface acoustic waves to study the properties of electrons near the surfaces of metals. Also engaged in projects related to the measurement and suppression of electromagnetic emissions from computers. This includes the development of models for the propagation of electromagnetic waves inside semi-anechoic chambers and in other real-world environments of interest to test engineers. Published more than 50 papers on these topics, plus numerous reports and oral presentations. (Link to publication list)
   Consultant to the Electromagnetic Compatibility department of IBM/Austin on problems related to the measurement and reduction of electromagnetic noise emitted by computing devices (1983-92).
   Consultant to Ray Proof Shielding Corporation on improved methods for measuring the properties of electromagnetic absorbing materials (1992-5).


Curriculum Development:

   Consulted on various science curriculum projects for elementary and junior high students, including the 1967 summer writing conference for the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study project.
   Formulated the content and methodology related to physical science for a series of elementary and junior high science textbooks published by Ginn and Company in the 1970s.
   Chaired the National Steering Committee of the American Institute of Physics Tech Physics Project, which developed a new physics course for technology students.
   Developed one of the first computer-based introductory physics courses for science majors.
   Served on the National Advisory Board for the NSF-sponsored Solar Tech Project which developed a curriculum for solar energy technicians.
   Served as a member of the Review Board and the Advisory Board for the National Science Teachers Association project to develop a new public school curriculum in the sciences: Scope, Sequence and Coordination of Secondary School Science.
   Developed a computer-based system for introductory physics laboratories.


Other Administrative, Professional, and Public Service:

   Directed the U. T. Academic Year Institute for high school science and mathematics teachers, 1960-62.
   Consultant to several major publishers of physics textbooks.
   Chair or member of a number of Standing Committees of the General Faculty.
   Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate of U. T. (1987-1988, 1989-1990).
   Served as External Reviewer for the evaluation of the UT-Arlington Physics Department 2007.