Whitman Today
 

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Student-Faculty Research Explores Unanswered Questions

Two students and a teacher in a lab setting.

Adrian Liborio Camacho ’27 (center) and William Maisonpierre ’26 (left) worked alongside Douglas Juers (right), the Carl E. Peterson Endowed Chair of Science and Professor of Physics, to understand how liquid behaves inside microscopic pores. 

This summer, more than 100 Whitman College students participated in student-faculty research collaborations on and off campus. About 70% of those projects received funding support through Whitman endowments, a tradition that has been growing and expanding for nearly 30 years, thanks to the continued support of generous donors.

While student-faculty collaborative research happens year-round at Whitman, the largest percentage takes place during the summer months, when students have more availability to delve deeply into the work. 

Students collaborate with faculty across all three academic divisions at Whitman—with projects that vary widely in subject, scope and design. From the physics lab to the rivers of Yellowstone National Park to the shelves of Penrose Library, students and faculty tackled big ideas and practical problems in their summer research.

Read more about these fascinating student-faculty collaborations. 

Noteworthy

Men’s Golf Team Wins Tournament

The Whitman men’s golf team recently won the California State Intercollegiate tournament hosted by California Lutheran University—the first tournament of the season. The Whitman women’s golf team also competed and finished in fourth place. Next week, both teams will compete at the Orange and Black Invitational hosted by Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.

 

Music Faculty Member Presents at International Conference

Last week, Senior Lecturer of Music Michael Simon ’02 presented at the annual Society for Music Production Research conference in Canada. The presentation, titled “Fallout: The Absent Presence and Phenomenological Approaches to Music Production in a Nuclear Reactor,” looked at the recording of the piece “Nuclear Dreams” in the Hanford B reactor hall— recently reported on in Whitman Today and in Whitman Magazine.

Submit a Noteworthy Announcement

Announcements

Community Engagement Program Volunteer Training Tonight

Any students interested in volunteering with a Community Engagement Program through the Career and Community Engagement Center are encouraged to attend “Walla Walla 101” on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. This event includes training that is required before participation. (Flyer attached.)

 

Volleyball Home Games This Weekend

Sherwood Athletic Center will close early on Friday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. in preparation for volleyball home games which start on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. As a general rule, Sherwood Athletic Center closes three hours prior to the start of any home games.

 

Monthly Trivia Begins Next Week

The first monthly Battle of the W(h)its Trivia and Sips and Suds event of the semester will take place on Monday, Sept. 22, from 5–7 p.m. (trivia begins at 5:30 p.m.) in the Reid Campus Center Café. Alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase (for those 21 and over). Teams of five players compete in four rounds of trivia. Whitman students, faculty and staff members are all welcome to compete!

Photo Finish

An overhead view of a sand volleyball game in progress.

This week, students in Sand Volleyball classes enjoyed sunny weather and cooler temperatures while also learning the fundamentals of the game. See more photos on Instagram.

Happening Today

 

9:30–10:30 a.m.

Employee Webinar: Mastering Mortgage Approval

Virtual Event

5:30–6:30 p.m.

Employee Webinar: Finances for New Families

Virtual Event

6–7 p.m.

Dracula Club Casual Meeting

Outside of Cordiner Hall

6–7 p.m.

First Meeting: SACNAS

Hall of Science, Room 140

7–8 p.m.

Health Speaker Series: Karl Tjerandsen ’01

Hall of Science, Brattain Auditorium

7–8:30 p.m.

Volunteer Orientation: Walla Walla 101

Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom

8–10:30 p.m.

Burritos & Stargazing at Bennington Lake

Meet at Hall of Science Parking Lot (RSVP)

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon on the business day prior to publication. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

Mountain graphic

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