Lecture

In this talk, Tatiana Erukhimova, PhD, will showcase some of her most exciting physics demonstrations – many of which you can easily try at home! Get ready for clouds and magic bubbles, liquid oxygen and frozen erasers, levitating trains and floating toilet paper, spinning wheels, potato physics, and much more. And none of it is magic – it’s physics! Tatiana's recent video demonstrations have become a viral sensation, with over one billion views on Texas A&M social media. She has appeared on CBS Mornings, ABC News, NPR, and The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Tatiana Erukhimova, PhD

Instructional Professor, Marsha L. '69 and Ralph F. Schilling ’68 Chair for Physics Outreach, Texas A&M University

Tatiana Erukhimova, PhD, develops innovative educational programs by incorporating outreach activities as an integral element of the student learning experience. Dr. Erukhimova leads an NSF-funded nationwide study on how undergraduate student participation in informal physics outreach programs for K-12 students affects their success as physics majors. She organizes annual Physics & Engineering Festivals attended by thousands of visitors and is co-author with Gerald North of the textbook Atmospheric Thermodynamics.

Tatiana is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2023 American Physical Society (APS) Nicholson Medal for Outreach and the 2024 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Halliday and Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, AAPT, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Erukhimova is a Texas A&M Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence and the inaugural holder of the Marsha L. ’69 and Ralph F. Schilling ’68 Endowed Chair for Physics Outreach in the Department of Physics & Astronomy. Professor Erukhimova received her PhD from the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1999 and joined Texas A&M University in 2001.

About Paul Kaczmarczik

The Kaczmarczik Lecture Series was established in 1995 to honor beloved Drexel University Professor of Physics Paul Kaczmarczik. Professor Kaczmarczik attended Drexel as a student, graduating with a BS in physics in 1948. He began his career at Drexel in 1953. He became a key player in building the Physics and Atmospheric Science Department, where he made significant contributions to teaching during his many years of service. Well-liked by both his colleagues and his students, Kaczmarczik became Professor Emeritus in 1989. Professor Kaczmarczik passed away on January 20, 2009.