David Wittman

Assistant Professor
Physics Department
UC Davis
Contact info
                   
High-redshift cluster of galaxies discovered
through its gravitational effects alone.

Research

I use gravitational lensing to reveal various aspects of the universe, such as where the mass is and its relationship to the light which forms our traditional view of the universe. I am currently focused on the Deep Lens Survey (DLS), a deep optical imaging survey of 20 square degrees of sky. As Co-PI, I am deeply involved in all aspects of the survey, from planning and coordinating over 100 nights of 4-meter telescope time, to data processing and algorithms, to final science analysis and public data release. A fun part of this is producing beautiful color images of the sky (you can see more on the DLS website below). I am also involved in planning and design for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), an 8-m telescope with a 3-degree field of view which will repeatedly survey the sky beginning in 2012.

Our research group has opportunities for motivated and talented students, at both undergraduate and graduate levels, in physics and in related areas such as image processing and computer science. If you are an interested UC Davis student (or researcher or faculty!), drop by the fifth floor of the physics building and we'll show you the great things we are doing.

Education

Courses taught:

General Education

Physics 10: Gravity and Relativity (Fall 2009). The topic of Physics 10 varies from quarter to quarter, depending on the instructor. This is my attempt to bring some of the great ideas of 20th-century physics to non-majors.

AST 10G, Stars, Galaxies, Universe: Winter 2010/2009/2008, Fall 2006 (when it was nominated for an ASUCD Excellence in Education Award). See also my YouTube channel of mini-lectures on introductory astronomy topics.

Upper Division

PHY 156, Intro to Cosmology: Spring 2009/2007 (when it was called PHY 126)

Graduate

Fall 2008: PHY 265, High Energy Astrophysics

Spring 2008: PHY 250, Weak Lensing

About education:

Shaping Attitudes Toward Science in an Introductory Astronomy Course, accepted to The Physics Teacher, to appear in fall 2009

Informal documents available to instructors upon request: Lessons From My First Two Years: Teaching Advice for New (Science) Faculty and Tips for Teaching ``Astronomy 101''

Other Activities