DeWayne Backhus Chair, Departments of Physical Sciences Professor, Physics Department

ADDRESS INFORMATION

620-341-5330, Fax: 620-341-5515, E-mail: dbackhus@emporia.edu

EDUCATION

• B.S., Emporia State University.
  
• M.A., Harvard University.
  
• Ph.D., University of Kansas.

SPECIALTIES

• Earth/Space Sciences (planetary sciences), Energy Resource Management, and Science Education (nature of science).

EXPERIENCES

• Chair, Departments of Physical Sciences, ESU, 1989 to present.
• Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ESU, 1986-87.
• Assistant, Associate and Professor, Physical Sciences, ESU, 1967 to present.
• Planetarium Director, ESU, 1972-1986.

PROPOSALS AND GRANTS

HONORS AND AWARDS--SELECTED

• National Science Foundation/Harvard University, Prize Fellowship to Harvard University, 1966-67 (National, competitive, 25 awardees).
• Selected for membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics), Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics), Kappa Delta Pi (Education), and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.
• Third Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor, Emporia State University, 1981-82 (highest honor awarded to ESU faculty, reduced assignment, cash award, and speaking obligations).
• NASA JOVE Program Awards: (1) Development of Geospatial Analysis minor (with J. Aber and J. Wolfe), and (2) Introduction to Space Science course, 1993.
• Xi Phi Outstanding Faculty Award, Emporia State University, 2002.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (from 40+)

• Backhus, DeW. A. and Koehler, W. 1979. An Evaluation of Air Pollution Abatement Relaxation Strategies for Tennessee During Periods of Pending or Actual Energy Emergencies. University of Tennessee Energy, Environment and Resources Center, 160 p. [NSF Grant No. 403781800.]
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1982. Energy: Where Kansas Stands. Conference Proceedings, Energy Costs: Community Threat or Challenge. Kansas Corporation Commission. 1-17 to 1-58.
• Backhus, DeW.A. 1986. The Status of Comet Science in 1910: Gleanings from the Literature.  Transactions of the Kansas Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (Abstract).  89(3):3.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1997. Post-JOVE successes at Emporia State University: A case example. Conference Proceedings 8th Annual NASA-JOVE Summer Conference. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, p. 72-73.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1998. Physical sciences programs at baccalaureate-degree-granting, independent colleges and universities in the midwest. Kansas Academy Science, Transactions 101:1-10.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 2002.  It’s NOT Just a Theory.  The Science Teacher.  69(4): 44-47. Also, one of 12 titles in Evolution in Perspective:  The Science Teacher’s Compendium. 2004.  R. W. Bybee, Ed.  Arlington, VA:  National Science Teachers Association.  37-41. [Described in NSTA promotional material as follows: “This important book supplies the necessary insights by bringing together the views of leading scientists, professors, and teachers through 12 influential articles....”].
• Backhus, DeW. A. and Fitch, E. 2006. Nineteenth Century E.L. Trouvelot Astronomical Prints at Emporia State University. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. 109 (1-2), p. 11-20.
• Backus, DeW. A. and Thompson, K.W. 2006. Addressing the Nature of Science in Preservice Teacher Preparation Programs: Science Educator Perceptions. Journal of Science Teacher Education. 17 (1): 65-81.
• Thompson, K.W., Aber, J.S., Backhus, DeW.A., and Sleezer, R.D. 2008. University Contributions to Earth Science Teacher Professional Development. The Earth Scientist. Vol. XXVII, Issue 2, pp. 29-32.
  

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS/ABSTRACTS (from 100+)

• "Three Approaches for Providing the Laboratory Experience in a College Level General Education Physical Science Course." With E. Crawford. Midwest Regional meeting of National Science Teachers Association. St. Louis, MO, Oct. 1969.
• "Energy--An Overview of the Crisis and a Game." Western Area Convention of National Science Teachers Association. Denver, CO, Nov. 1974.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1980. Energy and Pollution Abatement--The Basis for an Energy Management Option. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (Abstract) 83(3):120-121.
• "Energy--Where Kansas Stands." Invited general assembly presentation for "Energy Cost: Community Threat or Challenge," statewide syposium sponsored by the Kansas Corporation Commission, Topeka, KS, Jan. 1982.
• "The Kansas Energy Situation." Invited presentation for Western Power Company area managers annual meeting, Great Bend, KS, Nov. 1982.
• "Energy, Technology, Environment: The Next Decade--Looking Through a Glass Darkly." Invited keynote address, Energy Symposium, Wichita, KS, Jan. 1984.
• "Anticipating Halley's Comet." Midwest Regional Meeting of National Science Teacher Association. Wichita, KS, Oct. 1985.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1986. The Status of Comet Science in 1910: Gleanings from the Literature. Kansas Academy of Science, Abstracts 5:3.
• "A NASA JOVE Administrator's Perspective" (one of 3 invited, non-NASA presenters). USRA-NASA Fall 1993 JOVE Program Orientation Conference. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, Nov. 1993.
• "NASA JOVE at Emporia State University: Three Years of Accomplishment." Poster presentation at NASA JOVE conference. Kennedy Space Center, FL, July 1994.
• Backhus, DeW. A. 1995. Survey of Selected Institutions Regarding Undergraduate Physical Science Programs. Kansas Academy of Science, Abstracts 14:9.
• "The Kansas Acid-Rain Monitoring Project: An overview of findings." With D. Schroeder. National meeting of National Science Teachers Assoc. St. Louis, MO, Mar. 1996.
• "A JOVE alumni success story." Invited presentation, 8th Annual NASA-JOVE Conference. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, July 1997.
• "Outcomes assessment program for the earth sciences at Emporia State University." ED12A-07. American Geophysical Union, fall 2000 meeting, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 2000.
• "Addressing the 'Nature of Science' in preservice science education programs: Results from a national survey. Kansas Academy Science, Abstracts 21:26.
• "The Astronomical Prints of E. L. Trouvelot at Emporia State University."  Annual Meeting of Kansas Academy of Science.  JCCC, Overland Park, KS 2005.
• “Dog-gone It: What Happened to Pluto? Redefining Planets.”  Annual meeting of Kansas Association of Teachers of Science.  Rock Spring Ranch, KS.  Apr. 2007.
  

CONSULTING AND PEER PROPOSAL REVIEW--SELECTED

• Consultant to Silver-Burdett Publishing Company (Intermediate Science Curriculum Study, ISCS), 1973.
• Consultant to Wichita public schools (ISCS curriculum implementation), 1974-75.
• Consultant to Southwestern Bell Company (energy resource management), Topeka, Kansas City, and Wichita, KS, 1977.
• Proposal Reader/Reviewer: Kansas State Department of Education, Title IV ESEA funds for energy-related innovations; Department of Energy (DOE) Office of University Programs, 1977, 1978, and 1979; Department of Energy Appropriate Technology Grants Progrm, 1981; National Science Foundation, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1990; Eisenhower Programs, 1990 to 1999; NASA EPSCoR and Space Grant (various), 1994 to present.
• Consultant to University of Tennessee-Knoxville Energy, Environment, and Resource Center (energy emergency planning). In conjunction with sabbatical leave, Spring 1979. Officed with Tennessee Energy Authority, Nashville, TN.
• Consultant to Energy Adventure Center, a Wichita public-school directed, three-year, $700,000 pilot program funded by Title IV ESEA funds (energy education), late 1970's, early 1980's.
• Special Agent for Kansas Corporation Commission (Kansas energy resource-consumption balance), 1981.
• Consultant, Shawnee Heights USD 450 (planetarium education), Topeka, 1986.

OTHER SELECTED PROFESSIONAL AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITES

• Produced eleven public planetarium programs for Peterson Planetarium, ESU, while director from 1972 to 1987. (Titles available on request.)
• Produced fully automated, four-projector slide presentation titled "ENERGY: An Unappreciated Commodity" presented at local and state-wide meetings, but first at a regional meeting of the National Science Teachers Association, Denver, CO, Oct. 1974.
• Co-developed [with Jim Calvert] an energy simulation game used widely in-state and out-of-state for various energy education and energy management purposes, early 1970s to early 1980s.
• ESU Community Television, produced and recorded twenty-four, 30-minute color television programs which were adapted from PS 520, Energy in Transition, for Channel 8, Spring 1978. (Program titles available on request.)
• Travel to study comparative energy usage, London, England and vicinity, Mar. 1982.
• Produced slide presentation for Kansas Energy Education Program titled "The Energy Dilemma." Included sixty-three slides with narrative script; twelve sets prepared for use across the state, Spring 1982.
• Conferred with American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) representatives pursuant to ESU as a host institution (one of eleven nationally) for AAPT PTRA (Physics Teacher Resource Agent) sites, investigated implications of that, and prepared letter of application to submit to the AAPT.  Consequently, ESU was awarded AAPT PTRA host institution status as a Rural Regional Center, November, 2002 through Spring, 2006.
• Prepared application materials and proposal for ESU institutional membership with Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PTEC), Summer 2006.  At the time of acceptance ESU was one of about 50 institutions in the PTEC.  PTEC is sponsored by the American Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society, and the American Association of Physics Teachers.
• Continuing involvement with Biosciences Initiatives and proposal development; ESU representative for biosciences at state-level meetings, and International BIO conferences, 2005 to present.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Kansas Association of Teachers of Science, Charter Member; Board Member, 1974-75; Program Chairman and President-Elect, 1974-75; and President 1975-76.
• Kansas Energy Education Program, 1980-83; Eastern Kansas Coordinator, 1982-83.
• Kansas Academy of Science, elected Council Member, 1983-86; Secretary, 1983-84; Program Coordinator, 118th Annual Meeting, ESU, Spring 1984; Nominating Committee, 1986.
• Eisenhower Science and Mathematics Education Act Program Advisory Committee to Kansas Board of Regents, 1990-present.
• Kansas State Board of Education Science Teacher Licensure Redesign Committee, Member, 1994-97.
• National Academy of Sciences Symposium on Improving Teacher Preparation and Credentialing Consistent with National Science Education Standards. Washington, D.C., Feb. 1996.
• Executive Committee, Kansas NASA EPSCoR and Kansas Space Grant Consortium, 1993 to present.