By Jeannen Hobbs
One would expect to find books, books, and more books in the offices of ASU’s faculty members, but when you enter the office of Dr. Eric Zuckerman, associate professor of chemistry, you’re immediately struck by not only that, but signs of his active participation in the campus life of Augusta State. A photo of the volleyball team sits on his window sill, filled with little notes of appreciation from its team members. It reflects Dr. Zuckerman’s involvement in the athletic side of the institution.
Two years ago, Dr. Z—as he is often called by students—joined a new faculty initiative to support the athletic program. Called “Huddle Up,” the program connects faculty members with the sport of their choice. He says he joined the effort right away. “I played volleyball in college at Michigan State on a club team. I had a little experience, so I volunteered to see what the team was all about. I have attended almost all of the games to show support. I guess you could call me their biggest fan.” He also helps other athletes by volunteering at study sessions in which he tutors in his specialties, math and science.
His specialties extend well beyond the classroom. He has delighted audiences who have had the occasion to hear him sing, and he frequently sings the National Anthem at ASU’s basketball games. He also plays guitar and is an avid golfer. In fact, last year he played in the Atlantic Cup tournament in South Africa. He played in the tournament as a result of his membership of Champions Retreat, a golf club in Evans. The amateur’s event rotates, and this year will be held in Augusta.
Dr. Zuckerman says that his visit and playing the tournament was fantastic. “It’s one of the best vacations I’ve ever had. I spent time in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and out in the Bush. It was worth the trip. Augusta has held on to the Atlantic Cup. The players are coming back during the Masters, and they are coming ready to play.”
His primary interest, however, is academic. In addition to engaging the minds of students in the classroom and tutoring outside the classroom, he is engaged in research, often several projects at any given time. In one, he seeks to quantify what is commonly known as, the “juice battery” or “fruit battery.” He explains, “You can take a piece of fruit, put a couple of different types of nails in there, and it will create some electricity for you. There are a lot of misconceptions about how that happens and what is happening. It’s such a simple idea. It’s been around for a long time, but it’s worth experimenting because no one has really done it,” he says.
Another project is scheduled to get underway this summer. It is built on previous collaborations between Dr. Zuckerman and Dr. Trinanjan Datta, assistant professor of physics, to look at how suspended cables differ. Dr. Zuckerman says that the ultimate goal of the research is to see how the cables move during a chaotic motion, like an earthquake.
Dr. Zuckerman received his bachelor and master degrees from Michigan State University and a doctorate from Purdue University.
Name: Dr. Eric Zuckerman
Pets: Chocolate Labrador named Sagan
Classes he teaches: Intro to Chem, Physical Chem, Astronomy, Physical Science
Favorite Class to Teach: CHEM 3722: Physical Chemistry II
Interesting Fact: Sings the National Anthem at ASU games when requested
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Mar 1, 2010
Profiles