In the News
![Photo of VMI cadets posing in front of conference at the 2021 SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF).](/media/content-assets/images/news/2021-22/SURFers_Thumbnail-1-400x266.png)
Maj. Sarah Patterson and Maj. Blain Patterson from the Department of Applied Mathematics had the privilege of accompanying 11 cadets as they presented their research on a variety of topics, ranging from identifying glycans with neural networks to women in counterterrorism.
![Photo courtesy of Roanoke College Office of Communications and Marketing](/media/content-assets/images/news/2019-20/Rae-Carpenter-1-web-500x281-400x266.jpg)
Col. D. Rae Carpenter Jr., former head of the physics department at VMI, passed away on May 26 at Kendal of Lexington at the age of 92.
![Col. Greg Topasna shows off the new solar telescope dome installed atop Maury-Brooke Hall.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2017-18/SolarTelescope2018KN13-1-400x266.jpg)
This fall, astronomy cadets will have a new tool to aid in their studies—a remotely controlled solar telescope just installed on the roof of Maury-Brooke Hall.
![Col. Stacey Vargas, professor of physics/astronomy, received an award for “Innovation in Higher Education” from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council in May. – Photo courtesy of James Madison University.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2016-17/234584-Tech-Nite-2017-1216-1-400x266.jpg)
Col. Stacey Vargas, professor of physics and astronomy, won the Innovation in Higher Education award from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council for her research of ultra-short-pulse lasers.
![Julianne Knoblett ’20, Eryn Daman ’18, and Marlene Haag ’18, each members of WiSE, look at an image taken by a telescope with Col. Daniela Topasna, professor of physics and astronomy. – VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2016-17/WISE2017HLM0055-1-400x266.jpg)
There's a new group on post for female cadets majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
![Col. Greg Topasna talks astronomy with science fair participants.](/media/content-assets/images/news/2016-17/ScienceFair2017SH0107List.jpg)
VMI professors were among those offering hands-on activities for the estimated 400 young people attending Sunday's Science Fest and Maker Faire in downtown Lexington.