Michael L Allen

Professor of astronomy, career track

Professional interests

STEM pedagogy related to backwards design, peer instruction, and assessment-driven learning
robotic telescopes and student education

Teaching

core coursework in the Physics & Astronomy major
history & philosophy of science in the Honors College
first-year level breadth requirements for non-majors
senior-level science capstone

Service

academic advising in Physics & Astronomy, and in General Studies: General Physical Sciences
public outreach via the WSU planetarium and observatory, and with the Palouse Astronomical Society
curriculum development & assessment committees at the departmental and college level

Education & Experience

Faculty, Washington State University, 2002-present
Staff scientist, David Dunlap Observatory, 1999-2002
PhD Astronomy, University of Toronto, 1999
MS Astronomy, University of Toronto, 1993
BS Physics, McMaster University, 1992

Selected publications

With undergrads as co-authors

Ritterby, C, and Allen, ML. “Infrared distance to WZ Hya.” Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, 51, 2023. https://app.aavso.org/jaavso/article/3850/

Fickle, J, and Allen, ML. “BViz photometry of the RR Lyrae star RU Ceti”. Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, 50(1), 55, 2022. https://app.aavso.org/jaavso/article/3793/

Teaching & learning

Allen, ML. “The Moon – What’s it made of? Where did it come from?” National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2019. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/moon

Joyner, H., and Allen, ML. “Humans in space: developing a sustainable food supply on Mars,” National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, 2015. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/farming-space

Allen, Michael L., and Diane O. Kelly-Riley, “Promoting undergraduate critical thinking in astro 101 lab exercises,” Astronomy Education Review , 4(2), 10, 2005. doi: 10.3847/AER2005017

Astronomy

Biermann, PL, Kronberg, PP, Allen, ML, Meli, A, Seo, E-S. “The Origin of the Most Energetic Galactic Cosmic Rays: Supernova Explosions into Massive Star Plasma Winds”. Galaxies (2019), 7, 48. doi: 10.3390/galaxies7020048

Selected presentations

Contact:

Office: Pullman campus, Webster Physical Sciences 1246
E-mail: mlfa at wsu.edu

Areas of expertise: STEM education, astronomy

Link to the astro-imaging lab at WSU

Link to Google scholar page