Vern J. Ostdiek
Vern Ostdiek was an Associate Professor at Benedictine College, where he had a joint appointment in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. In addition to teaching courses in physics, mathematics, and computer science, he oversaw the Computer Discovery Lab. Vern was named Benedictine College's Educator of the Year in 1999. His research interests centered on the nocturnal dynamics of the lower part of the Earth's atmosphere. Past research topics included noctilucent clouds and frontal zones.
Donald J. Bord
Don Bord, Ph.D., is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Prior to his appointment, he taught at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where his collaboration with Vern Ostdiek led to the development and publication of INQUIRY INTO PHYSICS, now in its 8th Edition. Don has an abiding interest in physics and astronomy education, particularly as it pertains to laboratory instruction, and has published articles in The American Journal of Physics, The Physics Teacher, and Sky and Telescope. He was co-editor, with Clint Sprott, of the first edition of Great Ideas for Teaching Physics. Don's research focuses on determining the abundance of heavy and rare-earth elements in chemically peculiar stars and the Sun using high-resolution spectra. Don served as chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, associate dean for planning and faculty development and associate provost, interim chair of the Department of Health and Human Services in 2016. He was the first recipient of the University of Michigan's Jacqueline Lawson Award for his contributions in the area of faculty governance.
