Born and raised in Ukraine, Dr. Anatoliy Glushchenko received superb preparation as an educator and professional physicist.

His M.S. degree in K-12 education is from one of the best European Pedagogical Universities, where all four years included lectures on physics and math along with the study of philosophy, psychology, methodology and pedagogy of how to introduce physics and math to K-12 students of different ages.

His track record at the University provided him a full ride scholarship to obtain his Ph.D. at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine – a central physics research center of modern Ukraine. His research is in the area of liquid crystal displays – those we have in our cellphones, laptops, and large LCD TVs. In fact, one of the discoveries he made during his stay as a research manager at the famous Liquid Crystal Institute (Kent, OH) is utilized in all cellphone screens used today!

In addition to his extensive research practice, Dr. Glushchenko is an educator and has a wide range of teaching experience from middle school to high school, to undergraduates and to graduates – all in the very diverse international environment of Europe and Asia: South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, and other countries. He’s had the unique chance to witness and experience the educational system of the world and is now sharing his expertise in the United States!

In 2000, as a world-renowned researcher, he was invited to the United States to continue his research in liquid crystals, applied optics, nanomaterials, and photonics. Currently, he’s a Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he teaches advanced Physics classes, directs the Center for Advanced Technologies & Optical Materials, and leads the broad range of fundamental and applied research in biophysics and soft condensed matter. He’s the author of more than 200 research papers, books and patents, and a frequent keynote and invited speaker at national and international conferences.

His research center is currently working on technologies that will be incorporated in devices and shape our lives 5 to 15 years from now. A physicist first created the devices and gadgets we enjoy today. Physicists’ prototypes are polished by engineers and designers to get devices into the shape we eventually have in our hands. Dr. Glushchenko works on flexible displays, tunable lenses, smart electronic eyes for driverless cars and drones, missile defense systems, and other devices that will shape our future. Being on the forefront of science by not only teaching, but providing employment opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, he sees exactly “the product of the U.S. K12 system.” He witnesses what students know in reality while beginning their university studies and he knows what they need know in order to be prepared, competitive, and to succeed. Professionals like Dr. Glushchenko are the ones determining future academic standards for K-12 education.

Dr. Glushchenko collaborates extensively with many research and government labs and companies. His work is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, DARPA, Navy, Air Force Research Lab, NATO, and Research Corporation, including STTR and SBIR types of funding. His applied research, materials, and devices development are sponsored by small businesses and large corporations, such as Lockheed Martin, United Technologies, LG-Phillips, Cobham, Bosch, and more.

He has received numerous awards as a result of his work with Physics and Education, including the Award-Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for Young Scientists (1997). In 2007, he became an Inventor of the Year and received an Award from the University of Colorado.  In 2013, for his innovative work with schools, he received the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award. He is a One Million Dollars Club inductee at the University of Colorado (2015). This year, he received a Faculty Research Award from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Outside his work at the University, Dr. Glushchenko is an established expert on the methodology for Physics and Mathematics for elementary, middle, and high schools. His expertise includes the development of interdisciplinary classes, problem solving approaches, and hands-on methods to connect Physics and Mathematics with other disciplines. He is the founder of Physics in Middle School as a Separate Discipline Program, the author of the Elementary School Math Integrated with Science Program, and inventor of the Physics in a Box ^TM Program – all innovative programs adopted by many private organizations and schools in the United States.

One of the goals Dr. Glushchenko has is to implement physics the way it’s taught in Europe and Asia in all middle and junior high schools of the United States by providing schools with tools, materials, curriculum, and year-round teacher preparation on the content knowledge and methodology.

If you want to speak to Dr. Glushchenko in person, please contact him at ag@physcira.com .

 

Read Dr. Glushchenko’s letter for his vision of a physics education movement: