PRESQUE ISLE — Thanks to a collaboration with his students, NMCC instructor J.P. Levasseur will soon be publishing a second edition of his book. The physics instructor of 25 years published his own textbook which was used for the first time during the 2015 spring semester. “Technical Physics — Using the Systems Approach” is a combination of Levasseur’s work on laboratory and student exercises over the years plus text that he wrote last summer tying all the work together.
“I was glad to combine these works so that students would only have to purchase one book which covers all the material we need, and save them money,” said Levasseur.
The Caribou native designed the book to be especially appropriate for technicians and includes information students will need for licensing exams.
“My spring semester students were the first to use the book and they enjoyed trying to find errors as there would be in many first editions,” Levasseur explained. “As soon as they realized I would not be offended, they spoke up and really enjoyed looking closely at the material. They brought up formatting or organizational issues, some typographical errors, etc. Sometimes they would argue about concepts and I would ask, ‘How do you know that’s wrong?’ The discussion was a really great way to learn.”
Levasseur kept track of any necessary changes and will make them, as well as add acknowledgements regarding his students in the second edition.
Also during this academic year, Levasseur, along with colleagues Dr. Horace Crater of the University of Tennessee Space Institute, George Haas and William Saunders, had a technical paper published in the prestigious “Journal of Space Exploration” (Mehta Press). The paper analyzes a set of surface features on the planet Mars as imaged by orbiting space probes, and makes the argument that these features could be ancient artificially-constructed formations.
“No doubt this is a ‘fringe theory’ and up to now, we’ve only been published in more obscure journals,” Levasseur said. “But this inclusion of a peer-reviewed paper in a mainstream scientific publication is breaking the glass ceiling and is very exciting.”
Levasseur is working on a philosophy paper examining why these kinds of topics are often discounted by conventional society.
“I think the theory of ancient intelligent life on Mars needs to be entertained by the scientific community and not simply dismissed. People should approach these types of subjects in a detached manner. It is perfectly researchable and testable like other strange phenomenon,” said Levasseur. “There is a risk to study this, but the data warrants attention. Imagine the implications if it’s true!”
Levasseur received his master’s degree in education from Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, N.H. and his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology at the University of Maine.
