Carleton College physics phenom wins Churchill Scholarship, is headed ...

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Carleton Collegephysics phenom wins ChurchillScholarship, is headed to CambridgeBy Christopher Magancmagan@pioneerpress.comPosted: 03/04/201212:01:00 AM CSTUpdated: 03/04/201211:49:19 PM CST

Computers got Michael Coughlin interested inphysics, and now he's hopeful that studyingabroad will bring him a more collectiveapproach to research.

"The way science is done over there is muchdifferent. It is more collaborative," theBurnsville native said. "I expect to learn a lotfrom that experience."

Coughlin will graduate from Carleton College in Michael Coughlin of Burnsville is a Churchill Scholar at

Northfield, Minn., in June with a double major Carleton College. (Courtesy Photo)

in physics and mathematics. He recently wasnamed a Churchill Scholar and will spend the next academic year studying at the Universityof Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where he intends to earn a master's degree.

Coughlin studies gravitational waves, tied to Albert Einstein's relativity theory of gravity.Coughlin looks at how objects such as stars interact with black holes in deep space. Hebecame interested in computer-aided research as a student at Trinity School at River Ridgein Eagan, an interest that blossomed at Carleton.

"We did a lot of different computer-modeled experiments," he said. "That really turned meon to it."

The Churchill is a prestigious award, and the last time a Carleton student won the honorwas in 1998. Elizabeth Ciner, director of student fellowships at Carleton, said Coughlin is adeserving recipient.

"This is one of the hardest awards to get," Ciner said. "We are very happy for Michael. Itreally is a great recognition of the work he has done and a great reflection on the terrificwork of our students and faculty."

Ciner

describes Coughlin as "wonderfully Midwestern" and unassuming. He says he's humbled bythe honor of being able to study with some of the world's great scientists.

"I was completely shocked," he said. "In general, people who win this are leaders in theirfield. It is kind of crazy."

Physicists from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking have studied at Cambridge, making

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Carleton College physics phenomwins Churchill Scholarship, isheaded to Cambridge

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Carleton College physics phenom wins Churchill Scholarship, is headed ...

the mysteries of space and gravity.

Coughlin's upcoming year that much moreintriguing and intimidating.

"It is incredibly exciting and completelyterrifying at the same time," he said, noting afeeling of wanting to live up to expectations.

Coughlin hopes to draw a lot from thecollaborative-research approach at Cambridgebefore returning to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D.He hasn't decided between Harvard or theCalifornia Institute of Technology.

Either way, Coughlin plans to keep exploring

"I don't see myself as a professor, but 1 love working with other people and other students,"he said.

Christopher Magan can be reached at 651-228-5557. Follow him attwitter.com/cmaganPiPress. Read our blog Ahead ofthe Class atblogs.TwinCities.com/education.

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