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Meet the Department Interview with Jim Beatty

Jim Beatty image
An interview with:  James (Jim) Justin Beatty

Family:
Spouse:
Anne Beatty, Deloitte & Touche Chair in Accounting at OSU
Children:  Linus is 17 and Zoe is 14.

Research area: Experimental Particle Astrophysics -dealing with the highest energy particles in the Universe.

Title at OSU: Chair and Professor of Physics and Professor of Astronomy

Number of years at OSU: 10

Favorite foods: Chicago style pizza, and Indian food. When a trip to Chicago is not possible, he makes the Chicago style pizza at home, but is working on perfecting the crust.

Hobbies: Musician - has played the guitar for 40 years, and the bass for 4. He is bassist and occasional vocalist in his band The Dealio -which will play a show at O’Tooles on Broad St. Dec. 5th 7-10:00 PM

What was your first job? - At 14 or 15 I worked in a small college cafeteria making toast for 1,000 people every morning at 5AM for the 7:00 AM breakfast crowd. I fed bread into a toast machine and then buttered it with a paintbrush when it came out. Then I moved up to dishwashing.

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever visited? - Hanoi or Antarctica -“In Antarctica everyone wears the same clothes, so you can’t tell scientists apart from anyone else. Everyone became very equal. I liked to hang out with the ‘fuelies’ who operate the generators; they were a fun group. And at capacity 60% of the people there are to keep the place running.”

If you weren’t a physicist, what would you be doing as a career? - Rockstar! musician)

What is your favorite place on campus (Not PRB)? - I go to the top floor of the library if I want a quiet place and a great view.

If you could stay a certain age forever, what would it be? - Right now - I don’t want to go back, you learn so much; and I don’t want to go much further downhill.

What is your most memorable experience or proudest accomplishment?

Proudest Accomplishment: Making the Pierre Auger Observatory work. I headed the electronics group that turned on the first detectors.  (http://www.auger.org/)

Most Memorable Experience: Flying High Altitude Balloons. It’s a gas.

When did you start wearing Hawaiian shirts? - In the 90’s, before they became trendy.

Why did you start wearing Hawaiian shirts? - I went to Hawaii and liked them, and they’re comfortable.

Do you have a favorite Hawaiian shirt? – I have a favorite designer: Tori Richard.

Where would we find you on the morning of a home football game? - Watching College Game Day at home with the family.

What do you think you will do after you retire? -  Hang out on the beach of Hawaii’s Big Island, play lots of Rock and Roll, and travel.

Any other interesting facts? – 1) I was awarded a French knighthood in 2009 for working with the French on the Auger project. My title is: Officier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques; 2) I’ve been to all seven continents, but still haven’t seen everything.