Rate My Professor Scott Severson

Severson's research focuses on developing next-generation astronomical adaptive optics systems, enhancing Sonoma State University's observational capabilities, and advancing astronomical instrumentation, particularly in near-infrared adaptive optics, high spatial-resolution imaging of galaxy centers and planetary science, and time domain astronomy. He has led significant projects such as the KAPAO adaptive optics system at Table Mountain Observatory, funded by a $637,138 NSF MRI grant (Co-PI, SSU portion $118,345, 2010-2013), and established an adaptive optics lab with an $85,000 Mt. Cuba Foundation grant. Other grants include Co-PI on the $899,842 NSF Robert Noyce Scholarship Program and $29,889 PhysTEC grant. His key publications encompass “KAPAO first light: the design, construction and operation of a low-cost natural guide star adaptive optics system” (Proc. SPIE 9148, 2014), “KAPAO: a MEMS-based natural guide star adaptive optics system” (Proc. SPIE 8617, 2013), “Villages: an on-sky visible wavelength astronomy AO experiment using a MEMS deformable mirror” (Proc. SPIE 6888, 2008), and “The extreme adaptive optics testbed at UCSC: current results and coronographic upgrade” (Proc. SPIE 6272, 2006). Severson received Sonoma State University's Excellence in Teaching Award for 2020-2021, having been nominated in prior years. He directs the SSU Campus Observatory since 2008, organizing Public Viewing Nights and the “What Physicists Do” lecture series (~11 talks per semester), and has mentored students for a combined 67 student-semesters with an average Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness score of 4.72 out of 5. He has served on the University Structure and Functions Committee and Campus Planning Committee.