JB Sharma, Ph.D.

Overview

Dr. Sharma is a faculty member in the UNG Department of Physics and is the Assistant Department Head. He is also a part of the UNG Institute for Environmental Spatial Analysis (IESA). He was awarded the Georgia Professor of the Year in 1999 by the Carnegie Foundation and an Excellence in Teaching Award by the University System of Georgia, also in 1999. He is the UNG Eminent Scholar for Teaching and Learning since 2009.

Courses Taught

He teaches courses in both physics and the remote sensing of the environment. These include the introductory algebra/trigonometry and calculus based physics sequences and the modern physics course. In addition he teaches the senior level remote sensing, image processing and advanced image processing courses. He has also co-developed and taught a philosophy of science course.

Education

• Ph.D., Geography - Remote Sensing and GIS, University of Georgia, 2008
• M.S., Physics, University of Georgia, 1987
• B.S., Physics, Jacksonville State University, 1982

Research/Special Interests

Dr. Sharma has a special interest in both physics and remote sensing education. He is involved in novel curricular development in introductory college physics courses based on active learning that is enhanced and personalized with instructional technology. He is active in applied remote sensing research; in particular in high spatial resolution remote sensing with data from multiple sensors and Geographic Object Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) techniques. He has a special interest in geo-spatial problems that bridge the physical and social domains, undergraduate research and K12 Physics/Remote Sensing outreach.

Publications

He has published and presented aspects of his research in the areas of atomic physics, physics education and remote sensing applications and education. He has written several grants to secure external funding and written technical reports upon conclusion of projects. He remains active in mentoring student projects and helping them present and publish their work. He is also active in reviewing remote sensing articles for peer reviewed journals.

Work Experience

Dr. Sharma has worked in the University System of Georgia for over 30 years. He began his academic career in 1984 as a Instructor of Physics at Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA. He then moved to Gainesville State College in 1988 as an Assistant Professor and has been there since then; he became a full professor in 1999. He continues to be the Eminent Scholar of Teaching and Learning since 2008. He became the Assistant Department Head of UNG Physics in 2012.

Personal Information

Dr. Sharma was born in India and came as a 17 year old freshman on an academic scholarship to Jacksonville State University in Alabama where he completed his undergraduate studies. He has lived in Georgia since then, mostly in Gainesville, where he lives with his wife and two sons. He enjoys organic gardening, sailing, woodworking, reading and the great outdoors.