John Hughes

God the Creator calls us as physicists to consider the work of His fingers, to echo His glory declared in the heavens, and to shepherd His creation for the good of mankind. 

Covenant College prepares students for this calling by leading physics majors through the deep wonders of classical, statistical, and quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and laboratory science, all while strengthening their faith in the great and mighty Maker of all things. 

If this sounds like your calling, please come join us!

Education

• B.S. in Engineering Physics
• Ph.D. in Physics from Dartmouth College

Interests / Specialization

• Space Physics
• Teaching and writing about physics

Selected Professional Work

• R. A. Serway, C. Vuille, and J. M. Hughes, _College Physics_, 12th ed., Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT, 2024
• C. K. Mutiso, M. Zettergren, J. M. Hughes and G. G. Sivjee, “Thermospheric neutral temperatures derived from charge-exchange produced N2+ Meinel (1,0) rotational distributions”, Annales Geophysicae, 31, 463-471, 2013.
• M. J. Kosch, B. Gustavsson, C. Heinselman, T. Pedersen, M. T. Rietveld, J. Spaleta, A. Wong, W. Wang, C. Mutiso, W. Bristow and J. M. Hughes, “First incoherent scatter radar observa- tions of ionospheric heating on the second gyroharmonic”, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar- Terrestrial Physics, 71, 17-18, pp 1959-1966, 2009.
• N. L. Bunch, J. LaBelle, A. T. Weatherwax, J. M. Hughes and D. Lummerzheim, “Experimental tests of the generation mechanism of auroral medium frequency burst radio emissions”, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A09302, doi:10.1029/2008JA013993, 2009.
• C. K. Mutiso, J. M. Hughes, et al, “Previously unreported optical emissions generated during iono- spheric heating”, Geophys. Res. Letters, 35, doi:10.1029/2008GL034563, 2008.

Get to know your professor

Q. If you could compete in an olympic sport, what would it be and why?
A. Curling - because I'm better at sliding slowly on ice than I am at running fast or jumping high!

Q. Favorite local restaurant?
A. We're still exploring!

Q. Favorite food?
A. Indian, Thai, or Mexican. Or hot dogs.

Q. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better?
A. Seeing my wife smile.

Q. If you could teach any other major, what would it be?
A. Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. I'm clearly not qualified to teach anything without equations. But if woodturning was a major, I would love to teach that!

Q. Personal Interests/Hobbies
A. Fountain pens, woodworking, chess, gardening, and basketball.