Hicks retired from Ohio University in 2018, when he was awarded Professor Emeritus status. He now lives in Bloomington, Indiana.
Education
Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1984
Bio
Kenneth Hicks does research in the area of experimental nuclear physics. Before coming to Ohio University (OHIO), Ken Hicks was a Research Scientist at Canada's largest proton accelerator, in beautiful Vancouver. While visiting his family in Ohio, he interviewed at OHIO and decided he liked everything about it: the campus, the people and the opportunity to teach students.
His primary research interest is the interaction of quarks and how they combine to make strongly-interacting particles (like the proton). To investigate the structure of these particles, he uses accelerated beams of electrons (or photons) which hit targets of protons or neutrons. From the scattering angles and intensities of particles produced from these collisions, the force between quarks can be studied.
On teaching: "I enjoy finding new ways to motivate my students, whether it is for freshmen or seniors. The key is understanding that each student is different, and that "one size doesn't fit all." Getting to know each student individually in every class is important to me. When students know that you care about them, it makes a difference.''
From 2006-2018, Hicks wrote bi-weekly columns about science for The Columbus Dispatch. He recently published a book on popular science titled "Nature's Balancing Act", available from Oxford University Press.
For recreation, Hicks enjoys doing triathlons, reading popular mathematics books, and playing the piano.
Research Interests
- Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics
- About His Research
Publications
Hicks, K., "Nature's Balancing Act", Oxford University Press, New York, 2025. https://academic.oup.com/book/59726
Project Director
Structure of the Universe: From Quarks to Superclusters
Member
Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP)
Presentations and Awards
In 2004, Hicks was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (Division of Nuclear Physics) "...for his recent leadership role in experiments which have opened the new field of exotic pentaquark baryon study and for his sustained contributions to nuclear physics."