Mary Wash Goldwater Scholar Showcases Perfect Symmetry

In our everyday language, symmetry refers to things that are rightly balanced. For Abigail “Abby” Swanson, a University of Mary Washington junior, majoring in physics and mathematics, the combination of the two subjects she studies couldn’t be “more balanced.”

Except, Swanson, who hails from Farmville, Virginia, studies the breaking of symmetry in fundamental theories with Assistant Professor of Physics Desmond Villalba. This research pertains to the early particle universe before any atoms were formed. Swanson uses mathematical representation to study how familiar particles obtain mass, and now her research has received national recognition, earning the most prestigious undergraduate award in STEM, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship.

Only 413 students are named among the 2023 Goldwater Scholars from more than 5,000 nominated by hundreds of academic institutions in the United States, according to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation. Each scholarship provides up to $7,500 per year for as many as two years of undergraduate study.

“I hope that as I’m working toward answering questions about fundamental particles and forces through my research, I’ll be able to also widen my sphere of influence to make systematic change,” Swanson said.

Her work with Villalba delves into the mysteries of particle physics: “Such as what is dark matter, is there a deep link between the four fundamental forces of nature, and why are neutrinos so weird?” he said. “We hope to glean more information about these unanswered questions by looking at symmetry breaking from a different mathematical perspective. I’m excited to see where our research goes.”

Swanson’s perfect balance runs deeper than mixing physics and math. She’s president of UMW’s Society of Physics Students (SPS), which is nationally recognized for science outreach and community-building. With the help of the Margaret Duke ’44 Endowed Fund, she helps bring respected scientists to campus for a monthly colloquium and to meet with physics majors. And she does it with equity, considering speakers with diverse identities and distinct research interests.

A Physics Department tutor, Math Department aide and Math Club president, Swanson landed an internship at the National Research Council of Canada, where she works in molecular physics with University of Ottawa Adjunct Professor Michael Schuurman. With the support of the Duke fund, she traveled recently to present her research at the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics at Princeton University, where she found colleagues to advance her mission.

“I wish to be part of developing physics programs to be more inclusive,” said Swanson, who feels that collaboration is key.

UMW Physics also participates in a nationwide program focused on increasing equity within the field, and Swanson serves as one of two student team members. “Our discussions give me insight into why inequity still exists in physics and ways to combat it,” she said.

In recent years, 40% of UMW physics students have been female, besting the national average for undergraduate women studying the science, which hovers at 25%. And Swanson is leading the way.

She’s the first female Mary Washington student to be named a Goldwater Scholar. (William “Henry” Mills, who graduated last year, earned the 2021 honor. His research – a complex equation of quantum mechanics, high-level math and computer programming – explored the ways in which molecules rotate, shedding light on processes like vision and photosynthesis.)

Swanson is also prepared to change how physics is portrayed, work toward greater representation for women, and create knowledge and understanding.

“Professionally, Abby wants to further change history,” said Professor and Program Coordinator of Physics Matthew Fleenor. “She works for a world of better understanding, where we more fully understand symmetry and practice it in terms of representation in the field of physics.”