James A. DiCarlo

Instructor in Science
Appointed
1993
James A. Dicarlo

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." — Hamlet

Education

M.S. Stanford University

B.A. Dartmouth College

Biography

I came to Exeter fresh out of graduate school and have stayed for more than two decades because I love teaching physics to curious and capable students. The physical world is wonderfully complicated and yet, amazingly, we can learn to interpret its language.

I’ve taught introductory physics to preps, quantum mechanics to seniors and everything in between. I’ve been lucky enough to spend two separate years at the Mountain School of Milton Academy teaching physics and math, as well as how to chop down a tree or knit a sock.

I have two daughters who are now PEA alums. They each had fantastic experiences here. Through them I’ve gained much greater appreciation for the complexities of the daily lives of our students. I hope that makes me a more empathic teacher.

I enjoy playing Irish music on the wooden flute, whistle, concertina, banjo and guitar. When we discuss waves in class, I bring in my instruments to demonstrate how physics is front and center in the ways that instruments generate sound.