November 2005 NEWS Volume 14, No. 10 A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

Legal, Financial Issues Impact Famous Equation Holds Big Birthday Celebration APS Name Change Decision t its September 24 meet- of the name change, and 6.5% were ing, the APS Executive moderately opposed. The remain- ABoard grappled with the ing 6.6% were neutral. issue of whether or not to recom- At the September meeting, the mend changing the name of APS to Board heard expert opinion on the American Physics Society. sobering legal and trademark issues. As reported in the August/ Changing the name legally would September APS News, that issue require re-incorporation of the had been the subject of an informal Society, and potentially renegotia- email survey sent out to the entire tion of many contracts, and rereg- APS membership, in which 23.9% istering APS as the publisher of the of those who were asked for an Physical Review in numerous inter- opinion responded. Of these, 51.3% national jurisdictions. If the name Photo credit:Kendra Rand were strongly in favor of the name were not changed legally, but APS 2 change, primarily because the word merely chose to do business under September 27, 1905 was the day that Einstein's paper containing the equation E=mc arrived at the “physical” does not clearly con- the name American Physics editorial offices of Annalen der Physik. Exactly one hundred years later, a reception and preview showing note physics, and thereby limits the Society, APS could still lose the of the docudrama "Einstein's Big Idea" were held at the National Academy of Sciences building across 2 effectiveness of APS in its lobby- trademark rights to “American from the Mall in Washington. About six hundred attendees sampled E=mc birthday cake, watched the pre- ing and public outreach activities. Physical Society”, which would be view, and listened to a panel discussion about the equation and the making of the docudrama. The event But 11.5% of the respondents potentially damaging especially in was sponsored by the Department of Energy, Universities Research Association, the APS, the National were strongly opposed, many the area of journal publication. The Academies, and Washington PBS station WETA. because the word “physical” was Board considered using both The panel was moderated by APS President Marvin Cohen (in broader than “physics”, and there- names, depending on the context, the photo at extreme right).Other panelists included (l to r): fore helped APS include among its but concluded (as did most of the Paula S. Apsell, the Senior Executive Producer of NOVA and the members those working in interdis- respondents in the survey) that it Director of the Science Unit of WGBH in Boston; Walter Isaacson, ciplinary areas. would probably be too complicat- President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and former Managing In addition, 24.1% of those par- ed and confusing. Editor of TIME, who is at work on an Einstein biography; David Kaiser, associate professor of the history of science in MIT’s ticipating were moderately in favor APS Name Change continued on page 3 Program in Science, Technology, and Society; Gary Johnstone, Producer/Director/Writer of "Einstein’s Big Idea"; and David Apker Award Finalists Bodanis, author of the book E=mc2, on which "Einstein's Big Idea" is based. "Einstein's Big Idea" aired on NOVA on PBS Photo credit: Alan Chodos stations around the country on Tuesday, October 11, at 8 pm. With One Data Set Analyzed, Einstein@Home Forges Ahead in Search for Gravitational Waves By Ernie Tretkoff Interferometer Gravitational Wave Einstein@home is now searching The Einstein@home distrib- Observatory, which consists of two through data from the more sensi- uted computing effort, which facilities, one located in Livingston, tive science run S4. In late 2005, searches for gravitational waves, Louisiana and the other in Hanford, LIGO will begin a long data-taking recently finished analyzing its Washington. run, S5, at its design sensitivity, first set of scientific data. Over In August Einstein@home fin- and Einstein@home will analyze Photo credit: Shelly Johnston 60,000 individuals from over 150 ished sifting through data from that data when it becomes available. The Apker Award is given annually for undergraduate research in two countries are now running LIGO’s science run S3, which ran Gravitational waves, often categories. One award is for a student doing his or her research at an Einstein@home on their comput- from late 2003 to early 2004. Gravitational Waves continued on page 5 institution that grants the PhD degree; the other is for research at an ers, and more people are joining institution that does not grant the PhD. The selection committee picks every day. OPA’s Regan Spearheads Efforts to six finalists from the submitted nominations, and then interviews the Begun earlier this year as part of finalists in a daylong session to make its recommendations for the the World Year of Physics, Develop New Grassroots Program recipients. These recommendations are then forwarded to the APS Einstein@home is a distributed Executive Board for final approval. This year the interviews took place computing project, which relies on The APS Office of Public on September 8 at the Cosmos Club in Washington. The six finalists were volunteers’ donated computing Affairs (OPA) is instituting a (l to r): Nathaniel Craig (Harvard); Cary Pint (University of Northern time. While a user’s computer is new District Advocate Iowa); Matthew Paoletti (Bucknell); David Miller (University of idle, the Einstein@home program Program that will assign an Chicago); Jeffrey Falkenbach (MIT); and Eliot Kapit (Reed College). searches for gravitational waves in APS member as point person The recipients will be reported in next month's APS News. data from LIGO, the Laser in each Congressional district. The goal of the new program Three Physicists Share 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics is to build a volunteer net- work of district and state advo- Two APS fellows–Roy Glauber honored “for his contribution to the has long been aware of the stature cates within the physics com- of Harvard University and John L. quantum theory of optical coher- of these three great physicists,” said munity to facilitate the Hall of NIST/University of ence.” Hall and Hänsch each col- Cohen, adding that all had been Society’s grassroots activities, Photo credit: Brian Mosley Colorado–shared the 2005 Nobel lected a quarter of the prize, and honored with APS prizes. Glauber according to Kimberly Regan, Kimberly Regan Prize for physics with Theodor were honored “for their contribu- won the 1996 Dannie Heinemann the new science policy fellow who can then contact other scientists Hänsch of the Max Planck Institut tions to the development of laser- Prize; Hänsch won the 1996 Arthur at OPA. in their district to take action, whether für Quantenoptik. The prize was based precision spectroscopy, Schawlow Prize and the 1986 “We thought that having a con- it be contacting a Congressional announced on October 4. All three including the optical frequency Herbert P. Broida Prize; and Hall stituent representative in each district office, or circulating a departmental recipients’ prize-winning work is comb technique.” won the Schawlow Prize in 1993 would be a great way to ensure that letter within their university. linked to landmark papers pub- Both APS President Marvin and the Davisson-Germer Prize in the voices of individual scientists The DA program is still in its lished by the Physical Review and Cohen and APS Editor-in-Chief 1988. are heard,” explains Regan, who early days. Regan is in the process Physical Review Letters. Martin Blume extended their con- Glauber laid the foundations of joined the OPAin August. Whenever of recruiting the first 50 volunteers. Glauber received half of the gratulations to the recipients on quantum optics, showing how the a policy issue arises, the OPA can There are currently 20 members so roughly $1.3 million prize; he was behalf of the Society. “The APS Nobel Prize continued on page 4 contact the local district advocates, OPA's Reagan continued on page 5 2 November 2005 NEWS

This Month in Physics History Einstein and the EPR Paradox

“Think of it almost like nano- “If we do this it has worldwide y the 1920s, it had distance of the two parts. Velcro.” consequences, and it will stir up become clear to most One of the principal features –Ali Dhinojwala, University of some kind of hornet’s nest.” Bphysicists that classical of quantum mechanics is the Akron, on synthetic gecko hairs he –Burton Richter, Stanford mechanics could not fully notion of uncertainty: not all the developed, The New York Times, University, on a Secretary of Energy describe the world of atoms, classical physical observable prop- August 30, 2005 Advisory Board report that recom- especially the notion of “quan- erties of a system can be simulta- mends that the United States design ta” first proposed by Planck and neously determined with exact pre- “Zero-point energy is so tiny new nuclear weapons, Contra further developed by Albert cision, even in principle. Instead, that nobody can feel it. But when Costa Times, October 5, 2005 Einstein to explain the photo- there may be several sets of you get to the realm of quantum electric effect. Physics had to observable properties–position and mechanics, it exists. The question “Basically physicists are too be rebuilt, leading to the emer- momentum, for example–that can- is, how do you harness it? I have undisciplined to let anyone else tell gence of quantum theory. not both be known at the same not seen any meaningful theory or us what to name something. It’s Werner Heisenberg, Niels time. Another peculiar property of demonstration of that. It’s not mainly whatever name catches on.” Bohr and others who helped cre- quantum mechanics is entangle- impossible, but I don’t know how –Gordon Kane, University of ate the theory insisted that there ment: if two photons, for example, you would do it.” Michigan, on naming things in was no meaningful way in which become entangled –that is, they –Hossein Sadeghpour, Harvard- physics, The New York Times, to discuss certain details of an are allowed to interact initially so Smithsonian Center for October 4, 2005 atom’s behavior: for example, that they will subsequently be Astrophysics, on the possibility of one could never predict the defined by a single wave func- Einstein and Bohr generating usable power from zero- “My biggest problem is having precise moment when an atom tion–then once they are separated, point energy, San Francisco a fast enough processor (brain) to would emit a quantum of light. they will still share a wave func- today regard the so-called “par- Chronicle, September 7, 2005 figure these out. You have to think But Einstein could never fully tion. So measuring one will deter- adox” more as an illustration of quickly, think ahead, know where accept this innate uncertainty, mine the state of the other: for how quantum mechanics vio- “Our study is the first step, in you are in the room and how to once famously declaring, “God example, with a spin-zero enta- lates classical physics, rather some sense, in trying to understand position yourself for the next fig- does not play dice.” He wasn’t gled state, if one particle is meas- than as evidence that quantum what’s the most stable angle that ure. It keeps you on your toes.” alone in his discomfort: Erwin ured to be in a spin-up state, the theory itself is fundamentally one can build, say, a retaining wall. –Brian Doyle, on ballroom Schrödinger, inventor of the other is instantly forced to be in a flawed, as Einstein had original- And if it fails, where would the dancing, The Telegraph (Nashua, wave function, once declared of spin-down state. ly intended. material end up? How much part of New Hampshire), October 9, 2005 quantum mechanics, “I don’t This is known as “nonlocal But the paper did help deep- the land will give way?” like it, and I’m sorry I ever had behavior;” Einstein dubbed it en our understanding of quan- –Arshad Kudrolli, Clark “Don’t buy gamma ray burst anything to do with it.” “spooky action at a distance.” It tum mechanics by exposing the University, on his study of the max- insurance.” In a 1935 paper, Einstein, appears to violate one of the cen- fundamentally non-classical imum angle of stability in a gran- –Rocky Kolb, Fermilab, on the Boris Podolsky and Nathan tral tenets of relativity: information characteristics of the measure- ular pile, Reuters, September 29, probability of a large gamma ray Rosen introduced a thought can’t be transmitted faster than the ment process. Before that paper, 2005 burst near Earth, San Francisco experiment to argue that quan- speed of light, because this would most physicists viewed a meas- Chronicle, October 6, 2005 tum mechanics was not a com- violate causality. urement as a physical distur- “When operas are good, they plete physical theory. Known It’s worth noting that Einstein bance inflicted directly on the last an incredibly long time. In 200 “I think the University of today as the “EPR paradox,” the wasn’t attempting to disprove measured system: one shines years, ‘Doctor Atomic’may be the Chicago counts everyone who ever thought experiment was meant quantum mechanics; he acknowl- light onto an electron to deter- historical memory of the Manhattan walked through there.” to demonstrate the innate edged that it could, indeed, predict mine its position, but this dis- Project.” –Herbert Kroemer, UC Santa conceptual difficulties of the outcomes of various experi- turbs the electron and produces –Marvin Cohen, UC Berkeley, Barbara, on how the University of quantum theory. It said that the ments. He was merely troubled by uncertainties. The EPR paradox on the opera Dr. Atomic, The New Chicago claims 78 Nobel laure- result of a measurement on one the philosophical interpretations shows that a “measurement” can York Times, September 25, 2005 ates, Los Angeles Times, October particle of an entangled quantum of the theory, and argued that, be performed on a particle with- 10, 2005 system can have an instanta- because of the EPR paradox, quan- out disturbing it directly, by per- “It’s really a compelling neous effect on another tum mechanics could not be con- forming a measurement on a adventure, and the value to soci- Quotes about this year’s Nobel particle, regardless of the sidered a complete theory of distant entangled particle. ety is huge. Our mission is to Prize in physics: nature. Einstein postulated the Today, quantum entangle- uncover the structure of the existence of hidden variables: as ment forms the basis of sever- universe, but there’s also “In my last year of high school, yet unknown local properties of al cutting-edge technologies. tangential value that will come I fixed TVs for a Denver company the system which should account In quantum cryptography, out of this.” that was kind of instructive for me. for the discrepancy, so that no entangled particles are used to –James Brau, University of But it was not a career I would’ve instantaneous spooky action would transmit signals that cannot be Oregon, on the International chosen.” be necessary. Bohr disagreed vehe- intercepted by an eavesdrop- Linear Collider, The Register- –John Hall, JILA, on one of his mently with this view and defend- per without leaving a trace. The Guard (Eugene, Oregon) first jobs, Rocky Mountain News, ed the far stricter Copenhagen first viable quantum cryptogra- September 5, 2005 October 5, 2005 interpretation of quantum mechan- phy systems are already being ics. The two men often argued pas- used by several banks. And the “Your waistline may be “I could scarcely believe it.” sionately about the subject, espe- burgeoning field of quantum spreading but you can’t blame it The Swedish accents on the early cially at the Solvay Conferences of computation uses entangled on the expansion of the morning congratulatory phone call 1927 and 1930; neither ever con- quantum states to perform com- universe.” “at least raised the possibility it ceded defeat. putational calculations in par- –Richard Price, University of was a joke.” There have been numerous the- allel, so that some types of cal- Texas at Brownsville, on which –Roy Glauber, Harvard oretical and experimental develop- culations can be done much objects are stretched by cosmo- University, on the phone call telling ments since Einstein and his col- more quickly than could ever logical expansion, New Scientist, him he’d won the Nobel prize, USA Pictorial Representation of leagues published their original be possible using classical October 1, 2005 Today, October 4, 2005 Entangled Photons EPR paper, and most physicists computers.

Series II, Vol. 14, No. 10 Department, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Treasurer (Nuclear), John Jaros (Particles & Fields), Stephen Holmes November 2005 College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) (Physics of Beams), James Drake* (Plasma), Timothy NEWS ©2005 The American Physical Society Editor-in-Chief Lodge, (Polymer Physics), Gianfranco Vidali, (New York For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Section), Paul Wolf (Ohio Section) American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Past-President Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least 6 Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) ADVISORS Editor ...... Alan Chodos weeks advance notice. For address changes, please send both General Councillors Representatives from Other Societies Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette the old and new addresses, and, if possible, include a mail- Janet Conrad, Frances Houle*, Evelyn Hu, Gerald Mahan*, Richard Peterson, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Special Publications Manager ...... Kerry G. Johnson ing label from a recent issue. Requests from subscribers for Ann Orel, Arthur Ramirez, Richart Slusher, Laura Smoliar* International Advisors Design and Production ...... Amera Jones missing issues will be honored without charge only if received International Councillor María Esther Ortiz, Mexican Physical Society, Forefronts Editor ...... Craig Davis within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Sukekatsu Ushioda Walter Davidson, Canadian Association of Physicists Proofreader ...... Edward Lee Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at addition- Chair, Nominating Committee al mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Philip Bucksbaum Staff Representatives APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All corre- News, Membership Department, American Physical Society, Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten, yearly, monthly, except the August/September issue, by spondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Editor, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Frank Von Hippel Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director of the American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- Division, Forum and Section Councillors Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Public College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It 3844, E-mail: [email protected]. APS COUNCIL 2005 Edward “Rocky” Kolb (Astrophysics), Kate Kirby* (Atomic, Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, President Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Eisenberg (Biological), Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles Muller, Director, Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; advance Subscriptions:APS News is an on-membership publication Marvin L. Cohen*, University of California, Berkeley Charles S. Parmenter (Chemical), Moses H. Chan (Condensed Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, Controller and information on meetings of the Society; and reports to delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad may President-Elect Matter Physics), Richard M. Martin (Computational), Harry Assistant Treasurer the Society by its committees and task forces, as well receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. Nonmembers: John J. Hopfield*, Princeton University Swinney* (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Zimmerman (Forum on as opinions. Subscription rates are available at http://librarians.aps.org/ Vice-President Education), Gloria Lubkin (Forum on History of Physics), Administrator for Governing Committees institutional.html. Leo P. Kadanoff*, University of Chicago Patricia Mooney (Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics), Ken Cole Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Executive Officer James Vary* (Forum on International Physics), Philip “Bo” * Members of the APS Executive Board ship. Letters must be signed and should include an Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville Hammer (Forum on Physics and Society), J. H. Eberly (Laser address and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves be addressed as follows: For APS Members–Membership (on leave) Science), Leonard Feldman (Materials), Bunny C. Clark* NEWS November 2005 3 Percentage of First-Year Foreign Grad Students Falls to 43%

By Ernie Tretkoff “Anecdotally, departments and researchers in many scien- Physics departments report- reported a greater number of tific fields, has declined signif- ed fewer problems with foreign qualified US applicants,” said icantly, Flatten points out. The Internationalization of Higher Education: students getting visas in 2004 Patrick Mulvey of the AIP “Almost all cases are complet- Good for Physics and Other Sciences than two years earlier, according Statistical Research Center. ed in less than thirty days now,” to a recent study by the AIP Mulvey also pointed out that she says. “In the fall of 2003, By Nils Hasselmo they want to cooperate. They want Statistical Research Center. physics bachelor’s degree pro- the average case took over 70 Americans are justly proud of to promote student and faculty About half of PhD-granting duction in the US has also days to clear the Visa Mantis our scientific enterprise and the exchanges, expand research col- departments reported at least one increased in recent years, which system. extraordinary array of research uni- laborations, and pursue the extraor- admitted student had been tends to lead to an increase in the The AIP report also notes that, versities that are responsible for a dinary joint research and other denied a visa or significantly number of US students entering “despite the difficulty many large share of it. Our universities opportunities created by the infor- delayed in fall 2004, down from physics graduate school. international students encounter are a critical element in the nation’s mation technology revolution. about two-thirds of departments Since 9/11, there has been in securing a visa to enter the economic competitiveness and Second, over the past few years, reporting such problems in fall concern about the potential United States in recent years, national security. Yet these very even as the internationalization 2002. impact of stricter visa regula- declines in the absolute number American institutions are becom- trend has accelerated, there have The AIP report also found that tions and greater delays on of foreign first-year physics ing increasingly intertwined with been significant cultural and foreign students made up a physics departments. These con- graduate students have not been universities around the world. And bureaucratic obstacles that the smaller fraction of the total cerns prompted the AIP as great as one might expect.” that is a good thing–good for higher education and scientific first-year graduate student Statistical Research Center to First-year enrollment for fall physics and other sciences and communities on both sides of the enrollment in 2004. The percent- survey 248 US physics depart- 2004 foreign students fell 3% good for the US and global Pacific have been addressing. age of first-year students from ments both in 2002 and again in from 2002, and 13% since 2000. economies. One serious cultural difference outside the United States 2004. Though many departments As president of the Association – or at least a cultural circumstance declined from a peak of 55% in Overall, the report estimates reported at least one visa prob- of American Universities (AAU), – is the concern in many of these the 2000-2001 academic year to that in the fall of 2004, 12% of lem, the relative impact on I have had the opportunity to work countries about “brain drain,” the about 43% in fall 2004. accepted foreign students were physics departments is not with my colleagues to strengthen decisions many of their best and While it might be tempting delayed or at least initially spread evenly, according to the ties between leading US research brightest scientists and engineers to attribute this drop in the per- prevented from gaining entry report. While the larger and universities and leading research make to remain in the US (or else- centage of foreign students to into a physics department higher-ranked physics depart- universities in Asia, Europe, and where) after they complete their visa problems, in fact, it is prob- because of complications inse- ments reported greater absolute throughout the world. It is impor- educations. Our country has ben- ably due mostly to an increased curing a visa. This is down from numbers of students denied tant that we continue to collaborate efited enormously from the contri- number of American candidates. approximately 20% in 2002. entry, the smaller and lower- –and compete. butions of immigrant scientists and The actual number of foreign Amy Flatten, APS Director ranked departments had a larg- Reflecting the spirit of compet- engineers. We hope that will con- first year graduate students of International Affairs, says, er proportion of their interna- itiveness, our universities compete tinue. Their home countries are not declined only slightly in the past “There is some indication that tional students affected. Smaller not only with each other but also so sure. That creates natural ten- few years, from 1485 in the fall the departments of State and departments also tend to have with those of other nations–educa- sions, but thus far those tensions of 2000 to 1294 in the fall of Homeland Security are making more trouble compensating for tionally and scientifically. At the have remained largely below the 2004, while the number of US progress in improving the visa the loss of a small number of same time, research and education surface. students rose from 1228 in the process.” The processing time admitted students. are the beneficiaries of growing Another interesting cultural fall of 2000 to 1746 in the fall for “Visa Mantis” review, the A delay or denial of a foreign international collaboration. And as issue is beginning to emerge. Some of 2004. clearance required for students student’s visa can cause prob- competition grows, so, ironically, US universities are establishing, lems for the department, includ- does collaboration. It is important or considering establishing, their WYP Speakers Program Going ing disruptions to enrollment that as a nation, we do all that we own campuses in China and else- in graduate-level classes and can to facilitate not one but both of where in Asia. While such efforts Strong, Will Continue Into 2006 a shortage of teaching and these trends. are generally welcome overseas, research assistants. But visa Earlier this year, I participated there is some ambivalence about By Ernie Tretkoff Physics project to meet the expect- problems can be devastating to in an extraordinary meeting in US cultural influence. If the inter- Over 50 lectures on Einstein- ed need for speakers, there have the affected students, the AIP Singapore between members of nationalization of science and edu- related topics have taken place so been 167 requests, many from col- report states, because the stu- the Association of Pacific Rim cation is to succeed at this level, far this year as part of the World leges, but also a number from high dents have often already made Universities (APRU) and the AAU. American universities will need to Year of Physics Speakers Program, schools and even middle schools plans to come to the United Present were the presidents and be sensitive to these fears and learn which is sponsored by the APS and community groups, accord- States, and may have already chancellors of 21 leading US how to coexist in sometimes chal- Topical Group on Gravitation ing to Trimble. Of these requests, passed up other opportunities. research universities, several of lenging environments. (GGR) and the Forum on the 53 have been filled so far. New students were not the which are also APRU members, As for bureaucratic barriers to History of Physics (FHP). The Einstein history–especially his only ones affected by visa prob- and those of 23 non-US universi- internationalization, these have organizers plan to continue the life, theories, and overviews of his lems. About 60 percent of PhD ties, mostly Asian. Members of the been especially serious in the US program into 2006. 1905 papers–has proved to be the departments reported that cur- Indian research university since the terrorist attacks of The program administrators most popular subject. Other topics rently enrolled foreign students association also attended as guests. September 11, 2001. In the after- maintain a list of physicists who in demand have included black had difficulty getting return visas The meeting illustrated the math of 9/11, the US clamped have volunteered to speak on a holes, gravitational waves, and after leaving the United States to increasingly global nature of high- down hard on the visa process, wide variety of topics related to dark energy. Some groups request- travel to other countries. er education and research – a trend making it extremely difficult for Einstein. These physicists are not ed general talks on special and Departments varied in how toward internationalization that students seeking to study in the only experts in their fields, but general relativity, space and time, they responded to the visa prob- will benefit physics, the US and the US. This led to sharp reductions in also known to be effective at and cosmology and astrophysics. lems. Most reported that they entire world. We discussed this the numbers of students seeking speaking to non-specialists. More recently, some groups have would continue as before in globalization trend and how univer- to come here. After a lot of hard Groups wanting to request a requested talks on more modern seeking and admitting foreign sities can play an important role in work by the higher education and lecturer fill out an online form, physics topics like nanotechnolo- students. Some departments said promoting international under- scientific communities, the rules which can be accessed from the gy, missions to Mars, and Einstein that they would admit more for- standing. and procedures have been ration- World Year of Physics web site, and space. It is expected that the eign students to offset the num- At the meeting, I was struck by alized. Despite the problems that www.physics2005.org, stating topics may range even wider ber delayed or denied entry, two particular developments. remain, it is clear that the govern- their location, the type of group next year. while others reported accepting First, the appetite among Asian ment recognizes how America ben- and the topic they wanted to hear The main goal of the speakers fewer non-citizens in order to universities for internationaliza- efits from the inflow of students about, and the speakers program program has been to reach stu- avoid possible visa problems tion of science and education is from abroad, and its representa- matches as many of these requests dents, who might not otherwise and uncertainty. In addition, enormous. From Japan to India, tives have made significant as possible with appropriate speak- have the opportunity to hear such “some departments indicated from China to Thailand, research improvements. ers. a lecture.This was meant in part to that they were starting the appli- universities are growing, modeled Unfortunately, changes in the Organizers say the program has help encourage students receiving cation procedures earlier,” said more often than not on those in rules may have come too late to worked extremely well so far. “The bachelor’s degrees in physics to Mulvey. the US. They want to compete, and International News continued on page 4 WYP Speakers Program has been continue in the field. Therefore, Although fewer foreign a success in the eyes of those run- four year colleges were given pri- students were delayed or denied APS NAME CHANGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ning it and we have just been plot- ority in the matching process. In visas in 2004 than two years Finally, the Board consid- Society” was available to be ting the future of the program. The fact, almost all of the requests from earlier, visa problems continue to ered retaining the name registered as a trademark, there- denouement is that the Speakers four year colleges were met, said occur. “The 2004 data show that a American Physical Society, but by keeping the option of using Program will live on,” said Richard Trimble. substantial number of foreign adopting a changed logo that that name for selected purpos- Price, of the University of Texas, Trimble said she was especial- candidates continue to be would emphasize the word es in the future. It is expected Brownsville, who is in charge of ly pleased that the speakers pro- impeded by the heightened “physics”, and perhaps also a that the Board will take up the the program, along with Virginia gram had been able to serve some stringency in visa regulations,” the tag line that would make it clear name change and related issues Trimble of the University of historically black schools including report states. that the business of APS is again at its next meeting on California, Irvine. Spelman College and Tuskegee Flatten concurs. “There is still physics. In addition, the Board November 19, and the matter Since the program began about University. The program is also much work to be done on a took action to discover whether may also be brought to Council a year ago as a World Year of WYP Speakers continued on page 6 number of visa issues,” she says. the name “American Physics the following day. 4 November 2005 NEWS Letters AP Physics: Irrelevant, Boring, and Too Difficult Remembering Bram Pais In his "Viewpoint" article and most such courses are patterned "Scientific Literacy and Education after standard math-based introduc- By Ida Nicolaisen politicians, who have such an ditor's Note: Last spring, APS Reform," (Aug/Sep 2005), Warren tory courses, offer no social or cultur- influence over the future of awarded the first Abraham Huelsnitz states: "The scientific liter- al relevance, offer very little scientif- science. It was of great satisfac- Pais Prize in the History of acy of the general public is at an unac- ic process or critical thinking, and are E tion to him that his biographies Physics. The Prize is named for a dis- ceptably low level and many people boring. and other writings on the tinguished physicist and historian of believe that physics is irrelevant, bor- Huelsnitz's admirable criteria history of physics were so well physics, who is the author of acclaimed ing, and too difficult. ...It would be could be met by a first physics course received and found such a broad biographies of Albert Einstein and nice if the general public understood required for all students, future scien- audience. Niels Bohr, among other works. Pais the scientific process and was able to tists and non-scientists alike, that is A native Dutchman, Bram died in 2000, and at the APS April use logic and reasoning. …We need conceptual, process-oriented, social- was the last to receive a PhD in meeting, where the Prize was award- a captive and receptive audience, one ly relevant, and scientifically broad. Utrecht before the Germans ed, his widow, Ida Nicolaisen, offered that is still impressionable, and where More precisely, "conceptual" means closed the university to Jews. the following remembrance of him. we have an opportunity to reach all using little or no algebra while still After several difficult years in "An unconcern with the past is a of society. We can find this in our being "numerate" (metric system, cellars and other hideouts in privilege of youth," Abraham Pais nation's elementary and secondary powers of ten, graphs, probabilities, Amsterdam during the Nazi wrote in the introduction to his biog- Abraham Pais and his wife Ida Nicolaisen education system. We need to change proportionalities, etc.). "Process-ori- occupation, Bram came to raphy of Albert Einstein, Subtle is the taken Sept. 7, 1996 by Norton M. Hintz, the mentality of how math and physics ented" means focusing explicitly on Copenhagen to work with Niels Lord (1983). Bram lived up to this courtesy AIP Emilio Segre Visual Archives are taught…. We need to make sci- the scientific process, and including Bohr. Soon after, he was offered dictum in the sense that an interest in ence interesting." a critique of pseudoscience and other a position at the Institute for Advanced rather, a relatively late phenomenon the history of physics came to him I couldn't agree more. loose thinking. "Socially relevant" Study in Princeton by Robert even compared with other natural only late in life. Bram more or less To achieve physics literacy as a means including such physics-relat- Oppenheimer. sciences, not to mention the arts and stumbled into the field. nation we must change our approach ed social issues as global warming, He joined a crowd of bright young social sciences. The first historical Yet history was among his favorite to high school physics. Many schools nuclear weapons, and the energy physicists – T.D. Lee, Frank Yang and reminiscences by distinguished topics for leisure reading–largely offer an Advanced Placement first future. And "scientifically broad" Freeman Dyson, among others–all of physicists appeared in Physics Today because of the grand literary style of course for scientists that is highly means emphasizing so-called "mod- whom were immersed in discover- in 1952. The very first contribution by great historians. Bram was an mathematical and precisely of the ern" (an ironic term for physics since ing how to push the frontiers of our the upcoming generation of science admirer of George Steiner; both men "irrelevant, boring, and too difficult" 1900!) physics and including con- understandings of the workings of historians was published only saw tremendous literary power in the variety of which Huelsnitz speaks. temporary topics such as the mother Nature. Such men had no time in 1966. That memorable article, writings of master classical histori- Very few non-science students will standard model and the current gold- for the past. "Thermodynamics and Quanta in ans like Thucydides, Tacitus, Edward take such a course, and very few sci- en age of cosmology. The "physics Bram wondered about this later in Planck's Work," was written by Martin Gibbon, and Michelet, all of whom ence students will learn "the scientif- first" movement (physics in 9th grade, life, and about the fact that he never Klein (Yale University), the first rose above mere "documentary exac- ic process and …logic and reasoning" then chemistry, then biology) could discussed historical issues with recipient of the APS Pais Prize for titude" or "sobriety of judgment." from such a course. Many schools accomplish this, but a required Einstein, never asked him how he the History of Physics. Bram sought to convey insights offer a less technical first course aimed course in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade had proceeded with his work when Bram's interest in the history of into the marvels of physics, in crisp at non-scientists, but many science stu- could also do the job. walking him home to Mercer Street. physics first stirred when he was asked and poignant language that served dents will skip this course in favor of Art Hobson Bram had not read Einstein's papers, to write a review article on the as a vehicle to further the understand- an AP (or other math-based) course, Fayetteville, AR in fact, on the simple grounds that he history of the weak interaction. Having ing of the achievements of physics: "already knew what to a physicist was spent several decades at the the questions the field has grappled memorable in time, and did not need frontiers of particle physics, Bram had Infrared Laser First Described in Dicke Patent with over time, the answers that have to know what had superseded." Only found no evidence of the usefulness I would like to offer a brief per- cavity with parallel mirrors at the emerged, the turns of interest and later did it become obvious to Bram of historical evidence, either in his own sonal note on “This Month in ends, with many small holes in the even the occasional blind alleys that "that I might have been able to ask him theoretical work or in that of his Physics History” from the reflective surface to couple the ener- had led people astray. For Bram, the some very interesting questions had colleagues. He could not subscribe to August/September 2005 APS News, gy to the exterior. critical challenge was to raise aware- I been less blessed with ignorance." Santayana's oft-quoted dictum, "Those which describes the origin of the This patent application pre- ness of the significance of physics Concern with the history of physics who do not remember the past are mirror-feedback ideas relevant to dates all reliably dated references among interested laypersons and is not a trademark of the discipline, but condemned to relive it." Bram argued the laser. I know to discussions between that this did not apply to physicists, As a young professor at Townes, Schawlow, and Gould INTERNATIONAL NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 and was fond of quoting a saying Princeton in the mid 60's, I had the about the kind of feedback cavi- common among experimental overcome the view among poten- the undergraduate experience. good fortune to have an office next ty that would be appropriate for physicists: "Yesterday's sensation is tial students abroad that the US no Having recently announced my to that of R.H. Dicke. I would often infrared wavelengths. Bob mused, today's calibration and tomorrow's longer welcomes them here. And intention to retire as president of thus hear his minor musings on sci- “I wonder what I should do with background." He did not take this to now, the federal government is AAU, I find myself thinking back ence and technology (major ones he this? Maybe I should send a copy mean that knowledge of the history seriously considering making it on my own migration to the United saved for others). One day he came of it to the judge.” I believe he did of physics is not enlightening in a more difficult for scientists from States as a linguistics student many in waving two printed items, with so. However, the lawsuit was not broad sense, only that it proved of abroad to conduct research on our years ago. While my career has a broad smile on his face. The first about the validity of the Townes- little use as a tool for doing physics. university campuses. The higher been based at American universi- was a newspaper article describ- Schawlow patent, but rather about His review work on the weak education and scientific communi- ties, my particular field, my person- ing the Townes-Gould lawsuit over the disputed origin of one of the interaction proved a revelation to ties are working with federal offi- al background, and the very nature who was responsible for the mirror- seminal ideas in the patent, assum- Bram, but the event that truly embarked cials, and we hope we are making of higher education have helped feedback idea in the Townes- ing it to be valid. him on a second career–at the age of them understand the potential make me an advocate of interna- Schawlow laser patent, "Masers Bob never chose to pursue the sixty–as a historian of science was impact of the “export control” rules tional collaboration in research and and Maser Communication legal issue–in the mid 60's he preparing for the Einstein Centennial in they are considering. The last thing education. Systems." They had applied for the was done with his phase of inven- 1979. He contributed a talk on the national or global science enter- The internationalization of patent on July 30, 1958 with the rel- tion and patenting, and a lawsuit quantum theory, and the positive prise needs is more unnecessary universities is inevitable, and it evant physics described in a paper would have distracted him from response encouraged him to write his bureaucratic barriers to the is going to make our world a bet- sent to the Physical Review August the physics he was so enthusias- now-famous biography of Einstein, international flow of scientists and ter place. It will certainly 26, 1958. The other was US patent tically pursuing. By taking only for which he received the National engineers. strengthen science and its abili- 2851652, applied for by Dicke on the patent route, he failed to Book Award. On September 8, the new Under ty to address the enormous and May 21, 1956 and issued on influence the subsequent Bram went on to write about Secretary for Public Diplomacy complex challenges that mankind September 9, 1958. Dicke's patent, development of laser mirror many other great physicists he had and Public Affairs, Karen Hughes, faces in the 21st century. This "Molecular Amplification and feedback ideas alluded to in the known: Niels Bohr, Paul Dirac, announced that she and Secretary does not mean that developing Generation Systems and Methods," APS News article. Wolfgang Pauli, Isidor Rabi. T.D. of Education Margaret Spellings these complex relationships will describes, among other things, how John Hopfield Lee, Frank Yang, Oskar Klein, would convene a University be without difficulties. But the to build an infrared laser, using a Princeton, NJ John von Neumann, Eugene Wigner, President's Summit “to develop an society at large, and science in Victor Weisskopf, and Mitchell action plan to encourage more particular, benefit when students Feigenbaum. He also produced works NOBEL PRIZE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 American young people to study of all nations have the greatest that summed up his knowledge of abroad and make sure that we con- opportunities to learn, when sci- physics history: Inward Bound (1986) powerful tools of quantum mechan- ent light sources such as lasers, as tinue to attract foreign students to entists of all nationalities have and his own autobiography, A Tale ics could be applied to optics. well as the coherence properties of America.” This is a positive step the greatest opportunities to con- of Two Continents (1997). Previously, the field had relied on light from stars. forward, and we will continue duct research, and when research Ida Nicolaisen is an anthropologist classical physics, which treated Hall and Hänsch's work built on working to see that continued universities, regardless of where at the University of Copenhagen. This light as though it were a wave. In Glauber’s advances in quantum discussion is accompanied by they are located, have the great- article was adapted from remarks the 1960s, Glauber described opti- optics and led to methods for meas- sensible policies as well. est opportunities to flourish. prepared for the first bestowal of the cal coherence in the quantum- uring frequencies to one part in a I think it is also positive that Nils Hasselmo is president of APS Abraham Pais Prize for the History mechanical terms necessary to hundred trillion–a precision of more American colleges are mak- the Association of American of Physics at the 2005 APS April understand the detection of coher- fifteen decimal places. ing international studies a part of Universities. meeting in Tampa, Florida. NEWS November 2005 5

Displaced Physicists Anticipate Return To Research Washington Dispatch and Teaching in New Orleans A bimonthly update from the APS Office of Public Affairs

By Ernie Tretkoff Tulane administrators began Many universities offered lab ISSUE: RESEARCH FUNDING An outpouring of aid offers from working from offices in Houston. and office space to displaced Congress has made little progress since the September Washington the physics community helped People from other universities researchers, and many offered Dispatch on its appropriations bills for fiscal year 2006. Although the ensure that physics researchers and quickly began sending offers of aid displaced students spaces in new fiscal year began on October 1, only two of the eleven Senate spend- students from the areas affected by through online message boards and classes and help finding housing. ing bills were signed into law in time for its start. As a result, most of hurricane Katrina had places to go personal contacts. Within days of the hurricane, the federal government is operating on continuing resolutions, which to continue with their studies and Jim McGuire, chair of the George Gollin of the University of restricts the operations, budgets and planning of the affected accounts. research. Tulane physics department, said he Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, The Senate did pass the Defense appropriations bill and the Tulane University, like other received many generous offers of offered to take the entire group of Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) appropriations bill. The CJS universities in and around New aid. “I had at least seven people Tulane undergraduate physics bill, which the Appropriations Committee approved in July, includes Orleans, evacuated and closed for call me with offers of places to go.” majors–about 35 students–at UIUC. NSF, NIST STRS, and NASA Science, whose values we reported in the fall semester when hurricane The rest of the department has McGuire said that when Gollin was September. A summary of the Senate and House values for the accounts Katrina hit in late August. The evac- also found places to go. “Over half asked how he could manage to take appears in the table below. uation order came just after stu- of our department has taken their such a large number of students on dents had begun arriving on cam- groups and relocated. Most research such short notice, he replied, “I’m FY06 Account FY04 FY05 President’s FY06 FY06 pus, but before classes had started. groups simply collected themselves, in high energy physics, we’re used Request House Senate and found the best place they to organizing these things on a For several days after the storm DOE Office of Science ($B) 3.48 3.60 3.46 3.66 3.70 hit, people were out of touch and could,” said McGuire. Tulane moment’s notice.” NSF ($B) 5.61 5.47 5.61 5.64 5.53 disorganized, as evacuees scattered research groups have resumed their Some students took Gollin’s NIST STRS ($B) 0.34 0.38 0.43 0.40 0.40 across the country and Tulane work for the fall semester at insti- offer, while other undergrads chose DOD 6.1 & 6.2 ($B) 5.71 6.36 5.46 6.51 6.28 phone and email were unavailable, tutions including Harvard to attend universities near their NASA Science ($B) NA 5.55 5.48 5.53 5.65 said Fred Wietfeldt, a Tulane University, the University of home towns. “All of the institu- physics professor. Illinois, Rutgers University, and tions have offered to let them take The next step is for the differences in the House and Senate But within days email lists, Rice University. courses and transfer the credit to versions of each bill to be worked out in “Conference.” Both cham- online message boards, and emer- Some faculty members are sim- Tulane. That helps us,” said bers must approve the reconciled bill before it goes to the President gency websites had been set up. ply waiting for Tulane to reopen to McGuire. for his consideration. The progress of all spending bills is tracked at The physics department members resume their research. Most grad- Tulane plans to reopen in the AAAS website: http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/approp06.htm. made contact and verified that uate students chose to follow their January. Wietfeldt, who had already Meanwhile, the Administration, in a closely guarded process, is everyone was okay. research advisors. planned to spend the year at NIST working on its request for the FY07 budget, which it will announce in Maryland, pointed out that a on the first Monday of February. The President’s Office of Management large portion of New Orleans, GRAVITATIONAL WAVES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and Budget (OMB) is currently reviewing the requests from the including Tulane’s campus, Departments and independent agencies. Given the extremely tight budg- ets and calls for cuts to both mandatory and discretionary spending, described as a sort of “ripple in Some users have gotten very Displaced Physicists Continued on page 6 science research funding is expected to be under great pressure. spacetime,” are predicted by excited about the project. A few Einstein’s theory of general rel- have even purchased used com- OPA'S REGAN CONTINUED ✶✶✶✶✶ ativity, but have not been direct- puters from Ebay to dedicate to FROM PAGE 1 ISSUE: ENERGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ly detected. The LIGO observa- the project, says Allen. Users As previously reported, the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA) tories each consist of a pair of receive credits for the work their far who have agreed to participate, issued a Discussion Paper on nuclear power and proliferation resist- perpendicular laser beams. A computers have done, but the and she welcomes contact from any ance titled, "Securing Benefits, Limiting Risk." In response to the report, passing gravitational wave would credits are just for fun and moti- APS members interested in volun- the National Nuclear Security Administration is establishing a Task change the path lengths of the vation. teering their time. OPA plans to Force on Safeguards that will evaluate needs and develop a laser beams slightly, and the Although Einstein@Home did keep the program small at first to technology roadmap. Also, bipartisan legislation is being developed detectors would note this tiny not find any sources of gravita- determine which methods are most that would, among other things, authorize funding for a Safeguards change. tional waves in the data from the effective and have the greatest R&D program and authorize proliferation resistance modeling. Gravitational waves are S3 science run, this is not sur- impact. If successful, it will be To view the report, please go to http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/ expected to come from a variety prising, says Allen, since that data expanded in subsequent years. proliferation-resistance/. of sources, including the inspiral is not sensitive enough to guaran- Regan comes to the APS from ✶✶✶✶✶ of binary black holes, supernovas, tee that Einstein@home would Princeton University, where she is ISSUE: GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS and an overall background. see any pulsars. “This depends just wrapping up a PhD in solid Last spring Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA 10th), Chairman of the Einstein@home specifically on luck: the location, shape, ori- state chemistry. It might seem sur- Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice, Commerce looks for signals from pulsars in entation and spin rate of the near- prising to some that a chemist would and Related Agencies, directed the Department of Commerce to hold LIGO data. Though the gravita- est pulsars to the Earth,” states a find a home at APS, but her doctor- an Innovation Summit in Washington. “The National Summit on tional waves from pulsars would progress report posted by Allen on al thesis is on magnetic properties Competitiveness: Investing In US Innovation,” will be held on be weak, it is possible that these the Einstein@home message of ruthenium oxide extended solids, December 6th 2005 in the Department of Commerce Building on signals could be detected by boards. and she conducted the research in Constitution Avenue. Co-hosted by the presidents of the American LIGO. “Our future analysis is going collaboration with several con- Electronics Association, the Business Roundtable, the National Einstein@home analyzes the to be of data that’s substantially densed matter physicists. Regan’s Association of Manufacturers, the Northern Virginia Technology data by looking at each point in more sensitive,” says Allen, group made the materials, while the Council, and George Mason University, the meeting will feature talks the sky and comparing the data though it is still not certain that physicists made measurements on and discussions with CEOs of leading US companies, as well as meet- from LIGO with the predicted Einstein@home would detect the properties. “So I feel quite at ings with cabinet-level federal officials. More information is avail- gravitational wave pattern from a gravitational waves from pulsars. home interacting with physicists,” able at http://www.usinnovation.org/. pulsar at the given point. Sorting In addition, says Allen, “We’re she says, which made the transi- ✶✶✶✶✶ through the data in this manner is close to putting into place an tion from an academic chemistry computationally expensive, and improved method of analysis.” department to the public affairs ISSUE: CREATIONISM AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN could not be done with as much Research and development division of a physics society that As previously reported, the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA) sensitivity without the help of work is underway to upgrade the much easier. identified the Creationism/ID debate as an issue of concern for the volunteer Einstein@home users. instruments for Advanced LIGO, When she began her graduate Society. Under the leadership of Bob Eisenstein, the APS Washington More users enable the project which is scheduled to be com- studies, Regan intended to pursue Office is working with a number of other science organizations on a to detect weaker signals from pleted early next decade. At that the usual academic career track: a cooperative response. The Office of Public Affairs has posted infor- more distant pulsars. “The dis- point the instruments will be sen- faculty position at a university, and mation on its webpage regarding Intelligent Design, Creationism, tance that we can see grows with sitive enough that failure to detect head of her own research group. and the APS position on this issue. For more information, please go the number of computers,” gravitational waves would chal- But she decided she wanted her to http://www.aps.org/public_affairs. explained Bruce Allen of the lenge Einstein’s theory. career to have a larger impact on University of Wisconsin- Einstein@home is available society, rather than focusing nar- Log on to the APS Office of Public Affairs Website: Milwaukee, who leads the for Windows, Linux, and Mac rowly on a specific problem in (http://www.aps.org/public_affairs) for more information. Einstein@Home project. operating systems. The program chemical physics. Science policy Any possible signal a comput- provides a screensaver that struck her as an excellent means of district advocate program, Regan and make the case for how sci- er finds needs to be verified by depicts the celestial sphere with combining her scientific expertise handles general outreach to APS ence is relevant to every aspect other computers, so any detec- the major constellations outlined. with her desire to have a positive members, and is organizing a of society, from driving the econ- tion would be made collectively, A moving marker on the impact on the world at large. It has large Congressional visit event omy to improving national secu- not just by an individual. “It’s screensaver indicates the portion meant learning an entirely different in conjunction with the 2006 APS rity. “People don’t realize how important to keep in mind that of sky being searched. The terminology, and familiarizing her- March Meeting in Baltimore, much their lives are influenced by Einstein@home works as much Einstein@Home website, which self with the major players in the US Maryland. The goal is to get scientific discovery,” she says. by rejecting things that aren’t includes more information and House and Senate, but Regan says between 250 and 300 physicists “It truly is everywhere. The signals as by detecting signals,” instructions on how to sign up, is she has found the process both to take time away from the con- smallest discoveries can have a says Allen, “This is really a located at http://einstein.phys. educational and invigorating. ference to meet with their major impact even 50 years down collective effort.” uwm.edu/. In addition to the fledgling Congressional representatives the road.” 6 November 2005 NEWS

Living the (Scientific) American Dream

By Kaspar Mossman my supervisor, buzzes me in. I’m Ed. Note: Each year APS spon- researching a calendar for Scientific The 2005 Ig Nobel Prize Winners sors two mass media fellows as part American MIND, the quarterly psy- of a program run by AAAS. Typically chology/neurology magazine. We The 2005 Ig Nobel Prizes were clock that runs away and hides, these fellows are graduate students decide that the “Bodyworlds” exhib- awarded on Thursday evening, repeatedly, thus ensuring that peo- in physics or related subjects, who it at the Franklin Museum in th October 6, at the 15 First Annual ple DO get out of bed, and thus spend a summer writing about sci- Philadelphia qualifies as a MIND Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, at theoretically adding many produc- ence for some mass media outlet. event, since you can see exploded Harvard's Sanders Theatre. tive hours to the workday. APS News has invited this year's views of real human brains. AGRICULTURAL HISTO- CHEMISTRY: Edward Cussler mass media fellows, Kaspar 10:00 am: “Triage” meeting, at RY: James Watson of Massey of the University of Minnesota and Mossman and Michelle Lefort, to which we gather to discuss first University, New Zealand, for his Brian Gettelfinger of the University tell of their experiences in the pair drafts from feature writers. At scholarly study, "The Significance of Minnesota and the University of articles on this page. SciAm, many features are written of Mr. Richard Buckley’s of Wisconsin, for conducting a care- Walter Mitty is a man who spins by researchers themselves, and then Exploding Trousers." ful experiment to settle the long- fantastic daydreams out of his hum- heavily rewritten by editors, who PHYSICS: John Mainstone and standing scientific question: can drum life. “Rev her up to 8500! Kaspar Mossman transmute stilted jargon into fresh, the late Thomas Parnell of the people swim faster in syrup or in We’re going through!” he com- clear writing that people shell out University of Queensland, water? mands his imaginary aircrew as he experience as an AAAS Mass Media hard cash to buy at the newsstand. Australia, for patiently conducting BIOLOGY: Benjamin Smith drives his wife through slushy streets fellow, working with the best editors It’s no mistake that this first edit an experiment that began in the of the University of Adelaide, to the hairdresser. in the science magazine business. session is called “triage.” Some of year 1927–in which a glob of con- Australia and the University of Grad students have lots of time I’ve written on topics as diverse as the pieces can’t be saved. We must gealed black tar has been slowly, Toronto, Canada and the Firmenich to daydream as we do the drudge silicon lasers, handedness in chim- focus on the living. slowly dripping through a funnel, perfume company, Geneva, work of science, growing wafers or panzees, and the genetics of try- 10:39 am: We huddle around edi- at a rate of approximately one drop Switzerland, and ChemComm combing through lines of comput- panosomes. APS sponsored me as tor-in-chief John Rennie’s televi- every nine years. Enterprises, Archamps, France; er code. At UC Berkeley, where I am a fellow. What I’ve most enjoyed has sion–part of a hideous multipurpose MEDICINE: Gregg A. Miller Craig Williams of James Cook a PhD candidate in biophysics, I been the variety–that, and being able camping thing, which also functions of Oak Grove, Missouri, for invent- University and the University of daydream as I pipette cells up and to call up top experts in every field as searchlight and distress beacon, ing Neuticles–artificial replacement South Australia; Michael Tyler of down in a sterile hood. “Trim it who are thrilled to tell a reporter that Steve Mirsky gave Rennie as a testicles for dogs, which are avail- the University of Adelaide; Brian down to 350 words!” I tell myself. from Scientific American anything gag gift–to watch space shuttle able in three sizes, and three degrees Williams of the University of “Got to get this piece in before dead- he wants to know. In the day I Discovery lift off. All goes well. We of firmness. Adelaide; and Yoji Hayasaka of the line! ” In my mind, I’m a hardwork- describe below, you’ll get some idea breathe again. LITERATURE: The Internet Australian Wine Research Institute; ing writer at Scientific American. of what it’s been like: SciAm is moving its offices to entrepreneurs of Nigeria, for creat- for painstakingly smelling and cat- Wait…I am at Scientific 9:04 am: I arrive at the offices of different floors in the same building, ing and then using e-mail to distrib- aloging the peculiar odors produced American, at least for the next week. SciAm in Manhattan. Mariette to save money. Editorial and art ute a bold series of short stories, by 131 different species of frogs This summer, I’ve had a rewarding DiChristina, executive editor and American Dream continued on page 7 thus introducing millions of read- when the frogs were feeling ers to a cast of rich characters– stressed. General Sani Abacha, Mrs. Mariam NUTRITION: Dr. Yoshiro Science Matters at USA Today Sanni Abacha, Barrister Jon A Nakamats of Tokyo, Japan, for pho- By Michelle Lefort researched everything. Mbeki Esq., and others–each of tographing and retrospectively ana- Why physics? This is a question I spent hours on the whom requires just a small amount lyzing every meal he has consumed I was often asked about my under- phone with patient of expense money so as to obtain during a period of 34 years (and graduate major. Because it matters, scientists getting all access to the great wealth to which counting). I’d reply with a smile. the details of their they are entitled and which they FLUID DYNAMICS: Victor As a journalist with USA Today, research, appropriate would like to share with the kind Benno Meyer-Rochow of I had the opportunity to answer this background, alternate person who assists them. International University Bremen, question not just to a handful of interpretations, only to PEACE: Claire Rind and Peter Germany and the University students but to millions of see it all turn into a Simmons of Newcastle University, of Oulu , Finland; and Jozsef Gal Americans. Of course, this wasn’t mere three sentences. in the U.K., for electrically moni- of Loránd Eötvös University, limited to physics, but extended to Research to a jour- toring the activity of a brain cell in Hungary, for using basic mathematics, paleontology, chem- nalist is a different enti- a locust while that locust was principles of physics to calculate istry, and biology. ty altogether from lab watching selected highlights from the pressure that builds up I was fortunate to have APS research. Instead of the movie "Star Wars." inside a penguin, as detailed sponsor me for a Mass Media saddling up to do ECONOMICS: Gauri Nanda in their report "Pressures Produced Fellowship with the American experiments, I consult- of the Massachusetts Institute of When Penguins Pooh–Calculations Association for the Advancement of ed with experts whose Technology, for inventing an alarm on Avian Defaecation." Science (AAAS). I was sent from own work could illu- Michelle Lefort a bench in Rochester, NY to spend minate strengths and WYP SPEAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 ten weeks in McLean, VA at USA weaknesses in a given result. Instead improved over time–at least I had Today–the most widely circulated of calculating significant differ- fewer rejections near the end. I learned trying to reach institutions that give graduate level or high school level daily newspaper in the country. ences and appropriate controls, I not only how to choose stories, but significant numbers of degrees to about history of physics, Einstein I was accustomed to change and had to craft a story that someone how to promote them. women, she said. and his contributions, general diving into new worlds. From without a science background could One of my favorite stories cov- Some requests have come from relativity, and topics in astrophysics physics to neuroscience to molec- understand and hopefully enjoy–and ered a paper from Physical Review high school, middle school and com- related to relativity. ular biology, I had hopscotched my that the scientists would respect. Letters on closed timelike curves. I munity groups. These requests have Because the program has worked way around science, building a As someone who has always wrote a fun article about the laws of received lower priority so far, but well so far, the main potential change kaleidoscopic resume. I was pre- been naturally attracted to science, physics, time travel and cinematic program organizers hope to be able is the name. They are accepting sug- pared to absorb information from all it was hard to put myself in the time machines. to fill more of those requests as more gestions, and the best suggestion corners of the scientific galaxy, but place of a reader who doesn’t Why physics? Because it’s fun! speakers volunteer. (from someone who also volunteers it was not as easy to transfer that into like–or even care about–science. If It was harder than I imagined The FHP and GGR will continue to be a speaker) will win a small the palatable, concise world of print I couldn’t concretely explain why communicating the awe of the to sponsor the program this fall and prize. media. a story was interesting or impor- scientific method, especially in a into 2006. Groups can still request a To request a speaker: Despite my inexperience, I was tant, I didn’t have a chance of results-centered media. It was also speaker by filling out an online form, http://www.phys.utb.edu/ a reporter from my very first day. covering it. Just saying “Isn’t that hard to let go when pieces of the and the program administrators will WYPspeakers/REQUESTS/ It was an incredible responsibility. awesome?” wasn’t going to story would become mere scraps try to match an appropriate speaker howto.html My stories would be read across convince an editor. –like a discussion of the effects with the group. The FHP and GGR To volunteer to be a speaker: the country, and could shape peo- Over the course of my 10 weeks of quantum perturbations on the are also seeking more speakers contact Virginia Trimble, ple’s understanding of the world. at USA Today, I calibrated my news closed timelike curve solution–but who are willing to talk at an under- [email protected] Like any person in a new environ- eye. Early on I struggled to find sto- print is space is money and I was ment I sought the familiar–I over ries that excited my editors, but I happy to get my physics story in the paper. DISPLACED PHYSICISTS CONTINUED FROM ON PAGE 5 I learned so much at USA Today. I learned about shark biol- wasn’t badly damaged. “This was was far worse than the physical the university plans to reopen for community may have extensive ogy, prosauropod evolution and a very bad situation,” he said, but disaster.” He is confident that the the spring semester. In order for damage to their houses, and alter- hurricane formation, but more not as bad as one might think from city will rebuild, he says, “I love the university to reopen, said nate housing will have to be found than that I learned how to tell watching TV news reports. “You’d Tulane. It’s a great place to work, McGuire, the city of New Orleans for those people. Meanwhile, science as a story. I hope to think the entire city was demol- and it’s a great university.” needs to be functioning, with McGuire and administrators are continue developing this skill, ished,” he said. But in fact, “many As of late September, it utilities such as water, sewer, working on other plans, such as promoting the coverage of neighborhoods are physically in appears there is only minor and electricity all rebuilt. class schedules, for the universi- science and engaging the minds good shape. The human disaster damage to the Tulane campus, and Some members of the university ty’s reopening. of readers. NEWS November 2005 7 Announcements

Physicists Honored at Fall APS CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP Division Meetings 2006-2007 Five physicists are being honored with APS prizes and awards at THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY is currently accepting applications for the Congressional two fall divisional meetings. The Maxwell Prize, Excellence in Plasma Science Fellowship Program. Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative or congres- Physics Award, and Marshall Rosenbluth Thesis Award were presented sional committee. They are afforded an opportunity to learn the legislative process and explore science at the annual meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, held policy issues from the lawmakers’ perspective. In turn, Fellows have the opportunity to lend scientific October 24-28 in Denver, Colorado. The Fluid Dynamics Prize and the and technical expertise to public policy issues. Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award will be presented at the annual QUALIFICATIONS include a PhD or equivalent in physics or a closely related field, a strong inter- meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, to be held November est in science and technology policy, and, ideally, some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward 20-22 in Chicago, Illinois. The recipients, their citations, and short the solution of societal problems. Fellows are required to be US citizens and members of the APS. biographical information are below TERM OFAPPOINTMENT is one year, beginning in September of 2005 with participation in a two- 2005 JAMES CLERK Princeton Plasma Physics week orientation sponsored by AAAS. Fellows have considerable choice in congressional assignments. MAXWELL PRIZE Laboratory A STIPEND of $50,000 is offered in addition to allowances for relocation, in-service travel, and health Nathaniel Fisch Citation: “For insightful theo- insurance premiums. Princeton University retical modeling and innovative APPLICATION should consist of a letter of intent of approximately two pages, a list of key Citation: "For theoretical devel- experimental measurement of publications, a two-page resume, and three letters of reference. Please see the APS website opment of efficient rf-driven current plasma flows in three-dimensional (http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/fellow/index.cfm) for detailed information on materials required for in plasmas and for greatly expand- toroidal geometries and demon- applying and other information on the program. ing our ability to understand, to stration of reduced parallel ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY analyze, and to utilize wave-plas- viscous damping with quasisym- JANUARY 15, 2006 AND SHOULD BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: ma interactions." metry.” APS Congressional ScienceFellowship Program Fisch is Professor of Gerhardt did his PhD work at c/o Jackie Beamon-Kiene Astrophysical Sciences and the Helically Symmetric experi- APS Executive Office Director of the Program in ment, a quasiymmetric stellarator One Physics Ellipse Plasma Physics at Princeton in the Electrical Engineering College Park, MD 20740-3843 University. He also is an Associated department of the University of Faculty in the Department of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to participation in the initial commis- Mechanical and Aerospace Professional Skills Development for sioning of the HSX device, his dis- 2006 APS Journal Engineering and the Associate Women Physicists Director for Academic Affairs at sertation work demonstrated the Policy Change The Committee on the Status of Women in Physics invites you to the Princeton Plasma Physics reduction in neoclassical flow Starting in 2006, Physical attend one of the workshops entitled "Professional Skills Development Laboratory. He studied Electrical damping in a quasisymmetric stel- Review A-E will no longer be for Women in Physics." These workshops will: Engineering and Computer Science larator. Gerhardt is presently available to members in a print • Coach women in key skills needed to enhance their careers. at the Massachusetts Institute of employed by the Magnetic version. Online only subscrip- • Provide training in persuasive communication, negotiation, and Technology, where he was an MIT Reconnection Experiment at tions will be available for these leadership presented by experienced professionals, with an aim towards National Scholar, earning his PhD Princeton Plasma Physics five titles. There are exceptions increasing the influence of female scientists within their own institu- degree in 1978. Fisch predicted Laboratory, studying the formation to the new policy, and current tions. new ways to drive electric current and stability of compact toroid plas- subscribers will be contacted • Provide a special opportunity for networking among participants. in hot, magnetized plasma by mas formed by spheromak merging. with more information. Workshops at the 2006 March and April APS Meetings will be aimed means of electromagnetic waves. Subscription options for at tenure track and newly-tenured women faculty, and will take place These currents are now used to 2005 FLUID DYNAMICS Physical Review Letters, on Sunday, March 12, 2006 (Baltimore) and Friday, April 21, 2006 operate tokamaks continuously and PRIZE Reviews of Modern Physics, (Dallas). Deadline to apply for the March workshop is December 5; to control heat transport. He is now Ronald Adrian Physical Review Online Archive the deadline to apply for the April workshop is January 13. exploring plasma-based methods Arizona State University (PROLA), and/or Physical Each workshop will be limited to 30 participants for optimal of generating extreme laser inten- Citation: “For his advancement Review Index will remain benefits. Workshop participants are eligible to receive a stipend to help sities, plasma thrusters and related of experimental techniques and unchanged for 2006. cover the cost of travel and up to two nights lodging. plasma devices, and fusion their integration into experiments If you have any questions, These workshops are funded by the National Science Foundation. concepts employing magnetically that have led to new insight into please contact a membership Details are available on the CSWP webpage at or inertially confined plasma. complex flows.” representative at membership@ http://www.aps.org/educ/cswp/index.cfm. Fisch received the APS Award Biographical information aps.org or 301-209-3280. for Excellence in Plasma Physics unavailable at press time. in 1992. 2005 ANDREAS ACRIVOS Now Appearing in RMP 2005 EXCELLENCE IN THESIS AWARD Elsevier Books Discount Recently Posted Reviews and Colloquia PLASMA PHYSICS AWARD Silas D. Alben Savings of 30% - 40% for You will find the following in the online edition of Reviews Howard M. Milchberg Harvard University APS Members: Order now of Modern Physics at http://rmp.aps.org University of Maryland Citation: “For elegant mathe- using your 30% APS mem- Citation: "For the conception matical and numerical analysis of Effective-field theories for heavy quarkonium ber discount and receive an and first realization of hydrody- fluid-structure interaction to eluci- -Nora Brambilla, Antonio Pineda, Joan Soto, and Antonio Vairo additional 10% discount on namic shock-formed plasma chan- date deformation-induced drag Quarkonium, the bound state of a heavy quark and antiquark, is selected titles. nels, and for the development of reduction of flexible membranes in a nonrelativistic system. The properties of such systems can be For more information: diagnostics for their characteriza- a wind and induction of forward computed in a systematic way from QCD using effective field http://www.aps.org/memb/ tion." flight by the symmetry-breaking theory techniques. This article reviews the theoretical ideas, and bookdiscounts.cfm Milchberg completed his PhD flapping of wings.” their application to the spectroscopy, production and decay of in astrophysical sciences in 1985 at Biographical information quarkonium states. Princeton University, in the plasma unavailable at press time. physics program. His dissertation was on one of the first two soft x- AMERICAN DREAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 ray lasers experimentally demon- move into temporary digs on the ensures it licks clean every spot on 3:00 pm: Art meeting. In the about it in December! strated. Milchberg then joined 15th floor, while the 12th is renovat- the floor at least five times. After hallway, the complete September 6:10 pm: I’m not working as a AT&TBell Laboratories as a post- ed. I get a tiny closet as an office. a few minutes, it becomes clear issue is pinned to the wall, and we grad student; therefore I feel no doctoral researcher, where he per- People stop by to look in and laugh. this fantastic robot actually criticize the layout page by page. guilt at leaving the office at a rea- formed one of the first experiments But I have a door which I can close works. We leave it to complete SciAm is justly famous for using art sonable hour. I disappear into the in high intensity femtosecond laser- when I am doing phone interviews, its job. to explain science. Their art is so crowd on Madison Avenue; plasma interactions. In 1988 so I am better off than some of the George is writing about good because they are profession- anonymous, except that I’m the Milchberg joined the University of senior editors, whose desks are out Roomba for SciAm’s “Tech- als, and they revise the layout over only one whose shirt isn’t tucked in. Maryland. He is a professor in the in the middle of big open spaces. nicalities” column. Every month, and over. SciAm has a liberal dress code, for Institute for Physical Science and 2:15 pm: George Musser, tech- this column reviews a SciAm edi- 4:15 pm: I shut my “office” door Manhattan. Technology, the Department of nology editor, hollers “Floor clean- tor’s personal experience with for a phone interview with Devin The AAAS Mass Media Electrical and Computer ing robot demo in the kitchen!” We some new technology. It’s often a Walton, product manager for program is designed to develop Engineering, and the Department of crowd into the kitchen, where the robot of some kind. In fact, I wast- Shimano American Corporation. scientists as communicators. This Physics. He is interested in all floor actually could use a good ed a lot of time this July, trying to Shimano is sending me a bicycle July and August, the editors at aspects of the interaction of intense scrubbing, as representatives from convince a Japanese company to with digital automatic transmis- SciAm have given me a real short laser pulses with matter. iRobot demonstrate the newest send me their “home companion” sion, which I am reviewing instead boost–I’ve improved my writing, Roomba. The horseshoe-crab-like robot for review. The New York of the Japanese robot. I’m excited sharpened my questions, and have 2005 MARSHALL ROSEN- robot motors around the floor, Times already reviewed it, but about the bike, because I cycle all a much better idea of what makes BLUTH THESIS AWARD bumping into shoes and table legs SciAm wants to do it from, well, a the time in Berkeley. As it turns a good story. Thank you, APS, for Stefan P. Gerhardt as it follows an algorithm which more technical angle. out, the bike is fantastic–read sponsoring me. 8 November 2005 NEWS The Back Page Physics for Development in Africa By Nithaya Chetty and Ahmed C. Bawa

Ed. Note: APS was a major An important factor that is shap- more attention to its environment and participant in the planning and ing the development of African sci- to safety. All these factors impact on organization of the World Conference ence is growth in the power and ubiq- its economic well-being which ulti- on Physics and Sustainable uity of the information and commu- mately creates jobs and alleviates Development that was held in nication technologies. One interven- poverty. Durban, South Africa, October 31st- tion has led to advances in develop- Physics is an intrinsic part of the November 2nd. ing the capacity of African universi- culture of all of humanity. Human This article deals with many of ties to access "cheap" satellite-borne beings have been curious about the the issues related to the theme of that international bandwidth. Another is world that they live in (and beyond) conference. aimed at building large-scale research for time immemorial. It is precisely hysics as a discipline has suf- and graduate study networks amongst this curiosity that has led humans to fered enormously at universi- science research groups as a means harness energy, understand our envi- Pties and in science systems of building critical mass in research ronment, and develop technical appli- across the African continent. The capacity. cations that are the hallmarks of the Nithaya Chetty and Ahmed C. Bawa number of physics articles on the Africa's economy cannot be modern era. Africa cannot afford to Science Citation Index emanating separated from that of the rest of the continue to be marginalized in this Cape Town under the auspices of the abrasives industries. There is a recog- from institutions in Sub-Saharan world and there is therefore a clear domain. AAIICT and will make available nition that in order for the country to Africa represents about 0.3% of the understanding that it needs to enter the It is clear that a proper environment resources to scientists on a competi- remain at the forefront in this field, total number of papers published knowledge and information era at a and culture must be established in tive basis for grand-challenge scale quality materials research is vital. internationally. There are no easy level which makes it competitive. Africa for pursuing science computational projects. There are a number of pan-African answers to the obvious questions that And higher education has a funda- seriously–there is no endemic reason Southern Africa has invested sig- initiatives that have come to fruition may be asked. mental role to play in building a new why Africa should fare poorly. For nificantly in the field of observation- over recent times: The African Universities went into decline part- generation of graduates who are tech- those who care about the continent and al astronomy. SALT (South African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, ly due to the impact of poor funding nology-savvy and able to lead the its people, a more serious effort must Large Telescope), HARTRAO (the The African Laser Centre, The AAI- of higher education, partly due to the continent into this globalized terrain. be made to help create the conditions Hartebeeshoek Radio Observatory), ICT, The African Materials Research structural adjustment programs In light of the creation of the AU for which mathematics and science HESS (the High Energy Stereoscopic Society, etc. More funding is inspired by the World Bank and part- (African Union) and NEPAD (New can thrive. System) and the proposed SKA becoming available from SADC ly because of the collapse of African Partnership for African Development) If we do not make significant (Square Kilometer Array) demand (Southern African Development states in the decades following inde- and the recent discourses on the inroads in the near future, then other competent African graduates to main- Corporation), NEPAD, the AU, etc. pendence. And unlike the importance re-imagination of Africa as a post- endeavors will not be able to make the tain a high level of research produc- These initiatives are creating exciting afforded to agriculture as a research colonial entity–for instance through strides that are anticipated: it has been tivity for the future, and this is creat- opportunities for the advancement of enterprise, physics did not have an the development of an African suggested, for example, that the 21st ing greater incentives for students to physics as an academic discipline as opportunity to establish itself. This is Renaissance framework–it is century belongs to the biological sci- take physics. well as creating quality human also due to the fact that physics had increasingly clear that Africa must ences. It is, however, generally not The recently concluded interna- resources and making significant failed to re-imagine itself in these leapfrog into this knowledge and appreciated that significant achieve- tional review of physics (see contributions toward addressing complex circumstances and thus information era. ments in these disciplines will not be http://www.saip.org.za) in South problems of relevance to Africa. failed to produce a convincing argu- One way of doing this is to devel- made without the involvement of Africa has given much impetus for The physics community in South ment that its revival was important for op the capacity to excite the continent's mathematics and physics. Researchers physics, not only in South Africa but Africa is actively reaching out to development. young with the possibilities of being with strong mathematical, physical also the rest of the continent and physicists elsewhere in Africa who There is positive change in the active generators of new knowledge and computational skills working in beyond. The proposed NITheP often toil under extraordinarily higher education terrain due to chang- and the generators of new tools for the close collaboration with biologists (National Institute of Theoretical isolated circumstances. We want to ing local and global factors. The production of that knowledge. are absolutely essential if this vision Physics) has reached an advanced see more African physicists spend emergence of new understandings of Physics in South Africa, in particular, is to be realized. Africa must contin- stage of planning and is due to be more time in South Africa to strength- the role of knowledge-producing has positioned itself in a develop- ue to invest in the basic sciences if it launched next year. The South African en collaborations, to access laborato- institutions in economic growth and mental role, and in here is its grow- is going to compete on equal terms government has required that the ry facilities, and to also be exposed development and internal processes ing strength and its future in this with the rest of the world. We cannot Institute set as a high priority the to our international visitors. of democratization are generating region. The IUPAP-sponsored “World apply science if we do not have the development of quality black gradu- Aniche area exists for the research new interest in universities. There is Conference on Physics and basic sciences to apply. ates in mathematics and theoretical and development of undergraduate a growing understanding amongst Sustainable Development” to be The growth potential of computa- physics. In addition, government has textbooks in physics with a focus on African governments and held later this month in Durban is the tional physics in Africa, for exam- ordered that the Institute must make applications of relevance to Africa. policymakers that in terms of changes culmination of a growing trend ple, is enormous and yet to be fully an impact on the continent. It is here This opens a whole new field of occurring in global production amongst physicists, governments realized. At present our universities that our international partnerships endeavor for those who are interest- systems, the role of universities and funding agents in the developing do not have a strong culture of hands- will help enormously. We need a ed in developing teaching materials. extends beyond their traditional role world to view physics as an instrument on computing. This lack of capacity steady stream of high quality interna- This is an area where African of contributing to nation-building and of change. is reflected in our society-at-large tional visitors to our shores to expose physicists can get involved and the production of successive Physics is rooted in clear, logical where there is an over-reliance on our bright young minds from the con- make contributions on par with the generations of civil servants and thinking. There is an appreciation of expensive commercial software to tinent to current topics in physics. rest of the world. professionals. cause and effect. There are underly- solve problems. The Chris Engelbrecht Summer The declaration by SADC to Participation rates in sub-Saharan ing principles that are universal–phys- Africa must make maximal use School series has established a tradi- increase the percentage of GDPto be Africa’s higher education systems are ical phenomena measured in of freeware software to keep expens- tion of doing precisely this–it is no spent on research and development exceptionally low, with most of the Pietermaritzburg, Paris or Pluto are all es to a minimum. In South Africa, exaggeration to suggest that the suc- means that we need to substantially systems absorbing less than 1% of the governed by the same principles. This Mark Shuttleworth (first African in cess of this School series strengthened increase graduate student production, 18-24 year age cohorts. This is made universal nature is one of the triumphs space) has very generously support- the original bid to form the NITheP. and this is creating exciting opportu- more complex by the fact that most of physics. Physicists of all hues and ed the use of Open Source, and Discussions are underway to nities for physics in the region. The low-income countries have second- creeds - including Africans–have con- several universities including our own establish a South African synchro- physics community has been ary school science participation rates tributed to this vast body of knowl- have benefited from substantial tron light source as well as a high championing the cause of scientific at the level of 5% to 10%. edge over the centuries. donations from his foundation. powered laser facility, both of which development as a vehicle for The processes of democratization Many of the principles by which Needless to say, computational physi- will create more opportunities for progress at all levels within society, and the increase in local interest in physics is governed are relevant to cists are at the very forefront in using intra-African as well as internation- including educational, commercial, building universities receives strong society-at-large. The quest for mutu- these new facilities innovatively. The al collaborations. industrial and governmental. In this support from international role-play- al respect and appreciation for peo- potential spin-offs are tremendous The National Research Foundation landscape, physics is beginning to ers such as the governmental devel- ples' abilities and contributions inde- with local government and business- of South Africa has supported the establish itself as an instrument for opment agencies and the large US pendent of their background are ideals es showing a keen interest in going creation of Centers of Excellence in change, and governments are philanthropic foundations. The World we must all strive for in this world. the Open route. various fields including Materials beginning to listen. Bank has re-entered the terrain These attitudes are central for build- The AAIICT (African Advanced Science. These large-scale so-called Chetty directs the program in through the development of a strate- ing democratic societies, and in this Institute for Information and “flagship” projects have been fund- Computational Physics at the University gy to help developing nations to re- way physics has an important role to Communication Technology) is cur- ed as a mechanism to bootstrap of KwaZulu-Natal and is currently the think their approach to higher educa- play in the development of Africa. rently being set up in Pretoria, and scientific development in the country. president-elect of the South African tion. In the last two to three years, the Africa must participate in its tech- shows tremendous potential for boost- South Africa has an historical Institute of Physics. Bawa is the Deputy World Bank has made substantial nological development and not be ing research in the computational sci- interest in strong materials such as Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the grants to Mozambique, Uganda and entirely dependent on foreign inputs. ences on the continent. The CHPC synthetic diamond, boron nitride, etc. University of KwaZulu-Natal and has Ethiopia for the development of their Africa must utilize its natural (Centre for High Performance that has made it one of the world recently headed the Ford Foundation university systems. resources optimally, and must pay Computing) is being established in leaders in the cutting tools and Africa section. APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected].