Forum on Physics and Society APS Members Work For 02│ Generous Gift to APS 03│ Videos Available 04│ 'Keep STEM Talent Act' 08│ Proving Einstein Right

October 2019 • Vol. 28, No. 9 aps.org/apsnews

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

CAREERS INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS A New Guide for Job Seekers Highlights from the 2019 Canadian-American- BY LEAH POFFENBERGER Mexican Physics Conference BY PALOMA VILCHIS or some early career physi- cists, the way forward after he Canadian-American- to the original facility. We dressed receiving a degree is clear— F Mexican (CAM) Graduate in mining gear, took the mine heading towards academia or a elevator, walked two kilometers, field that grabbed their interest T Student Physics Conference and finally, at the entry of the lab, in school. But others may find is a gathering of physics students we left our mining gear behind. themselves wondering what to do from Canada, Cuba, Mexico, and with a physics degree or where to the United States, and has been The group was divided to shower go next in their careers. organized every two years since and get dressed in clean room APS and the Institute of Physisc 1994. This year, the CAM confer- gear—a process the scientists and Publishing (IOPP) in the UK have ence took place from July 24 to 27 employees at the lab do every day. teamed up to alert early-career in Sudbury, a small town in Ontario, We saw PICO 40 and PICO 60, which physicists to the many possibilities known for the world-class science are both dark matter detectors, and in the field with a new publica- facilities of SNOLAB—the Sudbury the beginning of the construction tion: the APS Careers 2020. Modeled Neutrino Observatory—located of the Helium and Lead Observatory after Physics World Careers pub- in a nickel mine two kilometers (HALO), which will be used to detect lished by the IOPP, which focused on resource to APS members. underground. supernovas. career information for UK and EU “APS Careers 2020 is targeted to The CAM Conference was hosted After the tour, we returned to physicists, the APS guide provides all members, with a special focus jointly by SNOLAB and Laurentian Laurentian for a special function invaluable information for job on early career physicists,” says University. Laurentian opened its in the planetarium: Paul-Émile doors to around a hundred graduate Legault, the director of the facility, seekers in the United States. The Bailey, who managed the project Paloma Vilchis guide will be available to all APS from the APS side. “We made an students for the conference, which gave a talk about how to find con- members by the end of October. effort to make sure this guide has featured plenary talks and parallel stellations with the identification room for the first plenary of the Crystal Bailey, Head of Career something beneficial to members sessions on a variety of topics, tours of a specific star at any time of the day, given by Adrien Liu (McGill Programs at APS, has been at all levels of their careers.” of SNOLAB, and various networking year. We then split into groups for University), a cosmologist, who working closely with Tushna And serving members, espe- and career growth opportunities. an evening of networking at dif- spoke about his research on the Commissariat and Edward Jost, The conference kicked off before ferent locations around Sudbury. beginning of our universe’s history, both of IOPP, to launch the new registration with a tour of SNOLAB On Thursday morning, students publication and provide a valuable CAREER GUIDE CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 and SNOLAB+, the 6300 m2 addition gathered in the main conference CAM CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY UNITS New APS Program Promotes The APS Forum on Outreach and Engaging the Public Positive Perceptions of STEM BY ABIGAIL DOVE Teaching ver two thousand members BY LEAH POFFENBERGER strong, the Forum on O Outreach and Engaging wenty years ago, APS the Public (FOEP) is a home for launched the PhysTEC people who believe that telling T program to help address the world about physics is just as a shortage of physics teachers in important as the research itself. the United States through teacher The forum provides a platform training programs. But some for physicists interested in public students may still shy away from outreach—science writing, press pursuing STEM education as a relations, policy, public lectures— career, due to misconceptions about to connect and share ideas and teaching as a profession. best practices. Many members are To address the myths about well-known authors and physics teaching and improve the per- communicators. Don Lincoln Jim Kakalios ceptions of high-school teaching FOEP’s mission of communi- people’s perception of the teaching to be able to learn how to engage figures in the science communi- as a career, APS has launched cating physics to the general public profession and found that people the public and become effective cation world. Past speakers have the Get the Facts Out program in is especially crucial in today’s have a lot of misconceptions,” communicators of science. included Chad Orzel (author of the partnership with the American political climate, where attacks said David May, Education and At the institutional level, FOEP’s popular “How to Teach Physics to Association of Physics Teachers, on science—from climate change Diversity Programs Manager at main platforms include educational Your Dog” books), Sean Carroll the American Chemical Society, to vaccine safety—have become APS. “Adams and Monica Plisch, workshops to train people with (book author and host of the the Mathematical Society of commonplace. To this end, APS [APS Director of Programs], created an interest in outreach. Beyond Mindscape podcast), Henry Reich America, and the Colorado School has recognized the importance Get the Facts Out to address those practical advice for more effec- (host of the YouTube channel One of Mines. Funded by a National misconceptions, which are about of “expand[ing] public apprecia- tive science communication, some Minute Physics), Clifford Johnson Science Foundation grant, the teacher compensation, benefits, tion of physics” in its most recent training sessions also provide (graphic novelist and a consul- project will provide resources for and job satisfaction.” Strategic Plan (see APS News March specific insight into how to enter tant for the physics aspects of reaching STEM majors interested Many prospective physics edu- 2019), and with good reason: The the world of science blogging, several recent Marvel movies), in teaching. cators are choosing other careers best defense against assaults on podcasting, and social media, or and Kenneth Chang (longtime “Our PhysTEC partner, Wendy science is a scientifically literate tips for writing op-eds for larger New York Times science reporter). Adams [at the Colorado School of populace. platforms like The New York Times APS members may also remember Mines] had done a lot of research on PROGRAM CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 FOEP started in 2007 as an ad and The Washington Post. FOEP’s extremely popular physics- hoc committee within the APS “By and large we’re not born themed Escape Room from the Committee on Informing the with communication skills,” noted most recent March Meeting (see Public (CIP), gaining the charter FOEP secretary/treasurer Dan APS News April 2019). to become an official standalone Dahlberg (University of Minnesota), While FOEP members are forum in 2011. Although they do “You have to practice and learn involved in a wide variety of related work, FOEP and CIP are the most effective way to do it and outreach activities, the common now separate entities: CIP’s charge that’s not an easy thing to do.” thread is convincing the public is to provide guidance to the APS At March and April Meetings, that science—and particularly organization for how to reach the FOEP is known for its highly- physics—is important. According public, whereas FOEP’s charge is to attended sessions where APS provide the tools to APS members members can hear from inspiring FOEP CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Revised 10/16/2019 2 • October 2019

DEVELOPMENT Industrial Physicist Selects APS THIS MONTH IN as Sole Beneficiary of Generous Estate Gift Physics History BY MARIAM MEHTER

fter obtaining his degree October 1842: William Grove’s Letter to Faraday and carrying out postdoc- Describing a Fuel Cell A toral research on amorphous semiconductors, Suha Oguz worked as a scientist at the cor- oal and oil were the fuels for industrial and porate research lab of a defense technological development in the 19th and contractor. His career followed C 20th centuries, but the world might have a path into technical manage- looked very different if “gas voltaic batteries” ment, and he eventually retired had dominated instead. It was a Welsh judge after 11 years as Vice President of and scientist named Sir William Robert Grove Research and Development for a who invented a battery that turned hydrogen $7 billion business. He credits his and oxygen into electricity and water. Science success to being able to bridge the historians generally deem his invention to be gap between the engineers and the first bona fide fuel cell. scientists working on technical Grove was born in Swansea, Wales, to a local Suha Oguz and Leslie Lord research, on the one hand, and the magistrate. He was privately educated before business development staff and impact that one moment had made attending Brasenose College at Oxford University, lawyers on the other. and was impressed that the plumber where he studied the classics, graduating in 1832. Oguz remembers numerous had a warm feeling towards and an He became a lawyer in 1835, but his scientific occasions when the business staff understanding of physics. interests led him to join the Royal Institution did not like conclusions reached “Instead of viewing himself that same year. He wrote his first scientific through rigorous experiments and completely outside science, he felt paper on his honeymoon in 1837, proposing a instead pushed for interpretations very comfortable that he could con- new voltaic design for electric cells. It was pub- not supported by those experiments tribute something,” recalls Oguz. lished in October in the Philosophical Magazine and advocated “alternate” facts. Oguz and his wife, Leslie and Journal of Science. William Grove “Science, basically, is not a Lord, had been considering ways In his paper, Grove noted presciently, “it and hydrogen through each of which passes matter of opinion. It’s a matter of to combat science illiteracy and seems probable that at no very distant period platina foil so as to dip into separate vessels of objective observations, theories, promote the appreciation of science. voltaic electricity may become a useful means water acidulated with [sulfuric] acid. With 60 of and hypotheses. These are the kinds They have discussed their legacy of locomotion, the arrangement of batteries so these alternations I get an unpleasant shock...” of things you can appreciate about and their wish to make a lasting as to produce the greatest power in the smallest He subsequently published an 1843 paper in the science without being a scientist,” impression by supporting science. space becomes important.” Indeed, the German Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, offering says Oguz. He feels that a basic level Lord spent many years in the non- engineer Moritz Hermann von Jacobi used an details of the thirty experiments he conducted of science literacy can enable those profit world, most recently serving array of Grove cells to power a boat on a river with the cells, “all with the same general result.” outside the sciences to understand on boards of organizations that in St. Petersburg shortly thereafter. Grove must have been especially pleased, since and appreciate the rigor, objectivity, provide students with resources The Grove cell used zinc and platinum in dilute the gas battery provided evidence for his fledgling and utility of science and its pivotal such as broadband internet. After and concentrated sulfuric acid, respectively, theory of the correlation of physical forces—a role in their lives. some research and thought, they to generate a strong current, which made it a precursor to our modern concept of conservation As an industrial physicist, found their answer in the APS favorite for powering the fledgling telegraph of energy. He published an essay describing his Oguz recalled a conversation with education, diversity, and public industry. But as the technology became more theory in 1846, arguing that “heat, light, electricity, a plumber at his laboratory who engagement programs and identi- widespread, Grove cells turned out to also emit magnetism, chemical affinity, and motion, are all remembered a nitrogen balloon fied a way to make an impact. a poisonous gas—an occupational hazard for correlative, or have a reciprocal dependence,” and science demonstration from grade operators working in offices filled with rows of therefore, “either may, as a force, produce or be school years ago. Oguz was shocked Grove cells. The telegraph industry also needed convertible into the other, this heat may mediately and surprised by how much of an GIFT CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 constant voltage, and Grove cells depleted quickly, or immediately produce electricity, electricity so his invention was eventually displaced by may produce heat; and so of the rest.” But Grove better alternatives. never fully developed his theory qualitatively. That At the dawn of the 19th century, two British achievement fell to Hermann von Helmholtz in APRIL MEETING 2020 scientists—William Nicholson and Anthony 1847, building on earlier work by James Prescott Carlisle—had written about how to use electricity Joule and William Thomson, among others. to turn water into hydrogen and oxygen. Grove’s Grove also invented one of the first incandes- insight was to run the process in reverse with quarks cosmos cent light bulbs and collaborated with John Peter platinum electrodes, a material that catalyzes Gassiot on photography, notably daguerrotypes and the recombination of oxygen and hydrogen. He calotypes. “It would be vain to attempt specifically put the platinum electrodes in containers of April 18-21, 2020 to predict what may be the effect of photography Q2C oxygen and hydrogen each immersed in a bath Washington, DC on future generations,” he wrote for the London of sulfuric acid to form a single cell, then wired Institution in 1842. “A process by which the most several cells in series to make what he called a Present Your Research transient actions are rendered permanent, by which “gas voltaic battery.”. The APS April Meeting encapsulates the full range of physical scales including facts write their own annals in a language that astrophysics, particle physics, nuclear physics, and gravitation. To experience In October 1842, Grove wrote a letter to Michael the meeting is to explore research from the “Quarks to the Cosmos (Q2C),” can never be obsolete, forming documents which which is the true essence of the meeting. Faraday at the Royal Institution about his inven- prove themselves—must interweave itself not only tion. “I have just completed a curious voltaic with science but with history and legislature.” Abstract Deadline: aps.org/april pile which I think you would like to see,” he January 10, 2020 #apsapril wrote, and went on to describe an instrument that was “composed of alternate tubs of oxygen LETTER CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Series II, Vol. 28, No. 9 October 2019 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2019 General Councilors Materials Physics), Baha Balantekin* (Division of © 2019 American Physical Society Bonnie Fleming, Andrea J. Liu*, Nuclear Physics), Elizabeth Simmons (Division of President Vivian F. Incera*, Robin L. B. Selinger Particles and Fields), Stuart Henderson (Division David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical of Physics of Beams), Amitava Bhattacharjee (Di- Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara International Councilors vision of Plasma Physics), Murugappan Muthu- Editor...... David Voss Johanna Stachel, Marta Losada*, kumar (Division of Polymer Physics), Charles H. Staff Science Writer...... Leah Poffenberger President-Elect Ahmadou Wagué*, Enge Wang Bennett (Division of Quantum Information), Noah Philip H. Bucksbaum*, Stanford University and Finkelstein (Forum on Education), Julia Gon- Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Chair, Nominating Committee ski (Forum on Graduate Student Affairs), Virginia Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Larry D. Gladney, Yale University Trimble (Forum on the History of Physics), John Vice President Rumble, Jr.*(Forum on Industrial and Applied Sylvester J. Gates*, Brown Theoretical Physics Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Physics), Emanuela Barzi (Forum on International APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD Center, Brown University James D. Wells, University of Michigan Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics and So- monthly, except for a combined August-Sep- 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. ciety), Philip R. Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), tember issue, 11 times per year, by the Ameri- Past President Editor in Chief Nora Berrah (New England Section) can Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It publication delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Berkeley (on leave) Senior Management Team contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mail- Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer; Topical Groups, Sections, and Forums; advance ing offices. Chief Executive Officer Division, Forum, and Section Councilors Jane Hopkins Gould, Chief Financial Officer information on meetings of the Society; and re- Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) Michael Coleman Miller Division of Astrophys- Kate P. Kirby, Chief Executive Officer;Matthew ports to the Society by its committees and task For address changes, please send both the old ( ics), David Schultz (Division of Atomic, Molecular, M. Salter, Publisher; Francis Slakey, Chief forces, as well as opinions. and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Speaker of the Council and Optical Physics), William Bialek (Division of Government Affairs Officer; James W. Taylor, mailing label from a recent issue. Changes can be John Rumble, Jr.*, R&R Data Services Biological Physics), Robert Continetti (Division of Deputy Executive Officer and Chief Operating Letters to the editor are welcomed from the emailed to [email protected]. Postmaster: Chemical Physics), John Bradley Marston* (Di- Officer; Michael Thoennessen, Editor in Chief membership. Letters must be signed and should Send address changes to APS News, Membership Treasurer vision of Condensed Matter Physics), Giulia Galli include an address and daytime telephone num- Department, American Physical Society, One James Hollenhorst* Agilent Technologies (Division of Computational Physics), Howard Stone * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors ber. APS reserves the right to select and to edit Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. , (Division of Fluid Dynamics), Beverly Berger* (Di- for length and clarity. All correspondence re- Corporate Secretary vision of Gravitational Physics), John Fourkas (Di- garding APS News should be directed to: Editor, Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Jeanette Russo, American Physical Society vision of Laser Science), Samuel Bader (Division of October 2019 • 3

UNITS MEETINGS APS Forum on Physics and Society The 40th International School for Young Astronomers Video Presentations Now Available in Egypt BY SULTANA N. NAHAR he APS Forum on Physics and Celia Merzbacher (Oak Ridge Society sponsored several National Laboratory; former uring the spring of 2018, Egypt, Mexico, Norway, Russia, of Astronomy of Moscow State T sessions at both the March Executive Director, President's Egypt hosted the 40th Spain, and the United States. University, would run up the steps Meeting in Boston and the April Council on Science and Technology): International School for The local organizer, the National of the large auditorium to check Meeting in Denver this year. These D Federal Policy Making: Perspectives Young Astronomers (ISYA) under Research Institute of Astronomy whether the students were able talks were recorded and are avail- from Inside and Outside Government the auspices of the International and Geophysics (NRIAG) at Helwan, to produce Hertzsprung-Russell able online. YouTube links to all Andrew Zwicker (Princeton Astronomical Union (IAU) in Africa. arranged one week of the school at diagrams of luminosity and tem- of the video recordings of these University; New Jersey Assembly): It featured an impressive breadth of the Kottamia Observatory, which perature to classify a sample of stars sessions are available on the online Advice from a Scientist-Policy lecture topics, with hands-on expe- provided the opportunity for night from the GAIA databank. version of APS News at aps.org/ Maker on Giving Advice to a Policy riences provided by an international observations, and two weeks at In the evening all participants apsnews: Maker team of lecturers in an accessible the Cataract Pyramids Resort near would go back to the large lecture APS March Meeting in Boston Nathan Phillips (Boston style, and group homework projects Cairo. Support came from Egyptian room to work enthusiastically on The Future of U.S. Nuclear Forces: University): Science Legislative and group presentations by the Academy of Scientific Research the group projects until midnight. What Do We Need? Fellow Advisors for State very enthusiastic and dedicated and Technology, NRIAG, and other Often the lecturers would join them Steve Fetter (University of Legislatures participants. educational institutions. for encouragement but would do Maryland): Nuclear Modernization, Iran, North Korea, and Nuclear ISYA has been organized by IAU To make ISYA as accessible as their own work. Past participants ICBMs, and Launch On Warning Proliferation since 1967 with the objective of possible for students and lecturers, are often eager to sign up as lec- Lisbeth Gronlund (Union of Zia Mian (Princeton University, broadening the perspective, knowl- IAU bears all costs related to the turers to give something back to Concerned Scientists): US Plans 2019 Szilard Lectureship Award edge, and awareness of astronomy travel for international partici- the program. The ISYA experience for New Nuclear Warheads recipient): Scientists and Today’s through lectures from a team of pants. The host country covers continues to inspire Somaya Saad Richard Garwin (IBM): Current Struggles Against Nuclear Weapons: international faculty on selected food, internal transportation, who is the Head of the Center of Nuclear Weapons Issues, and Sid What Would Szilard Do? topics, in addition to seminars, and lodging, typically through Scientific Excellence in Astronomy Drell’s Contributions to Arms R. Scott Kemp (MIT): Iran, North practical exercises and observa- support from the Ministry of Higher and Space Science for NRIAG and Control and Strategic Stability Korea, and the Renewed Challenge tions, and opportunities to exchange Education and Research and dona- local organizer of ISYA, and Nassim Stewart Prager (Princeton of Proliferation experiences. ISYA is held mainly in tions from various organizations Seghouani who is the Director of University): Engaging the Physics Alex Glaser (Princeton developing countries, and attracts in the country. Research at the Center of Research Community in Nuclear Threat University): Verification of top postgraduate students pursuing I was an international lecturer for Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Reduction Denuclearization a Master’s Degree or PhD and young for ISYA, and I gave talks on atomic Geophysics in Algeria. The Politics of Science Advising Rachel Carr (MIT): Can faculty members from the host processes in astrophysical plasmas, During the weekends, students John Holdren (Kennedy School Neutrino Detectors Strengthen country and neighboring countries x-ray spectroscopy and plasma and lecturers took breaks from at Harvard University; President the Nonproliferation Regime? in the region. opacity of the sun. Other lecturers astronomy to see the sights of Obama's Science Advisor): Speaking The effective structure of ISYA covered a variety of astronomy the host country. They visited the Science to Power: Providing S&T and its long-lasting impact on the topics: general behavior of variable pyramids at Giza, rode a boat on Advice to Governments FPS VIDEOS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 participants suggest the possibility stars, interstellar matter, star for- the Nile, ate traditional Egyptian of creating a similar school for mation, observational astronomy, meals, and visited historical sites in young physicists. APS, with its fast- optical photometry and spectros- Alexandria. Everyone gained knowl- RESEARCH UPDATE growing international membership, copy, radio astronomy, solar system edge of astronomy and memories of could play a very important role and solar physics, stellar astronomy, Egypt that will have a long-lasting Sensing Seizures with Machine in the enrichment and popularity and stellar structure and evolu- impact. of physics. tion. Attendees also participated in Learning The 40th ISYA had 30 partici- hands-on sessions on data reduc- Sultana Nahar is a professor of astron- BY LEAH POFFENBERGER pants from eight countries: Egypt, tion and analysis. omy at the Ohio State University, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, The lecturers were passionate co-director of the STEM ER Center, n the United States alone, to alert wearers to an oncoming Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, and about both astronomy and helping and adjunct professor of physics at roughly three million people seizure, acting as an early warning Tanzania. Lecturers came from ISYA students. During his lectures, Aligarh Muslim University and Cairo I live with epilepsy, a disorder system, and they presented their eight countries: Algeria, China, Oleg Malkov, Department Head University. resulting in chronic seizures. Many latest results at this year’s APS of these people are able to control March Meeting in Boston. the disorder with treatment, such “Patients with diabetes have as medication or surgery, but others real-time continuous glucose with uncontrolled epilepsy face a monitors that can give alerts when number of limitations, such as not their blood sugar is too high or too being allowed to drive a car. low—we’d like to have something Louis Nemzer, a biophysicist, similar for people with epilepsy,” and a group of collaborators at says Nemzer. “You’d have some Nova Southeastern University are kind of wearable device, small and taking an interdisciplinary approach lightweight, to alert a patient to to improving quality of life for take action and get to a safe space people with uncontrolled epilepsy: when a seizure is likely to occur.” The group is developing a device that would use machine learning AI CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ISYA group holds banner in front of a pyramid in Giza, Egypt.

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Simulated healthy (top) and seizure (bottom) brain electrical patterns as gener- phystec.org/conferences/2020 ated by computer model of a neural network. IMAGE LOUIS NEMZER/PHYSICS- WORLD.COM 4 • October 2019

CAREER GUIDE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS cially those just starting out, is a collection of over 20 pieces of APS Members Make the Case for ‘Keep STEM Talent a key component of the recently content for the APS Careers 2020, implemented APS Strategic Plan, with the needs of APS members Act of 2019’ which states that “... to attract and in mind. BY TAWANDA W. JOHNSON retain members and to fully serve Bailey worked closely with the the current and next generation of IOP team to ensure that all parts PS members are tenaciously who met in their home states with [Grassley’s state director] and physicists, we will grow and broaden of the guide came together in time doing their part to highlight congressional staffers representing Adam DoBraska [Grassley’s regional the APS membership to include for launch in October 2019. The APS A the importance of the Keep their senators who sit on the Senate director] for more than hour, though more physicists in industry and the communications group ensured that STEM Talent Act of 2019, which Judiciary Committee, which cur- we were scheduled for only half private sector, and provide addi- the publication is consistent with would allow students to proclaim rently has jurisdiction over the an hour. The meeting was very tional tangible member benefits.” the APS brand and have created “dual intent,” provide green cards Keep STEM Talent Act of 2019. successful,” recalled Vary. The guidebook contains a wealth several promotional ads for APS to international students who earn They attended meetings in the Callie Pruett, APS Grassroots of information focused on how programs to be included. Bailey also advanced STEM degrees at US insti- offices of US Senators Thom Tillis Advocacy Associate, said the APS someone with a physics degree can curated a number of professional tutions, and secure job offers from (R-NC); Mike Lee (R-UT); and Chuck Office of Government Affairs get a job outside of academia—and development articles and profiles US employers in fields related to Grassley (R-IA). (APS OGA), was thrilled to help what some of those jobs are. More from a library of existing content to their degrees. During the meetings, APS prepare the APS members for their standard career-hunting advice, be included in the guide, as well as “International students and members shared experiences about meetings. such as how to tailor a résumé provided information to create new visiting scholars play a critical role long delays they’ve encountered “The teams put in a lot of work. for industrial job applications, is articles focusing on APS programs in our theoretical physics research trying to obtain green cards, after They participated in multiple team coupled with profiles of physicists (such as the PIPELINE program, group’s efforts. We need to continue spending a considerable amount of conference calls, honed their with unconventional jobs. The guide the IMPact program, and others). the flow of top talent into STEM time studying at US institutions. personal narratives and worked also features a directory of com- As part of these contributions, fields, which benefits our research US-born scientists also informed together to ensure that their panies, both industry and national APS has also helped connect the agenda, as well as academia and the staffers about the benefits of meetings ran smoothly,” she said, labs, that are looking to hire people IOPP sales team with US companies industry after they graduate,” said working with international scien- adding that the next goal is to work with physics degrees. and national labs that could be James Vary, physics professor at tists. Additionally, APS members toward a bipartisan bill. US Senator “Even though most physics featured in the employer directory, Iowa State University. “Two out explained that it made sense for Dick Durbin (D-IL) sponsored the graduates will pursue career which was the most difficult aspect of three of my graduate students international students to keep their legislation, which is currently co- paths outside of academia, many they encountered in expanding into came to Iowa State from abroad to talent and skills in America, where sponsored by all Democrats. physics students will have only US markets. earn their PhDs.” they could contribute to the country been exposed to academic research The directory, for example, Vary was among a dozen APS that invested in them. careers by the time they graduate,” includes the same type of infor- members from across the country “We met with Carol Olson STEM TALENT CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Bailey noted. mation from each company that “A physics degree is really a participated to ensure an easy platform to take on genuinely almost comparison for job seekers. An any job anywhere in the world, and important addition to this section, Signal Boost is a monthly email video newsletter alerting APS we want to make sure they know which keeps the international members to policy issues and identifying opportunities to get that so they don’t ever feel limited,” membership of APS in mind, is a involved. Past issues are available at go.aps.org/2nr298D. Join said Commissariat, reviews and question on whether companies Our Mailing List: visit the sign-up page at go.aps.org/2nqGtJP. careers editor for Physics World, require their employees to have a IOPP’s membership magazine. US visa. Articles are also included For the past three years, IOPP has in the guide profiling some of the been producing their own guide as careers programs offered through FYI: SCIENCE POLICY NEWS FROM AIP an expansion of the careers infor- APS that provide additional support mation that was originally published for early-career physicists. in the member magazine. In addition, a popular section “It was a lot of timeless stuff from the Physics World guide called White House Details Latest R&D Priorities that we wanted people to see more “Once a Physicist” will be reprised BY MITCH AMBROSE regularly, so we put together the in the APS guide, profiling people Physics World Careers guide with who have physics degrees who he White House issued porates the priorities of the newly some of our best content coupled up have used them to do something its annual R&D priorities established Joint Committee on with some profiles,” says Jost, Head completely different. T memorandum to the heads of Research Environments (JCORE), an of Media Business Development at “We’ve selected articles that federal science agencies on August interagency panel focused on topics IOPP. “It’s gone down really well feature careers in industry, high 30, offering them guidance as they such as combatting sexual harass- with our membership here at the school physics teaching, and prepare their budget request sub- ment and securing research assets Institute—one member claimed entrepreneurship; there is also missions for fiscal year 2021. from undue influence or misappro- it was one of the best things he’d a multi-page feature on careers Many of the priorities restate priation by foreign governments. had as a member benefit in years of in the field of medical physics,” or elaborate on ones articulated in The document elaborates on investments, developing effective being a member at the institute.” Bailey said. “APS Careers 2020 last year’s memo. For instance, it Droegemeier’s conception of the policy, and improving predictive In October 2018, APS was is a tangible benefit that we are again promotes R&D underpinning enterprise as having entered a skill.” approached by IOPP with a proposal glad to be making available to our “Industries of the Future,” such as “Second Bold Era,” which it states Droegemeier also drew attention to partner in creating a version of members and the broader physics artificial intelligence and quantum is characterized by not only its to the memo’s call for agencies to the Physics World Careers guide that community.” information science. It also retains unprecedented opportunities, prioritize “transformative research of high risk and potentially high was appropriate for US audiences. For more on career resources at APS, language favoring “early-stage” but also “new and extraordinary Together, APS and IOPP produced visit aps.org/careers. energy research over later-stage threats which must be confronted reward.” technology development and thoughtfully and effectively.” “We’ve got to be comfortable adds a new emphasis on nuclear Alluding to tensions within the with failure on some of these big energy R&D, including work on a research community over current bets that we make. And I think, proposed fast-neutron irradiation research security initiatives, it frankly, we’ve gotten away from user facility. states, “[Success] will depend upon that as a country,” he said, attrib- Several entirely new priorities striking a balance between the uting the shift away from such are included, such as research openness of our research ecosystem research in part to budgetary pres- relating to “Earth system predict- and the protection of our ideas and sures that make grant reviewers ability,” ocean exploration, critical research outcomes.” more conservative in their STEP minerals, high-risk high-reward Speaking to FYI, Droegemeier recommendations. PHYSICSUP TOGETHER Asked about the tension between research, and research integrity. stressed that the work of JCORE is Are you a high school physics teacher, or do Following tradition, the memo a top priority for OSTP and federal the desire to increase support for high-risk, high reward research you know a high school physics teacher? is co-signed by the heads of the science agencies, saying that its Office of Science and Technology Research Security Subcommittee, and the administration’s past pro- Policy (OSTP) and the Office of for instance, has met seven times posals to sharply reduce federal STEP UP is a national community of physics teachers, Management and Budget, which since the panel was established in support for science, he said, “The researchers, and professional societies. We design high key thing there is to have conversa- school physics lessons to empower teachers, create is responsible for assembling the May and that “actionable” outcomes tions about what the priorities are. cultural change, and inspire young women to pursue president’s budget request for sub- are forthcoming. “It’s all hands on Obviously, you would like to be able physics in college. mission to Congress in February deck,” he said. each year. However, this is the first Droegemeier highlighted the to do lots and lots and lots of things, and you can't do everything.” Join the STEP UP community and help recruit physics memo the White House has issued new section on Earth system pre- teachers today! since Kelvin Droegemeier’s confir- diction as a notable addition to the mation as OSTP director. memo. It declares, “Knowing the The author is Acting Director of FYI. Droegemeier’s influence is dis- extent to which components of STEPUPphysics.org cernable throughout the document, the Earth system are practicably FYI has been a trusted source of particularly in its emphasis that predictable — from individual science policy and funding news the US research enterprise should thunderstorms to long-term global since 1989, and is read by members uphold “American values,” which change — is vitally important for of Congress and their staff, federal are defined as encompassing “free physical understanding of the Earth agency heads, journalists, and US inquiry, competition, openness, and system, assessing the value of pre- scientific leaders. Sign up for free fairness.” The memo also incor- diction results, guiding federal FYI emails at aip.org/fyi. October 2019 • 5

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FEATURE Jefferson Science Fellowships Preprints Make Inroads Outside of Physics BY R. J. (JERRY) PETERSON BY DANIEL GARISTO

he Jefferson Science n the years following World War Fellowship program (sites. II, a flood of research created T nationalacademies.org/ I a crisis for scientific com- PGA/Jefferson) allows physicists munication. To keep up with the and other science, engineering, deluge, physicists began mailing and medical faculty with tenured unpublished manuscripts across positions at US universities and the country and around the world. colleges to dedicate an academic These preprints speedily brought year with the US Department of research to physicists hungry for State (DOS) or the US Agency for news, outstripping traditional pub- International Development (USAID), lications by months. By the time working on a wide range of issues Paul Ginsparg launched hep-th@ in scientific and technical issues xxx.lanl.gov (now known as arXiv. among nations. I was a Jefferson org) in 1991, paper preprints had Fellow in 2007–2008, working in Jerry Peterson been entrenched in the culture of the Office of Economic Analysis of physics for decades. the DOS and I was followed in that essays will ask you to specify how The success of arXiv, which now Rita Taylor helped run Preprints in August 12, 1983 issue of PPF mailed Particles and Fields (PPF) at SLAC for out from SLAC. Each issue contained office by a string of JSF physicists. your home institution will benefit holds 1.5 million preprints, is well many years. IMAGE: SLAC a list of that week's preprints. IMAGE: The DOS and USAID have a strong from your experience. I will be known to physicists, mathema- SLAC need for the critical thinking and happy to discuss your applications ticians, and computer scientists judgement you possess. ([email protected]), and who rely on it. But similar efforts biologists in 1961 to 3600 in 1966. allowing them to access biblio- The deadline for applications I am sure that other JSF alumni in other fields foundered. Life But in 1967, the IEGs were abruptly graphic information in databases for the 2020–2021 academic year would also be willing to help. A sciences repository Nature Precedings terminated. A 1966 Nature edito- like SPIRES-HEP. Math typesetting is October 31, 2019. The selection list of these alumni can be found quietly shut down after six years rial enumerated a list of growing software like TeX and the develop- process is begun by your appli- at go.aps.org/2mn6Kgd. and only about 2,000 preprints; the problems, concluding that “the ment of email made it possible to cation, followed by an interview. I found my year at the DOS to be Chemistry Preprint Server barely experiment was plainly on the point share electronic preprints. Fellows will continue their uni- highly satisfying, with my experi- got off the ground. In many fields, of getting out of hand.” In 1989, Joanne Cohn, a physicist versity positions, with salary and ence and background finding useful journal editors refused to publish While the IEGs certainly faced then at the Institute for Advanced benefits continued by a memo- applications to new topics. One of papers posted as preprints. organizational problems like Study, began distributing TeX files randum of understanding with your the valuable sets of connections Recently, however, the tide has the cost of mail ($400,000 then) of string theory papers via email. home institution, with a stipend of was with my fellow Fellows, a great begun to shift. Since 2013, dozens and confidentiality, their biggest By August of 1991, the email list up to $50,000 paid by DOS or USAID. bunch of men and women. And—it of preprint servers in fields such as impediment came from journals had grown to 180 physicists—an Washington is an expensive town. would surely be useful to be seen biology, chemistry, and sociology like Nature itself. Wary of the IEGs’ unwieldy number for Cohn to Applicants must be US citizens and a as a member of the APS Forum on have popped up and garnered tens popularity, editors of biochemical individually respond to requests security clearance will be required. International Physics (FIP), which of thousands of submissions. journals were happy to recognize for papers. As Cohn recounts, a Upon arrival, the units of the DOS you can join without cost as an APS In 2017, the National Institutes the value of IEG memoranda—so young physicist then at Los Alamos or USAID will present their cases member (go to aps.org/units/fip). of Health allowed the inclusion of long as it was clear that the material National Laboratory offered to and arrange for interviews. You will preprints in grant proposals. In was never to be published. Two automate the list, and arXiv was be expected to be available for JSF May, the Nature family of journals The author is Professor Emeritus in the years later, this anti-preprint stance born. activities for a few years after the announced that it would move from physics department at the University spread across scientific publishing “Day one, something happened, year in residence in Washington. of Colorado in Boulder and Past Chair allowing preprints to encouraging thanks to what became known as day two, something happened. Day One of the required application of the FIP. them, now allowing researchers to the Ingelfinger rule (seeAPS News, three, Ed Witten posted a paper,” speak to the media about preprints November 2012). said Cornell University physicist of submitted manuscripts. And During the early 1960s, pre- Paul Ginsparg, founder of arXiv. on June 25, Cold Spring Harbor Save the date for the prints, especially in HEP, had org. “That was when the entire Laboratory (CSHL), Yale University, proliferated out of control. In community joined.” and the journal BMJ launched a 1965, theoretical physicist Michael For physicists, it became new server for medical preprints, Moravscik proposed an analogous indispensable. “It was this one- medRxiv. “Physics Information Exchange” stop-shopping daily information For most physicists, scholar- (PIE) to tame and centralize the feed. If it’s not there, then it may ship without preprints is foreign. chaos. Similarly, Physical Review as well not exist,” Ginsparg said. But working with preprints can be editors like Sam Goudsmit and “I still don’t know if there's anyone just as alien to scientists in other that's using it quite like the high disciplines. “I still encounter people Simon Pasternack voiced opposi- energy physicists were using it who don’t know what a preprint tion. In an acerbic editorial entitled already in the early ‘90s.” is,” said Jessica Polka, a biochemist “Communication Problems,” Eager to capitalize on the phe- and executive director of ASAPbio, Goudsmit mocked preprints: nomenon, the APS participated a nonprofit focused on faster, “The next step might be to equip in “e-print” workshops and even transparent publishing in the life theorists with portable recorders launched its own ill-fated “e-print” sciences. so that all their statements about server in 1996, which closed down Fields other than physics have physics, including those uttered within a few years. More successful In Partnership with some catching up to do. Only one to in their sleep, would be preserved was the groundbreaking decision National Society of Black Physicists and two percent of the nearly 30 million on tape. The contents of the tapes by the APS in 1997 to amend its peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, would be transmitted electroni- National Society of Hispanic Physicists copyright rules, formally allowing a life science aggregator main- cally to interested colleagues via e-prints. This reversal from anti- tained by NIH, initially appeared a distribution center. Hopefully, preprint attitudes of the 1960s was February 6 - 8, 2020 as preprints. As of 2009, over 95 such a system might result in such a testament to the cultural changes University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL percent of articles published in chaos as to make priority assign- the past decades had wrought on peer-reviewed HEP journals also ments impossible, and the great Highlights include: physics and the inescapable power appeared on arXiv.org. This dis- advances in theoretical physics Plenary talks on mentoring & physics research of the internet. crepancy didn’t always exist—at would become anonymous, just Panels & workshops on mentoring best practices Jim Till, a biophysicist at the one time, fields like psychology like the great achievements in the Career workshops & panels University of Toronto credits the and biology also used preprints. art of ancient Egypt.” adoption of arXiv to the fact that Undergrad research experiences and grad schools fair But thanks to funding from the Dealing with a Deluge “HEP physicists have been members Networking opportunities US Atomic Energy Commission, Throughout the 1960s, multiple of a well-defined and highly inter- And much more the PIE launched as a trial run. organizations across various dis- active community of voracious Distributed weekly, the PIE cut costs ciplines attempted to scale up the readers, with a pre-existing hard- by giving only a list of preprints, private, informal sharing of pre- copy preprint habit, a standardized as opposed to providing the full prints that had grown in previous text formatting system (TeX), and a document. Its success led to the decades. In 1961, the American generally high degree of computer SLAC-based Preprints in Particles and Psychological Association began literacy.” Fields (PPF). Until 1993, hundreds of a short-lived experiment in preprint In the decades that followed, as physicists paid a subscription fee Learn More! go.aps.org/nmc2020 exchange to solve the issue of pub- scientific publishing transitioned to get a weekly listing of preprints, lishing lag. The association found to the digital age, other preprint delivered by airmail. To appease that “those who need preprints servers popped up. But few, if any, journal editors, PPF also contained a most—young scientists, workers at have replicated arXiv’s success. list of “anti-preprints,” which were small institutions, and researchers One of the most promising preprints that had been published. in less developed countries—are attempts was “E-Biomed,” which frequently not the recipients.” Preprints Go Electronic then-NIH director Harold Varmus Read online At the same time, the NIH formed By the mid 1980s, networks like aps.org/apsnews its Information Exchange Groups BITNET and DECnet connected (IEGs), which ballooned from 32 physicists across the US and Europe, PREPRINTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 6 • October 2019

FPS VIDEOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 STEM TALENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Frank von Hippel (Princeton Attracting Young People to Science Pruett explained that highly the State Department, Office of time delays, expensive visa fees University): Strengthening the and Science Policy (with the APS Forum trained STEM graduates are greatly Science and Technology Policy, and difficulty proving intent to Nonproliferation Regime on Early Career Scientists) needed throughout the US, espe- Department of Energy, National return to one’s home country. Of APS April Meeting in Denver Brian Jones (Colorado State cially in the states visited by APS Science Foundation, Commerce those who reported having a time members. New Challenges International University): Making Climate Change Department and Department of delay, 80 percent of them said the Science Collaborations Concepts Accessible (and Acceptable) “In Iowa, there are 12,000 open Defense. delay lasted more than one month. To further probe issues related Amy Flatten (APS): Long- to a Wide Audience STEM jobs; in North Carolina, there Francis Slakey, APS Chief to visa policies, APS OGA recently term Strategic Planning for APS David Maiullo (Rutgers are 31,000; and in Utah, there are Government Affairs Officer, said 6,000,” she said. International Activities University): Using Physics partnered with the APS Office of information from the meetings, Bill Colglazier (AAAS): Demonstrations to Excite & Educate Last year, a survey conducted International Affairs, the Forum on combined with the survey results, Opportunities and Challenges the Public in Science & Sci Policy by APS OGA of 49 of the largest Graduate Student Affairs, and the will be instrumental in helping in International Scientific FPS Prize Session: Burton Forum graduate physics programs in the Forum for Early Career Scientists APS OGA achieve its policy goals. Collaboration on Large Scale Award US revealed that the percentage to develop an anonymous survey to “We look forward to continuing Projects Shirley Ann Jackson (President, of international students applying gauge the opinions of international to work with APS members, as well Karla Hagen (British Embassy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute): declined by an average of 12 percent graduate students and early career as developing surveys, to generate Washington DC): The US-UK Science Physics, the River that Runs from 2017 to 2018. In response, APS physicists. Nearly 700 international key data to keep APS in the forefront Collaboration Landscape: Status Through It All members worked with APS OGA to members responded to the survey. of addressing issues that are impor- write op-eds and meet with con- One of the questions asked: tant to our membership,” he said. and Opportunities for the Future Plenary Talks gressional staffers, both locally and “What specific issues did you run To show your support for the Panel discussion: Challenges Amory Lovins (Rocky Mountain in Washington, DC, in an effort to into while obtaining a student visa?” Keep STEM Talent Act, visit the & Opportunities for International Institute): Disruptive Energy persuade lawmakers to address the More than a quarter of respondents APS OGA Advocacy webpage. Science Collaborations Futures issue. Additionally, APS leadership reported encountering challenges New Energy Technologies and Katie Mack (North Carolina has met with key officials repre- with obtaining a student visa. The author is the APS Senior Press Policies State University): Physics and senting various agencies, including Among those issues included were Secretary. Daniel M. Kammen (University Social Media of California - Berkeley): An Energy Plan the Earth Can Live With The APS Forum on Physics and Society CAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Adilson Motter (Northwestern (aps.org/units/fps) addresses issues at University): North American the interface of physics and society as when first-generation stars and attending the next plenary session, brain activity, and APS Careers Power-Grid Network: Failures and a whole. Your support is vital to the work of the Forum, both because FPS galaxies were forming. given by particle astrophysicist Program Manager Midhat Farooq, Opportunities activities are coordinated by its active Two more plenaries followed in Jeter Hall, Director of Research at who presented the career resources Amory Lovins (Rocky Mountain members and the financial support the the afternoon with speakers Zohar SNOLAB. Next came more parallel and opportunities available through Institute): Integrative Design for Forum receives from APS depends on Nussinov (Washington University sessions and a mini-workshop on APS, followed by a panel discus- Radical Energy Efficiency its membership. at St. Louis) and Karen Salomé equity for gender and minorities sion about publications and closing Caballero Mora (Autonomous in STEM. After lunch, Tonatiuh remarks. Overall, it was a diverse University of Chiapas). Nussinov Matos (Centro de Investigación y de conference, with a focus on inter- spoke about his research in con- Estudios Avanzados del IPN) spoke disciplinary networking, which is an densed matter, particularly the about his dark matter research at enriching experience for students. LETTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 application of simple statistical the second plenary of the day. The The meeting organizers thank the mechanics and classical mechanics plenary was followed by a panel following sponsors and partners for Grove’s interest in invention References: ideas to graph theory. Caballero discussion of science funding with their generous contributions: Canadian led to him specializing in patent Appleby, A. J. “From Sir William Grove Mora spoke about her involvement tips on how to present a project to Association of Physics, APS, Sociedad law, including photography patent to today: fuel cells and the future,” in the High Altitude Water Cerenkov different agencies in order to get Mexicana de Física, Sociedad Cubana Journal of Power Sources 29, 3 disputes, and unsuccessfully rep- Gamma-Ray Observatory (HAWC) funding. de Física, Laurentian University, (1990). resented William Fox Talbot in a and the supercomputer laboratory Next came the poster slam, SNOLAB, Perimeter Institute, Canadian suit over his calotype patent. He Cantor, G. “William Robert Grove, the she is coordinating at Chiapas. which featured presentations from Organizations of Medical Physics, correlation of forces, and the con- was named a judge of the Court of Parallel sessions took place 35 graduate students. At the slam, Canadian Journal of Physics, TRIUMF, servation of energy,” Centaurus 19, Common Pleases in 1871 and was between the plenaries in different a jury selected posters that would Science North, and the Sudbury local 273 (1976). by most accounts a good and fair classrooms, and the day finished go on to contend in the poster government. Grove, W. R. “On a new voltaic combina- one. However, Grove was reportedly with a dinner in the alumni hall. competition. At the alumni hall, tion,” Philosophical Magazine and Paloma Alejandra Vilchis León is a PhD prone to become distracted by the Journal of Science 13, 430 (1838). The parallel sessions included many we had the opportunity to view technical minutiae of such disputes, topics: statistics, cosmology, phi- the posters, and the jury selected student at Iberoamericana University Morus, I. “How a Victorian lawyer from losophy, physics education, nuclear the winners. To finish the day, we at Mexico City, working in the areas peppering litigants with questions Wales invented the hydrogen fuel about how they might improve cell,” The Conversation, (October physics, quantum physics, con- attended a banquet at the North of materials, nanoscience and nano- their inventions and occasionally 27, 2017). densed matter and materials, Science Museum. technology. She is a member of the suggesting improvements himself. Webb, R. K. “Sir William Grove (1811- particle physics, physics in medicine The conference closed with the Sociedad Mexicana de Física and a He was knighted in 1872. Grove 1896) and the origins of the fuel and biology, and astrophysics. plenaries of Eduardo Martínez, contributor to “Random,” a science retired in 1887 and died at home cell,” Journal of the Royal Institute On Friday, students had a choice a neurophysics researcher who radio program that is transmitted on in London nine years later. of Chemistry 85, 291 (1961). between another tour of SNOLAB or develops tools for understanding Ibero Radio in Mexico City.

AI CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Neuronal activity in the brain being that it’s easy to distinguish sonalized for each wearer. The AI generates detectable electrical between the healthy functioning responsible for detecting the signals signals at the surface of the brain; state and the seizure state,” says from the brain that indicate an under normal conditions, the signals Nemzer. “With machine learning, oncoming seizure would need to are relatively smooth and predict- you need a lot of data, so we’re undergo a training period to identify able, but during a seizure, these combining actual patient data and what constitutes a warning signal impulses become a chaotic electrical simulated data to find the right for each individual. storm. Electroencephalograms patterns.” While this project is still in the (EEGs) measure this electrical According to Nemzer, this AI training phase, Nemzer believes activity and can indicate what state concept of creating a device to in its potential to positively benefit the brain is in. sense seizures before they happen people with uncontrolled epilepsy. Nemzer’s group is using simu- isn’t new, but progress in machine “What got me interested in learning algorithms have allowed lated EEG data, coupled with actual this topic is the fact that quality patient data, to train a deep learning the idea to become more realizable. of life for people with epilepsy can algorithm—a type of artificial intel- “People have been interested be severely affected—often times ligence (AI)—to pick out neural in this for many years, but it’s they’re not legally allowed to drive, patterns that indicate a seizure is resisted our best attempts at a or operate heavy machinery,” says coming on. During the training, seizure warning system, and the Nemzer. “Some people have suffered EEG patterns are fed into the algo- difference now is that the tools injuries or even death because of rithm, which “learns” the difference are so much better,” says Nemzer. unpredictable seizures—I’m hopeful between normal and epileptic brain “A lot of progress has been made that this kind of early warning recordings. The hope is that, when in terms of the ability of machine system would have a significant exposed to new EEGs from actual learning to make predictions even improvement in people’s quality patients, the algorithm will report if the underlying physics is not of life.” that a seizure is imminent well in completely understood.” advance. Efficient machine learning algo- Additional Reading “We’ve been using simulated rithms are especially important L. Nemzer, “Treating Epilepsy neurons to generate data to train for this kind of project because with Physics,” Physics World the model, the advantage with that each device would need to be per- (September 2019). October 2019 • 7

GIFT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 FOEP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“The public needs to have first class at Harvard as a graduate to public opinion surveys conducted “Any effort toward sharing the this. “It’s working,” she said, “but a better understanding of the student, he noted that of the 50 by APS, people tend to have a high process of science gives people it’s working too slowly.” Notably, sciences,” Oguz says. people in the auditorium only three opinion of scientists but aren’t permission to use it in their own FOEP itself has among the highest APS programs that were dem- were women, and very few, if any, sure that science has a big impact lives,” she elaborated. “It’s a tool rates of female participation for onstrated to improve science were minorities. Oguz crossed paths on their lives. for everyone, not just a collection any APS unit (>25%). education such as PhysicsQuest with relatively few women and very “People think of physics as what of facts.” Challenges aside, outreach has and PhysTEC appealed to Oguz and few minority scientists throughout they saw in high school, dropping FOEP chair-elect Jim Kakalios benefits for scientists themselves as Lord. Their goal is not in increasing his career and met only one African- a ball and seeing how long until (University of Minnesota) framed well as the public. Sharper science the number of those going into American physicist. it reaches the ground,” explained science outreach as a powerful and communication skills translate to the sciences, but getting the next Oguz believes that, thanks to FOEP chair Don Lincoln (Fermilab). much-needed tool to foster more better grant applications, a stronger generation of lawyers, legislators, APS programs, the students selected “Our challenge is to teach people science-based decision-making in case when lobbying Congress for and professionals to appreciate from among their peers and sup- that lasers and the transistor rev- the public sphere. “Nowadays I fear research funding, and wider public science. ported towards higher education olutionized the world, that the that people hold the attitude that appreciation for one’s own work. “If you end up getting that and a professional career can technology that makes the phone science is just another opinion,” It is unfortunate that the energy exposure early on, then you emerge as visible and alternative in their pocket possible is all due to he said. “It is incumbent on some most physicists can dedicate to don’t dispute climate change [for role models in their communities advances in fundamental physics of us to make the effort to light a outreach is limited by the pres- example],” Oguz suggests. “It’s and help generate interest in science 50, 60, and 70 years ago.” candle instead of curse the darkness sures of publication and securing grants, particularly for young very easy to develop very strong and an appreciation that science Echoed Dahlberg, “People have and try to talk to the public. Not faculty on the brink of tenure. To opinions either way, on both sides is in nobody’s exclusive domain. lost sight of the scientific method just as scientists but as citizens.” this end, Kakalios expressed hope of the political spectrum. If you Having found exactly what they and what it means. We need to Outreach is not without its that outreach could become more are ignorant about science, you were looking for in the Education, educate the public about what challenges. In Kakalios’ view, the “professionalized” in the physics can readily convince yourself that Diversity, and Public Engagement science does, and its validity in biggest hurdle in communicating community. scientific theories and facts are just programs at APS, Oguz and Lord the modern world.” physics isn’t lack of interest but “Being good at cutting through opinions that can be conveniently arranged for a seven-figure estate So what are physicists to do? instead insecurity. the noise is crucial. I would like ignored or discredited.” gift to APS through the Legacy “Give a public talk,” suggests “A large part of the population to see outreach viewed not as The APS programs in educa- Circle program. They had a chance Lincoln, “Start a science café. Write is interested in science questions, ‘dumbing down’ the science but tion and diversity were the vehicle to speak with APS Director of that book you always wanted to but insecure about their ability something that’s important in its towards his and Lord’s philan- Programs, Monica Plisch, who write. Start a blog. Run for office, to understand the material,” own right, just like devoting time thropic goals. APS programs that answered any remaining ques- if you have the stamina for it. Write Kakalios said. “If I do a bad job at and energy to being a really good support mentorship for the under- tions and assured them that their an article for a public magazine explaining something to my col - classroom teacher is a laudable use represented students in physics legacy was in good hands. He and or pen an op-ed. Chat with your leagues they will ask me questions of time and resources.” programs were also attractive to Lord are confident that APS, their neighbors, friends, and family.” because they’re confident in their Added Lincoln, “perhaps one Oguz and Lord as they believe in the sole beneficiary, will foster edu- FOEP vice-chair Shannon Greco, knowledge. But this isn’t the case day strong contributions to physics importance of visible role models. cation and inclusion for the next a science education program leader for my next-door neighbor. The outreach might be something a uni- Oguz recalls that, as an under- at Princeton’s Plasma Physics challenge is finding analogies that generation. versity would factor into the tenure graduate student at Bosphorus Laboratory, underscored that break through to people and ways decision-making process as a way University in Istanbul, he didn’t For information on joining the Legacy science outreach is a fundamental of explaining physics that can be Circle or on how you can support the to encourage young researchers at think twice about the fact that duty of scientists. fun and engaging.” activities of APS, please visit aps. the peak of their career to continue approximately half of his electrical “Having a scientifically literate Greco highlighted lack of org/about/support/ or reach out to sharing their excitement about engineering class were women as APS Campaign and Donor Relations society is essential for our survival diversity as another challenge science.” this was common and accepted. Manager, Mariam Mehter at mehter@ as a society,” she noted, “But for surrounding public engagement Overall, FOEP stands out as one Yet a few years later, in his aps.org or (301) 209-3639. people to be interested in STEM, with physics. of APS’ most vibrant units, helping you need to reach out to them.” “Out of all the sciences, physics fellow APS members fine-tune the She further argued that from a and engineering have the lowest crucial skill of public outreach for taxpayer perspective, scientists have participation of women and minori - the benefit of scientists and society a responsibility not only to deliver on ties,” she elaborated. “If the main alike. As Lincoln put it, “physics publicly-funded research projects, image of a physicist is a white male, is far too much fun to keep it to PROGRAM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 but to inform the public how their other people won’t think physics yourself—share it far and wide!” money was spent, and in turn con- is for them.” Increased outreach because they don’t realize how much society) shows that high school tribute to their understanding of from the existing women and More information can be found at the teachers are paid—especially when teachers in both public and private science (and with it, greater curiosity under-represented minorities in FOEP website.The author is a free- compared to other jobs in physics— schools reported similar job satis- and problem-solving skills). the field is helping to counteract lance writer in Stockholm, Sweden. with prospects for good retirement faction and intellectual challenge to benefits and high job satisfaction. their private industry counterparts. Research done as part of the Get the To dispel myths about teaching PREPRINTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Facts Out program indicates that and hopefully recruit more high- teachers make $10,000 to $20,000 quality science and math teachers, proposed in 1999. But after four is little evidence of such scooping from the Center for Open Science, more than most people estimate, Get the Facts Out has launched a months of opposition from journals, so far, but the fears still persist. building the infrastructure for a with mid-career teacher salaries toolkit to reach university students, it was dead. The project lived on “If you’re doing something off preprint server is no longer an ranging from $60,000 to $130,000. which is currently focused on in PubMed Central, which archives of a big data set that anybody has obstacle. “Get the Facts Out has been those in physics departments. The peer-reviewed open-access articles access to, and you put a preprint out, Looking at bioaRxiv as a case doing a lot of research to make program made its official debut at in the life sciences, but no preprints. it’s not totally clear that somebody study, Till points to a number of sure we are comparing apples to the PhysTEC conference in March “I shamelessly reused the is going to respect that,” said important reasons for its growth, apples,” said May. “For someone and will be rolling out a larger same comment roughly every two Elizabeth Berman, a sociologist including its backing by CSHL, the with the same level of education, marketing campaign this fall to years for over a decade: that it's at the University of Albany and a concomitant rise of quantitative how much do you get paid in dif- reach beyond PhysTEC. thrilling that biologists are finally member of the SocArXiv steering biology submissions to arXiv, and ferent careers?” “Get the Facts Out has created entering the latter half of the 20th committee. a cultural shift in biology toward Their research found that high resources for reaching students century, better late than never,” said SocArXiv was established in 2017 openness and transparency. school science teaching is in the that include print resources, like Ginsparg. “And, of course I could and hosts over 3,000 papers, but is Still, bioaRxiv and other new middle of the pack for starting posters, as well as entire PowerPoint reuse it because it never actually still not used widely by the sociology preprint servers are far from having salaries for graduates with a bach- presentations and interactive work- happened.” community, despite the fact that complete community buy-in, like elor’s degree in math, chemistry, shops,” said May. “These resources Making the Case for Preprints adjacent fields of research use the arXiv did. “I would say it’s far from being successful at this point,” said and physics, with many variables are available on the website, but we A number of fears and concerns Social Science Research Network biologist Jon Inglis, the co-founder that can lead to significant increases also provide support for using these link these failed ventures. In fields (SSRN) and economists have long of bioaRxiv. “But it clearly has in income potential. resources through a network of such as biomedicine, researchers are posted preprints to the National momentum.” A further comparison between experienced faculty called ‘change often wary that unrefereed papers Bureau of Economic Review and the At various times in the history teaching and industry employment agents’.” could have serious public health online repository RePEc since 1997. of preprints, their advocates and shows that teachers have excel- According to May, more than 25 implications. Though preprint Academic communities unfamiliar detractors have predicted that lent retirement prospects: While physics departments have already advocates believe the concerns with preprints and rarely exposed preprints would spell the end for some private sector employees committed to using the resources are overstated, the worries still to preprint culture didn’t develop traditional academic journals. Both may earn higher salaries earlier provided by Get the Facts Out in exist and have led to extremely it; those that accepted preprints sides have been repeatedly proven in their careers, teachers often the coming academic year and will careful rollout of medRxiv, which never looked back. wrong on this matter: preprints earn benefits and profit from public collect data on the efficacy of the claims to have instituted stringent Outside of a few exceptions, have managed to largely coexist pension systems that allow for program. acceptance criteria. the majority of preprint servers with traditional journals, which retirement security. Teachers in “We’re hearing a lot of interest “There’s a huge variety in how have popped up within the past still fulfill the important task of Colorado, on average, retire 15 years in these resources—people are rigorous peer review is and papers few years. One of the first of this quality control and curation. As earlier than employees of Lockheed asking us about them and saying people really want to get published new wave, bioaRxiv, was founded in they continue to expand in other Martin, according to a Get the Facts they want to use them,” said May. probably will anyway,” said Polka. 2013 with the support of CSHL and fields, preprints may soon find Out study. “And we really seem to have hit a “I’m not sure eliminating preprints now receives over 2,000 preprints themselves as much a fixture of Teachers also report high job sweet spot in terms of what kinds is going to fix that problem.” every month. Then, an explosion publishing as they have become satisfaction, ranking second in of things faculty want and need to While physicists consider a of servers followed: ChemrXiv, in physics. a recent Gallup poll of dozens of get the word out.” preprint as a stamp of priority, engrXiv, SocArXiv, LawrXiv, professions. A four-year study con- many scientists in other disciplines SportrXiv, PaleorXiv, and regional ducted by the American Institute of For more information, visit worry that posting a preprint will hubs, like AfricArXiv and IndiaRxiv. The author is a science writer based Physics (of which APS is a member getthefactsout.org. cause them to be scooped. There Thanks to easily available software in Bellport, New York. 8 • October 2019 THE BACK PAGE

Proving Einstein Right: Prologue BY S. JAMES GATES JR. AND CATHIE PELLETIER

I must search in the stars for what is denied me on earth. Until the last years of the nineteenth century, drawings —Albert Einstein by sketch artists using pencils, charcoals, and pastels had You are standing in the path of totality, waiting for a total been the dominant method of capturing images during a eclipse of the sun. You have never witnessed one before, but each total eclipse. As photography evolved and became more is different. It happens slowly, as if giving your brain time to sophisticated, it soon replaced drawings, which had to be prepare as the shadow of the new moon speeds forward to devour done quickly. Photographic plates were permanent records our closest star. At first contact, it looks as if a dark mouth has that could later be reviewed and analyzed. But until 1911, taken a bite of yellow from the sun. But this is still your world, astronomers were focused mostly on solar-related features the one you have known all your life. The bite grows larger as during eclipses, especially on the corona, that halo of matter more of the sun disappears. With ten minutes to second contact, surrounding the sun. From this coronal structure, which the total eclipse, daylight has gradually slipped away, replaced could only be observed during totality, they would learn much by a bluish twilight. The once magnificent sun has been eaten about sunspot cycles, solar flares, and the solar atmosphere down to a thin crescent. Familiar landmarks now exist in a world itself. Their attention during these eclipses, therefore, was of monochrome color you do not recognize. Odder things begin to on the sun, our own star. Other stars were studied at night, happen. Reflected through the leaves of nearby trees, thousands in observatories and with amateur telescopes around the of small images of the sun’s crescent are spilled on the ground world. And then along came a young German physicist with around you. Animals have sensed the loss of daylight. Birds flutter a challenging question about photographing other stars in confusion. Cows herd into the barn. Nighttime insects rattle in during a total eclipse. surprise. Diurnal flowers fold their petals. A shivering dampness Before he turned thirty, Albert Einstein had been working flows over you. At your feet, the grass has turned to silver. This is on a geometric theory of gravitation that embraced his no longer the earth you knew. 1905 theory of special relativity and expanded Newton’s Now the sun has become a thin sickle, clinging to its last rays law of universal gravitation. Commonly known as general of light. The moon’s shadow comes quickly from the western relativity, the theory provided a provocative and unified horizon, a massive wall of darkness speeding toward you at description of gravity as a property of space and time, what over two thousand miles per hour. With totality soon to begin, would become known as space-time. The curvature of space- the crescent of sun breaks into blazing beads of light that flow time would be linked to the energy and momentum of any into each other, like drops of water fusing, until only one bead is existing matter and radiation. If this idea was correct, the left. It glitters in the darkened sky above you like a diamond ring. path of light would follow the arc of space-time. Thus, when Jets of red flame burst from behind the black body of the moon passing close to a large body or mass, light would bend by before it finally covers the sun, the source of life for your planet. an observable amount. But how to prove it? It was obvious Songbirds are silent. Bats are on the wing. This is when you to Einstein that his answer lay in those large bodies of the can look with your unprotected eyes at the spectacle above you. cosmos, a planet or star big enough to attract light waves. A Planets that were lost in the light of daytime are now visible. The physicist, he now needed the help of astronomers. The only brightest stars twinkle. The solar corona, shimmering like a milky way to test this premise would be to photograph starlight halo around the sun’s hidden disc, is the color of liquid pearls. Its in an early model of the Concorde. In 2017, the National as it passed the gravitational pull of the sun. And the only gray-white streamers, laced with crimson, are spilling backward Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent out two time that could be achieved was during the brief darkness into space for millions of miles. Your world has been thrown into jets with telescopes mounted on their noses, maximizing the of a total eclipse. a dreamlike trance. Distance now has no meaning. The heavens minutes they could photograph the eclipse during totality. Over the course of a decade, several esteemed astronomers reach down, bringing the universe closer. The vastness of space But it wasn’t always this easy. From the mid-1800s into in four countries would take on the “Einstein problem” in reminds you of your mortality. the first two decades of the 1900s, long-distance travel to what would become an epic tale of frustration, faith, and But now the reverie starts to undo itself, slowly reversing its eclipse paths was mostly done by professional astronomers ultimate victory. To succeed, at least one of them would need steps. The diamond ring is back, a pulsing bead. It soon blends and knowledgeable amateurs. These men of science, and the access to the path of totality for an upcoming eclipse. He into a glowing string of pearls. The moon is gradually uncovering rare women of science, were unwavering in their desire to would need ample funding. He would need the proper instru- the sun, which has not perished after all. There’s the crescent observe a total eclipse of the sun for those few brief minutes. ments. He might have to travel thousands of miles. He would again, a blessed slice of yellow. The planets and stars have disap- Lured by this remarkable phenomenon, they planned for hope for unity in a world that often perched on the brink of peared. Songbirds begin singing from the trees. The air around months and even years before journeying to exotic parts of war. And he would pray for clear weather during those few you warms as the sky once again lightens. The life-giving sun is the world. Travel by boat, train, wagons, and pack animals fleeting minutes. If all these elements came together, the on its way back. The world you thought you knew is returning. was always rigorous and often dangerous. And yet, their answer he found in the stars could shake the foundations of But it will never be the same one you left minutes earlier. You are best-laid plans could be obliterated in seconds by rain or physics that had been in place for two centuries. The very now changed. You have been transformed by the magic and the concept of gravity, as the world understood it from Sir Isaac miracle of a total eclipse of the sun. Newton, was at stake. Would the apple fall in a new way? “From the mid-1800s into the first two lthough the astonishing splendor of a total solar eclipse Sylvester James Gates Jr. is Brown Theoretical has never changed, what has are the people who view decades of the 1900s, long-distance Physics Center Director, Ford Foundation A one. If you live near or within the path of totality, travel to eclipse paths was mostly Professor of Physics, Affiliate Professor of you’re just plain lucky. While professional astronomers and Mathematics, and Faculty Fellow, Watson experienced amateurs will travel great distances around done by professional astronomers and Institute for International Studies and Public Affairs at Brown University. In 2013, he was the world for a total eclipse, even the casually curious can knowledgeable amateurs. These men of awarded the National Medal of Science, the become eclipse chasers, especially within their own country. highest award in the United States given They catch planes or they drive to that slim track where the science, and the rare women of science, to scientists. He is former president of the view will be perfect, despite the fact that totality may last were unwavering in their desire to observe National Society of Black Physicists, a Fellow of APS, the American only a couple of minutes. Days before an eclipse, airports Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Institute of become crowded, car rental companies are besieged, and a total eclipse of the sun for those few Physics (UK). He regularly gives lectures for general audiences hotels fill up. Professional tour packages headed by seasoned and makes frequent appearances in documentaries about sci- brief minutes.” ence. Gates is currently Vice President of APS and will become astronomers are fully booked months in advance by teachers, President in 2021. bank tellers, college students, and doctors. Eclipse day is filled with news coverage, commentaries, Cathie Pelletier is the critically acclaimed author of twelve books, including The Funeral and precautionary advice. Enthusiasts can check up-to-the- clouds. The outbreak of regional or national conflict could Makers, The Weight of Winter, and The One- entirely undo a well-planned expedition. Gone from their minute weather reports and track the path of the sun on Way Bridge. Several have been translated their phones and iPads. If the viewing place they chose has families for months at a time to foreign lands and unforgiving into numerous languages, and two have clouded over, the more ambitious jump into cars or onto tour climates, these astronomers faced illness and possible death been made into films. She lives in Allagash, buses and speed to another spot, fifty or a hundred miles from the bubonic plague, malaria, yellow fever, and the Maine, on the banks of the St. John River, in away, where the skies are cloudless. Wealthy eclipse chasers Spanish flu. They protected themselves as best they could the house where she was born. purchase seats on chartered jets that fly them above any from wild animals, poisonous snakes, venomous insects, inclement weather as they follow the moon’s shadow. In floods, forest fires, food poisoning, and local superstitions. This article is excerpted from their new book Proving Einstein June 1973, a select group of astronomers chased the eclipse But through it all, their mission remained clear: advance Right: The Daring Expeditions that Changed How We Look path across the Sahara Desert at twice the speed of sound scientific research to better understand the cosmos. at the Universe (PublicAffairs, Hachette Books Group, 2019).

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