April 2011 Volume 20, No
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April 2011 Volume 20, No. 4 TM www.aps.org/publications/apsnews APS NEWS Conference Tackles Energy, Climate Change A PublicAtion of the AmericAn PhysicAl society • www.APs.org/PublicAtions/APsnews See Page 5 Sub-Atomic Physics Marks 100th Trial Program Puts Selected Meeting Presentations on the Web APS is launching a trial pro- “From our experience people are presentations,” said Amy Flatten, Birthday at April Meeting gram at its April Meeting to allow always eager to share their talks APS Director of International Af- Located in Anaheim, California of the universe. During session A1 researchers, especially those based and share their results.” fairs. “It’s part of a larger effort to from April 30 through May 3, this on Saturday morning, Steven Wein- outside the United States, access Though the use of INDICO is make our meetings more acces- year’s APS April Meeting will bring berg from the University of Texas at to some of the meeting’s presenta- a one-time trial, organizers hope sible to our members outside the together over 1,000 physicists to Austin, will highlight the history of tions. Using INDICO, a scientific to garner information about who United States.” share the latest research in particle particle physics from Rutherford’s collaboration service developed is interested in remote access to About 25 percent of APS’s physics, nuclear physics, astrophys- gold foil experiment to the startup by CERN, select speakers will up- the presentations, and how best non-student membership resides ics and plasma physics research, of the LHC. Picking up from there, load their presentation materials to market it. Responses from the outside of the United States. For featuring 170 sessions, 225 invited Maria Spiropulu of CERN will dis- directly to the web, before, during membership, speakers and meet- the test program, both members speakers and three poster sessions. cuss the latest results from the LHC, or after the meeting. This trial will ing attendees will be useful to the and non-members will be able to Commemorating the discovery while Dan Hooper of Fermilab will provide access to presentations APS Headquarters IT (HQIT) staff access the presentations. of the atomic nucleus, the theme of bring an update on the hunt for the from eleven of the regular invited as they enhance the APS Online “What we want to do is provide the meeting is “100 years of Sub- theorized WIMPS that make up sessions, as well as the three ple- Bulletin system to include the abil- a level of service to our interna- Atomic Physics”. As the official dark matter. nary sessions. ity for speakers to upload their pre- tional members that doesn’t cur- kickoff to the meeting, the Kavli Plenary Sessions: Two other “Our aim is to facilitate the dis- sentation materials. This feature is rently exist and a level of access to Foundation is sponsoring a keynote plenary sessions promise to enlight- semination of fresh new scientific currently under development. our meetings that doesn’t currently session starting with a retrospec- en audiences on a range of topics. results,” said Karsten Heeger, chair “The trial should help us learn exist,” Flatten said. tive look at the last century of work The Monday morning plenary ses- of APS’s Committee on Interna- how the speakers and member- “We would like to showcase the probing the fundamental particles MEETING continued on page 6 tional Scientific Affairs (CISA). ship may use online access to slide TRIAL continued on page 6 Local Congressman Decries Brookhaven Cuts APS President Sends Condolences to Japan By Michael Lucibella munity. of Energy’s Office of Science, in the wake of the combined disasters of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on march 11, followed by the crisis at the fukushima Daiichi Speaking at a press conference As of February 28, no federal which runs the national laborato- nuclear complex, APs President barry barish sent letters to represen- on February 28 at the APS editorial budget had been passed for fiscal ries, would lose $1.1 billion of its tatives of the Japanese society of Applied Physics and the Physical offices in Ridge, NY, Congressman year 2011, and the government $5.1 billion budget in the remain- society of Japan. the letter to the Japanese society of Applied Phys- Tim Bishop (D–NY) condemned had been running at fiscal year ing seven months of the fiscal year. ics, dated march 14, follows: possible funding cuts to Brookhav- 2010 funding levels. On February The effects of this 22 percent cut "on behalf of the American Physical society (APs), i would like to con- en National Laboratory for the rest 19, the House of Representatives would be especially acute because passed a bill, H.R.1, that would the entirety of it would be enacted vey our deepest care and sympathy to the citizens of Japan and the of the fiscal year. Bishop said that Japan society of Applied Physics for the tragedy that your country has the proposed cuts were “destruc- fund the government, but cut the only on the second half of the fiscal budget for the rest of the fiscal year year, meaning that the labs would suffered as a result of the earthquake and tsunami last week. we are tive” and would have long-lasting saddened by the loss of lives and the extent of the devastation. our effects on the lab and local com- by $61 billion. The Department be facing nearly a 40 percent cut thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic event. during that time. As APS News goes to press, the Along with our condolences for the loss of life and property, we share budget has not yet been finalized. your concerns over the impact on your scientific community and facili- The Republican-controlled House ties. we hope that our fellow scientists and their families are safe. passed its version, but the Dem- ocratic-controlled Senate has so we join our colleagues worldwide in extending our sympathies to the far rejected many of the proposed Japanese people and the Japanese scientific community. Please know cuts. The House version does not that the members of the American Physical society are with you during this difficult time. specify how much each individual lab would stand to lose, but esti- Sincerely, mates by Brookhaven look at the Barry Barish" impact of the cuts were they spread out evenly among all the national labs. Kudos for APS Blog “I think all of us should hope that this budget does not get passed. But if it does, I think it sends a ter- Photo by Michael Lucibella ribly, terribly, depressing message No, APS Director of Public Affairs Michael Lubell is not interrupting the press con- about the commitment that this ference to take a phone call. he is pointing out to the audience the many ways in which fundamental physics research contributed to the smart phone, and how nation has to remaining on the damaging cutting back on physics research could be to the economy. congress- cutting edge in terms of scientific man tim bishop, the main speaker at the press conference, looks on at left. in research,” Bishop said. “Scientists the background, museum-quality bound volumes of the Physical Review grace the shelves at the APs editorial offices in ridge, ny. CUTS continued on page 6 Workshop to Help Scientists Engage in Public Service The third in a series of campaign in government in an administrative a first-come first-served basis, so education workshops will take capacity. The one-day workshop it's important for those interested place in Washington at the head- will cover all levels of government, to register early. The workshop quarters of the American Associa- from local school boards and town is being held under the auspices tion for the Advancement of Sci- councils to the US Congress. Ex- of Scientists and Engineers for ence. As APS News goes to press, perienced campaign professionals America (SEA), and more infor- the workshop is scheduled for Sat- will be on hand to give participants mation, including how to register, urday, May 7, but the date may be an overview of what’s involved in is available at www.seaworkshop. the APs outreach blog, Physics buzz, has been receiving lots of attention subject to change. Like its prede- a political campaign, and how to com. The first twelve APS mem- on the internet recently. in october, it was named among the five best phys- cessors, the workshop is designed mount a successful one. bers who register will be eligible ics blogs by the institute of Physics website physics.org. in march, Physics for scientists and engineers who APS is one of the sponsors of to have half their registration re- buzz was at the top of laboratorytechnician.org’s list of the 50 best physics recognize the importance of public the workshop, and a limited num- funded. Those applying for the blogs. Physics buzz was launched four and a half years ago to get physics news out into the blogosphere and to excite the general public about the sci- service and who are contemplat- ber of registration fee rebates will rebate should send an email con- ence. it has since become an integral part of Physics central, APs’ outreach ing either running for public office, be available to APS members who firming their registration to sea@ website, and published its 1,000th post. it is prominently displayed at www. helping in a campaign, or serving attend. These will be allocated on aps.org. physicscentral.com. -Mary Catherine Adams 2 • April 2011 APS NEWS Members This Month in Physics History in the Media April 16, 1901: Death of Henry Rowland Ed.