A P S N E W S JANUARY 1999 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 8, NO. 1 APS News[Try the enhanced APS News-online: [http://www.aps.org/apsnews] APS Centennial 22 March 20-26, 1999 Months to Go www.aps.org/centennial Undergraduates Participate in DNP Meeting new program for undergraduate whom were women. Participants were Physics,” summarizing students debuted at the 1998 Fall selected on the basis of submitted re- topics of current re- meetingA of the APS Division of Nuclear search abstracts and statements of their search interest, such as Physics (DNP) held in October in Santa individual contributions to the larger re- nuclear astrophysics Fe, New Mexico. Entitled “The Conference search effort. Travel and lodging awards and cosmology, the Experience for Undergraduates” (CEU), were granted to many, funded in part Standard Model, solar the program featured several activities by the National Science Foundation and neutrino experiments, designed to provide a “capstone” the Department of Energy. searches for the quark conference experience for undergraduate The CEU program included several ac- gluon plasma, and students in experimental and theoretical tivities intended to provide students with studies of nucleon sub- nuclear physics research. CEU students a broader conference experience. On one structure. presented their research in two separate afternoon students attended a reception Students also at- poster sessions, and met with members hosted by DNP Chair Stuart Freedman, tended the evening of the professional community to discuss where they met with several officers and DNP reception, fol- Undergraduate CEU participants at the DNP Meeting. research and graduate school opportunities. members of the DNP community. Eric lowed by a special A total of 59 students from 41 col- Norman of the Lawrence Berkeley Na- memorial presentation: “David Schramm: North Carolina and Michigan State Uni- leges and universities around the country tional Laboratory delivered a keynote Celebration of a Life in Science.” On versity, respectively, sponsored lunches and abroad attended, more than 25% of address entitled “What’s Hot In Nuclear Thursday and Friday, the University of for the students, during which they pre- Continued on page 7 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Putting a Face on Physics hat good is physics, who are Centennial, and to find ways to use the Latin American Societies Take Lead in physicists and what on earth do event to raise public awareness and ap- theyW do? APS is keenly aware that most preciation for physics. PFP is now an Enhancing Physics Collaboration Internationally people can’t answer those questions with independent experiment, lead by APS any specificity, and that a deeper public Executive Officer Judy Franz and 1990 n unprecedented number of promoting scholarly exchange in the appreciation of physics is important for APS President Eugen Merzbacher. representatives from 21 national Americas, with particular emphasis on the continuing health of the field and the Franz and Merzbacher asked physics andA regional physical societies education and research collaborations. nation. A fuzzy but increasingly positive department chairs nationwide for recom- throughout the Western Hemisphere — “Historically, there has always been a image of science and physics appears to mendations of faculty members who including the APS — met in Cuernavaca, special relationship between the U.S. be forming in the minds of the American were superb communicators. Nomina- Mexico in early November for a and Latin American physics communi- public, thanks to the recent vigorous tions were also sought from the public conference on enhancing physics ties,” said Irving Lerch, Director of efforts of many individuals and relations network of DOE laboratories collaboration in the Americas. The International Affairs, pointing out that a organizations. A new APS project, “Public and from industrial members of APS meeting’s primary purpose was to decade ago, Fermilab’s then-director Face for Physics” (PFP) aims to sharpen Council and key committees. “The re- examine the status and potential for Leon Lederman specifically promoted the focus. sponse was overwhelming,” Merzbacher such programs. More recently, APS Ex- In short, PFP seeks to identify a cadre said. “A few people declined for personal ecutive Officer Judy Franz and outgoing of physicists who are so enthusiastic and or professional reasons, but most were President Andy Sessler have sought to articulate in explaining their research that eager.” The resulting group of over Inside further encourage Latin-American par- their personalities and the clarity of their twenty individuals represents the diver- CENTENNIAL ticipation through an invigorated program A Century of Physics ...... 3 communication will “put a face” on phys- sity of physicists and the work they do. of collaboration among the physical so- 1985-1995 “Taking a Second Look” ics when they appear in broadcast or print To begin the process, each member Physics Festival ...... 3 cieties. “The growing presence of Latin- media. The idea arose as APS worked was asked to provide a concise bio and Mastering the Mysteries of the Universe. A sum- American physicists in North America has mary of special events featured at the APS with the Edelman Worldwide public re- an essay on his or her work, written for a created new opportunities to promote Centennial Physics Festival. lations firm to publicize the 1999 reader who has no physics background. Education Centennial Session ...... 5 increased participation in hemispheric re- Four experienced A special session at the APS Centennial meet- search and academic programs.” ing to honor Lillian McDermott for her APS and AIP sci- The Cuernavaca conference was contributions to physics education research. ence writers then unique from past regional meetings not NEWS worked with the Friedman Outlines Priorities for Centenial only in its format — a structured agenda teams to refine the Year and Beyond ...... 2 with specific items for discussion — but An interview with incoming APS President essays. At this also in the sheer range of the countries Jerome Friedman. point Edelman APS Receives EIS Donation ...... 2 represented: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, took over, bringing Physical Review Focus ...... 3 Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, the Domini- the team together Antigravity in a sandbox. can Republic, Bolivia, Panama, in two subgroups Apker Awards ...... 6 Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Gwendolyn Bell and Brian D’Urso receive to undergo media Guatemala, Uruguay, and Costa Rica, as awards for undergraduate achievements. training. After a well as Spain, the U.S. and Canada. “I OPINION presentation on Unlocking the Future ...... 4 don’t think there’s ever been a meeting the principles of George Brown, Minority Leader of the U.S. of this magnitude before, with this level House Science Committee, offers comments dealing with the on the Ehlers report. of participation,” said Gordon Drake PFP participants at their recent media training session. APS Views ...... 4 Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 How to become an APS Fellow Letters ...... 4 DEPARTMENTS Inside the Beltway ...... 5 CRITICAL CENTENNIAL MEETING DEADLINES Gridlock or Governance, What’ll It Be? Zero Gravity ...... 5 Early Registration 1/15/99 Post Deadline Abstracts 2/19/99 Slakey on Political Libido. Late Mail/Fax Registrations 2/20/99 (Posters only) Announcements ...... 7 Late On-Line Registrations 3/08/99 Nomination Calls for APS Fellowship and Housing and Tours Deadline 2/20/99 Council and Committees; Congressional and Mass Media Fellowships; What’s in RMP. See Enclosed APS Meeting Announcements for complete The Back Page ...... 8 Centennial Registraion Information A summary of a POPA report on Physics, Tech- nology, and Economic Growth. APS News January 1999 Friedman Outlines Priorities for Centennial Year and Beyond

erome Friedman, an Institute Professor developed from them. But the Centennial is J of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of just the beginning. The physics community My personal vision is an Technology, assumed the APS presidency must keep addressing these issues, because on January 1st, 1999. In the following the public’s memory is quite short. We would APS that enhances the interview, he outlines his prevailing concerns like to find out what’s successful in our ““ability of physicists to do and priorities for the Society in the coming Centennial outreach programs and build upon “““ their work and contribute Centennial year. those successes. to society, and also plays What primary goals do you Why is public outreach still so a role in establishing Qhope to see the APS accomplish Qimportant, and what role can the during its Centennial year? APS play in encouraging public support educational levels of for science? This is a celebration of 100 years of excellence. the APS, and 100 years of enormous The nation has many diverse needs, Jerome Friedman advancesA in physics. But we also want to and the scientific community must Incoming APS President use this event as an opportunity for extensive Aensure that the public and the policy makers outreach to the general public, to policy are aware of the importance of science. In In order to continue to make the National programs in makers and to students. The APS must do doing this, it is very important that we Society more responsive to the needs Qeducational outreach and more to ensure the health of physics at a represent the physics community in a unified ofA its members, we must make additional curriculum reform abound, and yet time when science in general is facing serious fashion in order to be effective. Because of efforts to communicate with them to find science and math scores continue challenges. the diverse range of subfields represented out how to best serve their needs as well as to plummet. Do you think local The message we want to communicate within the Society, it is essential that the APS those of the physics community at large. In grassroots efforts would be more is that physics provides us with an help unify the various disciplines to enable identifying common needs and goals and by effective in achieving significant understanding of how the world works and the physics community to speak with one trying to fulfill them, the APS helps provide a improvements? provides a context of how we see ourselves voice. We have also joined with over 100 sense of unity within its membership. We The national efforts establish a necessary in relation to the universe. An equally other scientific societies to become a unified can certainly do better in making the APS a framework. But it is true that we must important message is that the way we live is advocate of better funding for science and more inclusive society for both PhD and non- interactA locally with teachers and education very much a product of the physics technology in general. PhD physicists so that we have a Society administrations to really accomplish effective discoveries of the past and the technologies In recent times the pursuit of science has which represents all physicists in the nation, change. It’s very difficult to effect changes been viewed by many as a luxury the nation with a total integration of the physics from the top that penetrate down through can hardly afford in a period of budgetary community. We also must better integrate the entire system. The local outreach efforts and major social problems. There have been the academic physics community with the Friedman Fact Sheet of APS Education Director Ramon Lopez a growing number of people in government industrial physics community. Enlisting greater • PhD in experimental particle physics have been extremely effective. We should from University of Chicago in 1956. who have rejected the implicit assumption participation of the industrial physics continue in that direction and also encourage • Joined MIT faculty in 1960, where that the pursuit of scientific knowledge has community is vital. National productivity the participation of the APS membership. We he has served as director of the social as well as intellectual value; and they depends on a broad scientific enterprise that should give them the support they need to Laboratory for Nuclear Science and have wanted guaranteed, short-term benefits is both capable of creating the foundations as head of the physics department. get involved at the local level in interacting as the justification for their support of science. for new technologies and developing them. • Former vice chair of the Board of Government leaders and the public must with teachers and also in such issues as the University Research Association; understand that science and applied science It is generally agreed that developing state standards for science also served on the National scientifically trained employees education. Many of these educational Research Council’s Board of Physics are investments that are critical for the future Q of the nation, and that the federal budget are critical for tomorrow’s workforce, initiatives are state or local issues, but we can and Astronomy, and on the APS yet the U.S. educational system has still provide a framework in which our Physics Planning Committee. should provide adequate support for both • Recipient of the APS W.H.K. basic and applied research. In the long run, failed to provide many young people members can participate in a meaningful way. with the scientific literacy required to Panofsky Prize in 1989. science can prosper only if the public truly As physics continues to become succeed in a technological society. • Shared 1990 Nobel Prize in Physics supports it. an increasingly global enter- How is the APS addressing this issue? Q with Henry Kendall and Richard prise, what role do you see the Taylor for demonstrating existence How can the APS achieve this Society playing in the international of the top quark. Qsame sense of unity within its own Although we have made great membership ranks? strides in educational outreach, we must arena? continueA to strengthen our educational We have many members from outside program. In addition to a trained workforce, the U.S., and most of the manuscript we need to have a scientifically literate public APS COUNCIL 1999 Asubmissions to our journals are from foreign in our democracy, in which there are many President authors, so we are playing an important political issues that have scientific and APS News Jerome Friedman*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology international role already. There are things President-Elect technological components. The APS can play Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 James S. Langer*, University of California, Santa Barbara we can do in the international arena but the Vice-President a role in making sure that the public gets the Series II, Vol. 8, No. 1 January 1999 APS should pick its goals carefully, focusing © 1999 The American Physical Society George H. Trilling*, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory educational background in science that they Executive Officer on issues in which we think we can be Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) need in order to effectively participate in such Editor...... Barrett H. Ripin Treasurer effective, such as human rights and open Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (on leave) decision-making. We should extend our Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette Editor-in-Chief scientific communication. And we must Contributing Editor...... Amy Halsted existing efforts to inform the public about Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory continue to foster collaboration with physicists Production ...... Elizabeth Buchan-Higgins Past-President such issues and also increase our associations Andrew M. Sessler*, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory from other parts of the world, through IUPAP and Alicia Chang with science teachers to help them devise General Councillors and interactions with other physical societies. APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, effective curricula to train a future scientifically monthly, except the August/September issue, by the Ameri- Daniel Auerbach, Beverly Berger, Philip Bucksbaum, L. Craig can Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Davis, S. James Gates*, Donald Hamann*, Leon Lederman, literate public. As we stand poised on the MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains news of the Cynthia McIntyre, Roberto Peccei, Paul Peercy*, Helen Quinn, brink of a new millennium, Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, Sections and Susan Seestrom*, James Trefil, Virginia Trimble*, Ronald What do you see as essential Q Forums; advance information on meetings of the Society; Walsworth, Sau Lan Wu what do you envision for physics and reports to the Society by its committees and task to attracting more students to Chair, Nominating Committee Q in the future, and the Society’s role forces, as well as opinions. Michael Turner the field of physics, based upon therein? Letters to the editor are welcomed from the membership. Chair, Panel on Public Affairs your personal experience? Letters must be signed and should include an address and Dennis McWhan We have had 100 years of spectacular daytime telephone number. The APS reserves the right to I was an art student in high school and select and to edit for length or clarity. All correspondence Division and Forum Councillors physics achievement, and we can regarding APS News should be directed to: Editor, APS News, Steven Holt (Astrophysics), Eric Heller*, TBA (Atomic, Molecular was planning on making art my career, A One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20749-3844, E-mail: and Optical), Robert Callender (Biological), Stephen Leone A envision comparable achievements for the [email protected]. (Chemical), E. Dan Dahlberg, David Aspnes*, Arthur Hebard, having been awarded a scholarship to the Zachary Fisk* (Condensed Matter), Warren Pickett (Computa- future. There’s no question that the tional), Jerry Gollub (Fluid Dynamics), James Wynne (Forum on Museum School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publication intellectual questions to be answered are very Education), Gloria Lubkin (Forum on History of Physics), Matt delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad may But during my senior year in high school, I Richter (Forum on Industrial & Applied Physics), Myriam Sarachik receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $20. Nonmembers: deep and manifold. There will be major (Forum on International Physics), Dietrich Schroeer (Forum on picked up a book on relativity and was Subscription rates are: domestic $160; Canada, Mexico, Cen- Physics and Society), Andrew Lovinger (High Polymer), Daniel discoveries that we cannot anticipate as well tral and South America, and Caribbean $180; Air Freight Grischkowsky (Laser Science), Howard Birnbaum (Materials), fascinated. I really couldn’t understand it, but Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania $210. as revolutionary new technologies, and much John Schiffer, John D. Walecka (Nuclear), TBA, Sally Dawson I realized that it was something I wanted to (Particles and Fields), Robert Siemann (Physics of Beams), Rich- more multi disciplinary work. Physics in the Subscription orders, renewals and address changes (Plasma) understand. I became very curious about the ard Hazeltine, William Kruer 21st century will require an environment in should be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Mem- *Members of APS Executive Board physical world as a result. bership Department, The American Physical Society, One which all of its various manifestations can Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, ADVISORS If we want to attract students into science, [email protected]. For Nonmembers—Circulation Sectional Representatives flourish. The APS can continue to play an and Fulfillment Division, American Institute of Physics, we have to relate it to the world in which George Rawitscher, New England; William Standish, New York; important role in fostering such an 500 Sunnyside Blvd., Woodbury, NY 11797. Allow at least they live and whet their sense of awe and 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please send Perry P. Yaney, Ohio; Joseph Hamilton, Southeastern; Stephen environment by informing members of both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Baker, Texas curiosity. They have to be told not only what mailing label from a recent issue. Requests from subscrib- Representatives from Other Societies government and the general public of the ers for missing issues will be honored without charge only we know about science, but also what we Thomas O’Kuma, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP intellectual and practical benefits of science. if received within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of don’t know and what some of the outstanding publication. Staff Representatives My personal vision is an APS that enhances questions are. People go into science because Barrett Ripin, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, Director the ability of physicists to do their work and Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional of International Affairs; Ramon Lopez, Director of Education and they are extremely interested in mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Public Information; Michael contribute to society, and also that plays a News, Membership Department, The American Physical So- Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Administrative understanding nature. So if an educational ciety, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Editor; Charles Muller, Director, Editoral Office Services, Michael role in establishing educational levels of system wants to attract students into science, Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer excellence. I would like us to be seen as an it must give them a sense of the wonders of organization that looks outward as well as nature quite early. inward. 2 January 1999 APS News Physical Review Focus A Century of Physics http://publish.aps.org/FOCUS/

PR Focus is a FREE APS electronic journal featuring selections from Physical Review 1985-1995: Taking a Second Look Letters explained at a level accessible to all physicists. The editor is David Ehrenstein by Hans Christian von Baeyer, College of William and Mary [see page 1, April 1998 APS News]. PR Focus is available at the web address: http:// publish.aps.org/FOCUS/. APS News is printing samplings from PR Focus to intro- he news of the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), duce the membership to this new journal. To receive one-paragraph introductions the re-unification of Germany (1990), and (such as the one below) each week by e-mail, send the following message to theT disintegration of the Soviet Union (1991), [email protected]: subscribe focus [Leave the subject line blank]. rang out over an astonished world like so many peals of a great bell celebrating the end of the Antigravity in a Sandbox Cold War. As global tensions diminished and Large objects seem to defy gravity in a shak- global trade flourished, the world seemed ing box of sand, according to a report in the 16 determined to make a fresh start. November PRL. The authors found that with Physics, too, entered a new phase. The vigorous shaking, heavy objects placed in the headlong rush into new discoveries that had sand float to the top, while light objects sink. started after World War II was slowing down, They propose a partial explanation for the mainly because over the years science had phenomenon but admit to being puzzled by grown cumbersome. Theories were becoming some of their observations. The experiments Troy Shinbrot/Rutgers University Troy so complex that even supercomputers couldn’t provide an example of the surprisingly com- Fancy flows. Shinbrot and Muzzio keep up with the calculational demands made plex behaviors physicists have seen in granular found these unusual flow patterns when Photo from the A Century of Physics Time Line Wall Chart they tilted the bed of sand. upon them. Experiments in some branches of Stephen Hawking materials, which do not obey standard equa- physics took years to plan and carry out, simply tions for either fluids or solids. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 4365; see the complete PR Focus because they required enormous research teams, scientific instruments, and story, including videos, posted online 23 November 1998.) financial resources. Physicists took advantage of the more measured pace by going back to take a second, harder look at what had been discovered earlier in More Things in Heaven and Earth: the century — sometimes with surprising results. A Celebration of Physics at the Millennium Since 1925 quantum mechanics had been an infallible guide to the atomic world, universally accepted, but difficult to interpret. “Nobody understands quantum Benjamin Bederson, New York University (ed.) mechanics,” grumbled Richard Feynman. The advent of lasers, computers, and A century of unparalleled scientific and technological change, mostly fueled by the discov- fast electronics led to the substitution of real experiments for mere thought eries of physicists, draws to a close simultaneously with the beginning of the second century experiments. Observations of the behavior of individual photons and atoms brought of the APS and the onset of the third millennium. To acknowledge and celebrate these milestones, the Editor, with the assistance of the Editorial Board consisting of Kurt Gottfried, about increasingly convincing proofs that nature really is as bizarre as quantum Walter Kohn, Eugen Merzbacher, Myriam Sarachik, Andrew Sessler, and George Field asked mechanics makes it appear. some preeminent physicists to create a contemporary portrait of their subfields, highlighting To describe nuclear and particle physics, a consistent theory based on quantum achievements, current vitality, and likely directions. The resulting 54 articles give us a unique mechanics, relativity, and quarks had in two decades been refined to such a degree opportunity to celebrate this century of physics. The volume is published to coincide with the that it acquired the name Standard Model. Although it left many questions APS Centennial meeting in Atlanta, simultaneously as both a supplement to the March 1999 Reviews of Modern Physics and as a hard-cover book from Springer-Verlag New York. Inc. unanswered, it successfully accounted for all known particles and forces except Among the authors are 15 Nobel Laureates and over 40 members of the National Academy gravity. The Standard Model confidently predicted the existence of a sixth and last of Sciences and of the National Academy of Engineering. The articles, often personal in tone, quark named “top.” But when the top quark was finally found in 1995, its huge are written at the level of departmental colloquia. Some are intended to be broad but not mass turned out to be so grotesquely out proportion with the others that it became encyclopedic, while others are presented as “case studies” focusing on particularly fascinat- a new enigma itself. ing illustrations of specific topics. Major sections include: historical perspectives: particle physics; astrophysics; nuclear physics; atomic, molecular and optical physics; condensed- On the human scale, the phenomenon of superconductivity, which had been matter physics; statistical physics and fluids; plasma physics; chemical physics; and the discovered in 1911 and explained in 1957, also produced a bombshell: the applications of physics within other fields. Together, the articles combine to paint an illumi- detection of superconductivity at much higher temperatures than had been thought nating and sweeping canvas of a remarkable time in science and civilization. See the APS possible. What’s more, the old explanation did not fit the new observations, so and/or Springer websites (http://www.springer-ny.com) for more information. theorists had to start all over again. 1999/Approx. 750 pp., 72 Illus (10 Color)/Hardcover/$75.00 (Tent.) ISBN 0-387-98662-6 On the cosmic scale, new instruments mapped out the microwave background radiation (discovered in 1965) at an unprecedented level of detail. The new data Special pre-publication offer (40% off) for APS members encouraged cosmologists, including the British physicist Stephen Hawking, to tackle PRICE FOR APS MEMBERS: $45.00 (Offer expires March 20, 1999) a theory of “quantum cosmology,” which deals with the wave function of the entire TO ORDER (include promotion code S620 to ensure your APS-member discount): universe, and the beginning of time. It will be the ultimate union of atomic and * CALL 800-SPRINGER or FAX: 201-348-4505; cosmic physics. * WRITE Springer-Verlag, Dept. S635, PO Box 2485, Secaucus, NJ 07096-2485 * E-MAIL [email protected] Editor’s Note: A CENTURY OF PHYSICS, a dramatic illustrated timeline wallchart of over a hundred entries on eleven large posters is intended for high schools and col- APS receives donation from EIS leges. Each poster covers about a decade and is introduced by a thumbnail essay to The Educational Institute for Superconductivity (EIS) has made a generous provide a glimpse of the historical and scientific context of the time. A CENTURY OF donation of $26,000 to the APS to support the Society’s public affairs PHYSICS will be on display at the Atlanta Centennial Meeting in March. programs and the Robert Wilson Prize fund. EIS is a non-profit corporation devoted to education in the general field of superconductivity. In the February 1999 issue, APS News will feature the last introductory essay: 1995 - Prospect

CENTENNIAL PHYSICS FESTIVAL — Mastering the Mysteries of the Universe In celebration of physics of the 20th and 21st centuries, APS will host an ongoing 2. ON-CAMPUS CELEBRATION EVENTS outreach physics festival from March 15-27, 1999 in cooperation with cultural • Science Communication Conference (Emory University) and educational institutions of Atlanta. In addition to events scheduled at the Georgia • Fractals and Chaos Symposium (Georgia Inst. Tech.) World Congress Center, festival events will also take place throughout the • Physics and Industries of the Mind Symposium (Georgia State) metropolitan Atlanta area including Olympic Park, school sites, theaters, museums • History of Black Scientists (Clark-Atlanta) and other public spaces. The Festival will have five main components: • Others (TBD)

1. POPULAR TOPICS PHYSICS LECTURES (Popular physics talks at the 3. PHYSICS AND CULTURAL EVENTS IN THE ARTS, DANCE & THEATER Georgia World Congress Center, plus locations indicated below, for arranged • Felice Frankel Photography Exhibit on Physics & Art (Fernbank Museum) groups of students, teachers and meeting attendees.) • Microscape Photography Exhibit by Lucent Technologies (TBD) • Physics of Dance ...... Ken Laws, Dickinson College • New Plays on Physics Topics (TBD) (Atlanta Ballet) • Physics of Rainbow ...... Robert Greenler, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 4. PHYSICS DEMONSTRATIONS (in Olympic Park, Atlanta Public Schools, • Physics of Brass Instruments ...... Brian Holmes, San Jose St. Univ. SciTrek Museum) (Georgia St. Univ.) • Group from Florida State National High Magnetic Field Laboratory • Physics of Fractals and Art ...... Richard Voss, Florida Inst. of Tech. • Group from Hampton University (Atlanta College of Art) • Third group to be determined • Physics of Sports ...... Richard Brandt, New York University (SciTrek Museum) 5. RENOWNED PUBLIC SPEAKERS • Physics of Star Trek ...... Lawrence Krauss, Case Western Reserve • Stephen Hawking (pending confirmation), University of Cambridge (Downtown Theaters) (Atlanta Civic Center) • Physics of Beer...... Sid Perkowitz, Emory University • More (Local Brewery)

3 APS News January 1999 OPINION On Unlocking our Future APS VIEWS by George Brown, D- CA, Minority Leader, US House Science Committee How to Become an APS Fellow he National Science Policy report leading inexorably to technological devel- Unlocking our Future: Toward a New opments. Despite report language by Barrett Ripin, APS Associate Executive Officer and TNational Science Policy [see endorsing a more sophisticated model of Ken Cole, APS Honors Program www.house.gov/science/ science and technology innovations aris- science_policy_report.htm and APS News ing through an iterative process, the Ehlers t is time for the annual call for APS Committee, Back Page November 1998,] attempts to report ultimately puts its money on the I Fellowship nominations. Fellowship is chaired by the provide some guidance to Congress on old linear model by emphasizing Federal one of the highest levels of professional vice-president of science policy for the coming years. I support for “basic” research. The report recognition conferred by the APS and by the Society, which appreciate the hard work done by the provides no guidance on how the Federal one’s peers. It recognizes members who reviews the qualifi- report’s author, Congressman Ehlers, but I government should determine that a “mar- have contributed to the advancement of cations of all cannot endorse the report as written ket failure” has occurred in the downstream physics by independent, original candidates includ- because it fails to take on some of the parts of the R&D process or what types research or who have rendered some ing a few that do Ken Cole issues I think are most important to the of policies would be appropriate to re- other special service to the cause of the not fit within any future health of the scientific enterprise. dress such failures. I think we should work sciences. unit’s purview. From there, nominees are However, I fully expect this report to together to develop a policy on the ap- The nomination process is straightfor- presented to Council at the Elections Meet- stimulate a lot of discussion and thinking. propriate limits of Federal support that fits ward and not terribly time consuming. A ing. There is an APS Constitutional limit to Any discussion surrounding this report or with our understanding of how innovation nomination form that cites the principal the number of fellows elected annually of this broad topic must be put in context and actually works. Let’s put our money where contributions of the candidate to physics no more than ½ of one-percent of the not viewed as an isolated event. Just as the our model is. is filled out and signed by two members membership, or about 200 per year. growth of science has accrued over centu- Further, the Ehlers report seems to sup- of the Society (they do not have to be The above process is not as formi- ries through the contributions of many port the traditional “hard” sciences with only Fellows themselves) and sent to the Ex- dable as it may seem. If you know of a individuals, working in different disciplines passing mentions of engineering or the so- ecutive Officer prior to the operative deserving colleague, nominate him or her. and cultures, so has science policy expanded cial sciences. I think we need a more holistic deadline. Typically, one or two additional They will remember this gesture for the and developed as it seeks to define and imple- conception of what constitutes important letters of support are included in the remainder of their careers – I do. Don’t ment the role of science in achieving broader science and worthwhile endeavors. An argu- package, as well as a CV or publication be shy, if you think you qualify, drop big societal goals. This process has never been ment can be made that the most pressing list for the nominee. A nomination re- hints to colleagues who might nominate smooth and continuous, although the out- issues facing our society - crime, education mains active for up to two years. you. Unfortunately, many outstanding come seems to create inexorable change. reform, social justice - are more likely to be Contributions may consist of advances candidates are overlooked simply be- Vannevar Bush, although a towering fig- addressed through investments in social sci- in knowledge through original research cause colleagues assume that they ure in science policy in the United States, ence rather than in the hard sciences. Yet, and publication, significant and innova- already are fellows; this happens even was not the first, nor will he be the last, to the report is silent on the need to support tive contributions in the applications of to Nobel Laureates! Foreign, women, offer a framework conceptualizing the role this important research. physics to science and technology, or sig- minority, and industrial physicists appear of science in the world. 2. A new science policy should ar- nificant contributions to the teaching of relatively underrepresented among fel- President Gerald Ford helped redefine the ticulate the public’s interest in physics or service and participation in the lows. If you belong to an Federal role in science policy with the sign- supporting science - the goals and activities of the Society. underrepresented group and know of ing of the Science Policy Act of 1976, a major values the public should expect of the After receipt by the APS, most nomi- someone who deserves to be nominated, work of the House Science and Technology scientific enterprise. Over fifty years nations are first sent to the fellowship make a special effort to nominate them Committee. While never fully implemented, ago, Vannevar Bush argued that science committee of an appropriate division, – if not you, who? this Act led to the further definition of the was worth public support because it could topical group, or forum for peer review. Instructions for submitting fellowship Federal role in technology transfer and ad- “insure our health, prosperity, and secu- Neither the nominee nor nominators applications and deadlines are on page vanced technology development in the rity as a nation in the modern world.” I need be members of that unit. Unit fel- 7 and under the Fellowship button of the 1988 Trade Bill signed by President Reagan. think those general goals are still valid to- lowship committees forward their APS Home Page [www.aps.org], or call This Act opened up a restructuring of the day. However, I also believe that we need recommendations to the APS Fellowship the honors office at (301) 209-3268. broad area of government-industry-univer- to do a more rational job of identifying sity cooperation as one way of making the specific social needs that science can help U.S. national industrial system more competi- us remedy. What are the long-term goals LETTERS tive with the national systems of Europe and for society which the public should ex- Asia, which historically had encouraged closer pect from these investments? To put it ties between government and industry. simply, science for what end? It isn’t APS News Insults Two Texas Cities, Simultaneously During the Bush Administration, under the enough to declare science a public good How could you?! The ISEF met in Fort Worth, as the article (October 1998 APS skilled guidance of his Science Advisor, Dr. and walk away from the table. When we News) states. How did Dallas get into the headline? Shame on you and the other D. Allan Bromley, and with the input of many use public resources to support science editors. We in Fort Worth are very sensitive about this. But, maybe it all goes back to science and technology organizations, con- and technology, we should clearly iden- the Washington meeting being held in Baltimore, or the New York meeting (who tinued progress was made in improving the tify the public purposes which we desire remembers that) being held whereever, or something like that. process of innovation, of moving new in- to achieve. Carroll Quarles, Texas Christian University ventions and technologies from the labs to In addition to clearly articulating the the marketplace, and defining, through the goals for science, we need to squarely face “Feynman Fish” Offends Members device of cooperative research and de- the values that science can help enhance Editor’s note: Several members were offended by the designation “Feynman Fish” velopment agreements, the legal structure or undermine. I am particularly concerned on one of the bumper sticker entries in the October 1998 ‘Zero Gravity.’ They felt that for individual institutional agreements. about the possibility that increasing tech- it mocked the Christian symbol of the fish, whose spelling in Greek “Ichtus” is an With the end of the Cold War, this policy nological sophistication and mal-distribution acronym for “Iesous Christos Theou Huios Soter,” or “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” debate has intensified. The House Com- of educational opportunity could create a APS News apologies for this inadvertant offense. A better description of the graphic mittee on Science, Space, and Technology two-tier society. What steps can we take might be “Feynman Diagram.” issued a report in 1992 on the health of to guarantee that we do not become a research. The Clinton Administration has society of technological haves and have attempted to make its imprint on science nots? This is a question of justice and eq- policy with the 1994 report, Science in uity in access to science education, and to science policy should point towards meth- wonderful leadership in both parties on the National Interest, a product of the Of- the fruits of the scientific and technologi- ods we can use for making better decisions. science policy questions, but we suffer fice of Science and Technology Policy. This cal enterprise. We need a yardstick by which to measure from a disorganized process for passing report prompted Congressional hearings To give just one example, it is unfair progress. Some of the elements for that authorizations and appropriations that and a renewed discussion of science and to use public funds for biomedical re- are in place. For example, the Govern- leads to sub-optimal outcomes. I think technology policy at the national level. All search if the fruits of that research are so ment Performance and Results Act that we need to tackle all of these ele- of this background is offered to provide expensive that only a handful of the most (GPRA) challenges our agencies to de- ments of decision-making as we move an historical perspective on our current dis- economically advantaged can enjoy velop comprehensive goals and towards a more rational analysis of the cussions. By way of providing some them. That is a hidden redistribution of measurements. However, in research and major problems facing society - affordable context, I would offer some guiding prin- wealth and life-expectancy from poorer development programs, GPRA is still a health, broadly based economic opportu- ciples that I think will be useful as we enter Americans to richer Americans under the fairly blunt instrument and is in need of nity, sustainable environmental policies into an ongoing dialogue about the future guise of “basic” research in the life sci- fine-tuning. and social discontent - and of the science of science policy. ences. A new science policy must The Office of Science and Technol- needed to address those problems. 1. A new science policy should re- wrestle with these types of questions. ogy Policy is in a position to provide some I hope that as we begin a dialogue on flect our understanding of the 3. A new science policy should overall coordination for our science the Ehlers report, we can use these prin- process of creativity and innovation. point towards decision-making tools policy, but it doesn’t always have the ciples to inform the debate. I look forward Virtually no one still believes in the Bush- for better investment choices. Having muscle to make its desires stick with to working with my friends inside and era linear model of scientific breakthroughs identified clear goals and values, a new executive agencies. Finally, Congress has outside of Congress.

4 January 1999 APS News zero gravity INSIDE THE BELTWAY A Washington Analysis Have You Got the Libido for Politics? by Francis Slakey, APS Associate Director of Public Affairs I don’t read Cosmopolitan. I swear it. funded equipment in your laboratory, your Gridlock or Governance, What’ll It Be? O.K., so maybe I flipped through a copy federally funded research salary, and the at my dentist’s office. But what choice did three minutes a week that your federally by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs I have, for God’s sake? I’m not going to funded advisor spends dissing your work. read the pamphlet on gum disease! And Now, estimate the economic returns (ER) redicting the fortunes of science in Frost as chairman of their Caucus and yes, I admit it, while I was flipping through of your research. If FF < ER, then you the aftermath of the 1998 elections is selected Robert Menendez of New Jer- the magazine, I took the libido quiz to have nothing in common with the self- harderP than picking a winning number at sey as vice-chairman. Patrick Kennedy see whether I’m “limp lettuce” or a “rag- indulgent career of a political opportunist. the roulette table. The political gurus pro- of Rhode Island moved into Frost’s ing coal.” Scientists are curious, after all. (If FF > ER add 1 point.) claimed the outcome an upset of historical former position as chairman of the Demo- We don’t judge something without giving proportions, and the party faithful ac- cratic Congressional Campaign it a try. Do you think there should be term lim- cepted the dictum as gospel. New leaders Committee. 4 The problem is, the results can be em- its for professors? (Add 1 point for yes.) and uncertain agendas are the result. Here’s The Senate, despite some grumbling barrassing. I’m not saying they were for how it came to pass. in the GOP ranks, decided not to shuffle me. Heck, I’m not going to be lectured to Have you ever wanted to be a mem- Politics is like the stock market: It’s ex- the leadership deck at the top. Majority 5 by a silly little magazine with scratch and ber of the National Academy of Science? pectations that count. Hewlett-Packard Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and Mi- sniff ads. I’m just saying that there are A fellow of the AAAS? An invited speaker might announce a $50 million quarterly nority Leader Tom Daschle of South some people who might not be able to at a scientific meeting? An author of a loss, and its stock could still rise ten per- Dakota will both be back to direct the handle the results. You run a risk, is all. paper that appears in Physical Review cent — if analysts were expecting a $100 Senate’s collegial jousting. So, here’s what you can do instead. Next Letters? The first author of any scientific million loss. Leaders in both parties ordinarily agree time you’re going to your dentist’s office, paper that appears in any magazine in That’s pretty much what happened to on very little, but they are of one mind bring this article along with you. It’s a quiz any country? If not, then you have noth- the Democrats last November. Political ob- when it comes to why the Democrats to see whether you’ve got the libido for ing in common with a status hungry servers were anticipating that Republicans exceeded expectations. While the GOP politics. There’s no risk at all, because no politician. (1 point for each yes answer.) would pick up fifteen to thirty seats in the was blasting President Clinton for lying scientists in their right mind want to go House of Representatives and three to five about his sexual escapades, the Demo- If your total score is less than three, go into politics anyway. Here goes: seats in the Senate. So even though the crats controlled the debate on education, hibernate with your slide rule — the lab is your home. If your total score is more than GOP outscored the Democrats 223 to 211 Social Security and HMO reform. These Do you believe that research on the nine, hire a campaign manager. in House races, maintained their 55 to 45 were the core issues voters said they truly 1optical properties of quantum dots is But, if you’re somewhere in between, majority in the Senate, finished with a 31 cared about. Add Republican capitulation likely to build a better world? Do you then you should consider science policy to 17 advantage in state governors and on tax cuts and budget caps during the believe the public sleeps more soundly as a career. And at the moment, you have won 51 to 49 percent in generic voting, final days of the congressional session, and at night knowing that Fermat’s Last Theo- a terrific opportunity to explore politics. I pundits declared the Democrats electoral you have the makings of a disenchanted rem has finally been proven? Do you guarantee you, there’s a federal election victors. GOP electorate sufficient to swing a num- believe that increasing the minimum campaign raging within ten miles of your As a result, President Clinton, who had ber of contested elections over to the wage has little effect on peoples lives? pocket protector. Choose your candidate heard daily calls for his resignation prior to Democrats. (1 point for each no answer.) the election, still sat in the Oval Office af- What went almost unnoticed by many and volunteer a few hours a week of your time. If you like it, you’ll have gotten the ter the November voting, looking stronger analysts was the pivotal role organized la- When Congress regulates the logging 2 experience you need to compete for a than ever. Instead of the President, it was bor played in many key districts. Union 2industry, should they also limit the policy job in Washington. If you hate it, Speaker Newt Gingrich who left Washing- households accounted for about 23 per- amount of paper available for scientific move to Canada. ton, after his GOP colleagues cent of the votes cast this year, up almost publications? (Add 1 point for yes.) unceremoniously booted him out of the six percent from the last election. And they Of course, that’s not the only way to explore politics. A year ago I would have House leadership position in the election voted Democratic by a margin of two to Calculate the total amount of federal suggested internships. But nowadays, a aftermath. With his political passing, Wash- one. 3funding (FF) that goes into your re- Washington intern may wind up in Vanity ington lost one of its most outspoken and The African-American community, al- search project. That includes the federally controversial techno-futurists. ways a Democratic bastion, also turned out Fair. But at least it’s not Cosmo. Licking their wounds of failed expec- in greater numbers in districts where it tations, the Republicans acted quickly to counted. This year, they voted Democratic elect new leaders, or at least replace the by a margin of more than eight to one. Centennial Session to Highlight ones who had previously pledged their About the only place where the GOP McDermott’s Contributions to Physics allegiance to the deposed Speaker. In its met or exceeded pre-election expecta- first organizational meeting last Novem- tions was in the gubernatorial arena. Education Research ber 19, the GOP elected former There, moderate Republican candidates Appropriations Committee Chairman Bob won overwhelmingly, even in Demo- he American Association of Physics Education Group in which students earn Livingston of Louisiana to the top House cratic strongholds: Cellucci in Teachers (AAPT) will hold a special a PhD in physics for research in learning position, installed ex-Oklahoma football Massachusetts, Almond in Rhode Island, Tsession at the APS Centennial meeting and teaching of physics. The program star and family-values advocate J.C. Watts Rowland in Connecticut, Pataki in New in Atlanta to honor Lillian Christie was the first of its kind and has served as as Conference chairman and selected Tom York, Ridge in Pennsylvania, Engler in McDermott for her outstanding ongoing a model for others throughout the United Davis of Virginia as head of the National Michigan, Thompson in Wisconsin, Taft contributions to physics education research. States. More than 500 faculty have also Republican Congressional Committee. in Ohio, Johnson in New Mexico and the The session will be chaired by Leonard benefited from the faculty development The only survivors of the party purge Bush brothers in Texas and Florida. Jossem of The Ohio State University and workshops given by the group at APS, were two Texans, Majority Leader Dick The counterpoint: Ideologically conser- will consist of a series of invited research AAPT and other national meetings and at Armey and Majority Whip Tom DeLay, vative Republicans—or at least those talks by physicists whose work has been colleges and universities around the world. staunch conservatives who had been perceived as such—lost in Senate races in significantly influenced by McDermott. McDermott earned her PhD in experi- openly critical of Newt Gingrich’s prag- New York, South Carolina, North Carolina For more than 20 years, McDermott mental nuclear physics from Columbia matic bent well before the November and California and in governor’s races in has been a leader in establishing research University in 1959. She served as the first election. Still, Armey had to fend off chal- California and Alabama. as a basis for the systematic improve- chair of the AAPT Committee on Re- lenges by Washington’s Jennifer Dunn, a In all of these states, voters delivered a ment of the learning and teaching of search in Physics Education, has served social moderate, and Steve Largent, an- strong, unambiguous centrist message. physics, and her work, which is continu- on the APS Executive Board and as chair other Oklahoman with football and The question is whether leaders in either ing, has influenced the development of of the APS Committee on Education. She family-values credentials. Only Tom De- party heard it and if they did, whether they nationally recognized curricula. She is a is also a past recipient of the AAPT lay escaped unscathed. will be able to maintain control over their Professor of Physics at the University of Millikan Award for “notable and creative Although some of the faces are dif- fractious members. Washington and director of the Physics contributions to the teaching of physics.” ferent, the complexion of the new House As it was in the 105th Congress, the GOP leadership is still very conservative, House of Representatives will be the socially and fiscally. Their style may set place to look for the answer. Here are Inside the Beltway, continued them apart from their predecessors, but the two scenarios most widely accepted their political philosophy certainly won’t. inside the Beltway. lition that will control the outcome of any the House will become even more po- Where they will come down on science With one independent usually support- contested vote and, thereby, the agenda larized and suffer terminal paralysis. is anybody’s guess. ing the Democrats, Republicans now hold of the 106th Congress. Which scenario proves correct will de- Democrats also made some leadership a razor-thin margin of eleven votes in the That’s the view of the optimists. The termine how well consensus issues fare. changes, but only because of vacancies House. A mere six defections will cause pessimists point out that the GOP is still The fate of science, arguably the quin- created by retirements. Minority Leader the GOP to lose a vote. Therefore, ac- dominated by the ideological right and tessence of such issues, largely hangs on Dick Gephardt of Missouri and Minority cording to the governing-from-the-middle that labor and the left will tell the Demo- the outcome. If gridlock prevails, science Whip David Bonior of Michigan retained scenario, the fifty or so moderate Repub- cratic leadership that it’s pay-back time could be gasping for air by the time Con- the party’s two top posts, unchallenged. licans will reach out to the fifty or so for delivering the goods in the 1998 elec- gress sends its budget bills down Democrats also elected Texan Martin moderate Democrats and establish a coa- tions. According to the gridlock scenario, Pennsylvania Avenue next fall.

5 APS News January 1999

International Desk, on the common- continued from page 1 alities on which we can build a The Importance of Physics (University of Windsor), who repre- mutual under- in Modern Society sented the Canadian Association of standing.” Physicists (CAP). “I gained a much bet- Following a day At the Cuernavaca meeting, a ter knowledge of the needs of Latin of presentations by brief general statement was drafted American countries and made many new representatives on the importance and relevance of personal contacts.” from various coun- physics to all advanced societies. The According to APS delegate James tries, participants intent was to construct a statement Vary, director of the University of Iowa’s split into three Attendees at the internatiional conference on enhancing physics that would be broadly useful to the International Institute of Theoretical Phys- working groups. collaboration in the Americas. participants, at least as a starting ics, there was a general recognition The three working point, in their lobbying efforts with among the participants not only of the groups were: 1. research exchanges; 2. Suggestions for accomplishing this in- their local governments for the increased internationalization of physics, educational exchanges; and 3. telecom- cluded establishing or improving training support of physics. Individual points but also of the fact that the physics com- munications, with each producing a schools for teachers, translating AAPT could then be amplified or munity has common problems to series of recommendations for that area. materials into other languages, and en- elaborated upon as appropriate in address that transcend national borders: In keeping with the general thrust of the hancing the role of Physics Olympiads particular cases. improving the quality of physics educa- meeting, the group on research ex- in all countries. To improve undergradu- It was suggested that this tion, improving the public perception of changes ranked increasing the degree ate, graduate and postdoctoral programs, statement should also be forwarded physics, and advancing scientific research of cooperation between Latin American the group suggested arranging exchange to IUPAP for consideration and through better collaborative programs, and U.S. and Canadian scientists as a top programs between universities for both discussion at the IUPAP General to name a few. The emphasis on bilat- priority, although there has been some students and professors, as well as sum- Assembly meeting next March in eral exchange, without a sense of U.S. scientific collaboration in the past. mer internships at national laboratories Atlanta. The resulting document patronization, was also an important fea- Better resource information was in the Western Hemisphere so that stu- would perhaps then be useful in a ture of the meeting. “The focus was on deemed crucial to fostering future col- dents can gain valuable research broader context as a means to finding those areas where both sides laboration. To this end, a directory of U.S. experience. Establishing programs for encourage better levels of support benefit by working together because in and Canadian researchers, as well as Latin promoting science among children in the for physics in countries throughout the end those are the ones that will be American expatriates, willing to estab- general public could be accomplished the world. The text of the statement sustainable efforts,” said Vary. lish collaborations in Latin America is with mobile museums, children’s work- is available from the online version Bill Blanpied (National Science Foun- under development, along with a list of shops, and visits to laboratories. of the January 1999 APS News dation), who has long been active in APS potential funding sources. Vary believes The working group on telecommu- [www.aps.org]. international concerns, was particularly the APS and CAP can play a vital role in nications recommended the immediate encouraged by what he perceived as a serving as a focal point for systemati- organization of a Western Hemisphere new sense of leadership on the part of cally organizing such information. Council of Editors to study and propose which is represented to a large extent the Mexican Physical Society (SMF, Numerous members of the APS Forum ways of strengthening the electronic by the journals, and yet also somehow Sociedad Mexicana de Fisica), which on International Physics have already publishing enterprise in physics, and to connect that to the international jour- chiefly organized the meeting. “I think volunteered to be listed as scientific con- coordinate the development and imple- nals?” While no easy solutions in recent years the SMF has gained a tacts. Sessler emphasized the need for mentation of joint activities. The group emerged, participants discussed the great deal of confidence in its own abil- Latin American physicists to become in- also encouraged the physical societies possibility of translating the best pa- ity to step forward and take initiative,” volved in the science policy and funding of Latin America to form a confedera- pers published in Spanish-language he said. “If there’s going to be any sig- decisions of their respective countries. tion of journal users — i.e., institutional journals to give them broader expo- nificant networking of physical societies “If we put physicists in the government, and laboratory libraries — to help de- sure outside the region. in the Americas, the U.S. can’t take the it will be easier to educate the govern- fine the journal access needs of the Recognizing the commercial nature lead. We can be supportive, but it’s got ment about physics,” he said, possibly physics community, and negotiate of the Internet, which is dominated by to be the Latin American countries that resulting in increased funding for re- agreements with journal publishers to private enterprise and overseen by take the early steps forward.” search and collaborations. gain the widest possible access to the government, the telecommunications “For me, the meeting served to Improving the quality of high school physics literature. group urged FeLaSoFi; Federacion put into perspective not only the physics education is another major The infrequency of citation among Latinoamericana de Sociedades de areas in which we have a lot of com- goal. “There are quite low levels of Latin American journals, compared with Fisica (Federation of Latin American mon ground, but also to highlight support for physics and post-second- the major English-language journals, Physical Societies), to form a working areas in which we are not always in ary education and research in Latin was of particular concern to many par- group to seek commercial, private universal agreement,” said Lynn American countries,” said Drake, who ticipants, generating a useful discussion foundation and government partners Boatner (Oak Ridge National Labo- sees a strong need for more contact on achieving a balance between re- to achieve affordable and reliable ac- ratory), another APS delegate who with the international physics commu- gional diversity and international cess to the telecommunications chairs the APS Committee on Inter- nity to broaden student horizons. “Many connectivity, according to Blanpied. networks. Boatner in particular be- national Scientific Affairs. Lerch said, students coming out of high school “Physics is certainly international, but lieves that establishing an electronic “If you’re going to make progress, haven’t received anything near the there is still something unique about communications network will be cru- you need to work around these, ei- same standard of training in physics that the regional cultures and educational cial to improving access and exchange ther by resolving them, if you can, they would receive in the U.S. or systems,” he said. “How do you pre- of information between physicists in or by avoiding them to concentrate Canada.” serve the scientific culture of a region, the U.S., Canada and Latin America. APS Honors Undergraduates Putting a Face on Physics, continued from page 1 media, the group members participated newspapers and radio stations, and na- With 1999 Apker Awards in several practice interviews under the tional outlets like CNN, NPR and airline watchful eye of a video recorder. “My magazines. rian Richard D’Urso of the California ents each receive an additional $5000 previous interviews were limited in “The proof of the pudding will be the Institute of Technology and and an invited paper at the Centennial scope to my immediate work, but this success in reaching the media,” GwendolynB Rae Bell of Harvey Mudd meeting. Their institutions also receive training prepared us for a much wider Merzbacher observed. A newly formed College have been named by the APS a $5000 grant to further encourage un- range of questions,” said team member Task Force on Informing the Public about as recipients of the 21st Apker Award dergraduate research. Richard Superfine. “The taped interviews Physics will evaluate PFP in spring of 1999, competition for their research Bell began her research concerning were painful but there is no substitute and make a recommendation on whether achievements as undergraduates. dwarf spheroidal galaxies at the U.S. Na- for practicing some of the techniques that it should be continued. The Task Force The Apker Awards were established val Observatory Flagstaff Station, while they described. Most interesting was the will evaluate present efforts and explore by Jean Dickey Apker as a memorial to participating in a summer program spon- idea that we have control over any in- and recommend new ways for APS to in- her husband, LeRoy Apker. Both were sored by Northern Arizona University. terview, and that we should make sure form the public, political leaders and other physicists employed the General Elec- Upon returning to Harvey Mudd College, that we politely steer the discussion so relevant constituencies about the nature tric Research Laboratories in she decided to continue the work as her that our own points get across.” and importance of physics to society. Schenectady, NY. Each year the selec- senior research project. The resulting the- The Edelman staff was equally enthu- One established way to introduce tion committee invites five or six finalists sis provides an estimate of the total mass siastic about the PFP training sessions. physics to the public is to start with what out of the nominees to give presenta- of the Milky Way within 100 kpc of ga- “We’ve never worked with such quick is close and familiar, like baseball, cook- tions of their undergraduate research lactic center by calculating the orbits of studies,” said Edelman senior account su- ing, or weather phenomena and explain work. Apker Award recipients are se- some of the Milky Way’s satellite galax- pervisor Tish Van Dyke. “They caught the physics involved. PFP will try the re- lected from the finalists, usually, one ies, called dwarf spheroidal galaxies. Bell’s on fast and were so passionate about verse: team members will explain their doing their undergraduate work at a PhD- mass estimate is one of the few mass what they do. That’s infectuous. If any- own sophisticated research in simple granting institution and one from a calculations that extends to such a large one can communicate physics, these terms, using analogies to everyday items, non-PhD-granting college. Finalists re- galactic radius and it relies on fewer as- people can.” Edelman’s next step is to and avoiding off-putting technical terms. ceive a $1000 award, a certificate, and sumptions than previous studies. Bell also prepare press kits and ‘pitch’ the PFP “This is real physics,” Merzbacher said, expenses to the APS Centennial meet- examines the origins of the dwarf sphe- team stories. The targetted media chan- “presented to the public in ways they ing. Their undergraduate institutions roidal galaxies themselves. Bell is now nels are PFP participants’ local can understand.” receive $500 each. Apker Award recipi- Continued on page 7

6 January 1999 APS News Announcements

1999 APS Fellowship Nomination Deadlines Call for Council and Committee Fellowship nominations may be submitted at any time, but must be received by the Position Nominations deadlines listed below for 1999 review. Nomination forms and submission information may be found through the APS Home Page [www.aps.org] under the Fellowship button. All nominations should be sent to: Executive Officer, The American Physical Soci- For: ety; One Physics Ellipse, College Park. MD 20750; ATTN: Fellowship Program VICE-PRESIDENT UNIT DEADLINE (1999) UNIT DEADLINE (1999) GENERAL COUNCILLOR DIVISIONS FORUMS NOMINATING COMMITTEE Astrophysics 05/01 Physics & Society 04/01 Biological Physics 06/01 History of Physics 04/01 Chairperson-Elect • Members Chemical Physics 02/15 International Physics 04/01 PANEL ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS Computational Physics 02/15 Industrial & Applied Physics 03/01 Chairperson-Elect • Members Atomic, Molecular, Optical 02/15 Education Past Condensed Matter 01/30 TOPICAL GROUPS Fluid Dynamics 02/15 Please send your nominations to: The American Physical Society; One Phys- Few Body 04/01 High Polymer Physics 01/15 Fundamental Constants 04/01 ics Ellipse; College Park, MD 20740-3844; Attn: Amy Halsted; (301) 209-3266; fax: Laser Science 04/01 Precision Instrs. & Meas. 04/01 (301) 209-0865; email: [email protected]. A nomination form is available at Materials Physics 02/15 Shock Compression 04/01 www.aps.org/exec/nomform.html. DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31, 1999. Nuclear Physics 04/01 Gravitation 04/01 Particles & Fields 04/01 Magnetism & Its Appli. 05/06 Physics of Beams 03/15 Plasma Physics 04/01 APS GENERAL NOMINATIONS 06/01 Now Appearing in RMP... Reviews of Modern Physics is a quarterly journal featuring review articles and colloquia on a wide range of topics in physics. Titles and January 15 Deadlines brief descriptions of the articles in the January 1999 issue are pro- vided below. If you would like to subscribe to the paper or online See the December issue of APS News or APS home page (www.aps.org) version of RMP, please contact the APS Membership Department at for details about the fellowship program and application procedures. [email protected] or (301) 209-3280. George Bertsch, Editor. 1999-2000 APS/AIP Congressional Science Fellowships Quasinormal-mode expansion for waves in open systems (colloquium) — E. S. C. Ching et al. describe the quasinormal-mode approach to open systems. The American Physical Society and The American Institute of Physics are cur- Experiments and theory in cold and ultracold collisions — John Weiner and rently accepting applications for their 1999-2000 Congressional Science Fellowship collaborators present the techniques for producing ultracold atoms and the phe- Programs. Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative, or congres- nomena associated with their interactions. sional committee. Trapped nonneutral plasmas, liquids, and crystals (the thermal equilibrium states) — D. Dubin and T. O’Neil review the properties of charged particles con- APS Mass Media Fellowship Program — Summer 1999 fined in Penning traps. In affiliation with the popular AAAS program, the APS is sponsoring two ten- Photodissociation regions in the interstellar medium of galaxies — Hollenbach week fellowships for physics students to work full-time over the summer as and Tielens review the present understanding of processes that go on in galactic gas clouds and the spectroscopic signatures. reporters, researchers, and production assistants in mass media organizations nationwide. Visit http://aps.org/public_affairs/Media.html (includes PDF appli- The adiabatic molecule-metal surface interaction: theoretical approaches — G. Brivio and M. Trioni review the theoretical methods that have been applied to cation forms) absorption of molecules on surfaces. FOR INFORMATION AND/OR APPLICATIONS: Multiresolution analysis of electronic structure: semicardinal and wavelet bases APS Fellowship Programs — T. Arias provides an introduction to wavelet theory. 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 1050 • Washington DC 20045 Multiple scattering of classical waves: microscopy, mesoscopy, and diffusion (202) 662-8700 • email: [email protected] — M. C. W. van Rossum and T. M. Niewenhuizen present the theory of wave trans- port in strongly scattering media. Forty years of antiprotons — J. Eades and F. J. Hartmann review experiments on CAUGHT IN THE WEB antiprotons which provide symmetry tests of unparalleled sensitivity. Gravitational microlensing: a report of the MACHO project (colloquium) — Notable additions to the APS Web Server. Will Sutherland describes observations of star twinkling due to gravitational lensing. The APS Web Server can be found at http://www.aps.org Built upon sand: theoretical ideas inspired by granular flows (colloquium) — Leo Kadanoff discusses the motion of granular materials and raises issues to be Centennial Committees resolved in order to build a better theory. • Centennial Meeting Announcement • POPA Annual Report and Patriot • GMAG Focused Sessions Performance Report Parity violation in the compound nucleus (colloquium) — Gary Mitchell and collaborators describe the recent experiments showing parity violation in highly • Student Travel Grant information General excited nuclear states. Units • List of Newly Elected APS Fellows Coming in March — Subscribers to RMP will receive More Things in Heaven and • DCOMP and FIAP Fall 1998 Newslet- • Job Openings Earth: A Celebration of Physics at the Millennium a Centennial supplement (see ters Centennial Webpage: description on page 3) in addition to the four regular issues of the journal at no additional cost. • Mid-Atlantic Seniors Newsletter & www.aps.org/centennial Contact List

Apker Awards, continued from page 6 Undergraduates at the DNP Meeting, continued from page 1 beginning graduate studies in astronomy material system. When optically sented an overview of their graduate at the California Institute of Technology. pumped, the hexagonal cavities, which school programs. Also on the agenda was D’Urso began his undergraduate re- are less than 20 microns across, show a talk by Harry Lipkin on the early days search at CalTech with numerical strong resonance features. The ultimate of the quark model, a tour of the Los modeling of electromagnetic waves in goal of this project is to use the geo- Alamos laboratory grounds, and a visit to photonic crystal structures. These calcu- metrical flexibility of the photonic crystal the Bradbury Science Museum in down- lations were used to design optical mirrors to create coupling paths be- town Los Alamos. resonance cavities which utilized two di- tween the cavities on a wavelength scale. According to Warren Rogers, associ- mensional photonic bandgap crystal Following his graduation D’Urso has ate professor of physics at Westmont mirrors. In his senior year, he used now begun graduate studies in experi- College and the main organizer of the nanofabrication techniques to implement mental atomic physics at Harvard event, student response to the CEU ex- these structures in the InGaAs/InGaAsP University. perience was very positive, as was the reception they received from the larger DNP community. “They really enjoyed meeting each other and comparing their research experiences. I think many found it very inspiring and motivating to learn Sarah Baxter, UNC at Asheville, stands by of the research being done by their peers her poster paper describing research performed at Michigan State University. around the country,” he said. “They also enjoyed meeting members of the DNP Plans for the next CEU at the fall 1999 community and discussing research and DNP meeting in Asilomar, CA, are already graduate school opportunities. Their en- underway. The CEU home page, complete Apker Award finalists (f) and judges (sc). [Rear, from left: Michael Brown (sc), Ali Kinkhabwala (f), ergy and enthusiasm were somewhat with a listing of student abstracts, the pro- Carl Steinke (f), and Laurence Marschall (sc). Front, from left: Harry Lustig (sc), Gwendolyn contagious, and I think their presence was gram of activities, and several photos can Bell (recipient), Brian D’Urso (recipient), Sylvia Smullin (f), and Barrie Ripin (sc). Selection sincerely appreciated by the larger com- be found at http://pulsar.westmont.edu/ committee members not in photo: Stephen Ralph, D. Allan Bromley, and J. Robert Schrieffer.] munity.” physics/dnp98/. 7 APS News January 1999 THE BACK PAGE Exploring the Connection Between Physics, Technology, and Economic Growth by J.C. Tsang, H.D.I. Abarbanel, G.A.N. Connell, L.J. Lanzerotti, and J.D. Sullivan, members of the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA)

ow does scientific knowledge actually build it, but it was based on my H provide economic value in today’s idea” rationale now produces scorn rather Reassessments of the environment. Many of us “think” that this than respect. “linear model” led to more question is trivial. It isn’t. Public Two subjects are at the heart of the appreciation of the value of scientific POPA bibliographic essay on research, complicated models of the knowledge and physics is critical for technology and economic growth. One is “““innovation process, and the continued support for our work. whether the existing organization of re- role of research in it. Understanding how concerned non- search in the US, and the system for its scientists now think about the economic support, provides satisfactory economic J. C. Tsang benefits of such support is fundamental returns given the current level of invest- Member of the APS Panel on to responding to today’s pressures on ment in R&D. The second is the effort to Public Affairs (POPA) physics research and education. A detailed quantify the economic benefits of scien- J. C. Tsang understanding of the practical value of tific research. physics knowledge in the contemporary The debate over the first question chal- called “linear model” provides an appeal- stresses that current research investments economy and the ability to communicate lenges the traditional distinctions between ing rationale for the support of basic provide information allowing for the bet- that understanding is essential in justifying basic and applied research and the im- research. Its underlying assumptions had ter use of future investments. From this future investments in R&D. portance of basic research as the major significant influence on R&D practices and viewpoint, a research investment is analo- Such efforts are necessary because fi- driver of innovation. It suggests that the policies in the US for many years after gous to a financial option. A research nancial support for R&D in the US is systems and organizations that were very the end of WWII. investment is viewed as the cost of keep- substantial. If this support is taken for successful after WWII may require signifi- Today, the “linear” model has been ing such an option alive until the decision granted by scientists, it can be significantly cant modifications to meet today’s abandoned in many policy circles. In the to go ahead with or cancel the project reduced or reallocated in ways that we challenges. This can severely impact sup- 1970s and 1980s, concern about US per- can be made with greater certainty about may believe are unproductive. About port of physics research as we know it. formance in the global economy spurred the outcome based on the results of the $215 billion will be spent on R&D by the With respect to the second, there is increased interest in the connections be- research. Such systematic approaches to public and private sectors this year. wide acceptance that research is neces- tween scientific knowledge and economic investing in research raise challenging Throughout the 1990s over 2.5% of the sary for economic growth. However, there growth. Reassessments of the “linear questions about how different types of US GDP was spent annually on R&D. Total is not a consensus on how the economic model” led to more complicated models research can be compared, how strategic US R&D expenditures since the late 1970s benefits of research can be quantified. The of the innovation process, and the role of directions against which the option value have doubled. This growth has been driven intellectual infrastructure connecting lev- research in it. These models draw on what of a proposed research activity can be by industry, which now provides over els of research support to quantitative are perceived to be unique features of assessed quantitatively are arrived at, and 65% of all US funding for R&D, reversing increases in the GDP does not exist. In today’s economy. These include empha- how metrics to assess the impact of the past patterns, where about 60% of all US contrast, analysts believe that we quanti- sis on time to market, extreme strategic options can be defined. R&D spending was supplied federally. tatively understand the economic competitiveness, globalization of design, The $63 billion federal spending on consequences of many other investments. and manufacturing expertise, etc. All Conclusion R&D in 1998 is an impressive part of to- Since budgets are quantitative instru- emphasize the importance of applied re- Anecdotal examples of the value of tal discretionary federal spending. Even ments, it is an advantage to be able to search, and feedback from users, R&D are basic to any consensus on the the $15 billion spent annually by Wash- relate quantitative results to quantitative customers, etc. in driving technological value of physics research. They do not, ington on “basic research” is a measurable inputs. We must take seriously the efforts innovation. The rapid, continuous evolu- however, help individuals who are trying fraction of discretionary spending. In con- of economists and policy analysts to quan- tion of products described by “Moore’s to understand the additional benefits of a trast, total federal funding for the arts and tify the economic contributions of R&D. Law” is seen as the major way in which 7% annual increase in federal basic re- humanities before the wave of interest in research can contribute to economic search funding as compared to, for deficit reductions was only $350 million. The Science-Technology growth. Today’s understanding of how we example, a smaller annual increase in re- Scientists should ask why they have been Connection now view the connection between sci- search funding, and new tax credits for entific knowledge and economic able to attract so many more federal dol- Our current institutions and policies are corporate R&D or increased funding for innovation has a critical impact on how lars. Physicists should also consider the solutions to yesterday’s challenges and Head Start, etc. Even in an era of budget support for research is currently justified growth in private sector support for R&D problems. Since WWII, some of these surpluses, choices like these will have to and structured. over the last two decades and understand challenges and problems have changed. be made. A better understanding of how the opportunities it presents. Occasionally, this can require new solu- R&D contribute to our economy, and the As physicists, we believe that physics tions. Studies of the role of science and Valuation of R&D development of metrics that quantify education and research benefit society in technology in innovation improve our A satisfactory quantitative understand- these contributions would make trivial the numerous intangible and tangible ways. understanding of the contribution of re- ing of how research pays off in the justification of R&D to our fellow citizens. The intangible contributions of physics search to economic growth. Understanding marketplace would allow the direct com- For the present, however, physicists include the satisfaction of the human in- in this area traditionally occurs through parison of the returns on investments in must be realistic about the kinds of argu- stinct to comprehend the world in which complex case studies (data) and the cre- research and other kinds of investments. ments we can present. We can clearly we live through a fundamental under- ation of simple models (theory) which try For physicists who know the history of the point to where we have had great intel- standing of the physical universe. The to summarize these studies. The models transistor, the semiconductor industry seems lectual impact but must recognize that our contributions of modern physics to many inspire controversy both with respect to a splendid example of how research can economic impact has generally come as different parts of contemporary life make internal consistency, and whether they have enormous economic payoffs. But part of a community of scientists, engi- an unchallengeable case for how physics describe reality. These controversies are within the current methodologies of mod- neers, and technically minded individuals. has enriched the nation. While we may important because alternate models pro- ern economics, there is no generally If we work together with our professional not have built the things we see around us, vide different conceptual frameworks by accepted numerical or analytic model of colleagues, accept that many of the we know they are based on our ideas. For which policy makers, scientists and engi- the contributions of scientific research to choices involved in the crafting of science many of us, the intellectual beauty and neers view the complex interaction quantitative economic growth. The contro- and technology policy are political choices, anecdotal connections justify the national between science, technology, and eco- versies in this field are intellectually and are prepared to engage in the politi- investment in our educations and work. nomic growth. challenging and well worth reading. cal process by which policy choices are While we may wish to justify physics Many developments in the first half of This problem is closely related to the made, we now know enough about the on intangible grounds, we must recognize the 20th century showed the limits of management of research in business. The economic impact of physics research and that more tangible rationales have always “uneducated, practical” inventors and the dominant methodology of the past has education today to feel comfortable, been critical to our fellow citizens. There need for highly educated innovators ca- been the calculation of the net present though not complacent, about the eco- is general agreement that scientific dis- pable of understanding and performing value (NPV) of a project. This technique nomic future of our profession. coveries based on research are often scientific and technical studies. This pro- was designed for investments such as necessary, but almost never sufficient for duced a model of innovation, where building factories and buying airliners, but The above is a summary of a recent new technologies and economic growth. technical progress began with basic re- is widely criticized as a blunt tool more bibliographic essay produced by the Sci- While many new products and processes search and “basic research is the likely to provide the wrong answer than ence, Technology and Economic Growth originate in scientific discoveries, the sci- pacemaker of technological improve- good guidance for R&D policy. Committee of the APS Panel on Public entific discovery is often not the most ment.” Projects producing revolutionary The emerging field of the quantitative Affairs (POPA). The full report, with com- “difficult” of the steps leading out of the innovations were theorized to begin with assessment of risk has studied this prob- plete citations of source material can be lab. It is almost never a sufficient step for basic research, pass through applied re- lem in the last decade and offers a different found on-line at www.aps.org/ the civilian marketplace. The “I didn’t search and end in development. This so framework for analysis. The new approach public_affairs/popa/steg.html .

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