May 2018 • Vol. 27, No. 5

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY APS Joins March for Science Page 4 APS.ORG/APSNEWS

Highly Selective, Interdisciplinary, and Plenty of Plenaries: Open Access for All From Feynman to LIGO By Leah Poffenberger about her own research on climate By the PRX editors 2018 APS April Meeting, change that tracked the importance Seven years ago, Physical Columbus, Ohio—The Kavli of climate stabilization in the Review X (PRX) was launched by Foundation Keynote Plenary development of agriculture. APS as its first open-access journal Session theme this year was “A She concluded her talk with a to offer high quality coverage of all Feynman Century,” and it kicked remembrance of her brother’s final areas of pure, applied, and interdis- off with a talk on the life of moments after a ten-year battle ciplinary physics. In journal years, discoveries or breakthroughs; sig- that there are no clear-cut metrics Richard Feynman (1918-1988) with cancer. “Richard’s last mes- PRX is a toddler compared to the nificant advances in the state of or algorithms for this task. What given by an expert: his younger sage to the world was ‘this dying 125-year history of the Physical the art; in-depth explorations of to do then? sister, Joan. is boring, I wouldn’t want to do it Review family [1], but it is running possibly risky concepts; and not Foremost, we draw again on Joan Feynman, an accom- again,’” said Feynman. “He died steadily and confidently. Indeed, least, original, substantive research the Physical Review family tra- plished astrophysicist despite her with a sense of humor and telling it has gained a strong reputation at the boundaries between phys- dition: PRX is for scientists, by mother’s belief that “women’s the truth.” for reliable quality, topical inclu- ics subfields and between physics scientists who are our authors at brains can’t do science,” cred- Christopher Monroe siveness, high impact, and global and other scientific disciplines [2]. times and also our referees at other ited her brother Richard as being (University of Maryland) fol- readership. What has PRX done PRX has embraced them all in the times. We rely on the advice of her first teacher—and her first lowed with a reflection on Richard that has worked? And where is it open-access format. our expert referees and of PRX’s employer, paying her four cents Feynman’s contributions to the going from here? How does PRX put this tradi- distinguished and diverse Editorial a week to be his research assis- field of quantum computing. From the very beginning, the tion into daily practice? When the Board. When we decline a paper tant in his homemade electron- “Feynman’s work has weaved its PRX editorial team, supported selectivity is as high as PRX’s, the without external review, the deci- ics lab when she was five years way through the field of quan- by its founding Editorial Board, final editorial decision to accept sion is often made in consultation old. She would go on to have a tum information and comput- has carried on the tradition of the or decline a paper does not just with either an appointed mem- long career at the Jet Propulsion ing,” said Monroe. Feynman was Physical Review family: pub- depend on the paper’s technical ber of the Editorial Board or an Laboratory and in the leadership one of the first to recognize a lishing important experimental, validity, but necessarily involves expert chosen from the appropri- of the American Geophysical “completely new opportunity for theoretical, and computational evaluating its potential for mak- ate community. When papers are Union (AGU), where she ensured design” in predicting the advent physics papers of different vari- ing significant and broad impact sent out for external review, we women would be welcome at all of nanotechnology. eties. Among these are important down the road. Yet, we all know PRX continued on page 4 AGU meetings. Feynman talked PLENARIES continued on page 5

Hubble Trouble: A Crisis in Cosmology? By Sophia Chen 2018 APS April Meeting, Columbus, Ohio—In 2013, the Removing Barriers in Science European Space Agency’s Planck By Alaina G. Levine

Observatory released a map of the Planck Collaboration cosmic microwave background When Jesse Shanahan enters (CMB)—with the highest resolu- a conference venue, she doesn’t tion to date. just scroll through the scientific That’s when the trouble started. program for interesting talks and Applying the standard model events. Her eye is focused on some- of cosmology—the Lambda Cold thing bigger: the accessibility of Dark Matter (λCDM) model— the meeting for the entire scientific researchers used the CMB map to community. So where one might calculate the Hubble constant, a stroll into a hotel ballroom and sit number that describes how quickly down, Shanahan’s gaze is fixed on gaps. Is there space for people who the universe is expanding. But that Analysis of the cosmic microwave background from the Planck satellite— number disagreed with calculations one way to measure the Hubble constant use wheelchairs? Are there enough based on telescope observations benches throughout the venue for of supernovae and pulsating stars. a lot of back and forth with peo- dark and bright, it tells you how people to sit down? Are there quiet Jesse Shanahan Today, various CMB calculations ple checking analyses and results to calculate the Hubble constant rooms for those who need a sensory Shanahan’s overarching goal of the Hubble constant differ from and consistency,” says Bradford using the temperature fluctuations break? Is the font on the nametags is to remove barriers and “small stellar and supernovae versions by Benson of the University of in the CMB—the speckles of hot large enough to read without a reminders that ‘this field isn’t for more than 5 percent, equivalent to Chicago. In an April Meeting ses- and cold on the map, which cor- scanning electron microscope? Do you’,” she says. And this mission about three standard deviations. sion titled “Crisis in Cosmology,” respond to expansions and con- the nametags incorporate the per- is highly personal—as a graduate To a smaller degree, the Hubble researchers recapped the latest tractions of matter in the early son’s preferred gender pronouns, student in astronomy and physics, constant differs between different ideas for resolving the discrepancy. universe. By changing the model, as is starting to become the norm? she faced hardship when she devel- CMB observations, too. It’s “tempting,” says Stephen you can make the Hubble constant These are the questions that oped a disease that caused chronic Unfortunately, no one knows Feeney of the Flatiron Institute, to value match the supernova and inspire Shanahan’s work as an pain and required her to use aids where the discrepancies come think that some part of the standard star-derived values. astrophysicist and accessibility to walk. Suddenly, she couldn’t from. Researchers affiliated with model of cosmology is wrong. The For example, adjusting the consultant. Although early in her access the observatory because she Planck have even re-analyzed data model describes how the universe number of neutrinos in the λCDM career and only 27 years old, she couldn’t climb the stairs. taken by the Supernova H0 for the evolved since the Big Bang. Given model can help get rid of the dis- has already made a mark at the This was just one of several Equation of State (SH0ES) collab- an expansion rate and a specified crepancy. “Even though neutrinos American Astronomical Society barriers she faced as she got used oration without success. “There’s amount of matter and energy both are light particles, since there are (AAS), where she co-founded the to living with her condition, and so many of them, they can affect Working Group on Accessibility she noticed the lack of assistance, the evolution of the universe,” says and Disability and currently serves support, and resources for dis- Benson, who works on CMB obser- on its Coordinating Committee. She abled scientists within the scien- vations at the South Pole Telescope. currently does freelance accessibil- tific enterprise. It lit a fire in her. Perhaps, he says, more neutrino ity and inclusion projects for AAS “I am just really stubborn. If there species exist than are now known. and schools and universities. For is some kind of challenge, it makes But according to Feeney, it’s hard example, an instructor might want me want it even more,” she says. to physically justify these changes. to know how to arrange a class- room and devise a curriculum to “I shouldn’t have had to face those HUBBLE continued on page 6 be more accessible and inclusive. BARRIERS continued on page 4 Revised 5/9/18 2 • May 2018

Programming a Quantum Computer By Sophia Chen quantum Hall effect. This effect This Month in Physics History 2018 APS March Meeting, occurs in two-dimensional electron Los Angeles—Quantum comput- gases under a strong magnetic field. ing could offer the world some The electrons in the gas behave col- May 10, 1860: Discovery of Cesium lectively such that the ensemble new superpowers. But as the hype ne of the best elements for atomic clocks is salts emitted more yellow light than the rest of appears to be composed of indi- around the technology builds, cesium, which was first discovered in 1860 by the light spectrum. Several years later, Andreas vidual fractional charges, rather O some experts are trying to rein it Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff. However, it Sigismund Marggraf claimed he could tell the dif- than whole electrons. in: discussing it in more practical took another 20 years before another scientist suc- ference between sodium and potassium compounds She aims to simulate a system terms, without invoking an abstract cessfully isolated the metal. via a similar method. Sodium produced more yellow where the ensemble appears to be future with a quantum computer on Born in Germany in 1811, Bunsen’s father was flame, while potassium emitted violet flames. composed of thirds of an electron, every desk. a professor of modern languages at the University In 1822 John Herschel noticed emission spectra a phenomenon that has been indi- They are more upfront with of Göttingen. Bunsen himself eventually earned lines while passing light from different colors of rectly observed in experiments. caveats now. A quantum computer his doctorate there. He spent the next three years flame through a prism, and four years later, pho- This state should be relatively could break modern encryption traveling across Europe before becoming a lecturer tographer William Fox Talbot noted, “A glance at insensitive to external noise, so methods—but only if it had mil- at his alma mater. He held subsequent positions at the prismatic spectrum of a flame may show it to it’s a good candidate for quan- lions of qubits. (The current record: the University of Marburg, contain substances which tum information storage. If Johri 72 qubits, which Google announced Breslau (in Poland), and it would otherwise require can make Intel’s superconducting during the meeting.) The hardware Heidelberg. Initially inter- a laborious chemical qubits mimic this state, it could wranglers have steadily increased ested in organic chemistry, analysis to detect.” Talbot potentially be used as quantum the number of qubits in a machine he lost an eye while work- later used it to distinguish computer memory. over the last two years—but qual- ing with an arsenic com- wikimedia commons between lithium and stron- Jarrod McClean of Google ity matters more than quantity, and pound known as cacodyl tium compounds, both of is developing algorithms to run nobody has demonstrated how to cyanide, which exploded which emit red flames, but molecular simulations on a quan- correct qubit errors in an economi- during an experiment. But with different spectra. But tum computer. The computer would cally viable way. Even with these his work did produce the impurities in the samples solve Schrödinger’s equation for a errors, they anticipate that these most effective antidote available at the time made molecule to calculate its allowed relatively few qubits will soon be for arsenic poisoning, it difficult to prove, since energy states. Or, simply put, able to execute an algorithm that a iron oxide hydrate, which multiple spectra would be “given where the nuclei are, how classical computer can’t—a turn- is still used today. produced simultaneously. do I figure out where the electrons ing point called “quantum suprem- Bunsen is best known So there had never are going to be?” says McClean. acy”—but the result will probably for his invention of the been a careful, systemic Quantum computers potentially just be the solution to a useless, Bunsen burner in 1855 approach to such stud- offer the capability to simulate abstract math problem. with his laboratory assis- ies before Bunsen and complicated molecules that classi- But nevertheless researchers are tant Peter Desaga, a device Kirchhoff teamed up in cal computers can’t. However, so developing useful algorithms. At which has been a staple in 1859. Bunsen came up far researchers have managed to this year’s March Meeting, several chemistry labs ever since. with the idea of using fil- tackle only small molecules with presenters described algorithms It proved instrumental ters to block intense colors two to three atoms, which classi- motivated by physics problems to his studies of emis- (like the yellow of sodium cal computers can still manage. Gustav Kirchoff and Robert Bunsen that could run on existing proto- sion spectra from heated compounds), to better The largest molecule modeled to type computers at Google, Intel, elements and arguably detect less intense colors date with a quantum computer is and IBM. Many of these algorithms marked the beginning of light emitted by other beryllium hydride (BeH ), simu- are simulations of well-studied 2 of spectroscopy as an elements, such as the lated on IBM’s 7-qubit machine quantum systems, but researchers invaluable tool in scien- violet hues of potassium. last September.

could eventually extend computing tific research. wikimedia commons Kirchhoff then suggested These simulations are reason- techniques to study less-understood Kirchoff was born improving on this method able near-term goals because the phenomena. in 1824 in Königsberg, by adapting the Herschel/ systems map naturally onto the Sonika Johri of Intel is working Prussia (now Kalingrad) Talbot method of passing quantum computing architecture. on an algorithm for the company’s and moved to Berlin the light through a prism. In McClean’s simulations, for 17-qubit quantum computer that shortly after his marriage Together they devised simulates the so-called fractional QUANTUM continued on page 6 to the daughter of his an instrument based mathematics professor. At on this principle: the

Intel just 26, he became a pro- Spectroscope used to detect spectral lines of ele- spectroscope. fessor at the University ments in a flame On May 10, 1860, of Breslau, where he first met Bunsen. Kirchhoff while analyzing the spectral emissions from spring initially researched electrical circuits and thermal waters known to be rich in lithium compounds, radiation; he coined the term “black body radiation” Bunsen spotted a new sky-blue signature in the in 1862. (Kirchhoff’s laws of electrical circuits and spectra in addition to the expected light from Kirchhoff’s law of thermodynamics are both named sodium, lithium, and potassium. He and Kirchhoff in his honor.) realized it belonged to a new element, which he Bunsen convinced Kirchhoff to move to dubbed cesium (Latin for “sky blue”). It was just Heidelberg with him in 1854 so they could con- a trace amount, so he hired a chemical factory to tinue to collaborate on research proving that all pure isolate the cesium by evaporating 12,000 gallons of elements emit a distinct spectrum. Scientists had spring water. This gave him a large enough sample previously observed what we now know as emission to determine its properties: an atomic mass of 128.4 spectra in the 1750s, when Thomas Melvill noticed (today we know it is 132.9). But despite his skill (while observing them with a prism) that the flames with the method, he failed to isolate pure metal- from lamps burning alcohol infused with dissolved CESIUM continued on page 3

An Intel quantum computer prototype consisting of 17 qubits

Series II, Vol. 27, No. 5 May 2018 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2018 General Councilors ternational Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics © 2018 American Physical Society Gail McLaughlin*, Bonnie Fleming, Andrea Liu*, and Society), Beverly Berger* (Gravitational Physics), President Vivian Incera Nicholas Bigelow* (Laser Science), Samuel Bader Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Berkeley/ (Materials), Akif “Baha” Balantekin (Nuclear Phys- Editor...... David Voss LBNL International Councilors ics), Elizabeth Simmons (Particles & Fields), Thomas Eliezer Rabinovici, Johanna Stachel, Marta Losada*, Roser (Physics of Beams), Cary Forest (Plasma Phys- Staff Science Writer...... Leah Poffenberger President-Elect Ahmadou Wagué ics), Murugappan Muthukumar (Polymer Physics), Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine David J. Gross*, KITP, University of California, Santa Philip Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), Carlos Wexler Barbara Chair, Nominating Committee (Prairie Section), Charles Bennett (Quantum Informa- Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik David Meyerhofer, Los Alamos National Laboratory tion) Copy Editor and Proofreader...... Edward Lee Vice President Philip H. Bucksbaum*, Stanford University, SLAC Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Senior Management Team Michael Marder, University of Texas, Austin Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer; Jane Hopkins APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published monthly, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- Past-President Gould, Chief Financial Officer; Kate P. Kirby, Chief except for a combined August-September issue, 11 times tion delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Paid at Col- Laura H. Greene*, Florida State University, Magnet Editor in Chief Executive Officer; Matthew M. 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All cor- (Forum on Education), Julia Gonski, (Forum on Grad- respondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Corporate Secretary uate Student Affairs), Virginia Trimble (Forum on His- Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Ken Cole, APS tory of Physics), John Rumble* (Forum on Industrial MD 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. and Applied Physics), Emanuela Barzi (Forum on In- May 2018 • 3 Making Room in Physics for Everyone The Road to a Goldwater Scholarship By Leah Poffenberger This diverse panel discussed By Leah Poffenberger The difference for Lambert this “If you’re interested in research, 2018 APS April Meeting, many ways to improve inclusiv- year wasn’t just five more months get connected early,” Lambert says. ity in physics academia, such as Remarkable achievements rarely Columbus, Ohio—Creating a happen overnight—and becoming of research experience between “You don’t have to wait to start diverse and inclusive workplace mentorship, faculty demographics March (when Goldwater Scholars school—you can talk to profes- reflecting student demographics, a Goldwater Scholar is certainly is crucial to ensuring physics is remarkable. are announced) and September sors about research during college explored by the brightest minds, and re-evaluation of who gets to (when applications open). The key visits.” participate in science. Questions The Goldwater Scholarship regardless of gender, race, or is awarded each year to just over was figuring out how to best tell his Mika Sarkin Jain, a junior LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, provided by Pando and the audi- research story, something several studying physics at Stanford ence facilitated a lively three-hour two hundred college sophomores transgender, or queer) identity. and juniors at institutions across campus advisors helped him do. University, has an impressive range The 2018 APS April Meeting session that gave voice to the expe- Lambert’s research experience of research interests, from soft riences of underrepresented groups the United States. The scholarship, offered several events and ses- which was created in 1986 in honor at Roanoke began thanks to a pro- matter phys- sions on diversity, including a in physics. fessor he befriended who connected ics to optics to “There’s untapped potential of the late Arizona Senator Barry panel discussion on “Best Practices Goldwater, is considered one of him with Rama Balasubramanian. fluid mechan- for Establishing a Diverse and in physics,” said Rockward. “We Balasubramanian would become ics—especially need everybody to solve the big the most prestigious scholarships Inclusive Workplace,” spon- one of Lambert’s research advi- where these problems.” available to undergraduate students sored by the APS Committee on sors, and she also serves as the physics fields One of the ways to ensure tal- studying natural science, engineer- Minorities. Each panelist lent Goldwater Scholarship Campus intersect with ented individuals have the chance ing, or mathematics. unique perspectives and experi- Representative for Roanoke biomedicine. to work on these problems is men- This year, 211 students—33 ences to the questions that arise College. She suggested Lambert He learned about the Goldwater torship, especially for students who of whom are majoring in physics around creating a diverse and inclu- should apply for the scholarship Scholarship from an advisor he was may be from underrepresented fields—were selected from more sive environment. after his first semester of research. speaking to about research funding groups. Often, the need for men- than 1200 applications based on “Creating diversity is about get- “Liam is incredibly moti- who suggested he apply. torship arises in commonplace cir- their academic achievements and ting people in the door, and inclu- vated to understand every aspect “That’s a big part of this story: cumstances, as in Neunzert’s case commitment to research. Along sivity is about keeping people in of his research and seeks to find nothing happens in isolation,” on their first day teaching in front with the honor of becoming a the room,” said Jesús Pando, a answers, however big or small,” he says. of a classroom after transitioning. Goldwater Scholar, winners will member of the Committee on says Balasubramanian. “I noticed But Jain’s journey to the “I didn’t know what to wear,” says receive either a one- or two-year Minorities who moderated the this unique quality when he joined Goldwater Scholarship began long Neunzert. “Someone giving me scholarship, depending on whether discussion. Pando was joined by my lab in his first year. Now, he is before he started working on new advice on what to wear or how to they are sophomores or juniors, of Arlene Maclin, a distinguished a seasoned research student in our diagnostic imaging techniques or present myself would’ve gone a up to $7,500 per year. Scholarship black female physicist and Howard department, and I am confident he mathematically modeling brain long way to making me feel more recipients in physics were also University professor; Ansel will make big strides in his future malformations. comfortable.” awarded a one-year membership Neunzert, a transgender gradu- career. ” “As a child, I asked a lot of Maclin has experienced the in APS. An additional 281 students ate student at the University of In this year’s application questions—What are magnets? impact of mentorship on student received an Honorable Mention. Michigan; and Willie Rockward, essay—the three-page cornerstone What is light? How does the human success from both sides of the Even just becoming an applicant current president of the National for the Goldwater Scholarship— of the Goldwater Scholarship body work?” says Jain. “I guess I Society of Black Physicists. DIVERSITY continued on page 7 let alone a winner or an honorable application—Lambert focused on never outgrew these kinds of ques- mention—is the mark of an excep- how his research has progressed. tions, and Stanford was the perfect His first research project involved place to ask them.” CESIUM continued from page 2 tional student: To apply, a student must be nominated by a Goldwater working with nanoparticles used Jain’s innate curiosity spurred lic cesium with electrolysis. The still collaborated with Bunsen, but Campus Representative. Scoring to create carbon nanotubes, which him to seek out new ideas and result was always a kind of blue he was far more interested in using such a nomination requires students developed into an engineering proj- research projects early on in his “melt.” This substance “neither emission spectra to study the night to participate in, or display interest ect that more fully lined up with his college career. under the naked eye nor under the sky, identifying some 30 elements in, meaningful scientific research. interests: building a device to mea- “I started reading papers and microscope” showed any trace of present in the Sun. He and Bunsen The process of becoming a sure the size of these nanoparticles. bringing research ideas to profes- metallic substance, so they decided also explained certain dark lines in Goldwater Scholar is lengthy: It “Never be afraid to tell a pro- sors,” says Jain. “I’m incredibly it must be a chloride. (It was more the solar spectrum (now known as doesn’t begin with the application, fessor what type of research proj- grateful to those professors, post- likely a colloidal mix of the metal Fraunhofer lines). Given his dis- nor does it happen without help. ect you want to work on,” says docs, and others who have made and cesium chloride.) ability—he often used crutches or Three 2018 Goldwater Scholars Lambert. all of this possible.” The following year, Bunsen and was confined to a wheelchair—over shared their path to the scholarship He also expects his research to When applying for the Kirchhoff observed the presence of the years he found it increasingly with APS News and reflected on continue evolving: Lambert intends Goldwater Scholarship, students yet another alkali metal with a dark difficult to conduct experiments, the relationships that helped them to conduct research on microscopic are asked to list one or more red spectrum—hence its name, so he found himself gravitating get there. flows of fluid over surfaces in the research mentors. Jain listed six, rubidium (from the Latin for “dark toward more theoretical work, Liam Lambert, a student at future. who he says all played a huge role in his research and in developing red”). And this time Bunsen did eventually accepting the chair of Roanoke College in Virginia, is “The research you do in college his goals outside of the classroom. successfully isolate the element, mathematics at the University of no stranger to doesn’t have to be what you want making his inability to isolate Jain offered two pieces of advice Berlin in 1875. Kirchhoff died in the Goldwater to do later,” says Lambert. “It’s just cesium all the more frustrating. It for students who would follow his 1887 and is buried in Schoenberg, Scholarship: important to show an appreciation was Swedish chemist Carl Theodor path into research and science: form Berlin, just a few miles from the Last year, as for research and all that comes Setterberg who finally did so, using relationships with faculty, and take graves of the Brothers Grimm. a sophomore, with it.” a mixture of cesium-based salts he received Lambert attributes some of his advantage of available non-science Further Reading: derived from waste material after success, both in research and in classes. Crew, H. 1899. Robert Wilhelm Bun- an Honorable extracting lithium from lepidolite Mention. achieving the Goldwater Scholarship, “My ideas haven’t always come sen. The Astrophysical Journal 10. to me when I’m thinking about sci- ore. Still, Bunsen and Kirchhoff 301-305. Since very few sophomores win to attending a smaller college, which were the first recipients of the Davy ence,” says Jain. “Fermenting dif- Kirchhoff, G. and Bunsen, R. 1861. the Goldwater Scholarship each has allowed him to develop one-on- Medal “for their researches and dis- year, Lambert was undeterred from one relationships with faculty. And ferent topics in my mind, like art Chemische Analyse durch Spectral- and language, has sparked ideas coveries in spectrum analysis.” beobachtungen. Annalen der Physik applying again, this time with even he encourages other students to start Bunsen retired from the univer- und Chemie 189. 337-381. better results. this process early. SCHOLARSHIP continued on page 7 sity at 78 and spent his remaining Weeks, M. E. 1932. The discovery of years studying geology and min- the elements, XIII: Some spectroscop- eralogy, dying ten years later in ic discoveries, Journal of Chemical Heidelberg. As for Kirchhoff, he Education 9. 1413-1434.

Correction

“This Month in Physics History” (APS News, April 2018) mistakenly stated that Fermilab scientists garnered “numerous Nobel prizes.” In fact, the only Fermilab laureate is Leon Lederman, for his work with Melvin Schwartz at the University of Chicago. Regarding the same article: As much as the Editor would like to claim that the photo of the Fermilab sculpture “Broken Symmetry” was a subtle April Fool’s Day joke, the joke was on him. His photo research turned up a beautiful image of the sculpture, but one that had been photo- shopped to humorous effect. The correct photo is available at vms.fnal.gov/stillphotos/2008/0300/08-0325-01D.jpg 4 • May 2018

BARRIERS continued from page 1 PRX continued from page 1

challenges. If I really want some- people who have these illnesses ask referees to back up their judg- Although PRX is now a confi- strong commitment to the journal thing I don’t care if something and disability often face these ment with both technically rigorous dent top player in physics publish- as the founding Editorial Board, gets in the way, especially if I see choices. I didn’t know about this. and factual arguments and well- ing, it still has room to grow, in our recently renewed Board is fully those barriers should not exist in I was not used to such severe con- argued viewpoints or perspec- quality, in topical coverage, and engaged in guiding and supporting the first place.” sequences to my health. It started tives. We also listen to authors’ in reputation. We know we must these editorial efforts. Although she is passionate with survival and I didn’t have a substantive, meaningful rebuttals continue to follow the fundamen- Since May 2011, many of you about ensuring access to science choice—it’s either this or I give up and may modify our views of their tal principles that have guided our from different communities in for all, she didn’t start her career and can’t do my research.” papers based on those. When the editorial work so far. We will also physics and even in other disci- as an astrophysicist. In fact, she Shanahan remained at Wesleyan referees’ opinions are conflicting, continue, and improve on, our plines have sent PRX your out- didn’t emerge into science until for 2 years, but when she left she we try to communicate with them established editorial practices. The standing papers, have served as well into her undergraduate years wasn’t ready to give up astrophys- to resolve the conflict as much as foremost challenge will be to do so, our reliable and trusted advisers, at the University of Virginia, where ics. But she sensed there were defi- possible before asking authors to as submissions continue to increase and have encouraged us when she at first wavered between major- nitely others in the same situation address the disparate opinions or and the topical coverage contin- we have done well and have also ing in physics, or linguistics and and perhaps had it even worse. As suggestions. And we build on our ues to broaden, without compro- offered us constructive, sometimes anthropology. She ultimately chose a scholar and an observer, she was collective experience to moderate mising the quality of our editorial thought-provoking, criticisms when linguistics because the class sizes keen to uncover solutions. “I did a collegial and productive dialogue work and in turn, the quality of the we have made missteps. Without were smaller, something she was use this [revelation] to motivate between authors and reviewers. journal. your constant support there would used to from her high school. But me. People with disabilities don’t We also recognize we must con- not have been PRX as it is today: she didn’t drop her love for physics have a choice —I had to advocate tinuously deepen and expand our Thank you! and mathematics, and throughout for myself. The more I learned that editorial competence, including our We see PRX’s mission as your her college years, served as a math this is endemic and widespread and knowledge of physics and of the mission: emphasizing scholarly tutor and explored the subjects on systematic it lit my fire about how current research landscape. We sur- quality, substance, and long-term her own time. little work was being done here. I vey the literature; we regularly dis- impact to bring the scientific sig- Shanahan studied linguistics in realized … then I wanted to keep cuss manuscripts together and use nal above the noise We count on Tunisia during the Arab Spring in fighting for it.” the distilled experience going for- your continued engagement in the 2011, but turned to physics. “I had And fight she did. In 2015, she ward. We go to conferences large joint endeavor to cement—in the always been dancing around phys- was serving on a panel on Inclusive and small to learn more and to talk best publishing traditions of the ics and math, and I said why don’t I Astronomy, an AAS-sponsored to researchers about both science Physical Review family—PRX’s see if this is something I like. So I conference about how to tackle and the editorial process. We hope reputation as a journal you are picked up an astrobiology class and these issues. Meg Urry, profes- these efforts improve our choices of proud to publish in and you are I was hooked.” She was convinced sor of astronomy and physics at referees, our understanding of their eager to read. that she had found her field. Yale, who was President of AAS at reports and author replies, and our While finishing her linguistics the time, reached out to Shanahan editorial judgment. To this end, we are working on 1. Phys. Rev. X 8, 010001 (2018). work, she popped her head into about organizing accessibility for This integrated approach has improving editorial efficiency in 2. Phys. Rev. X 7, 010001 (2017). physics professors’ offices during an AAS conference. drawn encouraging feedback. our areas of strength and bolstering The PRX Editors: M. Cristina a conference at Rice University. “I While this experience pushed Authors have taken the trouble to our coverage of new topics; we are Marchetti is the William R. Kenan, can’t believe people talked to me,” her towards accessibility consulting let us know that our process has continuously striving to improve Jr. Professor and Distinguished she says. “I was this random lin- as a profession, she didn’t give up significantly improved their papers; our ability to distill and recognize Professor of Physics at Syracuse guistics student asking them about on her dream of a being in astro- referees have expressed their appre- signals for potential impact. Given University in Syracuse, New York, what can I do to make this switch.” physics. Through networking, she ciation for our personal communi- the broad readership of our journal, and Jean-Michel Raimond is And while several people gave her found her way to Chris Lintott, a cations with them, not only about we will also ask and assist authors Professor of Physics at Sorbonne a doomsday career scenario, David professor of astrophysics at the review processes, but also about to make their papers, especially Université, Paris; they are the Alexander, a solar astrophysicist, University of Oxford, who engaged the science involved. Perhaps even highly technical ones, more infor- Lead Editors of PRX. Ling Miao spent an hour speaking with her. Shanahan in a project called the more gratifying, some authors mative, more engaging, and more has been Managing Editor of the He put her in touch with people at Galaxy Zoo, which invited the whose papers were declined for readable for non-specialists by journal since its founding. Dario George Mason University (GMU) public to help identify galaxies. publication in PRX have acknowl- leveraging the no-length-limit fea- Corradini, Victor Vakaryuk, near where she was based in “He was the one who said I don’t edged the attention and care we ture of PRX articles and the jour- Alessandro Villar, and Yiming Xu Virginia, and soon after, Shanahan have to make a choice between have given to their papers. nal’s open access. With the same are Associate Editors. started doing volunteer research in my health and career,” she says. GMU’s department of astronomy. “I learned from him things can be “I did the opposite of the conven- different. Academia doesn’t have APS Joins the March for Science tional astronomy student,” she to be this cutthroat environment. notes with a chuckle. “I started out You don’t have to let it affect or By Leah Poffenberger

in research.” injure your health. It made me real- In 2017, one million science OSA With the support of her faculty ize there is a way back in.” supporters joined together in the mentors at GMU, she was able to Since the beginning of 2017, March for Science, an unprec- apply for and get accepted to a Shanahan has been conducting edented movement to stand up for graduate astrophysics program at research and pursuing data sci- science in public policy. This year, Wesleyan, which “was like a bridge ence projects for the Galaxy Zoo, on April 14, science marched on at program and designed for students and she also does freelance science over 200 satellite locations. like me who might not be competi- writing, tutoring, outreach, and dis- Like last year, this year’s main tive in other programs.” ability consulting work. March for Science took place in But it was while she was at “In the last year I have realized Washington DC, drawing crowds Wesleyan that Shanahan found there is a place for me in astro- of scientists and science enthusi- an especially important calling. physics,” she says. “Prior to that, asts, armed with eye-catching signs She received a diagnosis of a I thought it was a dream—like and a passion for science advocacy. genetic connective tissue disease. becoming an astronaut—that this More than 250 science organiza- The disease and the treatments was pretty impossible but I will tions, including APS, joined the impacted her ability to move and keep trying anyway. But there is a March for Science, helping to make suddenly she found herself fac- place for me as an astronomer, and the event possible. James Kakalios entertains the March for Science crowd with a talk on the ing barriers that she hadn’t even not just a disability activist with a APS and the Optical Society physics of superheroes. realized existed. “I couldn’t access disability. I have my ambition back (OSA) partnered for an open in people who hadn’t planned on This year’s March drew a the observatory without pain and and my drive back.” house at the OSA headquarters in joining the March for Science: smaller turnout than last year, trouble. With stairs, there was Shanahan is still early in her downtown DC the morning of the Attendees of concurrent events likely due to the high number of always a risk of a fall,” she says. career and still thinking about what March to present a physics-demo happening near the National Mall marches and events in the past year, “At Wesleyan, there were varying to do next. But she is certain that pre-show that drew in a small but were intrigued by science demos. but the fact that the March hap- layers of support and this was a she wants to remain in science and enthusiastic crowd. APS and OSA “We ended up doing outreach pened still had an effect. “A dimin- whole level of obstacles I never expand her impact on both science also joined forces for the March where it wasn’t totally expected,” ished number of people isn’t a sign realized. I didn’t know my rights. I and scientists. “Maybe it’s not a for Science teach-in program on said Skolnick. “We got to see won- they don’t care about science,” said didn’t know the barriers that people Nobel Prize—maybe it’s just get- the National Mall, hosting physics der on kids’ faces—that’s what James Roche, APS outreach pro- with disability face.” ting the font changed on a nametag. demos and an always popular talk we’re hoping to do.” grams manager. “We just have to “My doctor told me the consis- … But that’s far more meaningful on The Physics of Superheroes by In addition to the pre-march keep knocking on the door.” tent high pressure, stress and lack to me than any research paper or Jim Kakalios. teach-in, the March for Science To continue voicing support for of sleep was irreparably damaging publication,” she says. “If I can “It’s great to get out and meet hosted a rally before the march science, the week after the March my health. Eventually the demands make a change that is lasting and local people who are excited about began that included a variety of for Science was a dedicated week of the program became so great I helps people then I consider myself science,” said Stephen Skolnick, a speakers, from Rush Holt, CEO of action to encourage March felt I had to choose between my successful.” member of the APS outreach team. of the American Association for attendees to contact their represen- health and career, and I chose my Alaina Levine is Contributing “It’s great that they’re seeing the the Advancement of Science, to tatives. “Even just leaving a mes- health,” she explains. “Not every Correspondent for APS News. Full need for scientific thinking in our 8-year-old Flint resident Mari sage for a [member of Congress] department is like this. But some- Disclosure: The author is a paid daily lives.” Copeny, who talked about the con- can have a concrete effect,” said times the nature of academia is that speaker for the AAS. The teach-in tent also pulled taminated water in her city. Skolnick. May 2018 • 5

PLENARIES continued from page 1

Education & Diversity Update Monroe quoted Feynman on ics community as it opened up the The 2018 APS Bridge Program & National Mentoring Community (NMC) the use of quantum computers: field of multi-messenger astron- Conference will focus on strengthening mentor relationships, building firm “Nature isn’t classical, dammit, omy. “This is the first neutron star foundations to create a successful Bridge student experience, and provid- and if you want to make a simula- merger that we have detected, and ing knowledge through discussions. Registration will open Summer 2018. tion of nature, you’d better make it it has already delivered a lot on For more information please visit aps.org/programs/minorities/nmc/confer- quantum, and by golly it’s a won- its promises,” said Soares-Santos. ence/ derful problem because it doesn’t An electromagnetic counterpart Joan Feynman look so easy.” Monroe pointed out of these waves and bursts was Become an NMC Mentor today! The NMC facilitates and supports mentor- two quantum technologies that may located by several independent ing relationships between African American, Hispanic American, and finally be built into systems: super- research teams. Once the source Native American undergraduate physics students and local physics men- conducting circuits and trapped was located, it opened up observa- tors. You don’t have to be mentoring anyone at the moment to register. If atomic ions. “There have been tions at other wavelengths to better you’re already mentoring a qualifying undergrad, invite them to join the huge investments into these tech- understand the neutron star merger. program too. Membership in the NMC is free for both mentors and men- nologies,” said Monroe. “People tees. You can register at aps.org/programs/minorities/nmc/. Honoring excellence are starting to make bets here.” The third plenary session The NMC provides monthly talking points to facilitate a deeper mentor- Feynman’s legacy in quantum offered a chance to hear from mentee relationship, professional development opportunities, and access field theory was the focus of the recent award winners in physics. Christopher Monroe to an emergency fund (aps.org/programs/minorities/nmc/nmcbeam.cfm) talk by Roxanne Springer (Duke Eugene Parker, who received the for students with unexpected financial challenges. University). “Feynman’s scientific 2018 APS Medal for Exceptional method is now what we would Achievement in Research, spoke Are you an industry physicist? Stay tuned. We will soon be launching the consider a growth mindset,” said about the Sun’s magnetic fields, NMC Constellation Mentoring initiative for non-faculty physicists interested Springer. “This is how we discover a topic that is rich in research in being part of an undergraduate’s journey to becoming a physicist. new physics and enable phys- possibilities. Parker discussed ics students to thrive.” The core what happens when strong oppos- components of Feynman’s scien- ing magnetic fields are pressed tific method included questioning together, leading to the phenom- Roxanne Springer authority and conventional wis- enon of reconnection. This violent dom; working out problems on his cutting and rejoining of magnetic own to make sure he understood field lines is thought to be the them; and finding joy that comes source of energy for events like from meeting challenges in phys- solar flares. There are aspects of ics. At the end of Springer’s talk, this, Parker indicated, that remain Joan Feynman added: “My brother unsolved and will need numerical didn’t just question authority—he methods and supercomputers to completely ignored it.” tackle. Njema Frazier Nuclear Security, Pulsars, and At the meeting, Nobel laure- Neutron Star Mergers ate Rainer Weiss (Massachusetts A second plenary session “From Institute of Technology) spoke on FOR PROFESSORS, Nuclear Security to Neutron Star LIGO twice. The first event was a PH.D. STUDENTS, & POSTDOCS Mergers” featured three speakers, well-attended public lecture with all women. an inquisitive audience. Weiss Njema Frazier (Department explained one of the first experi- of Energy) spoke about “Physics ments to show that gravitational The Indo-U.S. Science and and the Government: Navigating waves existed by analyzing the Technology Forum (IUSSTF) Science Policy and Nuclear slowing of a pulsar many years Anne Archibald Security,” and emphasized the before LIGO. “This research [con- sponsors and APS administers the interconnectivity of science and ducted by Russell Hulse and Joseph exchange of physicists, physics Ph.D. natural security. Frazier noted the Taylor Jr.] was really the first evi- students, and postdocs between importance of basic research in dence of gravitational waves,” nuclear science to better understand says Weiss. India and the United States. the behavior of the components of In his plenary talk, Weiss nuclear weapons. Such research explained that before LIGO, other contributes to long-term scientific experiments, including one created understanding, new tools, and sus- by Joseph Weber, looked for gravi- Marcelle Soares-Santos DEADLINE: tainability of “stockpile steward- tational waves, but LIGO was the ship.” The stockpile of nuclear first to reach a high enough sensi- expertise is also crucial to meet- tivity for direct detection. However, ing the policy needs of the U.S., getting to this sensitivity was a and Frazier spoke on DOE efforts challenge for LIGO that required to replenish a shrinking number of contributions from many groups nuclear experts. “Bringing in a new and continued support from the go.aps.org/US-India workforce has been challenging,” National Science Foundation. said Frazier. “But we’re working Nobel winner Barry Barish with partners to look at the largest (California Institute of Technology) Eugene Parker possible pool of talent.” discussed how LIGO later became Next, Anne Archibald Advanced LIGO after various (Netherlands Institute of Radio upgrades, most importantly to Astronomy) discussed a triple combat vibrations at Earth’s sur- star system and its use for testing face, thereby enabling detection of Einstein’s general theory of rela- gravitational waves. Barish began tivity. The system has a unique working on LIGO in 1994, when configuration with a radio pulsar the NSF funded construction of the (a type of neutron star) and two LIGO Laboratory, which would Rainer Weiss white dwarf stars in tight orbits. be jointly operated by Caltech and Microsecond changes in the MIT. In his time working with detected pulse rate enable the mea- LIGO, Barish has overseen the surement of the orbital parameters. improvement in LIGO’s sensitivity. “Using this system, we have a test “The NSF was a tremendous hero of general relativity that improves in this,” Barish said, acknowledg- on all other tests,” says Archibald. ing their continued support for an Marcelle Soares-Santos experiment that ran for 11 years (Brandeis University) described without achieving the goal of gravi- research on a neutron star system— tational wave detection. Barry Barish perhaps one of the most famous LIGO continues to advance. tational wave detection and allow pairs of neutron stars, whose col- “We’re still a factor of two or three LIGO to study more gravitational lision was captured in August away from where Advanced LIGO wave sources, even looking back 2017 by the Laser Interferometer can be,” said Barish. An improved into the very early universe. Gravitational-Wave Observatory, version of LIGO, while not yet Note: An expanded version of better known as LIGO. This dis- funded, is known as A+ and could this article is available on aps.org/ covery galvanized the astrophys- open up more possibilities in gravi- apsnews. 6 • May 2018

QUANTUM continued on page 2 HUBBLE continued from page 1 example, each qubit could repre- scattering experiment or collisions However, the problem could sent a possible electron site in a in a particle collider. be much more mundane. “Though lattice. If an electron occupies the Although quantum computing it’s not a very exciting hypothesis, site, for example, the qubit would companies are competing with one of the main ones is that there’s read 1; if the site is vacant, 0; if the each other, algorithm develop- systematic uncertainty in one or electron is partly there, partly not— ment culture is relatively open. more of the measurements,” says then the qubit would be in a super- McClean says that his group at David Jones of the University of position of 1 and 0. The quantum Google behaves in a more “aca- California, Santa Cruz, who is part Ap. J. 826, 56 (2016). et al. computer would then apply a series demic” fashion: for example, col- of SH0ES. of microwave pulses to the qubits laborating with researchers from But no source of uncertainty Adapted by D. Scolnic from Riess to mimic the interactions between both academia and other compa- really stands out. “It could be a the molecule’s constituent particles. nies, McClean’s group has recently problem with the way you’re tak- Algorithm developers like Johri released an open source library ing the measurement; it could be a and McClean don’t usually inter- called OpenFermion for simulat- problem with the way you’re inter- act directly with hardware. Instead, ing quantum chemistry problems. preting the data; it could be that they work on theoretical proofs Before Jordan joined Microsoft, for you’re assuming too much about and protocols at different levels example, he made sure the com- the things you’re looking at,” says of abstraction. This might include pany would let him still publish Feeney. “All of these things have estimating how long the computer his research. been tested, and there’s not a con- will take to solve a problem, writ- vincing explanation.” Estimates of the Hubble constant based on measurements of the cosmic But the potential of these near- microwave background (CMB) differ significantly from those based on a dis- ing “pseudocode” (a sort of high- One source of uncertainty term algorithms is still unclear. A tance ladder built from "standard candles" like Type 1A supernovae (Local). level model of a programming big challenge facing the field is comes from celestial distance language that is not hardware-spe- measurements, which are required of which the Laser Interferometer Solving the Hubble puzzle error correction. State-of-the-art cific) or writing an actual sequence to calculate the Hubble constant Gravitational-Wave Observatory would mean cosmologists could qubits are prone to errors less than of operations performed by logic when using stars or supernovae. observed last October. If they mea- calculate one fundamental value 1% of the time, but the errors multi- “gates” on the qubits. To measure distance, cosmolo- sure the gravitational wave along from two independent phenomena ply quickly. While algorithm devel- For example, when developing a gists look for objects whose abso- with an accompanying electromag- that bookend the history of the opers have come up with methods chemistry simulation, McClean has lute brightness is known, so-called netic signal, they can calculate the universe. “In a time sense, you’re to correct qubit errors, they haven’t to translate Schrödinger’s equation “standard candles” such as Cepheid distance from Earth to the neutron comparing one end of the universe yet demonstrated these techniques into a representation that maps onto stars, which pulsate at a frequency stars. These measurements can to other,” says Jones. The CMB, in full on actual hardware. the qubits. He also streamlines the related to their brightness, or Type be used to confirm the accuracy the oldest observable light in the To compensate for these errors, gate sequences. “If you imagine 1a supernovae, exploding stars of a of the standard candles. “They’ve universe, doesn’t have much in physically laying out the qubits, McClean’s group will likely use consistent brightness. By compar- got nothing to do with Cepheids, common with a single supernova one in the top right corner might a quantum-classical hybrid algo- ing an object’s absolute brightness or supernovae, or the CMB,” says or Cepheid star. not easily talk to the bottom left, rithm called the variational quan- to its observed brightness, they Feeney. “They’re kind of an inde- According to Benson, cosmolo- depending on how they’re set up,” tum eigensolver. This algorithm can calculate how far away it is. pendent arbiter.” gists deserve some credit already, says McClean. “I try to compact involves an iterative process where They hope to reduce the distance Researchers also need to under- despite the discrepancy. For a these gate sequences so they’re as different steps of the simulation are uncertainty, in part, by using new stand the structure of the CMB in value calculated from such unre- short and efficient as possible.” fed back and forth between a quan- data from the Gaia space observa- more detail. For example, many lated astrophysical phenomena, the Stephen Jordan of Microsoft tum computer and a classical one. tory, which will measure distances massive objects are positioned numbers are astonishingly close. presented work on algorithms for Hybrid approaches can also speed to Cepheids using geometrical between Earth and the CMB, which “We’re saying this is a ‘crisis in simulating quantum field theory up total computation time. methods. create distortions—so-called gravi- cosmology,’ but you can turn that on quantum computers. He and his “The big question is, can we They also want to improve their tational lensing—on CMB maps. on its head,” he says. “The fact that collaborators designed pseudocode do practical problems without distance measurements by develop- They don’t understand these distor- the numbers agree at a five percent to simulate two simple quantum error correction?” says McClean. ing new celestial yardsticks based tions well, which could mean they level is pretty remarkable.” field theories: one that described Small-scale algorithm demonstra- on gravitational waves produced have misinterpreted past measure- The author is a freelance sci- purely bosons, and another that tions suggest yes. The near-term in neutron star collisions, the first ments, according to Feeney. ence writer in Tucson, Arizona. described purely fermions, and strategy, he says, is to try the same estimated how long different ver- approaches on progressively larger sions of the algorithm would take quantum computers—until they to run. One motivation for this fail. Then, they will develop new work, Jordan says, is to simulate methods—and repeat the process. the entire Standard Model on a The author is a freelance writer quantum computer, or to simulate a based in Tucson, Arizona. 2018 History of Physics Essay Contest he Forum for History of Physics (FHP) of the American Physical Society is proud to announce the Lead Editor, Physical Review A T2018 History of Physics Essay Contest. The contest is designed to promote interest in the history of physics among those not, or not yet, pro- The American Physical Society is conducting an international search fessionally engaged in the subject. Entries can address the work of individual physicists, teams of for a new Lead Editor of Physical Review A. The Lead Editor will physicists, physics discoveries, or other appropriate topics. Entries should be 1500-2000 words, and provide intellectual leadership and vision for editorial standards and while scholarly should be accessible to a general scientific audience. policies, direct the journal, and lead its editorial board and staff of editors. The contest is intended for undergraduate and graduate students, but open to anyone without a PhD in either physics or history. Entries with multiple authors will not be accepted. Entries will be judged on Physical Review A publishes important developments in the rapidly originality, clarity, and potential to contribute to the field. Previously published work, or excerpts thereof, evolving areas of atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics, will not be accepted. The winning essay will be published as a Back Page in APS News, and its author quantum information, and related fundamental concepts. will receive a cash award of $1000, plus support for travel to an APS annual meeting to deliver a talk The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications: current based on the essay. The judges may also designate one or more runners-up, with a cash award of $500 involvement and stature in a field of research within the scope of each. Physical Review A; prior editorial service with scholarly journals; Entries will be judged by members of the FHP Executive Committee and are due by September management experience; ability to work effectively with authors, 1, 2018. They should be submitted to [email protected], with “Essay Contest” in the subject line. Entrants referees, editors, and the APS; advocacy, integrity, and wisdom to should supply their names, institutional affiliations (if any), mail and email addresses, and phone numbers. lead the journal in responding to publication matters and issues Winners will be announced by December 1, 2018. important to all communities served by the journal.

The Lead Editor may maintain his/her present appointment and location while devoting about 20% of his/her time to this position. The initial appointment is for a three-year term with renewal possible after review. Compensation is negotiable and dependent on estab- lished time commitment. The desired starting date is 1 January 2019, but other arrangements can be made for outstanding candidates.

APS is an equal employment opportunity employer and encourages Read applications from and nominations of women and minorities. Review of applications will begin on 15 June 2018 and continue until a can- didate is selected. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (cover online letter plus CV) should be sent to: Prof. Anthony Starace, Chair, PRA Search Committee, [email protected] aps.org/apsnews All applications and nominations will be treated with strict confidentiality. May 2018 • 7

DIVERSITY continued from page 3 table, having been both mentor and women are still the only [female] News from the APS Office of Government mentee. “I met a female physicist physicists at major research for the first time when I was a soph- institutions.” Affairs omore in college, and she became a Maclin’s statement was con- lifelong mentor,” said Maclin. “She firmed by a question from a taught me the importance of what member of the audience—an FY 18 Funding Bill a Win for Science a mentor is.” undergraduate student who attends For Maclin, this means acting as a university with a physics depart- an advisor, and exemplifying what ment in which half the students but By Tawanda W. Johnson, APS sections are being funded at their Falcone and APS Past President she calls “sponsorship”—speaking none of the faculty are female. She Press Secretary FY 2017 level. Laura Greene also played integral up on behalf of students in order wanted to know how to bring up “APS members played a criti- roles in underscoring the impor- The diligent work of APS mem- to ensure their success. She often this issue and, hopefully, change cal role in ensuring that the fed- tance of sections of ESSA through bers, coupled with support from the does this by pushing for research it. “Team up with other female stu- eral government maintains a strong meetings on Capitol Hill. APS Office of Government Affairs and internship opportunities for her dents and form male allies,” said (APS OGA), contributed to a tre- investment in science and that the Greg Mack, manager of grass- freshman students. “Getting stu- Maclin. “Start from the bottom to mendous win for science agencies U.S. can remain a global leader in roots advocacy for APS OGA, said dents into internships early helps work on these issues.” in the fiscal year (FY) 2018 omni- STEM,” said Francis Slakey, chief the department’s online Advocacy keep students in STEM,” says Creating a faculty environment bus bill. From writing op-eds and government affairs officer at APS Dashboard was instrumental in Maclin. “National labs are open to that mirrors student demograph- meeting with staff at their congres- OGA. “Numerous professional enabling APS members to advo- freshmen, but research universities ics can be difficult in the case of sional offices to sending letters and societies made the case for science, cate on the budget and other issues. need to get on board.” less visible groups like the LGBTQ making phone calls, APS members but APS took a grassroots approach “Through the Advocacy Rockward, too, employs a community. Pando pointed out that made a strong and persuasive case that focused on the local benefits of Dashboard, APS members had model of mentorship that involves physics departments often don’t for the federal support of science. the federal investment.” year-round access to letters, tweets championing his students. As the collect data on such groups and The funding bill, signed into law APS OGA’s partnerships with and phone scripts that were updated Chair of the physics department therefore might overlook needs of on March 23 by President Trump, APS members on numerous to keep pace with changing devel- at Morehouse College, a histori- LGBTQ student groups, and the calls for between 5 percent and 16 statewide and Unit-specific cam- opments on budget,” he said. “I’m cally black, all-male university, responsibility to raise these issues percent growth in the research sec- paigns contributed to the big win excited by the thousands of APS Rockward mentors students often often falls on the shoulders of tions of agencies that APS OGA for research funding. For exam- members who took action, and I from different backgrounds and people within those groups. “Be advocates for: the U.S. Department ple, campaigns for the Division look forward to keeping up the facing different challenges than prepared to be labeled ‘the person of Energy’s Office of Science (DOE of Nuclear Physics and Division momentum for fiscal year 2019.” the majority of students at a pre- that…’ and have the stamina to SC), National Science Foundation of Particles and Fields, which Mark Elsesser, manager of sci- dominantly white college. As a keep fighting,” added Neunzert. (NSF), National Institute of involved members of the Topical ence policy for APS OGA, said black male physicist, Rockward “For every visible person, many Standards and Technology (NIST), Group on Hadronic Physics, urged he, too, looks forward to building understands the challenges many more invisible people will hit the and the Department of Education. support for federal science funding. on the FY 2018 results after APS of his students may face, and works same barriers.” For DOE SC, the bill increases Moreover, the Forum on Physics members helped to overcome three to make sure their future research Many barriers for success for the agency’s budget to $6.3 billion and Society advocated for Congress major hurdles during the appropria- advisors will do the same. “I get students from underrepresented or 16 percent over FY 2017. DOE to increase budgetary caps on the tions process. calls all the time from people asking groups in physics come from, as SC funds research in areas such as federal budget. APS OGA also part- “The first key win was Congress me to send them my brightest stu- Pando put it, “the criteria about basic energy sciences, high energy nered with the Society of Physics rejecting the proposed deep cuts to dents,” says Rockward. “But I can’t who gets to participate.” In aca- physics and nuclear physics. Students to stress the importance science in the president’s budget just turn over my students to some- demia, this can be an issue, even NSF’s research and related of federal funding that enables request. The next step was success- one who won’t be their advocate.” for faculty: “It’s a thorny point that activities account—which funds undergraduate research, includ- fully advocating for Congress to Rockward’s concerns stem from women professors are often given extramural research grants— ing the Research Experiences for raise the budget caps. Finally, we what happens when his students more negative evaluations,” said increased by 5 percent to $6.33 Undergraduates program at NSF. had to persuade Congress to pri- move on to attend research insti- Pando. Changing the fixed ideas billion. In addition, the Forum on oritize science in the omnibus bill tutions where they likely won’t on who is able to be a physicist will The NIST science account, Education (FEd) addressed science and provide robust funding to the be represented in the makeup of likely come with increased support which includes funding for research education funding, specifically for science agencies that are important the faculty. A physics department for students from underrepresented user facilities, received a 5 percent teacher preparation and afterschool to our members,” he recalled. that includes diverse faculty opens groups who succeed in the class- boost to $725 million. programs. The FEd campaign also Elsesser added, “It was great to up mentorship opportunities and room. The panelists agreed this In the Department of Education, amplified an op-ed published in see congressional leaders—on both combats social isolation that often requires action from allies who may the bill funds sections II A and IV the St. Louis Dispatch by Karen sides of the political aisle—respond plagues minority students. “Faculty be outside of such groups. “Our of the Every Student Succeeds Act King, assistant teaching professor to our requests and recognize the should reflect the demographics hope is that we can move towards (ESSA) for teacher preparation and in the Department of Physics and value of science. These funding of a university but this still isn’t inclusion being everyone’s issue,” afterschool programs. The sections Astronomy at the University of increases send a clear signal to happening,” says Maclin. “Some said Neunzert. had been zeroed out or deeply cut Missouri. APS member Eric Brewe, the world that the U.S. plans to in the president’s budget request. a professor at Drexel University, remain a global leader in science Under the FY 2018 omnibus, the along with APS President Roger and technology.” Distinguished Traveling Lecturer Program in Laser Science

The Division of Laser Sciences (DLS) of APS invites applica- SCHOLARSHIP continued from page 3 tions from schools to host a lecturer in laser science in that drove my research.” Her freshman year, Koontz was have to apply for in the future, and 2018/2019. Lecturers will visit selected academic institutions Renata Koontz almost didn’t introduced to Hai-Bo Yu, a theoret- just the process of writing her essay for two days, give a public lecture open to the entire aca- submit her application for the ical physicist whose work applied helped her prepare for the future. demic community, and meet with students and faculty. Goldwater Scholarship, and she to astrophysics. He needed a stu- “It helped me come up with a They may also give guest lectures in classes related to laser had no expec- dent who knew how to program to vision for my short-term goals— science. The purpose of the program is to bring distinguished tations of win- analyze simulations—and Koontz like what I would do if I won the scientists to colleges and universities in order to convey ning. Now, was just the student for the job. scholarship—and helped clarify my the excitement of laser science to undergraduate students. she’ll receive “Renata approached me as a vision for long term,” says Koontz. The DLS will cover the travel expenses and honorarium of funding that freshman about research. I was “I learned you don’t have to know the lecturer. The host institution will be responsible only for will help her worried the learning curve would exactly what you want to do, but the local expenses of the lecturer and for advertising the purchase a be too high but I found a project you have to be able to envision public lecture. Awards to host institutions will be made by new computer for her,” said Yu. “After a year short- and long-term goals.” the selection committee after consulting with the lecturers. to further her research in compu- she wanted something more chal- Another faculty member, Flip Priority will be given to those predominantly undergraduate tational cosmology. lenging and began working on Tanedo, was also integral to Koontz’s institutions that do not have similar programs. Koontz, a student at the simulations of the universe—she Goldwater Scholar success. University of California: Riverside, learned the coding to do this pretty “Dr. Flip gave me insight into Applications should be sent to Rainer Grobe (grobe@ilstu. knew she wanted to do some kind much alone and produced amazing how to communicate about my edu) and to Rohit Prasankumar ([email protected]). The of physics research—at first she results.” research better,” says Koontz. “He deadline is May 30. For details see: aps.org/units/dls/ was interested in gravity, but then When a classmate told Koontz gave me a lot of support and con- distinguished/ started reading about dark matter, about the Goldwater Scholarship, fidence in the application process.” Lecturers for 2018/2019: which is now the focus of one of urging her to apply, she was Koontz urges other would- Hui Cao, Yale University Ron Walsworth her research interests. She also hesitant. be Goldwater Scholars not to Jim Kafka, Spectra Physics Harvard University knew she didn’t want to do “pen “I told him I don’t know if I can worry about perfection. “Don’t Luis A. Orozco Linda Young and paper work”—her words for do that,” says Koontz. “But then I worry about being prepared for University of Maryland Argonne National Lab theoretical physics—and her insti- was approached by the Goldwater research—just jump in and give it Carlos Stroud tution has few experimental physi- Campus representative and she a try,” she says. “Also don’t worry University of Rochester cists. For Koontz, computational convinced me it was a good fit.” about being a perfect applicant—I Dave Reitze, Caltech TM physics was the perfect middle Koontz thought about the appli- didn’t have any expectations, but I Toni Taylor, Los Alamos ground. cation as a trial run for grants she’d still won!” 8 • May 2018

Labs are Necessary, and We Need to Invest in Them By Marcos D. Caballero, Dimitri R. Dounas-Frazer, Heather J. Lewandowski, and MacKenzie R. Stetzer

heoretical models are often useful in explaining colleges and universities, educators, and education Tor predicting natural phenomena, but at its core, researchers. Four major areas of investment are: physics is an experimental science. For example, 1. Collaborations between researchers and instruc- recent experimental work conducted by the LIGO tors. Our vision for the future is inspired by existing team validated Einstein’s century-old prediction of successful teaching approaches. Partnerships between gravitational waves, providing the most recent large- education researchers and lab instructors are an excel- scale confirmation of the theory of general relativity. H. J. Lewandowski lent way to learn and communicate which teaching Furthermore, this experimental work has opened practices work well for particular student populations up the field of gravitational astronomy, allowing and learning goals (e.g., see Ref. [6]). It is especially us to make observations at previously inaccessible important to identify and study effective labs at two- length and energy scales. This, in turn, will help us year colleges and non-selective four-year colleges to develop theories and conduct new experiments to because these contexts are underrepresented in the explain the origins of our universe. physics education literature. For physics students, laboratory work is an 2. Research-based assessments. The physics educa- authentic way to develop an understanding of the tion research community has a long track record of experimental nature of physics. Experimentation pro- creating effective tools for assessing understanding of vides opportunities to engage in the central practices physics concepts, beliefs about the nature of physics, of physics: designing and conducting experiments, and other aspects of learning. However, few assess- analyzing and interpreting data, revising and trouble- ment instruments are tailored to the skills-oriented shooting models and apparatus, and communicating learning outcomes of undergraduate labs. Moreover, results to others. An education in physics where a need exists for tools that allow assessment of the experimental work is absent is difficult to imagine. Laboratory courses that foster collaboration and deep understanding of ex- process of science. The dearth of appropriate instru- However, despite an ambitious national call to facili- perimental physics need more support. ments makes it difficult for researchers or instructors tate access to undergraduate research experiences for to know which skills-based learning outcomes (e.g., all undergraduate physics students, comparatively few are at three institutions by Holmes, Wieman, and collaborators experimental design, data analysis and visualization, able to participate. [2], however, did not see a statistically significant impact and troubleshooting) are being met and which need to Many students face barriers to becoming involved in of laboratory instruction on student performance on exam be better supported. Future development of skills- or undergraduate research; such barriers may include work and questions related to physics concepts covered during lecture. process-based assessment instruments will facilitate the family obligations, geographical constraints, or mismatches Moreover, related research by Wilcox and Lewandowski design, evaluation, and improvement of effective labs. between students’ preparation and programmatic selection has shown that laboratory courses focused primarily on the 3. Accessible and inclusive learning environments. criteria. In addition, introductory physics students and stu- development of physics concepts lead to students shifting Labs use specialized equipment and software, and they dents majoring in fields other than physics are not typically away from expert-like beliefs about the nature of experi- often involve frequent peer-peer or student-instructor recruited to participate in undergraduate physics research. mental physics (as measured by the Colorado Learning interactions. Therefore, labs may give rise to a unique In light of these constraints, laboratory courses are critical Attitudes about Science Survey for Experimental Physics, combination of stereotypes, discriminatory behaviors, to engage all physics students with the central practices of or E-CLASS) [3]. Thus, these findings suggest that many and mobility or sensory barriers that unfairly prevent physics. existing introductory laboratory sequences designed to rein- full participation for some learners. Improved accessi- At all levels, laboratory courses can be great learning force physics concepts are not effective in achieving that bility and inclusivity can be supported by research and environments. They have low student-to-teacher ratios; goal. However, researchers and research-based curriculum development of labs that minimize barriers to students they actively engage students with collaborative hands-on developers are finding that laboratory instruction can be very and educators from marginalized groups (e.g., people of work; and they have the potential to support student-defined effective in attending to learning goals associated with the color, people with disabilities, people who are lesbian, investigations. In introductory laboratory courses, students practices of experimental physics [4]. gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, or Two Spirit are exposed to the process and nature of scientific work, At all levels, the goals for laboratory instruction must [LGBTIQ2S], women, and people from the intersections how evidence for theories and hypotheses can be collected, be clearly defined and aligned with the opportunities of these groups). how arguments can be constructed through modeling and for learning in such an environment. Indeed, in 2014 a 4. Professional development opportunities. Since 2010, analysis, and how their arguments can be presented to oth- subcommittee of the American Association of Physics ALPhA has developed and expanded a Laboratory ers. As students move through the undergraduate physics Teachers (AAPT) Committee on Laboratories prepared the Immersions program to support the dissemination of curriculum, they encounter advanced laboratory courses, AAPT Recommendations for the Undergraduate Physics creative upper-division lab activities and enhance the where we believe our majors should learn to be physicists. Laboratory Curriculum after examining the current state of confidence of lab instructors. More recently, the AAPT In addition to learning to use specific techniques and equip- undergraduate laboratory instruction and reflecting on the New Faculty Workshop has included a unit focused on ment, advanced laboratory courses often aim to develop skills and practices that are integral to experimental physics introductory labs. Lab instructors and teaching assis- students’ troubleshooting, modeling, computation, and sci- [5]. There, the authors identified and articulated learning tants will benefit from further professional development entific communication skills as well as their ability to learn outcomes for the undergraduate laboratory curriculum in six opportunities focused on research-based pedagogies independently. Advanced laboratory courses play a crucial broad areas: constructing knowledge, modeling, designing designed to develop students’ lab skills while fostering role in preparing our majors to succeed in graduate study experiments, developing technical and practical laboratory accessible and inclusive environments. and non-academic work alike. skills, analyzing and visualizing data, and communicating Currently, physics laboratory courses are receiving atten- From our perspective, laboratory courses are a core com- physics. None of the outcomes target student conceptual tion from professional organizations and a growing number ponent of undergraduate physics education. At the same understanding of physics content. Rather, the recommenda- of education researchers as the physics community works time, there is a vigorous national discussion about the state tions focus on the development of skills and competencies toward more fully understanding and articulating the role of of laboratory instruction. A Physics Today article from 2017 needed for successfully engaging in experimental physics. laboratory courses in the undergraduate physics curriculum. [1] argued that “physics laboratory instruction in the U.S. is Despite the tremendous value of lab courses, some phys- Looking to the future, we are excited by the prospect of syn- in disarray,” citing aging equipment, stagnant experiments, ics departments have been under pressure to justify their ergistic efforts that share a common commitment to investing a lack of financial resources and professional incentives to expense, especially given equipment costs and small class in and improving laboratory instruction for all students. support comprehensive laboratory upgrades, and the com- sizes. Sometimes this culminates in a call to replace labo- Marcos D. Caballero is Assistant Professor of Physics at plete disappearance of upper-division laboratories at many ratory courses with computer-based simulations or lecture Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. Dimitri institutions. demonstrations, or even to eliminate them completely. R. Dounas-Frazer is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Heather In order to fulfill the educational potential of labora- Although lab costs are different from those associated with J. Lewandowski is Associate Professor of Physics at the tory courses, we must address concerns about the quality other courses, and equipment costs are likely higher, the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. MacKenzie R. and cost of apparatus, who is included and supported in type of learning that occurs in labs is unique and cannot Stetzer is Associate Professor of Physics at the University laboratory instruction (and in what ways), and the apparent be replicated in other learning environments. Therefore, of Maine, Orono, Maine. discrepancies between experimental physics learning goals we argue that it is unproductive to debate whether labs and the ways in which laboratory courses are often designed are “worth the expense.” Instead, we must continue work- [1] Feder T. Physics Today. 2017. 70, 4, 26. and implemented. Organizations such as the Advanced ing together to improve laboratory courses within existing [2] Holmes N. and Wieman C. Physics Today. 2018. 71, 1, 38. Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA) are working hard budgetary constraints. [3] Wilcox B. and Lewandowski H. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. to improve the state of such courses by providing a variety We imagine a promising future for physics labs. In this 2017. 13, 010108. of resources for laboratory instructors: a laboratory-oriented future, students collaborate equitably with each other and [4] Karelina A. and Etkina E. Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res. conference, targeted professional development opportunities, their instructors to design and conduct experiments. All lab 2007. 3, 020106. and access to equipment. activities would align with clearly articulated learning goals [5] AAPT Committee on Laboratories, AAPT Recommendations At the introductory level, instructors often argue that a and research-based assessments—and all of this takes place for the Undergraduate Physics Laboratory Curriculum (Ameri- primary goal of these laboratory courses is strengthening in an accessible, inclusive learning environment. can Association of Physics Teachers. 2015. student understanding of the physics concepts covered in Realizing this vision will require continued investment [6] Dounas-Frazer D., Stanley J., and Lewandowski H. Phys. Rev. the lecture component of the course. Research conducted of resources from funding agencies, professional societies, Phys. Educ. Res. 2017. 13. 020136.

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