January 2009 Volume 18, No. 1 www.aps.org/publications/apsnews

APS NEWS Meet the New APS President A Publication of the American Physical Society • www.aps.org/publications/apsnews Page 3

April Meeting Heads for Denver in May Physicist Chosen to be Secretary of Energy The 2009 APS April Meeting Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Par- gram, there will be several special Steven Chu, Director of Law- will be held May 2-5 in Denver, ticles and Fields, Physics of Beams, events, including a professional rence Berkeley National Labora- Colorado. This year’s April Meet- Plasma Physics, and Computational development workshop for women tory, has been chosen by Presi- ing will center on the theme “New Physics; the Forums on Education, physicists, a high school teachers’ dent-elect Barack Obama to be Eyes on the Universe: 400 Years of day, a students’ lunch with the ex- nominated the next US Secretary Telescopes.” perts, and the presentation of APS of Energy. Addressing this theme, Richard prizes and awards in a special cer- Chu, an APS Fellow, received Ellis of Caltech will give a keynote emonial session. A special sympo- the APS Arthur L. Schawlow address titled “The Quest for Giant sium on the APS energy efficiency Prize in Laser Science in 1994 and Telescopes: Four Centuries of Chal- report will be held May 2. the APS Herbert P. Broida Prize in lenge and Scientific Discovery.” A town hall meeting on the 1987. He received the Nobel Prize The scientific program, which DOE/NASA Joint Dark Energy in 1997 for his work on laser cool- focuses on astrophysics, particle Mission (JDEM) will be held on ing and trapping of atoms. physics, nuclear physics, and related Saturday, May 2. A town hall meet- “Steve Chu’s scientific accom- fields, will consist of three plenary Physics and Society, International ing on the NRC’s Astronomy & As- plishments make him an outstand- ing selection for US Energy Secre- sessions, approximately 75 invited Affairs, History of Physics, and trophysics Decadal Survey will be Steve Chu sessions, more than 100 contributed Graduate Student Affairs; and the held on Monday, May 4. tary. As the Obama administration sessions, and poster sessions. The Topical Groups on Few-Body Sys- For further details of the program develops its energy policy, he will Institute, one of three Bioenergy meeting will be co-located with the tems, Precision Measurement and and registration information visit: undoubtedly serve as an effective Research Centers funded by the Sherwood Fusion Theory Confer- Fundamental Constants, Gravita- http://www.aps.org/meetings/april/ leader, striving to strengthen US U.S. Department of Energy, and ence. tion, Plasma Astrophysics, and The abstract submission deadline energy security and tackle the dev- the Energy Biosciences Institute, APS units represented at the Hadronic Physics. is January 9. The Early Bird registra- astating effects of global warm- a $500 million pact among BP, the meeting include the Divisions of In addition to the regular pro- tion deadline is February 27. ing,” said APS Past-President Ar- University of California, Berkeley, thur Bienenstock. Berkeley Lab, and the University Chu has been a strong support- of Illinois. Physics Degrees Retain Value in Weak Economy er of renewable energy and an ad- Chu received his PhD in 1976 With the economy in a severe people who have analytic skills and One indicator, according to vocate of controls on greenhouse from the University of California, recession, states are cutting funds a creative background will be much Czujko, is the fraction of new PhDs gas emissions to combat global Berkeley. He worked at Bell Labs from public colleges and universi- more in demand than most college who take postdoctoral positions. warming. As director of Berkeley from 1978 to 1987, then became ties, and private universities have graduates. Many career fields This fraction has been increasing Lab, he increased the lab’s fo- a professor in the physics depart- lost money from their endow- are open to those with training in in recent years, reaching about 60% cus on researching clean energy ment at Stanford University. He ments. Many colleges and univer- physics.” for the classes of 2005 and 2006. technology, including advanced served as chair of that department sities have reported implementing “My basic view of the job market The proportion of new PhDs taking biofuels and solar energy technol- from 1990-1993 and 1999-2001. or considering measures such as for physicists is that it is always very postdocs also increased sharply ogy. Chu has also been a leading He became director of Berkeley hiring freezes, salary freezes, fur- strong, but it is also well hidden,” during the mid-1980s, preceding organizer of the Joint BioEnergy Lab in 2004. loughs, and other cuts to save mon- said Mark Sincell, Chair of the a major recession. While some ey. In addition, many national labs APS Committee on Careers and postdocs indicate that they took are under funding pressures, and Professional Development. Many the position to advance their career, Seven Thousand and Counting industries are under duress. Given people with physics degrees will many accepted a postdoc position this challenging job market, physi- find work in areas not traditionally because they could not obtain a cists may be faced with a difficult associated with physics. Recent suitable potentially permanent situation. But in the long run, peo- graduates may need to be patient, position. ple with degrees in physics tend to and consider a wider range of However, physics PhDs fare relatively well, and APS will options in their job search. typically have very low rates of do what it can to help. While data are not yet available unemployment, lower than for PhDs “One of main roles of APS is to on the rates of unemployment for in other fields. In general, those serve the community,” said 2008 physicists or other scientists for with PhDs in any field have lower APS President Arthur Bienenstock. this year, the job market for PhD rates of unemployment than those “We will be looking for ways physicists has in fact been looking with less education. Nonetheless, to help physicists through any down for several years, according those who graduate during a bad difficult times ahead and welcome to Roman Czujko, Director of the economy do struggle. “In general suggestions on how we can be of Statistical Research Center of the we are expecting a lot of new degree service. I think over the long haul American Institute of Physics. DEGREES continued on page 2 Nominations are Key to Increasing Number of APS Women Fellows By Nadia Ramlagan 2006 and 2007 there were 15 and cess begins with a nomination by In February of 1900, Jeannie 25. Of the two hundred and twen- one’s peers; there is no way to be Evans and Jessie I. Spofford were ty five 2008 Fellows approved by elected if one is not nominated. elected as APS Fellows–the earli- the APS Council at its November Every individual nomination needs est recorded names of female Fel- meeting, 18 are women. a sponsor and a co-sponsor, each lows from APS archives. The So- Only half of 1 percent of rough- of whom must be APS members. ciety itself had been founded less ly 47,000 APS members can be Nominations are evaluated by the than a year before. elected to Fellowship yearly. As Fellowship Committee of the rel- Since then, according to the it currently stands, 94% of Fel- evant Division, Topical Group or lows are male and 5% are female, Forum, and after review by the APS Committee on the Status of Photos by Ken Cole Women in Physics, over 300 wom- with the remaining 1% providing APS Fellowship Committee, those A record number of 7,156 abstracts were submitted to this year's March en have become APS Fellows. Al- no gender information, according who have been recommended are to the APS membership database. elected by full APS Council. Meeting. In December, a heroic band of about 130 physicists met at though it is increasing, the number APS headquarters in College Park, MD to sort them all into appropriate of women receiving Fellowship Given that women constitute ap- “Women who are nominated to sessions. In the top photo, Barry Wells of the University of Connecticut yearly remains relatively small. proximately 11% of total APS their unit have a very good chance (center) makes a point to Karin Rabe of Rutgers (left) and Jaime Fer- nandez-Baca of Oak Ridge. In the bottom photo, March Program Com- For example, in 1997 and 1998, membership, there is a definite of being selected for inclusion on need and opportunity for improve- the list of proposed new Fellows: mittee Chair Allen Goldman of the University of Minnesota (left) consults there were 10 and 13 new women with DCMP program representative David Pine of New York University Fellows, respectively; in 2001 and ment. the bottleneck is the nomination (center) and Mark Stiles of NIST. 2002 there were 13 and 26, and in The Fellowship election pro- WOMEN continued on page 6 2 • January 2009 APS NEWS

Members This Month in Physics History in the Media “Every extrasolar planet de- unprotected surface, and then you January 1998: The accelerating expansion of the universe tected so far has been a wobble on get focusing under the helmet as a graph. These are the first pictures the blast wave penetrates the hel- n the mid-1990s, two competing teams began Schmidt of the Australian National University and of an entire system.” met.” Iobserving supernovas with the goal of pinning Adam Riess of the Space Telescope Science Insti- Bruce Macintosh, Lawrence David Mott, Naval Research down the rate at which the expansion of the uni- tute, worked on a competing effort. Livermore National Laboratory, on Laboratory, on his simulation of verse was slowing down. Much to everyone’s sur- The research teams used both ground-based new pictures of extrasolar plane- helmets exposed to explosions, San prise, they found just the opposite: the expansion telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope in the tary systems, The New York Times, Antonio News, November 26, 2008 was not slowing down, but speeding up, driven race to find supernovas billions of light years away by a mysterious unseen force. In early 1998, the and use them to measure the (presumed) slowing November 13, 2008 “It’s not bad until a storm moves researchers announced these strange results that of the expansion of the universe. “It’s not the way to do science in. You put your hand out ‘til you shook up the field of astrophysics. By late 1997, supernova data were piling up, in the long run.” can’t see it. Then you go out and In 1917, as he was developing his theory of and both groups were noticing that the distant su- David Weitz, Harvard University, start shoveling snow.” general relativity, Einstein added an arbitrary con- pernovas were fainter than expected, indicating on the decline in funding for space John Wefel, Louisiana State stant term to his equations in order to keep the that the universe’s expansion is actually speeding experiments following President University, describing the weather universe static and unchanging, as it was then be- up, not slowing down. Bush’s Moon-Mars initiative, Phila- at the McMurdo station in Antarc- lieved to be. Without this term, an initially static In January 1998, at a press conference held dur- delphia Inquirer, November 18, 2008 tica, The New York Times, Novem- configuration of matter in the universe would tend ing the Washington, DC meeting of the American ber 25, 2008 “We’re chasing the perfect dim- to be pulled together under gravity; the cosmolog- Astronomical Society, the Supernova Cosmology ple pattern.” “By 2015, there will be more ical constant was needed to coun- Project team announced that they Kyle Squires, Arizona State optical links in one high-perfor- teract that tendency and keep the had analyzed 40 supernovas and University, on how the dimples mance data center than in all tele- universe from collapsing. found that the universe’s expan- on a golf ball affect the distance it communications links worldwide.” However, in 1929, Edwin sion would continue forever, and travels, The Toronto Star, Novem- Yurii Vlasov, IBM, predicting Hubble looked at the redshifts of that the data could be explained ber 25, 2008 the growth of photonics, Forbes, faraway galaxies and found that by a cosmological constant. “We’re here, so that means life December 8, 2008 the rate at which an object is re- After that press conference, can exist,” “It is not now cost-efficient, al- ceding from us is proportional to one reporter picked up on the Sean Carroll, Caltech, Pasade- though the materials are cheap be- that object’s distance from us. The incredible news that there were na Star News, December 8, 2008 cause it’s plastic.” universe was actually expanding, signs of accelerating expansion Alan Aspuru-Guzik, Harvard not static at all. The cosmological and a mysterious force pushing “We’ve shown that the sorting constant looked unnecessary, and the universe apart ever faster, out of the different odorants before University, on plastic solar cells, Reuters, December 8, 2008 Einstein then abandoned it, calling while most simply reported that they even get to the receptors is it his greatest blunder. there would be no big crunch. also important.” “Let us all do our part to make After Hubble’s discovery, for In February, the High-Z team Brent Craven, Penn State Uni- sure that this never happens again, the next few decades most scien- presented their supernova data versity, on his study showing that not just in India, but everywhere.” tists believed that there was no cosmological con- at a conference, also showing that the expansion dogs’ wet noses help their sense of Mohan Bhagat, University of stant. It was assumed that matter dominated the of the universe is accelerating. Now it was clear smell, The Daily Mail (UK), No- Maryland, at a vigil for the victims universe and would eventually cause the expan- that some strange, unseen antigravity force was vember 27, 2008 of the terrorist attacks in India, The sion to slow down. Depending on just how much driving the universe apart. Both teams soon pub- “You get a high pressure from Prince Georges County (MD) Sen- matter there was in the universe, it might eventu- lished papers in refereed journals. These findings that initial blast wave hitting any tinel, December 9, 2008 ally collapse in a big crunch, or go on expanding were completely contrary to everyone’s expecta- DEGREES continued from page 1 forever, but more and more slowly. tions, but with the two competing teams finding recipients to suffer,”said Czujko. demand now for physicists is high Research concentrated on determining the his- the same shocking result, they had to be taken se- Sincell says he would still advise school teaching. Bienenstock says tory of the expansion of the universe by looking at riously. people who are interested in physics that he sees indications that many extremely distant objects. Comparing the redshift Later that year cosmologist Michael Turner to get a degree in physics, rather more high school physics teachers of these objects with their distance gives a mea- coined the term “dark energy” to describe the than choose to study something will be needed in the future. sure of how fast the universe is expanding. mysterious force, in analogy with the invisible more “practical.” “The primary For those looking for But getting accurate distances to faraway ob- dark matter that makes up most of the matter in reason one should get a physics employment, APS holds career jects is difficult. One way to do this is to find so- the universe. degree is because one is interested,” fairs regularly at the APS March called standard candles, objects whose intrinsic Science magazine called the accelerating uni- he said. Sincell also points to the meeting and some unit meetings, brightness is known and thus can be compared verse the “Breakthrough of the Year” in December versatility of a physics degree. He and there is an online job board with their apparent brightness to give a measure of 1998. notes that it is always challenging at careers.aps.org. Unemployed their distance from us. Type Ia supernovas are just Now, more than ten years after the discovery, such objects. They occur when a white dwarf star further results have confirmed that the expansion to find a job in a recession, but APS members can qualify for a that is part of a binary system attracts some extra of the universe is accelerating, but the bizarre dark in the long run the prospects are membership fee waiver by notifying mass from its companion star. When the white energy remains a mystery. good. The employment situation the APS membership department. dwarf reaches a particular mass (about 1.4 times One candidate for dark energy is a cosmologi- is difficult now for all fields, he In addition, APS has a careers the mass of the sun), it explodes. These superno- cal constant, just as Einstein predicted (though said. “My experience has been website that includes advice about vas are extremely bright, visible billions of light with a different value). Quantum theory predicts that having a physics degree can physics careers for middle school years away. Since all type Ia supernovas explode that vacuum fluctuations, virtual particles that flit work to your advantage because it students, undergraduates, graduate when they reach the same mass, they make good into and out of existence, provide energy to empty is more general,” he said. “I think students and postdocs (http://www. standard candles. By the mid-1980s automated space. Unfortunately, the energy density associ- it doesn’t limit your possibilities. aps.org/careers/). The APS careers searches had begun to find these rare events. ated with these vacuum fluctuations is, according I think it does the opposite.” In committee has been working to In the late 1980s, a team called the Superno- to theoretical calculations, a whopping 120 orders fact, APS News has been running a put more resources online and va Cosmology Project, led by Saul Perlmutter at of magnitude greater than the energy density cos- series of articles, called Profiles in make those resources more visible Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, began mologists measure. Other suggestions for the dark Versatility, highlighting the diverse to online searches. APS is also their search for type Ia supernovas. energy have been made, and further studies are careers of people with physics offering a travel grant to help Starting in the mid-1990s, a second team, underway, but for the most part, scientists remain degrees. physics departments that bring in called the High-Z Supernova Search, led by Brian in the dark. One area where there is clearly a speakers on career issues.

Series II, Vol. 18, No.1 For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Treasurer on Physics and Society), Steven Rolston (Laser Science), January 2009 American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Joseph W.Serene*, Georgetown University TBD (Materials), Akif Balantekin* (Nuclear), Janet APS NEWS Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least Conrad (Particles & Fields), Ronald Ruth (Physics of © 2009 The American Physical Society Editor-in-Chief 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please Gene Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on leave) Beams), David Hammer* (Plasma), TBD (Polymer send both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, Physics), (Ohio Section), Heather Galloway* (Texas Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests Past-President Section), TBD (4 Corners Section) from subscribers for missing issues will be honored Arthur Bienenstock*, Stanford University Editor•...... Alan Chodos ADVISORS Staff Writer...... Ernie Tretkoff without charge only if received within 6 months of the General Councillors Contributing Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical Postage Paid Robert Austin, Christina Back*, Marcela Carena, Eliza- Representatives from Other Societies Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson at College Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. beth Beise*, Katherine Freese, Wendell Hill*, Nergis Fred Dylla, AIP; Alexander Dickison, AAPT Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Mem- Mavalvala, Jorge Pullin Proofreader...... Edward Lee bership Department, American Physical Society, One International Advisors Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. International Councillor Science Writing Intern ...... Nadia Ramlagan Sabayasachi Bhattacharya Louis Felipe Rodriguez Jorge, Mexican Physical Society; Shelly Page, Canadian Association of Physicists APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, ed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College APS COUNCIL 2009 Chair, Nominating Committee monthly, except the August/September issue, by the Park, MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. Angela Olinto President Staff Representatives American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Cherry Murray*, Lawrence Livermore National Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It con- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publi- Laboratory Duncan Moore Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director tains news of the Society and of its Divisions,Topical cation delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing of Education and Outreach; Michael Lubell, Director, Division, Forum and Section Councillors Groups, Sections and Forums; advance information on abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. Public Affairs; Dan Kulp, Editorial Director; Christine President-Elect Charles Dermer (Astrophysics), P. Julienne (Atomic, meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Giaccone, Director, Journal Operations; Michael Curtis G. Callan, Jr.*, Princeton University Molecular & Optical Physics), TBD (Biological), TBD committees and task forces, as well as opinions. librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer (Chemical), Arthur Epstein (Condensed Matter Physics), Vice-President David Landau (Computational), James Brasseur* (Fluid Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Administrator for Governing Committees Barry C. Barish*, Caltech Dynamics), TBD (Forum on Education), Amber Stuver, ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- should be addressed as follows: For APS Members– Ken Cole dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Membership Department, American Physical Society, (Forum on Graduate Student Affairs), Roger Stuewer the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, Executive Officer (Forum on History of Physics), Stefan Zolner (Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics), David Ernst* (Forum correspondence regarding APS News should be direct- [email protected]. Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville * Members of the APS Executive Board (on leave) on International Physics), Philip “Bo” Hammer (Forum Focus on

Focus on

APS NEWS January 2009 • 3 Murray Stresses Long-Range Planning to Address Key Issues ocus on Cherry Murray (Deputy Di- for the foreign graduate students problems. Physics thinking is rector for Science and Technol- in the US to stay in the US, and very important in addressing ogy at Lawrence Livermore Na- increasing the number, the cali- these societal challenges and for tional Laboratory,) assumed the ber and the diversity of our US advancement of science in gen- Focus on APS Topical Groups: APS presidency on January 1, citizen students, increasing our eral. I’m very supportive of the Quantum Information 2009. In the following interview research funding to academia and APS initiative to double the num- By Nadia Ramlagan with APS News, she discusses national labs, and then providing ber of physics majors in the US. her priorities for the Society dur- incentives to industry for high- I expect that many of those ma- In just a few short years, the quantum mechanics?” he said. ing her presidential year. paying jobs in the US. jors will go on to different fields, APS Topical Group on Quantum A major trend in current re- Q: What do you see as the including all of the branches of Information has burgeoned into an search is superconducting qubits; a most pressing issues facing the science and engineering, but also important focal point for research- whole symposium will be dedicat- physics community right now? the law profession, social sci- ers across a wide range of fields, ed to the topic at the 2009 March A: Obviously there are some ence, and government. I really while maintaining its dedication to Meeting. Superconducting qubits major issues at the forefront. do believe we need to have more continued discussion and vitality provide a new means of manipu- First, let me start out with the science knowledge in govern- of research on the foundations of lating light one photon at a time challenges facing the nation and ment. quantum theory. by superconducting devices. “It is also the globe: national security, Q: What will be your focus The field has diversified itself a very robust corner of the group energy security, environmental during your presidential year? so much that across the wide table right now, it probably constitutes security, and human health. And A: We need a long-range plan of what the GQI represents is a va- a third of all research activity, as on top of that there’s the global for how the nation is going to riety of contributions from applied measured by contributed papers at financial crisis and US eco- address all of these challenges. math, engineering, and computer the March Meeting,” said DiVin- nomic security. All of the chal- Physics can play a huge role. I science–fields which traditionally cenzo. lenges facing the globe require would like to see APS work with do not see APS as their primary Superconducting devices are the underpinning of an incredibly the National Academies and oth- home. one of a number of possible tech- strong and vital science and engi- Second, it is really important er professionalFocus societies to pro- on Topic Groups “What is clear is that the field nologies for storing and process- neering enterprise. that we have a strong science vide a unified picture. I am also is still booming and growing; I ing data in the physical realiza- First, The Rising above the diplomacy effort. For example, the chair of the Division of En- thinkTopic one interesting aspect is tion of quantum Groups computers. “This Gathering Storm Committee Palestinian, Israeli and US sci- gineering and Physical Sciences that we are seeing more and more a big long-term goal that people at the National Academies, on entists are working together on at the National Research Coun- cross-collaboration with differ- would like to get to, and that is be- which I served, identified several water issues in the desert. This is cil and I’m on Focusthe AAAS board. ent disciplines; on areas that used toTopic ing attacked at all levels except Groupsthe areas of concern where I believe some of the best diplomacy that I think APS can be a leader at be disjoined like quantum grav- commercial, as no one has a large, APS can play a role: the gath- we can possibly do. I’m hoping bringing the societies together. ity or condensed matter or statisti- working quantum computer yet”, ering storm that we see in this that AAAS, which has a new sci- For APS, I plan to focus, very cal physics aspects like quantum adds DiVincenzo. In addition, country is a lack of a future sci- ence diplomacy center just estab- much like APS past-president chaos and randomness are now there is a bulk of research explor- ence and engineering workforce lished, APS, with its strong Fo- Helen Quinn did five years ago, sharing interesting ideas. It speaks ing the many different approaches and plan for retaining our high rum on International Physics, the on stepping back and looking at to the cross-disciplinary nature of to the sub-systems involved in the tech economic sector that drives National Academies, and other what we want to do in the future our field, “said Past Chair Lorenza physical realization of quantum the rest of the economy. We have societies can work together with and how we are going to ac- Viola. computers, areas that are well rep- fallen down considerably. The the State Department, to promote complish everything that we set Yet the umbrella of the GQI resented in the GQI. US has become much too com- this. as our goals. APS has a new op- will always provide a welcoming Several smaller (in terms of placent. What APS can do is The third point has to do with portunity and challenge, which home for those pursuing specula- number of researchers work- help to provide science teachers, the changing nature of the re- is that the three top executives of tions in the foundations of quan- ing within them) areas represent and in particular physics teach- search enterprise in the 21st cen- the organization will all be rela- tum theory, Chair-elect David Di- equally important future directions ers. The PhysTEC program is an tury. The global problems–and tively new, and I believe this is a Vincenzo believes. “From the phil- in fundamental research for the excellent example of this. APS 21st century science–are multi- time to look at an updated strate- osophical implications of quantum GQI community, including Quan- can also work to make sure that disciplinary, and usually require gic plan for the Society. mechanics to what do we mean by tum Shannon Theory. Denoting the US is getting the best and teamwork. I believe that physics Q: The APS has been trying wave function collapse? And, is the application of the mathemati- brightest into our higher educa- is a way of looking at the world to increase its efforts in educa- there an alternative to the conven- cal techniques of communication tion system, giving incentives and understanding how to solve MURRAY continued on page 7 tional theory and interpretation of QUANTUM continued on page 7 Civic Engagement Benefits Both Science and Society The APS Council passed a state- several issues facing the country, in- volved in a campaign was Maria ment supporting the civic engage- cluding some, such as global warm- Cranor, who worked for Barak ment of scientists at its November ing, where a scientific perspective Obama. Cranor, a physics graduate Text of APS Statement on Civic Engagement meeting (see sidebar). could be valuable. She pointed out student in Utah who also has expe- At its November meet- in public office–including “Civic engagement is good for that the general analytical skills and rience in business and management, ing, the APS Council has school board members, physics and itís good for the coun- understanding good data from bad had never participated in a cam- passed the following state- mayors and legislators– try,” said Francis Slakey, APS As- are useful for many issues. “We do paign before. “I thought the confer- sociate Director of Public Affairs. need more scientists and engineers ence was marvelous,” she said. She ment on civic engagement have made significant APS has been working with in office,” she said. Among the cur- made contacts with other scientists of scientists: contributions, not only on other scientific societies to increase rent members of Congress, three interested in public service and met Many of the complex specific scientific issues scientists participation in public ser- have PhD’s in physics. other Obama supporters. “One of problems our society and but also by bringing their vice at the federal, state and local In addition to being elected sci- the reasons we got involved in the its public officials face re- analytical and problem- levels. In May, APS and other sci- entists can also serve in adminis- campaign was because of that con- quire an understanding solving abilities into the entific societies sponsored a cam- trative positions in the executive ference,” she said. of scientific and techni- arena of public service. paign education workshop (see APS branch. Robert Eisenstein, a mem- Cranor volunteered as an cal issues. Basic scien- News, June 2008). The workshop ber of the APS Panel on Public Af- “Obama fellow” for six weeks in Additionally, many have was organized by Scientists and En- fairs who worked for more than ten the summer, during which time she tific knowledge is critical found that civic engage- gineers for America, an organization years in a leadership position in the learned about community organiz- to making balanced policy ment has contributed to that aims to promote a politically mathematical and physical sciences ing, and then was hired as a field decisions on pressing is- their professional develop- active scientific community. There division of the National Science manager. Working in Colorado, she sues such as climate ment through exposure to were almost a hundred attendees, of Foundation, said that he had often organized support for Obama, made change, energy policy, the broader implications of whom at least half a dozen worked found it a struggle to convince sci- cold-calls to potential supporters, medical procedures, the their work. on a campaign this election season, entists to do that kind of public ser- and set up meetings. “It was a fabu- nation’s technical infra- The American Physical according to Slakey. vice. “I love the interaction between lous learning experience for me,” Lesley Stone, Executive Direc- science and policy. I wish the com- she said. structure, and science ed- Society recognizes that its tor of Scientists and Engineers for munity respected it more,” he said. While the campaign work most- ucation standards. members elected to public America, identified several dozen He noted that many scientists do ly involves building relationships Increasing the repre- office or who hold key sci- people with science backgrounds engage in public service in various with people and didn’t use her spe- sentation of scientists and entific and technical posi- who ran for Congress this fall. For ways, but that the perception some- cific scientific expertise, she said engineers in public office tions within government instance, chemical engineer Marge times is that the work isn’t interest- good analytical skills are often use- at the federal, state and effectively serve both the Krupp ran for Congress in Wiscon- ing or that you can’t have an effect. ful. She also believes the campaign local levels, and in posi- physics community and sin is 1st district against incumbent “It’s not true that you can’t have an experience will enrich her teaching tions of responsibility at the broader society. We Paul Ryan. Though she didn’t win effect. You can have a huge effect,” in the future. Cranor is interested in the election, she said voters seemed he said. “The bottom line is there’s teaching science to nonscientists, as government agencies, can strongly support the deci- to respect a scientific background. a civic aspect to being a scientist. well as teaching undergraduate and help ensure that informed sion of members of the “People think that being a chemi- Yes, it takes time, and yes, it’s hard, graduate students more about policy policy and science fund- scientific and engineering cal engineer is so cool,” she said. but it’s important.” issues related to science and getting ing decisions are made. communities to pursue Krupp says she ran for Congress One of those who attended the them to think more about the uses Scientists and engineers such positions. because of her strong opinions on May workshop and then got in- to which science is put. 4 • January 2009 APS NEWS

APS Report Short-changes Plug-in Hybrid Technology Letters My letter-to-the editor, “Plug- GM, with its EV-1, and Toyota, The panel which prepared ins are a Panacea” (APS News, with its RAV4-EV, produced all- the Report knew or should have Goal Must Be Nuclear-Free World August-September 2008), pointed electric vehicles, whose nickel known about these matters and ad- out that despite extensive propa- metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries dressed them. Had they done so, In response to “Public Affairs such issues. ganda to the contrary, batteries could power them for 120 miles they would have been compelled Report Examines Nuclear Weap- were not an obstacle to plug-in on a single charge. The GM EV-1's to arrive at substantially different ons Policy” (APS News, November Henry Blumenfeld hybrid cars. Now, having read the were later all shredded, but many conclusions and recommendations 2008): The report appears to stress Gif sur Yvette, France APS Report, Energy Future: Think of the Toyota EV’s are still on the regarding plug-in hybrids, which how to reinforce the US Nuclear Efficiency, I have come to the dis- road with their original batteries. are indeed a panacea, as the Report Arsenal and how to induce other Ed. Note: The APS/AAAS/CSIS turbing conclusion that the Report Nothing in the Report indicates implicitly acknowledges. nations to reduce their Nuclear Ar- report, Nuclear Weapons in 21st itself constitutes part of the propa- any reason why a battery suitable These are serious issues. The senal. Such a biased approach can Century U.S. National Security, ganda campaign against the plug- for an all-electric vehicle would Big Three automakers are seeking only lead to a catastrophe in the calls for deeper reductions in the in hybrid: “Given the technical not work in a plug-in hybrid, large amounts of money from the long run. One should start by stat- US and Russian arsenals while difficulties, plug-in hybrids will which only requires a 40-mile trip government. When they sit down ing that large Nuclear Arsenals are maintaining the safety, security, not replace the standard American on a charge. with President-elect Obama, they the foremost menace to the survival and reliability–with no new capa- family car in the near term.” However, the NiMH batteries will be armed with the Report, of humanity, and given that fact all bilities–of any remaining weap- The referenced technical diffi- used in these vehicles, the Pana- nations should contemplate how to ons. (The full report is available culties relate to the battery, which sonic EV-95, are no longer in pro- with the imprimatur of the Ameri- converge towards a world without on the APS website.) In support of the Report says is not ready for duction. GM bought the patents for can Physical Society, to show that s vision of prime time, based primarily on a them in 1994, sued Panasonic, and plug-in hybrids are not ready for׳Nuclear Weapons. That will neces- President-elect Obama sarily involve the cooperation of all nuclear weapons elimination, the private communication that the recovered $30 million, after which the market. Thus the APS will present and future Nuclear Powers. APS Panel on Public Affairs is now battery would add nearly $20,000 the line of EV-95 batteries was have been used by the Big Three Hopefully physicists should lead considering a study to evaluate and to the price of the vehicle from the shut down. In 2000, GM sold their and Big Oil to assist in another gi- the way. I am optimistic that our substantially improve verification expected cost of a new lithium ion control of EV batteries to Texaco, ant ripoff of the taxpayer, the con- next President may be sensitive to technology. battery going into the Chevy Volt which became part of Chevron, sumer, the planet, and yes, national by General Motors (GM), plus a and that’s where it stands now. security. Fusion Power Plant Dubbed Ridiculous projected five-to-ten-year learning Thus it appears that the problem Nadia Ramlagan’s description (lithium fission to tritium). The curve to work out the glitches. with batteries is legal and political, Robert Levy of a 1 GW-day electrical D-T fu- fusion reactor’s inner wall is an This despite the fact that both not technical. El Paso, TX sion power plant [“Bringing the exercise of academic elegance, Sun to Earth: Briefing Explains not reality. One GW-day thermal Burton Richter Responds ITER Fusion Experiment,” No- is 2x1013 calories. Where does vember APS News] sounds benign 70% of the power plant’s thermal Ed. Note: We asked Burton by 60% they will be suitable for all the and reasonable as compared to a output go? 1.5 lbs of tritium/day, Richter, who chaired the APS What the report meant to light vehicle fleet. Perhaps we coal burner. Arithmetic reveals given 28.8 Ci/mmole specific ac- study group that produced the say about the batteries for the were not clear enough. the perfect fusion power plant tivity, is 6.5 million gaseous cu- energy efficiency report, to Chevy Volt is that they are the My wife had the all elec- is ridiculous and pestilent. D-T ries/day. That is 2700 liters of gas comment on the above letter. first generation of a new Li- tric GM EV-1. When they first fusion yields a 3.5 MeV He-4 Here is his reply. Ion battery and as such are not at room temperature with a decay appeared they could only go nucleus and a 14.1 MeV neu- Robert Levy seems to think likely to be good enough for heat of 190,000 calories/hour about 60 miles with their first tron. Stated daily emission of 0.5 the APS energy efficiency re- the FULL span of all the light generation of batteries. When lbs of 14.1 Mev neutrons sums (mean decay energy of 5.685 port was too negative about the vehicles on the road. When we got ours, they were us- to 7.3x1013 calories or 73 kilo- keV). The emperor is clothed in state of the batteries required they first appear they will be ing Ni metal hydride batter- tonnes nuclear, 80% of the power carbon nanotube fabric only vis- for plug-in hybrid vehicles expensive and will need the ies and could go 120 miles on plant’s fusion thermal output. ible to the worthy. Don’t stand (PHEVs). On the contrary, the kind of real life testing that a charge. Its lease cost was Kinetic energy is recovered from downwind. report was, I thought, clear that comes from having a fleet of neutral particles by inelastic col- we regarded PHEVs as one of Chevy Volts running. General about the same as a Mercedes lision (thermal neutrons continue Al Schwartz the most important develop- Motors has not announced sedan. Over the 3 years we had to propagate) or nuclear reactions Irvine, CA ments in the automotive in- prices yet, but as reported in the EV-1, it was recalled for dustry to reduce both gasoline the auto press, the cost of a software and firmware fixes six Imagining the Future of Scientific Software consumption and emissions. Volt is likely to be around times and for hardware fixes twice. I don't expect miracles Michael Nielsen (The Back the code was frozen. About (5), it We did say that if all the light $40,000. I expect that within 5 from the Volt, but I do expect Page, APS News, November 2008) should be possible to use pieces of vehicles were plug-ins with a to 10 years battery manufactur- plug-ins to take over as the writes “We should ... create an open the whole without using the whole 40 mile electric range, gasoline ers will have worked their way consumption would decrease down the learning curve and technology matures. scientific culture where as much package. My personal example information as possible is moved here is I found myself spending a ... onto the network ... [including] month rewriting a code because data, scientific opinion, questions, I couldn’t disentangle a bit of it ideas, folk knowledge, workflows, from a larger package; in particu- and everything else.” He does not lar, the initializations were diffused explicitly mention software, but throughout over 250,000 lines of it raises the question: What would

code in a common class statement. n ideal scientific software look like? The principle of equivalence About (6), it should be possible I propose the following criteria: is wrong and I can prove it! Don’t worry about that. to reconstruct the equations from I’m going to drop this apple Wait a minute! Just stand back (1) free; (2) collaboratively built, What about comments in the code including and this feather and watch this! (3) extensible; (4) self-contained; at the same time. air resistance? references to journal articles. (5) modular; and (6) intellectu- ally traceable. Of these conditions My nightmare vision (and I (1), (2) and (3) are, by now, banal. need precious little imagination) is About (4), much existing freeware that a day comes in which we don't requires other freeware which re- understand the codes we have, and Alan Chodos and Kerry G. Johnso quires other freeware. It isn’t nec- we can’t fund their redevelopment essarily backward compatible. I because the problems have already

recently failed to port a code; along been solved. 2009 © by the way I found myself making a “software museum” of versions of Zachary Levine GNU packages current at the time Rockville, MD See, just like I told you, the feather always hits Correction the ground first.

In the article entitled “Bringing a Sun to Earth: Briefing Explains ITER Fusion Experiment,” in the November APS News, it should have been stated that the host for ITER is the European Union, not France. As such, it is the EU (not France) that has committed to pro- vide roughly 45% of the ITER resources.

In addition, the sponsors of the briefing were ASME and IEEE- USA (the US unit of IEEE). Also, on the current reference schedule, the first plasma is expected to begin in July 2018, not 2016. APS NEWS January 2009 • 5

LHC is an Avatar of International Science Collaboration Token of Appreciation Advancing science, pushing signed to cover the mass range Since the 1980s, superconductiv- technology, and bringing together where the Higgs is predicted to ity has been the key to increasing scientists from countries around be. “If the Higgs exists, the LHC the energy accelerators can reach. the globe are among the benefits will find it,” Evans said. The LHC uses 7000 km of super- of the Large Hadron Collider, Other questions the LHC conducting Nb-Ti cable and 23 according to Lyn Evans, project could potentially answer include km of superconducting magnets. leader for the LHC. He outlined the origin of the matter/antimat- An equivalent accelerator with- the status of the LHC and the ter asymmetry and the nature of out superconducting technology importance of large international dark matter and dark energy. It would have to be much larger and collaborations at an event on Cap- may also pick up evidence of su- consume much more power, Ev- itol Hill in November sponsored persymmetry or extra dimensions, ans said. by APS, the American Associa- Evans said. While the Higgs has With the uncertainty in the US tion for the Advancement of Sci- been promoted as the main dis- budget cycle, one never knows ence, and the British Embassy. covery the LHC is expected to from year to year what will hap- CERN, the European Center make, Evans emphasized that the pen, but the LHC has been lucky for Nuclear Research, was estab- LHC could find many things we so far (unlike, for instance, ITER), lished in 1954, nine years after the haven’t even considered yet. “I Evans said. “The best we can Photo by Ken Cole end of World War II. Geneva was think the Higgs is oversold,” he hope for is stability in budget.” Following a tradition that began 2 years ago, at the November Council meet- selected as the site for the labora- told APS News. “The LHC is a The LHC was shut down short- ing APS Executive Officer Judy Franz (right) presented past‑President Leo Kadanoff with a bound volume containing the minutes of all the meetings that tory, said Evans, because “Geneva discovery machine.” ly after its initial opening in Sep- he chaired during his Presidential year in 2007. In addition to his many other was neutral, and it was cheap. It is In response to a question about tember 2008 due to an electrical duties, Kadanoff chaired 5 Executive Board meetings and 2 meetings of the still neutral.” the timescale for discoveries, Ev- failure that caused a helium leak, APS Council. As an international laboratory, ans pointed out that experimental which damaged some of the mag- one of CERN’s goals has been to results will not come out imme- nets. The failure was caused by bring scientists together across diately once the machine turns on one bad connection among 10,000 national boundaries and train again. The LHC will be running electrical connections. “We did students in an international en- for many years, and it might take the best we could with quality We are Science vironment. “An essential feature several years before significant control,” Evans told APS News. By Chad Orzel of CERN is collaboration,” said results come in. The next steps for “It’s a good thing that it happened If you listen to people talking near 100%. Evans. CERN has 2415 staff, 730 the field of particle physics will now,” rather than later, he said. about new ways of doing things, Or consider the public outreach Fellows and Associates, and 9133 depend on what the LHC finds, Evans added that work had been you’ll frequently hear references requirement of NSF grants. Re- users from all over the world. The Evans said. done on figuring out how to spot to Science or Academia as if they searchers submitting grants to the United States is an observer state; The LHC is 17 miles in cir- such defects in the future to pre- were vast but monolithic entities NSF are required to include an ex- 1278 of CERN’s users come from cumference, and will accelerate vent further problems. existing in their own right. planation of what they will do to the US. protons to 7 trillion electron volts. It has been estimated that it Statements like “The culture of disseminate their results to a broad- In his talk, Evans described Accelerators have grown expo- will cost $21 million to repair the Science does not reward open ac- er audience. I’ve reviewed a good the areas where the LHC could nentially in size and energy over problem. The LHC is not expect- cess...” or “Modern Academia does number of NSF proposals over the make important discoveries. “The the years, Evans pointed out. The ed to restart until summer 2009. not reward high‑risk research...” are last few years. Typical responses on first real mystery is what is the first circular accelerator, built at “When you get a problem, it’s a quite common. They also are often the public outreach section are of origin of mass,” Evans said. “It Berkeley in 1930, was only five long time to make a repair,” said paired with a call for external re- the form “We train a lot of gradu- may seem a strange question to inches in diameter and accelerated Evans. lief, usually through some govern- ate students in our lab, and some of ask,” he said, since mass seems ions to 80,000 electron volts. Once the LHC does restart, ment mandate: “We need funding them will go on to become educa- intuitive to most people. Theory The improvements over the there will soon be a massive agencies to make this a condition tors,” which is a complete cop‑out. predicts the existence of a Higgs years have been achieved not by amount of data to be processed of grant funding.” The fact is, any attempt by the boson, which gives mass to other bigger and bigger budgets, but by after the LHC gets running again. I always find these statements NIH or any other agency to man- particles. The LHC has been de- pushing technology, Evans said. LHC continued on page 6 faintly annoying, because they’re date these sorts of practices is noth- based entirely on a flawed premise. ing but a bluff that huge numbers There is no “Science.” There is no of researchers will be happy to NAS Launches New Program to Connect Scientists “Academia.” These things do not call. After all, are they really go- exist as coherent entities, any more ing to start denying funding based and Entertainment Professionals than “The Market” does. on a failure to meet public outreach When the worlds of science and What we think of as “Science” requirements? Hardly–especially Hollywood collide, the results often Scene from a Symposium is the result of the individual ac- when the bulk of the review work highlight the differences between tions of millions of scientists. is done by other researchers in the the two realms instead of celebrat- Neil deGrasse Tyson is an ceeded to repeat his com- What we think of as “Aca- field. If people in the field are not ing their similarities. The National astrophysicist, and director plaint. Cameron listened demia” is the result of the indi- convinced that outreach or open Academy of Sciences is trying to of New York City’s Hayden patiently and then sarcasti- vidual actions of millions of people access are things they ought to be change that with a new initiative: Planetarium, so he knows his cally observed, “I see what working in higher education: fac- doing, they’re not going to give it The Science and Entertainment night sky. He was very irri- you mean. That movie only ulty, deans, academic staff. any weight in reviewing proposals, Exchange. The goal is to connect tated by a scene in the block- grossed [umpteen million] There are two main implications and those rules will be every bit as the entertainment industry with buster movie Titanic, in which dollars. Imagine how much of these facts, the first being that if effective as speed limits on major scientists and engineers to work on Rose (Kate Winslet) floats on more money it would have you really want to change scien- highways, which not even the po- everything from movies, television, a wooden plank after the ship made if we’d just had the tific or academic culture, you need lice bother to heed. and even video games. sinks, staring up at the night right sky!” to change the minds of the people There is no way around the fact “This is the Academy’s first sky. Tyson, to his credit, was making up those cultures. You need that changing scientific or academ- formal effort to reach out to Hol- Director James Cameron suitably mollified: “I had no to convince them that the things ic culture requires changing the lywood,” said Ralph Cicerone, went to extraordinary lengths response to that.” Cameron you want them to do are worth do- minds of the scientists and academ- president of the National Academy to recreate the actual ship had pointed out a glaring dif- ing, and in their best interests to do. ics who make up those cultures. of Sciences, at the November 19th down to the tiniest historical ference in their priorities: This is a hard project, and it’s As lovely as it would be to wave a symposium held at the Creative detail, including the china pat- scientists care about tech- the reason why so many people are policy wand and have everything Artist’s Agency in Los Angeles terns. And yet, said Tyson, nical accuracy. Filmmakers prone to calling for external man- magically change overnight, it’s to officially launch the Exchange. “Here we knew the day, the might care up to a point, but dates to change things. Getting the not going to happen. “We are very hopeful that it’s go- month, the year, the time of ultimately, they want to tell a NSF or the NIH to order people The second important implica- ing to give the general public better day, the latitude and the lon- compelling story that will res- to adopt your preferred behavior tion is this: If you want to change access to science through entertain- gitude. There should have onate with millions –and beef seems like an easier task than con- scientific or academic culture, you ment, whether factual or fun.” been only one sky [Rose] was up their bottom lines. vincing the people directly. You don’t have to wait for anybody Cicerone will chair the Ex- looking up at in that scene– Here’s the twist. A few only need to convince a few agency else. There is no “Science,” there is change’s advisory board. The Ex- and it was the wrong sky!” He months later, Tyson received heads to change, and then, presto, no “Academia”–there are only sci- change is endorsed by the Direc- was so peeved at this slight to a call from a production as- everyone else will go along. entists and academics. If you work tors Guild of America, the Produc- good science that he dashed sistant in Cameron’s office. It’s a nice idea, but it’s nothing in those fields, you can start chang- ers Guild of America, the Writers off a letter to Cameron. Pre- They were putting together but a comforting illusion. The fund- ing them any time you want. Guild of America, and Women in dictably, he received no reply. the director’s cut DVD and ing agencies won’t implement your People will say “Hiring commit- Film. Director Jerry Zucker, pro- Then Providence inter- including a few extras. The policies for you, and even if they tees don’t look for the right things,” ducer Janet Zucker and Abraxis vened. Tyson ran into James assistant said, “I understand do, it won’t do any good. When or “Tenure committees don’t re- Bioscience CEO Patrick Soon- Cameron in person, and pro- you have a sky for us....” the NIH requested that researchers ward risky research.” Yet hiring Shiong will serve as vice chairs deposit their data in the PubMed committees and tenure committees of the advisory board. “We would like to dispel. I want people to em- and entertained while listening to database, they got 4% compliance. are made up of academics. If you love to use the power of Holly- brace science, to be excited about some of the top scientists in the Making it a requirement boosted are an academic, you can be on wood storytellers to educate,” Jerry science.” country talk about their research. that to 56%, 30% directly by au- those committees–in fact, it’s kind Zucker said. “There is a fear of sci- At the symposium, film direc- “It’s like introducing your two best thors with a further 26% from jour- of hard to avoid. ence, and that is what we would tors and screenwriters were inspired NAS continued on page 6 nals after publication–but nowhere VIEWPOINT continued on page 7 6 • January 2009 APS NEWS

WOMEN continued from page 1 Pasadena Presentation of Positron Plaque process itself, something which their PhD. Rachel Ivie, Assistant (assumed to be non-student, age is ultimately the responsibility of Director at the Statistical Research 36 and up), compared with about individual members,” says APS Center of the American Institute 21,000 males eligible for Fellow- President-elect Curtis Callan, who of Physics, notes that a reason for ship. A more comprehensive analy- chaired the 2008 Fellowship Com- low representation among women sis of female membership is need- mittee. physicists may be the available ed before any solid conclusions The fraction of female nomina- pool. This situation can be seen can be reached. tions relative to their representa- with women faculty, according In recent years several pres- tion in the membership is signifi- to a 2005 report by Ivie and Kim tigious APS prizes and awards cantly less than that of men. Data Nies Ray. The report shows that in have been awarded to women. In from 2001-2008 indicates that once 2002, women represented 5% of 2008,the Oliver E. Buckley Con- nominated, women have a some- full professors at US universities. densed Matter prize was awarded what better chance of being elected While quite small, this percentage to Mildred Dresselhaus, the George than men do; it is the process of is commensurate with the aver- E. Pake Prize was awarded to Ju- being nominated that presents an age 4% percent of PhDs received lia Philips, and the David Adler Photo by Bob Paz impasse, a pattern noticed by the by women between the years of Lectureship went to Karin Rabe. In August 1932, Carl David Anderson of Caltech discovered the posi- tron, for which he shared the 1936 Nobel Prize in physics. On a beautiful current APS Fellowship Commit- 1967-1980. One would expect that In 2009, the Joseph A. Burton Fo- California afternoon in October 2008, APS presented a plaque designat- tee. the pool of faculty members who rum award will be given to Patricia ing Caltech as a physics historic site in commemoration of Anderson's Some units are notably consis- are eligible for APS Fellowship is Lewis. achievement. In the picture, John Rigden (left), Chair of the APS Historic tent in female nominations, partic- composed of the upper echelon of Raising awareness and assidu- Sites Committee, presents the plaque to Andrew Lange (right), the Mar- vin L. Goldberger Professor of Physics and chair of Caltech's Division of ularly the Division of Particles and older, accomplished physicists who ously encouraging women nomina- Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. Fields, which has recommended have been PhDs for many years. tions are ways to perhaps mitigate several women every year since A similar trend may apply to the bottleneck. Diversity among 2001. Other units are less impres- Fellowship nominations. Because unit Fellowship Committee mem- sive, and some haven’t had even a APS Fellows tend to be elected at bers should also be supported. “We single female nomination during least a decade after receiving their need to communicate the message the same time period. Since unit PhDs, low nomination numbers that the APS Fellowship Committee membership varies greatly among may be the result of fewer women urges the membership to be more divisions, topical groups, and fo- in the pool to nominate. A selective energetic in nominating women to rums, some unit Fellowship Com- breakdown of female membership their unit fellowship committees. Of Change is Coming in More Ways than One mittees have a broader range of by age, based on information in the course, this kind of ‘jawboning’ has nomination choices while others APS membership database (which to be done on a regular basis in or- by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs can be severely limited. is not entirely complete), shows der to have a real effect, so we need “Brother, Can You Spare a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to An important factor is how long that roughly 1,600 women lie in to remember to revisit this issue ev- Dime?” Yip Harburg and Jay Gor- keep them afloat, you are talking ago women members received the pool eligible for Fellowship ery year,” said Callan. ney collaborated on the lyrics and some pretty big bucks–$1.3 tril- music of the song that became lion to be more precise. And, if all NAS continued from page 5 a number one hit in 1932. And the additional stimulus plans the friends that have never met before,” judging by the soaring number of Obama Administration has been says Jerry Zucker, a director for the layoffs around the country and the formulating become a reality, movies Airplane! and Ghost. “Sci- tin cups you see around Washing- you’re in $2 trillion territory. entists and Hollywood are really ton these days, it could make it to With a projected deficit of two sides of the same coin.” the top of the charts again. All we more than $0.5 trillion in the regu- The Exchange’s launch was need is a modern-day Rudy Vallee lar FY 2009 budget–excluding the hosted by Seth MacFarlane, creator to belt it out. Social Security trust fund surplus and producer of the animated series I don’t think Eminem could –the total deficit spending is ap- Family Guy. He encouraged attend- pull it off, but then again, my proaching 20 percent of the gross ees to get enthused about science. judgment is far from perfect. A domestic product. Even if you are “I grew up watching Star Trek and I year ago, if you had asked me a Keynesian, that’s a number that remember we used to be so excited whether I could imagine GM, should keep you up at night. about NASA and what they were AIG, or Citigroup on the pub- It’s pretty amazing how fast doing, but you don’t hear about it lic dole, I’d have said you were Washington has recalibrated itself much anymore and people don’t delusional. But Washington has when it comes to money. Just a seem to be as interested. We need to get people excited about science been shoveling billions of dollars year ago, the Bush White House again.” out the door so fast the last few and the Democratic Congress MacFarlane said an initiative to months, propping up banks, insur- were beating each other up over better support the role of science in ance companies and automakers, a major disagreement on total pop culture is needed in an era in that you need pretty sharp eyes to expenditures for fiscal year 2008. which “comic book spiritualism” in (from left, back row) Kimberly Peirce, director of "Boys Don't Cry"; production de- spot something the size of a dime. Eventually, the Democratic leader- signer Alex McDowell; former covert CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson; producer film and TV has replaced the more When President-elect Barack ship caved in and lowered spend- Janet Zucker (in front of Plame) and Jerry Zucker (far right); and National Acad- science-rooted storytelling found in emy of Sciences president Ralph Cicerone. Obama promised to bring change ing to meet the President’s bottom older sci-fi and fantasy properties. to Washington, I don’t thing he line, sacrificing science and other reer studying bioluminescent bac- University of California, San Di- “Instead, we now have The Ghost had in mind sacks of coins, but domestic programs in the process. teria and how they communicate ego. Whisperer,” he said. “I don’t know the economic woes he is inherit- The size of the disagreement that with each other. “We were just trying to include why I chose to crap on that show Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse scientific topics that we thought ing from the Bush Administration had tied the federal government specifically, but the point is that the Tyson, director of the Hayden were relevant (to entertainment will require trainloads of them. up in rhetorical knots for nearly realism is gone and the believabil- Planetarium at the American Mu- pros),” said Jerry Zucker about the The totals are staggering. six months was a paltry $22 bil- ity is gone.” seum of Natural History, talked choice of subjects for the salons. Beyond the regular federal bud- lion. The event featured six short ple- about our place in the universe, “We just didn’t have time for the get, here’s what we’ve commit- When President-elect Obama nary talks in six different subject while the future of personalized one on studio accounting practices.” ted in taxpayer money so far. On moves into the Oval Office later areas, followed by six breakout medicine and genomics was dis- While the science underly- February 13, 2008, President Bush this month, he will be inherit- “salons” where attendees could cussed by J. Craig Venter, a biolo- ing some of the talks was compli- signed a $152 billion stimulus bill ing the worst economic mess the interact with the scientists more gist who led the private effort to cated, the sessions avoided the feel that sent tax rebate checks to most United States–and perhaps the informally. Steve Chu, a physicist sequence the human genome. of classroom lectures because the Americans. Less than five months world–has seen since the Great and director at Lawrence Berkley Artificial intelligence and cut- intimate settings allowed the film later, on June 30, he signed a $162 Depression. How he deals with it National Lab and the 1997 Nobel ting-edge robotics was explored industry professionals to ask ques- billion supplemental spending in the first 100 or 200 days of his Prize winner in physics, talked by Rodney Brooks, a roboticist tions and talk informally with the bill. And on October 3, only a few presidency could ultimately deter- about climate change and the ef- and chief technical officer of scientists. hours after a badly divided Con- mine his legacy. fects of global warming in our life- Heartland Robotics, while some Jerry Zucker summed the event gress had finally agreed to bail Based on information from time. Rare and infectious diseases of the mysteries of the brain were up by using Humphrey Bogart’s out Wall Street, he put his signa- Hill sources and public statements were described by Bonnie Bassler, revealed by neurologist V.S. Ra- famous line from Casablanca: ture on the Emergency Economic from some of Obama’s economic a molecular biologist at Princeton machandran, director of the Cen- “This is the beginning of a beautiful Stabilization Act of 2008 that is advisors, my best guess is that University who has spent her ca- ter for Brain and Cognition at the friendship.” funding the $700 billion Troubled Congress will first convert the fis- Asset Relief Program, also known cal year 2009 Continuing Resolu- LHC continued from page 5 as TARP. tion into an omnibus appropria- If you add to the current com- tions bill and send it to the White The Grid computing network will their home institutes,” Evans said. nized, have operated with mutual mitments the $82.5 billion the House for signature as soon as the make traveling to CERN unnec- While organizing the huge in- respect, and have had no major Treasury Department gave AIG new President is sworn in. The bill essary for many of the scientists ternational collaborations work- problems, Evans said. “CERN’s (separate from the $40 billion the is likely to have smaller increases who will analyze LHC data. “Peo- ing on the LHC could potentially mission in 1954 was to bring na- TARP has handed over) and the for science than the versions ple do not need to come to CERN. be “a big sociological problem,” tions together, and it is still doing $200 billion Treasury doled out to BELTWAY continued on page 7 They can be analyzing data in these groups have been well orga- it.” APS NEWS January 2009 • 7

MURRAY continued from page 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS

tion and outreach. How do you with the American Institute of Now Appearing in RMP: APS CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP 2009-2010 view those efforts? What sug- Physics and other societies. Recently Posted Reviews and gestions do you have for guid- The other cohort that is ab- Colloquia THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY is currently accepting applica- ing those efforts? solutely critical is students. We You will find the following in tions for the Congressional Science Fellowship Program. Fellows serve A: I think the focus on the online edition of one year on the staff of a senator, a representative, or of a congressional need to be more inclusive of committee. They are afforded an opportunity to learn the legislative pro- PhysTEC is exactly right. Ex- students in our meetings and fo- Reviews of Modern Physics cess and explore science policy issues from the lawmakers' perspective. panding that program, which cus on career development. Ex- at In turn, Fellows have the opportunity to lend scientific and technical exper- APS Director of Education Ted ecutive Officer Judy Franz was http://rmp.aps.org tise to public policy issues. QUALIFICATIONS include a PhD or equivalent in physics or a closely Hodapp has a proposal to NSF very successful in increasing the Colloquium: The physics related field, a strong interest in science and technology policy and, ide- to do, is very important. Also, number of student members, and ally, some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward the solution of Maxwell's demon and doubling the number of physics we have graduate student-run of societal problems. Fellows are required to be US citizens and members information of the APS. majors is critically important. A meetings and undergrads com- number of physics departments TERM OF APPOINTMENT is one year, beginning in September of ing to meetings. I think we need Koji Maruyama, Franco Nori 2009 with participation in a two-week orientation sponsored by AAAS. Fel- have already doubled the majors to do more of that. and Vlatko Vedral lows have considerable choice in congressional assignments. in physics and have exceptional- Q: How can we ensure APS By encapsulating the essence A STIPEND is offered in addition to allowances for relocation, in-ser- vice travel, and health insurance premiums. ly vital undergraduate programs. has funds for all of these criti- of both thermodynamics and infor- They are providing a real, excit- mation Maxwell's demon provides APPLICATION should consist of a letter of intent of no more than two pages, a two-page resume with one additional page for publications, and cally important programs in valuable insights into very basic ing view of what you can do as three letters of reference. Please see the APS website (http://www.aps. this difficult economic time? constraints on possible physical de- a physicist. And as they’re do- org/policy/fellowships/congressional.cfm) for detailed information on mate- A: That is a good ques- vices, both classical and quantum. ing this, far more women are rials required for applying and other information on the program. tion! This is one of the reasons This Colloquium explains various coming into the field. Another ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE I would like to do this strategic forms of the demon and presents thing we need to work on is get- numerous applications. BY JANUARY 15, 2009. planning exercise, which looks ting more underrepresented mi- at what do we expect to do with norities into the mainstream, We QUANTUM continued from page 3 our business model. We’ve been also must continue our outreach theory to problems in quantum me- ber of sessions increased to 20, periments in quantum information quite successful in the 21st efforts. chanics, Quantum Shannon Theory on top of several heavily attended processing among both young and Q: How do you view the So- Century Campaign for Physics, has overlapped with areas that are tutorials. While the program for established researchers. which funds a number of these ciety’s role in terms of public more recognizable to theoretical the upcoming 2009 meeting in GQI emerged out of a petition educational and outreach pro- physics, resulting in new perspec- Pittsburgh is still in the works, the policy? by Anton Zeilinger of the Univer- grams. I believe we’re going to tives and approaches to the theory group will continue to have a sig- A: I think it’s critically im- sity of Vienna and Daniel Green- portant. APS in general has done have to continue to campaign to of many-body quantum systems. nificant number of invited sessions. berger of the City College of New a very good job. The APS Panel provide funding, but this is go- “For example, it’s recognized Thus far, at least 4 sessions have on Public Affairs and its Phys- ing to be really tough given the that mathematical characterizations been confirmed, 2 are pure GQI York (CUNY). The letter, pre- ics Policy Committee have done financial situation. of quantum entanglement are very sessions and 2 are co-sponsored sented to APS in 2002, expressed exceptional jobs and should Q: How did you become in- effective in building new theories with Division of Condensed Mat- concern over a lack of unified dis- continue to be at the forefront terested in physics? for quantum many-body systems ter Physics. semination of new knowledge in of writing reports and counsel- A: I come from a family of and also new approaches to the “I think these things should be the wake of ballooning interest in artists. I became interested in simulation of quantum many-body taken as a strong indication of the ing government. For example, the field from physicists of all sub- science for two reasons. First of systems,” said DiVincenzo. A sym- scientific solidity and visibility of the energy efficiency report that disciplines. However, the first by- was released a few months ago all I had a spectacular chemistry posium at the 2009 March Meet- the group within the broad physics laws weren’t established until three has gotten quite a bit of very teacher in high school. He got ing will highlight recent Quantum community. We are also putting a good press and congressional at- me excited about science. I have Shannon Theory developments. lot of emphasis on educating young years later, in 2005. tention. The APS-AAAS nuclear noticed that it is usually the case “GQI is a very young group, but students and researchers to attract “We started off having roughly weapons workshops last year when you ask scientists what got nevertheless I’m very pleased with them to the area,” said Viola. 600 members and now we are at brought the community together them into science, it’s a teacher our presence at the March Meeting The group awards “Best Stu- almost 900. And of course now the to focus on the fact that the US of some sort, which is why we and the breadth of activities that dent Paper” $500 prizes at the growth is continuing at a slower we’ve been able to ensure,” said March Meeting, open to both un- needs to have a new outlook on really need to focus on getting pace as eventually things will have Viola. At the 2007 March Meeting dergraduate and graduate students. nuclear weapons and nonpro- the best quality science teachers to stabilize a bit; but I think these liferation in the 21st century. in our schools. in Denver, GQI held a total of 13 In the future, the GQI has ambi- numbers are very impressive be- These things have been quite The second reason I decided sessions that the group has either tious plans to create more major cause we are talking about just a influential and we need to con- to choose physics was that my sponsored or co-sponsored, while prizes for recognizing outstanding tinue doing them. brother, who is nine years older last year in New Orleans the num- achievements in theory and ex- few years of existence,” said Viola. Q: How well is the soci- than me and went to MIT, made BELTWAY continued from page 6 ety serving its members? Are a comment to me, “there’s no passed by last year’s Appropria- be targeted to put people back to will present its fiscal year 2010 there any areas where you way you would ever succeed tions Committees but never voted work within 120 days and part of think APS programs could be in physics at MIT.” I applied to budget request to Congress. And on by either chamber. it will establish a foundation for enhanced? MIT, I got in, and I went and that budget will be fairly austere. Congress will likely follow the a longer term recovery, extending A: I think for the academic majored in physics. It was partly I am not a prophet like Tiresias, members the Society is doing lead of the Obama Administration out to at least two years. Look to because I really liked science, but as I see it, the stimulus and re- on stimulus and recovery spend- early February for congressional quite well. We should address, but also the challenge he set. ing, and the dollar figure will be action. covery legislation offers the best as part of the strategic planning, I was really excited by the fact large–somewhere between $500 Finally, in late March or early near-term hope for sustaining sci- how to provide peer review at that you could do research right the lowest cost. We need to look and $700 billion. Part of it will April the Obama Administration ence funding. away at MIT, and that was so re- at how APS journals could mi- warding I stayed in the field. grate to something like Open VIEWPOINT continued from page 5 Q: What have been your ca- Access. APS already provides If you think that your institu- half‑assed outreach sections. You stitution can blaze a trail for every- reer highlights? the journals free to the third tion should be hiring or promoting might not win right away, but you one else, or at least make up some A: I spent about nine years world. APS must remain at the different sorts of people, get on the might change a few minds on the ground by attracting good people actively engaged as a bench forefront of disseminating phys- relevant committee and make the grant review panels and editorial who like what you’re doing. You research scientist at Bell Labs ics to everyone, including the case for the change you’d like to boards. That’s the first step toward may find other people copying you. and I absolutely loved it. Then use of more technology to in- see. Don’t sit around and wait for real progress. Together, we are Science, and I was convinced to go into man- clude more international folks the NSF to do it for you. People will say “The Ivy League we are Academia. What we do is agement, and I had a career in at our meetings. We have to do People will say “Grant agen- schools set the agenda for all of not imposed on us by an unchange- it with a business model that is management and research there cies don’t fund the right kind of re- academia; nothing will change un- for another 16 years, which was able culture of Science; rather, the consistent with doing all the search,” or “The good journals are less Harvard changes.” But if your things we do determine the culture other things that APS does and very challenging, but also very full of terrible papers.” But grant school is not Harvard, it’s not likely of Science. We have the power to should do. rewarding. The third part of my reviewers and journal referees are to become Harvard. And you’ll change those cultures by chang- For those working in indus- career, I’ll call public service, drawn from scientists in the relevant certainly never catch them just by ing our behavior, and making the try or government labs, which because I’m now working at a fields. And they’re not exactly beat- copying them. case for others to do the same. If is about 2/3 of physicists, APS national lab and doing a great ing people back with sticks. If you Contrary to what they’ll tell you, has not done as well. I think by deal of work with APS, with the want to review grants or referee pa- the Ivies do not have a monopoly we want change, we have to do it being more inclusive, we can National Academies, and on var- pers, it’s not hard to get the oppor- on good ideas. They may have more ourselves, which is a hard job. But be better equipped to help those ious committees. Through this tunity. money than your school does, but here’s the thing: we can do it our- who get degrees in physics and whole career I’ve gotten to un- If you think that grant agencies that doesn’t mean that everything selves, because in the end, we are go off into another field. What derstand the research enterprise and journals should be funding or they touch turns to gold. the thing that needs to change. would be wonderful is if those as a whole, and that’s also very publishing different things, become Don’t wait for Harvard to Chad Orzel is a professor people still considered them- rewarding. Whatever I’m doing, a reviewer or a referee and make change–get out there, and make the of physics at Union College in selves as physicists. Part of I would like to have an impact. the case for the change you’d like case for the change you’d like to Schenectady, New York. The above what we do to be more inclusive And I believe I have had an im- to see. Demand re‑writes to the pa- see in your own institution. If it’s as originally appeared on his blog, could include partnering more pact in all three areas. pers, mark down the grants with good an idea as you think, your in- Uncertain Principles. 8 • January 2009 APS NEWS The Back Page

he US has just gone through a transformative time students to develop Pakistan’s science and technology Tin its history–it has just elected its first African- sectors. School administrators also need to be closely American President, Barack Obama. For many this The Nuclear and Science Policy Paradigm monitored as the same corruption that is prevalent at feat, in and of itself, is indicative of the fact that the US of Pakistan and Regional Stability the governmental level is quite often found among uni- has come a long way since the start of the civil rights versity-level administrators. movement over 50 years ago. For others, it represents The state of scientific affairs was not always this ap- the shift in changing attitudes in America. Overall, one By Wasif Syed palling in the Islamic World. There was indeed a time cannot but feel that something is changing. During the during the Islamic Empire, from the 9th to 13th centu- gruesome two years of campaigning that each candidate ry, when the center of learning was located in Baghdad. engaged in, several issues–both on the domestic and It was called the “House of Wisdom” (Bait Al-Hikma foreign front–were brought to light. On the foreign pol- in Arabic). This was a place and time of extreme scien- icy front, one country that was mentioned repeatedly in various tific and technological innovation. Jewish, Christian and Mus- contexts was Pakistan and its role in the international sphere lim scholars were all present in a central location working col- was scrutinized at length. It is therefore conducive to better laboratively on some of the most advanced problems of their understand Pakistan and its policies from various perspectives. time under the umbrella of an Islamic government. This spirit This article will discuss the nuclear and science policy of Paki- of innovation led to pioneering discoveries from fundamen- stan and its role in regional stability. tal tools in mathematics such as algebra, to optics in physics, Pakistan’s nuclear tests in 1998 shortly after India’s tests and to medicine. Philosophical works by Aristotle, Plato and served as a stern reminder that the pursuit of weapons of mass Socrates were also embraced by the Islamic Empire at a time destruction was far from over. The architect behind Pakistan’s when these were considered blasphemous by Christendom. In nuclear program was Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is considered a fact these very works were translated from Greek to Arabic in hero among the Pakistani population in spite of the fact that he the House of Wisdom and then later found themselves in the allegedly sold nuclear secrets to other nations considered to be Western corner of Europe in Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain–the hostile to the US. His reputation in Pakistan was undiminished Iberian Peninsula was ruled by Muslims for almost 800 years). and many considered him to be a scapegoat of the government They then provided the fundamental outgrowth for the Italian as part of a larger conspiracy. Nevertheless, whatever the reality Renaissance. The ambiance that was omnipresent during the may have been, his abilities as a scientist are not in doubt. House of Wisdom years has been long been lost and on some I recently spoke with Terry Wallace, Principal Associate ation in areas of science and technology, higher education and level, Pakistan and the rest of the Islamic World needs to imple- Director for Science, Technology and Engineering at Los Ala- engineering, and to strengthen the capacity of education, re- ment this very paradigm to recreate the same spirit of innova- mos National Laboratory, who closely monitored the Pakistani search, and innovation between United States and Pakistani in- tion that will allow it to progress on multiple fronts including in nuclear testing program while he was a professor at the Uni- stitutions of higher education and research establishments. The science and technology. versity of Arizona. He said that “A.Q. Khan developed a very Joint Committee is also mandated to enable innovative, entre- At present, it would be fair to say that contemplating imple- sophisticated program that no one expected.” Wallace went on preneurial partnerships between the two countries’ respective menting the paradigm of the House of Wisdom is not a dis- to comment that “Pakistan took a very different path than the science and technology business communities. The high-level course conducive for Pakistan to engage in, as there are more US or Russia.” Pakistan’s nuclear program was a remarkable meeting in 2007 was a key development on the scientific front pressing matters at hand–such as the massive economic crisis. achievement, primarily because it was a completely indigenous for Pakistan. The next meeting is planned for 2009 but it de- This past summer, in a conversation that I had with Mushar- program. The primary purpose of Pakistan’s nuclear tests was pends on whether President Zardari honors the agreement and raf’s Chief of Staff, it was already clear that the country’s situ- simply as a deterrent in response to India’s tests. It is impera- decides to continue in this direction. ation was not rosy and symptoms of what it is to come were tive to understand that Pakistan acquired nuclear weapons not One of the first tangible manifestations of the NSF-Pakistan surfacing. With inflation sky-high, consumer spending at an all- for a greater ambition of being part of a bloc of superpowers science efforts was the development of a new high speed net- time low, unemployment rampant, and with the recent devas- that possess nuclear weapons but in light of ensuring its own work connection which was inaugurated in October 2008. This tating earthquake that hit southwestern Pakistan, the country’s national security after India had decided to take the initiative to new network connection will enable Pakistani scientists to work economy is desperately weak. According to a recent article in conduct nuclear tests and declare itself a nuclear power. with their international colleagues and peers on research proj- the Economist, on Oct 17th the central bank’s liquid asset re- In spite of the rhetoric questioning the safety of Pakistan’s ects that require fast data transfer and facilitate transmission of serve was just over $4 billion, enough only to cover about 4-5 nuclear arsenal during the recent US presidential campaign, this information across the globe. According to Arden Bement, weeks of imports. Pakistan was forced to go to the IMF to seek Wallace expressed the view that “officially the US believes Director of the National Science Foundation, “This represents a funds, and it is widely anticipated that the IMF will bail out that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is safe.” The threat to Pakistan’s major milestone in the development of physical network con- Pakistan. Furthermore, in a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, Zardari nuclear arsenal has been exaggerated. What has not been exag- nectivity between Pakistan and the global scientific communi- met with King Abdullah who agreed to bail out Pakistan with a gerated is the expectation that India will conduct more testing ty.” In a recent communication that I had with Jeff Nesbit, the substantial oil supply on deferred payment and cash assistance, in the near future which is not ideal from the US standpoint. If director of the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs at the according to media reports. Ultimately what matters is the man- India does opt to take this path, inevitably, Pakistan will follow NSF, “The high speed connection linking Pakistan to the global ifestation of these bailouts for the average person on the street suit. research community is an excellent example of both the US and in Pakistan. Until he or she is able to reap the benefits of this On the science policy front, Pakistan has much work to do. EC commitment to Pakistan’s science community. It’s a good monetarily, the country will keep regressing further. In the Fall of 2006, President Musharraf was invited to speak at model for future cooperation and collaboration on other science It is important to understand the regional significance of Cornell University and arrived with 55 members of his cabinet. and research efforts.” Pakistan. The country borders three different cultures and is He delivered an emphatic speech touching upon a range of is- Although such agreements are conducive to both parties, strategically situated. The US government always seeks stra- sues pertinent to an elite academic audience. One of the issues there are many hindrances to Pakistan’s development as a sci- tegic allies and therefore Pakistan is strategically important for he mentioned that was very close to his heart was the issue of entific and technology powerhouse–two of the fundamental the US. Pakistan plays an important role in regional stability, Western-educated individuals of Pakistani-origin returning to predicaments are poverty and corruption. The disparity between especially with the current ongoing war in neighboring Afghan- Pakistan to help rebuild the country in the science and technol- the rich and poor is enormous and getting larger day-by-day. It istan. It is inevitable the US will have to intervene in Pakistan ogy sectors. This notion of “investment in human capital” was is a feudal society with the majority of the population living in at some point to maintain regional stability. However, the US a cornerstone of Pakistan’s vision to rebuild its scientific infra- rural areas, and furthermore illiteracy is very high in the coun- needs to exert more pressure on Pakistan to reform. Only af- structure. try. Pakistan requires a complete overhaul of the educational ter the basic mechanisms of reforms are initiated, and closely It was under President Musharraf’s directive that the Gov- system, and this reform has to be initiated from the grassroots monitored by the US, will the effects trickle down and directly ernment of Pakistan Planning Commission compiled a very level to be able to develop its infrastructure. Granted any im- impact science and nuclear policy. However, the first priority is lofty and ambitious “Vision 2030” report that outlined a series position of change has to be gradual, so the proposition herein the economic prosperity of Pakistan, especially with many in of measures that would need to be implemented to attain its as- is one for a long-term solution. Another problem is that cor- the country suffering direly–only once this is meticulously ad- pirations for scientific and technologic innovation. The under- ruption exists throughout all levels of society and government. dressed can the country prosper on any serious level. Further- lying vision outlined in the report was “a developed, industrial- Embezzlement of funds is a practice that administrations have more, now coupled with the recent events in Mumbai, Pakistan ized, just and prosperous Pakistan through rapid and sustainable engaged in to various degrees. Pakistan, like many countries is has more than it bargained for on its plate. The “blame game” development in a resource-constrained economy by deploying not a meritocratic society–nepotism is rampant. Although such between India and Pakistan is standard modus operandi and knowledge inputs.” Although President Musharraf did take the practices also exist in the US, the degree of the malady is con- with elevated tensions, this predicament needs to be addressed. initiative to open up several new universities in Pakistan during siderably less. There is an intricate connection between what Pakistan his tenure, the overall implementation of the plan undoubtedly Ultimately, a reform of the educational paradigm is required needs and what the US needs. Both have been yearning for did lag. Now, with a new government in place, under the direc- at the local level across the country. This requires a significant change–though we have yet to see that materialize in Pakistan tive of President Zardari, the question is whether he will con- degree of fiscal investment by the government. Adoption of for the good. Although we have elected our first African-Amer- tinue President Musharraf’s policies. President Zardari has not Western school systems is one way to proceed. To add diversity ican President, only time will tell what change it will bring to yet taken the time to consider science policy in any serious way to the schooling options available in Pakistan, more internation- this country and how different it will be from the last 8 years. especially at a time when a crisis is looming, so it is too early to al schools should be built. Although private schools with British As President-Elect Obama said in his address in Grant Park in say what direction he plans on taking the country. and American curricula are present in Pakistan, these are, for Chicago on the monumental evening of November 4th, 2008, In 2007, the US-Pakistan Joint Committee on Science the most part, only accessible to the upper echelons of society. “change has come to America.” History will determine what and Technology held its first meeting at the National Science One success story though, is the Turkish schools that recently that change is and if the manifestations of such a change are to Foundation in Arlington, VA. This committee was created have started to open up across Pakistan. They have been able to directly impact countries like Pakistan in our lifetimes. under the framework of the Agreement on Science and Tech- assimilate students from poor socio-economic backgrounds and Wasif Syed is a PhD candidate in applied physics at Cornell nology Cooperation signed by the US and Pakistan in 2003. provide them with a first-rate education. More such models are University. He was Chairman of the Musharraf Welcome Com- This agreement was an element of the Pakistan-US Strategic needed. mittee from 2005-2006 and in 2006 he brought and coordinated Partnership affirmed by President Musharraf and President Additional investments are needed to develop scientific the visit of Pakistani President Musharraf to Cornell along with Bush in 2006. The committee’s purpose is to enhance cooper- laboratories and institutions of higher learning that can train his cabinet members.

APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected]