A P S N E W S JANUARY 2000 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 9, NO. 1 [Try the enhanced APS News-online: http://www.aps.org/apsnews] APSCelebrate News APS a Century 100 of years Physics APS Council Statement, State-Wide SNS Critical to US Science Health Poll Responds to Kansas Controversy States APS Council
t its November meeting, the APS the sticking point. Forty-five percent said stimulated the population’s interest in he APS Council unanimously ACouncil approved a statement they believe God created human beings local school board elections. More than T endorsed a statement urging denouncing the recent decision by the much as they are today within the past half the respondents (52%) said they Congress to provide the necessary Kansas Board of Education to remove 10,000 years, while an almost equal num- would be more likely to vote in the next funding for timely completion of the references to evolution and the Big Bang ber (43%) said they believe humans board election because of the evolution national Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). from the state-wide science curriculum. evolved like other animals, but the pro- decision. Sixty-four percent of those who Councillors from all sectors of the APS The APS statement came on the heels cess was guided by God. disagreed with the board’s decision said agreed to its scientific necessity and of an October 1999 poll of Kansas If nothing else, the controversy ap- they would be more likely to vote in the “urgent national need” to meet the residents conducted by two local pears to have, at least temporarily, next election. growing needs in the US research newspapers, The Wichita Eagle and the community for more powerful neutron Kansas City Star. Conducted by the Star’s sources that are competitive with those marketing research department, the poll “The American Physical Society views with grave concern the recent Kansas in Europe and Japan. surveyed 604 respondents, with a margin State Board of Education decision to remove references to evolution and the Neutron scattering is a powerful and of error of plus or minus 4 percentage Big Bang from its State Education Standards and Assessments. The decision unique tool for elucidating the fundamen- points. to modify its previous draft of these standards is a giant step backward and tal structure of both physical and biological Roughly half of the respondents dis- should sound the alarm for every parent, teacher and student in the United matter. It is routinely used to unlock the agreed with the board’s decision, States. On the eve of the new millennium, at a time when our nation’s welfare secrets of superconductors, magnetic ma- compared to 32% who supported the increasingly depends on science and technology, it has never been more terials, advanced polymers, and other board, with the rest undecided or neu- important for all Americans to understand the basic ideas of modern science. materials of crucial interest to industry. It tral. Fifty-seven percent said they “Biological and physical evolution are central to the modern scientific is estimated that the SNS will attract 1000 thought students should be tested on conception of the Universe. There is overwhelming geological and physical to 2000 scientists and engineers each year evolution. About 80% of the respondents evidence that the Earth and Universe are billions of years old and have from universities, industries, government said they believe dinosaurs existed mil- developed substantially since their origins. Evolution is also a foundation upon laboratories, and other nations. lions of years ago, and 65% said they which virtually all modern biology rests. The SNS is being built at Oak Ridge Na- believe sea creatures developed into “This unfortunate decision will deprive many Kansas students of the tional Laboratory by a consortium of national land animals, based on the fossil record. opportunity to learn some of the central concepts of modern science.” laboratories including: Argonne, Berkeley, It is human evolution that seems to be Continued on page 4
Inside… Council Votes to Reduce its Size by NEWS To Advance and Diffuse the Knowledge Constitutional Amendment of Physics ...... 2 Consciousness-raising in the turbulent 1960s. o any observer at the November The drafting of changes to the APS Langer Outlines Challenges, Priorities TCouncil meeting in Seattle, it would Constitution and Bylaws needed to imple- for APS in Y2K ...... 3 appear obvious why a motion to amend the ment the Task Force recommendations An interview with incoming APS President James Langer on the year ahead for the Society. APS Constitution to reduce the size of the were carried out by the Committee on APS Honors Two Undergrads with Council passed overwhelmingly. Sixty-three Constitution and Bylaws, chaired in 1999 1999 Apker Awards ...... 4 people gathered around a hollow rectangle, by Stephan Baker (Rice University). The Students from Williams College and the which was so large that it was difficult to see relevant sections of the sections with the University of Rochester recognized for research accomplishments. from one side to the other. “We strongly proposed changes can be found online APS Council Approves Revised “What believe that the most important action that at http://www.aps.org/apsnews/0100/ Is Science?” Statement ...... 4 can be taken to make the APS Council Stephen Baker (left) and Stephen Holt. proposal.html, and are presented for Revised definition of science and the rules of scientific exchange. more effective is to reduce its size to the Council who presented the draft comment by the APS membership at Solar Eruptions, Pollution Reduction point that its members feel that they can recommendations to Council. The Task Force, large. To become effective the Consti- Featured at DPP Meeting ...... 5 be seen, that their views can be heard, chaired by Ernest Henley (University of tutional amendments must be voted on Highlights from the November DPP meeting. and that their presence can make a real Washington) recommended that the number by the APS membership, while the MEETING BRIEFS ...... 5 Division of Nuclear Physics in Asilomar, CA, and difference,” said Stephen Holt (NASA/ of voting members be reduced from 51 to amendments to the Bylaws require a Gaseous Electronics Conference in Norfolk, VA. GSFC), the member of the APS Task Force 39 and the number at the Council table from second Council vote. APS Council Approves New Journal on the Structure and Responsibilities of the approximately 65 to 42. Continued on page 7 Pricing Model ...... 6 New multi-tiered pricing scheme to be introduced for APS journals. APS and AIP Jointly Launch Virtual The Physics of Football Journals ...... 6 Two new online “virtual” journals in A former tackle for the California Insti- biological physics and nanoscale science. illions of viewers nationwide had APS Leads Effort for Teacher Preparation ... 6 Mthe opportunity in November to tute of Technology, Gay has been using APS, AAPT and AIP spearhead a major effort learn what college football fans in college football to illustrate the laws of to improve K-12 science teaching. Nebraska have been hearing all season physics via a series of 45-second video- DEPARTMENTS about the physics of football, thanks to a taped lessons presented on the two giant ZERO GRAVITY ...... 4 special news report on the ABC network HuskerVision screens at UNL’s Memorial Quantum Baseball featuring Timothy Gay, a professor of Stadium. For example, an imperfect pass ANNOUNCEMENTS ...... 7 physics at the University of Nebraska, (i.e., wobbly, as opposed to a perfect spi- Now Appearing in RMP; Call for Council and Lincoln (UNL). The segment aired ral) will have insufficient force to overcome Committee Position Nominations; Deadlines. th THE BACK PAGE ...... 8 November 15 on ABC World News air resistance, resulting in a dragging ef- Is there unconscious discrimination against Tonight with Peter Jennings. “Football is fect, while a punt needs sufficient trajectory women in physics? a manifestation of physics and it’s to attain the proper projectile motion. Hel- something people can relate to,” says mets serve to distribute the force of a blow Open Letter to APS Gay, who loves the strategy and tactics of and lessen the impact to the players’ heads, Members on Openness of the game as much as his chosen career. while the combined energy expended by Photo by Randy Atkins Scientific Exchange from “It’s physics in action. My main hope is an offensive line could lift an entire pickup ABC News Correspondent Bob Jamieson Jerry Friedman ...... 5 that somehow I’ll turn some kid onto truck about 10 yards into the air. reports from the site of what may be the physics or science in general.” Continued on page 3 world's largest physics class. APS News January 2000 To Advance & Diffuse the Knowledge of Physics 100 Years of the American Physical Society Excerpts from an exhibit displayed at the APS Centennial Meeting. Curator: Sara Schechner, Gnomon Research Exhibit Director: Barrett Ripin Consciousness Raising With contributions by Harry Lustig, R. Mark Wilson, and others.
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Physics Today Physics Henriette
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C AIP Niels Bohr Library APS session on women in physics, 1971. Faraggi, Gloria B. Lubkin, Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Fay Courtesy of Gloria Lubkin. Townes. Charles Ajzenberg-Selove,
E Martin Perl with Richard Lapidus, Stan Shepherd, and David Wolfe AIP Niels Bohr Library. 1974. State conference, at the Penn (1970): 28.
BAPS
B AIP Niels Bohr Library
1967 1969 1971 1975 ▲▲▲ ▲ ▲▲ ▲▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲ Schwartz Amendment — In 1967, Physics-and-Society Division Proposed Amendment on Profes- Panel on Public Affairs — Formed Charles Schwartz, a nuclear physicist Proposed sional Responsibility — Resolution to in 1975, POPA has convened panels and antiwar activist at Berkeley, Scientists and Engineers for Social change the Society’s mission statement of experts to study and voice the petitioned the APS to amend the and Political Action (SESPA) organized by to include the phrase “The Society...shall physicists’ viewpoint on: constitution to allow 1% of members to Martin Perl and Charles Schwartz at shun those activities which are judged to • Nuclear reactor safety call for a vote on any social or scientific January APS meeting. Radicals called for contribute harmfully to the welfare of • Photovoltaics and renewable energy issue. The Council opposed the “Science for the People.” (Images B, C) mankind.” Not passed. • Feasibility of directed-energy amendment. It was defeated by a vote of weapons and other matters of public members, who thought APS should not APS-sponsored debate on the anti- policy. take a public stand on social issues. ballistic missile system (ABM) with Hans 1972 Bethe, Donald Brennan, George Rathjens, Forum on Physics and Society — Debate over the Schwartz amend- and Eugene Wigner at the April meeting. organized with broad constituency. 1979 ment led to soul-searching on the ERA Boycotts — Council resolved social responsibilities of physicists Protest March — During the April Concerned with the social to boycott states that had not ratified and the APS. APS meeting, SESPA held an orderly consequences of physics, the Forum march of 250 physicists to the White has sponsored programs at APS the Equal Rights Amendment. House to protest the ABM. (Image D) meetings and created awards in 1968 recognition of science policy work. It ▲ 1983 Chicago Protest — In the wake of also initiated the Congressional 1970 Arms Control Resolution — APS riots and police brutality at the ▲▲ Fellowship program whereby physicists Peace Breaks Out in BAPS Council issued a statement in support Democratic National Convention in are placed on Capital Hill in order to Abstract (Image E) of nuclear arms control and was Chicago, physicists began to petition offer their technical expertise to attacked by George Keyworth, science the APS not to hold its 1970 meeting Bombing at University of Wiscon- members of Congress. there. sin-Madison — Violence directed at an advisor to president Ronald Reagan. Women’s Rights — Committee on Army-funded mathematics research In 1969, the APS Council polled the Status of Women in Physics formed. center led to the mistaken bombing of members and upheld its decision to (Image F) keep the meeting in Chicago. (Image A) the nuclear physics labs. (A post-doc was killed.) Next Month: Outreach and Community Service
Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publication Executive Officer Physics), Ed Gerjuoy (Forum on Physics and Society), Andrew delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad may receive Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (on leave) Lovinger (High Polymer), Carl Lineberger (Laser Science), APS News airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. Nonmembers: Subscription Treasurer Howard Birnbaum (Materials), John D. Walecka (Nuclear), rates are: domestic $105; Canada, Mexico, Central and South Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) Sally Dawson, Peter Meyers (Particles and Fields), Robert America, and Caribbean $105; Air Freight Europe, Asia, Africa and Editor-in-Chief Siemann (Physics of Beams), Richard Hazeltine, (Plasma) Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Oceania $120. Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Series II, Vol. 9, No. 1 January 2000 Past-President *Members of APS Executive Board © 2000 The American Physical Society Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Jerome Friedman*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology be addressed as follows: For APS Members—Membership ADVISORS Editor ...... Barrett H. Ripin Department, The American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, General Councillors Sectional Representatives Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. For Beverly Berger, Philip Bucksbaum, L. Craig Davis, Stuart Kannan Jagannathan, New England; Carolyn MacDonald, New Design and Production ...... Alicia Chang Nonmembers—Circulation and Fulfillment Division, American Freedman, S. James Gates*, Leon Lederman, Cynthia McIntyre, York; Perry P. Yaney, Ohio; Joseph Hamilton, Southeastern; Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Quadrangle, Melville, Margaret Murnane, Roberto Peccei, Paul Peercy*, Philip Phillips, Stephen Baker, Texas Copy Editing ...... Danita Boonchaisri NY 11747-4502. Allow at least 6 weeks advance notice. For address Helen Quinn*, Jin-Joo Song, James Trefil, Virginia Trimble*, changes, please send both the old and new addresses, and, if Sau Lan Wu Representatives from Other Societies APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, possible, include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests from Larry Kirkpatrick, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP monthly, except the August/September issue, by the subscribers for missing issues will be honored without charge only Chair, Nominating Committee American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College if received within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Michael Turner International Adviors Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains news of Gareth Roberts, Insitute of Physics, A.M. Bradshaw, German the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, Sections Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at additional Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Physical Society, Pedro Hernandez Tejeda, Mexican Physical and Forums; advance information on meetings of the mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Roberta Saxon Society, Marie D’Iorio, Canadian Physical Society Society; and reports to the Society by its committees and Membership Department, The American Physical Society, One task forces, as well as opinions. Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Division and Forum Councillors Staff Representatives Steven Holt* (Astrophysics), Eric Heller*, Harold Metcalf Barrett Ripin, Associate Executive Officer; Irving Lerch, Letters to the editor are welcomed from the membership. APS COUNCIL 2000 (Atomic, Molecular and Optical), Robert Callender Director of International Affairs; Fred Stein, Director of Letters must be signed and should include an address and President (Biological), Stephen Leone (Chemical), E. Dan Dahlberg, Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Public daytime telephone number. The APS reserves the right to James S. Langer*, University of California, Santa Barbara Arthur Hebard*, Zachary Fisk* (Condensed Matter), Warren Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Stanley select and to edit for length or clarity. All correspondence President-Elect Pickett (Computational), Jerry Gollub (Fluid Dynamics), Brown, Administrative Editor; Charles Muller, Director, regarding APS News should be directed to: Editor, APS George H. Trilling*, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory James Wynne (Forum on Education), Gloria Lubkin* (Forum Editoral Office Services, Michael Stephens, Controller and News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20749-3844, Vice-President on History of Physics), Stuart Wolf (Forum on Industrial & Assistant Treasurer E-mail: [email protected]. William F. Brinkman, Bell Labs-Lucent Technologies Applied Physics), Myriam Sarachik (Forum on International
2 January 2000 APS News Langer Outlines Challenges, Priorities for APS in Y2K ames Langer, a professor of physics world. More generally, we’re among the For one thing, just count the Jat the University of California, Santa leaders in scholarly publication, largely Anumbers. The consortium of science Barbara, assumed the APS presidency on because we’ve innovated. [APS Editor- and engineering societies represents a January 1, 2000. In the following in- Chief] Marty Blume has done a lot of votes and a lot of influential people interview, he outlines his prevailing fantastic job. We’re trying new things and in many constituencies across the concerns and priorities for the Society as we’re taking risks. The main challenge is country. It also makes a much more it enters the new millennium. in electronic publication. We’re convincing statement when it’s not just participating actively in the development everybody out for his or her own special What do you see as the of bulletin boards so that physicists have interest. We’re making the point that the primary challenges facing the Q easy communication with each other. driving forces for the current economy APS as it enters the new millennium? Most important is the task of making the and national security are advances in There are two big issues that are APS publications as accessible as possible, basic and applied science, particularly Adriving everything else, and must be archiving them electronically, having physics, chemistry, mathematics and dealt with seriously and with a great deal them cross-linked to other journals, and engineering. These were points that for of energy. One is the publications and making them a research tool of a sort many years after WWII we just assumed how they will develop in our rapidly that was unthinkable until just a few years were taken for granted in Washington. changing world. The other is political ago. That’s our top priority. Well, they’re not now. So it’s our advocacy, speaking up for the scientific responsibility to state them clearly. What are the challenges the community in general and physicists in Society’s journals must The APS has ramped up its James Langer particular. We have to make our own Q overcome to realize those education and outreach The APS geographical sections case these days and we’ve been doing Q objectives? activities in recent years, most Qseem to be becoming more that very effectively in recent years. notably in the smashing success of active and prominent within the Clearly, we need to figure out What do you see as the main the City-Wide Physics Festival held Society in recent years. What do you how at least to break even financially objectives for the APS journals A in conjunction with the APS see as their emerging role in APS Q in this new era of electronic publishing, to in the future? Centennial meeting in Atlanta last activities? receive adequate compensation for the March. What does it have planned The APS journals — the Physical effort we put into it. This is a very deep I have never lived in an area where for the future? AReview, Physical Review Letters and practical and philosophical question that’s Athere was an active geographical Reviews of Modern Physics — are the much debated around the country at the Both the APS and AIP are now very section, and had hardly been aware of most successful physics journals in the moment. What is the role of scientific Aactive in trying to produce television them. But, as a member of the APS societies, and who has responsibility for the spots and making contact with the folks presidential line, I’m now seeing the scientific journals? I believe that the best in the news media to ensure that they sections in operation. Of all the APS units, they have the best connections at the LANGER LOWDOWN institutions for taking this responsibility are not only have access to, but understand not government agencies or for-profit the importance of, developments as they grass-roots level, including to the smaller colleges and universities, and to the • Born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1934. publishers, but independent scientific occur in the sciences. We’re also working smaller industrial laboratories. The most • Briefly considered a career as an societies that are broadly representative of to make lots of material available on effective politics is grass-roots politics, so artist, but found himself pulling the scientific community. We need to bring websites, including our archive of events the sections should be especially out his math notebook during art our scholarly scientific capabilities to bear from the Centennial meeting. effective in maintaining contacts with classes and realized that was on choosing the best modes for There are other ways by which efforts Congressional representatives. Also, the where his true interest lay. disseminating information and maintaining on our part, especially through our units pricing of APS journals is of very great • BS from Carnegie Institute of the quality of the publications. The APS can and our direct contacts with university and importance to the smaller institutions. We Technology (now Carnegie- do this more effectively and economically college physics faculty, can have big ef- need the section input on lots of such Mellon University) in 1955. than any other kind of agency. fects. We can have major impacts on education, improving the APS meetings, issues. • PhD in mathematical physics How do you view the role of getting more young people and more under the supervision of R.E. the APS in terms of political What do you see as the role of Q women and minorities into physics. I Peierls at the University of advocacy, particularly when it Qthe Society in the international would like the APS to work with academic Birmingham, England in 1958, comes to key policy issues and arena as it enters the 21st century? physics departments to make the physics as a Marshall Scholar. federal funding for science? I think it is clear that, today, the curricula much more broadly interesting • Joined the faculty of Carnegie APS is effectively an international The APS has been playing a leading to a wider range of students, not just phys- A Mellon University in 1958; in organization. Close to one-quarter of APS role in political advocacy in the last ics majors. For example, the physics 1982, became a professor of A members are residents of foreign few years, especially with Allan undergraduate degree ought to be a won- physics and member of the countries, and 70% of all manuscript Bromley’s presidency and the derful prelaw or premed degree. Similarly, Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP) submissions to the APS journals come organization of the consortium of one of [APS Director of Education and Out- at the University of California, from outside the US. Our involvement scientific and engineering societies. We’ll reach] Fred Stein’s major goals is getting Santa Barbara; served as director in international affairs also continues to continue to play as out-front a role as is more university and college physics de- of the ITP from 1989 to 1995. increase through interactions with other diplomatic. We’ll try to provide advice partments involved in elementary and • Research in quantum many-body national physical societies and efforts to and exert influence in areas where we high-school teacher preparation. The theory of transport in solids; develop research collaborations with are especially competent, like arms Teacher Scientist Alliance is another pro- kinetics of first-order phase scientists in developing countries. Our control and the comprehensive test ban gram that has had significant impact. transitions; dendritic pattern participation in global affairs will be even treaty, or how science ought to be One goal that I would like to emphasize formation in crystal growth; and, more important in the coming decades. funded in this country. So long as we can is getting more industrial physicists actively most recently, in the dynamics of Environmental issues, such as global be accurate and responsible, I think we’re involved in the APS. Many of our activities, earthquakes and fracture. climate change and the development of obliged to be outspoken on such issues. especially the meetings, could be much • Received the 1997 APS Oliver alternative energy sources, as well as the We’re also obliged to help the physics more useful to physicists in industry than Buckley Prize for his contributions construction of very large facilities such community make contact with people they are now. I would like to see lots more to the theory of the kinetics of as the Large Hadron Collider, will require in government. We have been stepping industrial participation in the March phase transitions, particularly as increased cooperation among the up our efforts to inform our members Meeting, for instance, and I would like applied to nucleation and scientific communities around the world. about how and when to make those more input from industrial physicists so that dendritic growth. I’ve already been abroad once in part on contacts, and what the prevailing issues our policy statements better reflect the • Former chair of the APS Division APS business, and expect to do much are. A particularly good example is the needs of the industrial community. We of Condensed Matter Physics. more travelling next year. • Member of the National budget situation this past year. It looked need those points of view. Academy of Sciences; chaired the for some months as if this was going to Physics Section of the AAAS in be an absolutely disastrous budget year 1992, and the National Research for science, but it turned out to be much Physics of Football, continued from page 1 Council’s Panel on Research better than expected. There were many The idea for the series originated with Jamieson. “That’s the one thing besides Opportunities and Needs, people from the physics community as the university’s athletic department, football that I really love.” For Gay’s Materials Science and well as other scientific societies making which is in charge of half time program- online lessons on the physics of football, Engineering Survey, from 1986 contacts in Washington, and we had built ming for the giant screens, as a means of see http://physics.unl.edu/football.html. to 1989. up the credibility of those contacts over bringing academics and athletics together. “This is an excellent example of how • Why he ran for APS presidency: the course of several years, making the Gay was quickly tapped for the job. He individual APS members can help bring “Physics has been a wonderful arguments in Congress about the is already mulling possibilities for next physics to life for the public,” said Barrett career for me, and has given me importance of investing in basic research. year’s series of mini halftime lectures, Ripin, APS Associate Executive Officier. many opportunities. So I have a The Society has had such as artificial turf vs. natural grass, or When member Diandra Leslie-Pelecky strong sense of responsibility to do Q tremendous success in the sonic energy produced by a scream- notified APS of Gay’s videoshows, Randy my part in maintaining the vitality cooperating with other scientific ing crowd, “I have a passion for physics Atkins [[email protected]], APS Media Co- of the American physics organizations on policy activities. and I enjoy teaching all aspects of it,” ordinator, “pitched” the story to ABC community.” Why is this so? Gay told ABC correspondent Bob giving it national attention.
3 APS News January 2000 zero APS Honors Two Undergrads gravity with 1999 Apker Awards rian F. Gerke, a recent graduate of Quantum Baseball BWilliams College in Williamstown, MA, Editor’s note: In the October 1999 issue of APS News, we announced a new and Govind Krishnaswami, a recent graduate contest for stories or tales designed to teach specific concepts or principles in of the University of Rochester in New York, physics. Peter Siska, a professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, eagerly have been named by the APS as recipients submitted the following entertaining — if highly theoretical — account. of the 1999 APS LeRoy Apker Award for their ow big would Planck’s constant h 7. Games are research achievements as undergraduates. have to be to turn a baseball into a best played in dim The Apker Awards were established by Jean H “wavicle” or “waveball”? Probably big light, so that visible Dickey Apker as a memorial to her husband, Govind Brian F. Gerke enough so that a pitched waveball, on protons (hv > LeRoy Apker. Both were physicists Krishnaswami the way to home plate, would broaden 1012J!) do not employed at the General Electric Research master’s student in theoretical physics and enough to be as wide as the plate (43 disturb the flight of Laboratories in Schenectady, NY. mathematics. Gerke plans to pursue a PhD cm) for a pitch of average speed, say 80 the ball too much. Each year the Apker Award selection com- in physics at a US university when he MPH = 3600 cm/s. Since the plate is 60’6" One season so mittee invites five or six finalists out of the returns. = 1844 cm from the pitcher’s mound, many games were “sunned out” that all nominees to give presentations of their un- A double major in physics and mathemat- the travel (and broadening) time is about the games are now played at night. dergraduate work. Award recipients are ics, Krishnaswami quickly distinguished t = 1844 cm/(3600 cm/s) = 0.5 s. Watching a ball game is now like selected from the finalists. In general, one is himself as one of the most promising stu- The width of the waveball after a time watching in old black and white movie selected from a PhD-granting institution and 2 dents the university has seen in years, and t is δx = δx [1+t2/τ ]1/2 where τ = of street life at night. another from a non-PhD-granting institution. 0 has won every major honor the institution (2mδx 2)/h . If we assume δx = 0.1 cm 8. Only the most skilled defensive Finalists receive a $1000 award, a certificate, 0 0 bestows to undergraduates in physics and (localization in the pitcher’s hand) and players become outfielders; finely honed and expenses to an APS general meeting. mathematics, including a teaching award as δx = 43 cm, then τ ≈ t/430 ≈ 1 ms. For m instincts and reflexes are required to snare Their undergraduate institutions receive $500 the best undergraduate teaching assistant. In = 140g this implies that h ≈ 3000 erg a broadened waveball, which might have each. Apker Award recipients each receive 1998 he won a Fulbright Award for excel- sec. So h needs to be about 1030 times a breadth approaching 6 feet (1.8 m). an additional $5000 and an invited paper at lence in advanced physics, and is believed larger to make quantum baseball a reality. Last year’s Golden Glove center fielder an APS general meeting. Their institutions to be the first undergraduate student to Now, let’s imagine a few seasons under had a fine fielding fraction of .575. Balls also receive a $5000 grant to further encour- present three papers (in experimental phys- the new rules of Quantum Baseball (QB): hit through infielders’ legs are a special age undergraduate research. ics, mathematics, and theoretical physics) at 1. Pitcher arguing with home plate problem due to diffraction interference, Gerke was honored for his senior thesis, the National Conference on Undergraduate umpire: P: “Whaddaya mean, ball three? although it cannot be said which infielder entitled, “Ultrafast Photoisomerization Dy- Research in April 1999. The chances were two in three it was a committed the error. Throwing out namics: A Tight-Binding Model Applied to As a sophomore, Krishnaswami spent strike!” runners from the outfield is a rarely Small Alkenes,” based on an original compu- the summer working with Rochester pro- 2. Fastball pitchers are at a accomplished feat. tational study he conducted of the fessor Arie Bodek at Fermilab on the disadvantage — their pitches don’t 9. The best infielders now have careers photoisomerization of conjugated polyenes, CCFR/NuTeV neutrino experiment, broaden so much and are easier to hit. lasting only four or five years, because they which are related to retinal, the molecule in searching for the oscillations of muon neu- 3. Only 300 lb. (136 kg) catchers who must now dive even for waveballs the eye’s retina that detects light. His model trinos to electron neutrinos. When he keep shifting from foot to foot now make seemingly out of their reach, on the chance explains how these molecules can change returned to school in the fall, he opted to it to the majors (NQL or AQL), since they that the ball will show up in their glove. shape within tens of femtoseconds in re- work on aspects of QCD theory, particu- provide localized targets [deBroglie Only fast hard throws to first can be sponse to light, and Gerke applied it both to larly a means of deriving the structure wavelength λ = 10-3 cm) for the pitcher. snagged by the first baseman. Whether the small double-bonded molecules, and to larger functions of hadrons from the first prin- The pizza-pie catcher’s glove makes a batter and ball can arrive at first simultaneously ones, switching to numerical methods to com- ciples in QCD, a problem that has stumped comeback. in the reference frame of the umpire is left pute the latter. [Part of his thesis has been physicists for the last 25 years. His result- 4. Baseball bats (~800 g), when for a future project on relativistic baseball. submitted to The Physical Review.] ing thesis, part of which has appeared in swung quickly, are much more localized 10. Foul poles are 7 feet (2 m) wide, to As a sophomore, Gerke spent one Physical Review B, combines physical im- than the ball when it arrives at the plate. accommodate the typical waveball breadth summer as a research intern at William and portance and mathematical elegance, Unfortunately, a reduced-mass correction should it reach the fence. Foul line umpires Mary College, where he worked on a according to his thesis advisor and collabo- must be applied. Bunting is now difficult have developed three signs: both hands possible astrophysical test for an exotic rator, S.G. Rajeev. “The best theoretical in the extreme. towards foul territory, both hands toward fair, form of matter. In addition to his physics physics is as real as an experiment, and as 5. Skilled hitters have an instinctive and both hands straight up. In the third case, studies, Gerke completed a second major beautiful as mathematics,” Rajeev explains, feel for swatting at the waveball, although the defensive player closest to the ball has in English and sang in The Elizabethans, a adding, “[Krishnaswami’s] work was the last even perfect contact occasionally results to compute the probability that it is fair, and Renaissance vocal music ensemble. At piece of the puzzle to fall into place; we in a swinging strike, due to tunneling of then choose whether to play it or not. Of commencement, Williams College are well on our way towards a theory of the waveball through the bat. Less skilled course, first he has to find it. awarded him a Herchel Smith Fellowship the structure of the proton.” Krishnaswami hitters often blame their failures on 10-1/2: Bleacher bums just hold for two years of graduate study at has elected to remain at Rochester for his tunneling. their cupped hands up on a long hit. Cambridge University in England as a graduate studies on a Sproull Fellowship. 6. When a waveball is hit squarely, you Their chances at a souvenir are just can hear a loud crack, and see the waveball as good as the next guy’s. suddenly become sharply outlined before it Author’s Disclaimer: Unsponsored APS Council Approves Revised whirs out into the playing field and becomes speculation: Proposal to the NSF was broadened again. If the ball tunnels through judged meritorious but not fundable. the outfield wall, it’s a ground-rule triple. What Research was performed in despair after “What is Science?” Statement used to happen only in Wrigley Field is now a players’ strike shortened baseball season he APS Council approved a revised statement defining science and describing a regular occurrence in all the parks. and canceled that year’s World Series. Tthe rules of scientific exchange that contribute to the field’s success at its November meeting. Submitted by the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA), the statement was amended in light of additional input sought from other scientific societies, as well as the SNS Statement, continued from page 1 APS membership [see APS NEWS, June 1999, p. 1, and October 1999, p. 4]. Concerned about the growing influence of pseudoscientific claims, POPA prepared a succinct draft Brookhaven, and Los Alamos. The total cost concerns. A total allocation of $117.9 million statement in November 1998, adapted from E.O. Wilson’s book Consilience, which of the SNS was originally set at $1.3 billion for the SNS was allocated for FY2000 which was shared with the APS membership via APS News, and also with other scientific with a year 2005 completion date. The State includes only $100 million of the original societies, in hopes that it would initiate a dialogue within the scientific community of Tennessee has pledged $8 million to the $196.1 million construction request. APS Di- about the best way of dealing with the problem. The text of the statement follows. project. When completed, the SNS will pro- rector of Public Affairs Michael Lubell warns vide the US with a world-class neutron facility that “the project remains at risk and is greatly capability delivering high-powered (1-MW), in need of support from the scientific com- “Science extends and enriches our lives, expands our imagination and short-pulsed (<1µs) neutron bursts. A sketch munity.” liberates us from the bonds of ignorance and superstition. The American Physical of the facility may be viewed at http:// Society affirms the precepts of modern science that are responsible for its success. www.ornl.gov/sns/figure_1.htm. “The timely completion of the “Science is the systematic enterprise of gathering knowledge about the House Science Committee Chairman Spallation Neutron Source is an urgent universe and organizing and condensing that knowledge into testable laws James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI), who con- national need. American scientists who and theories. ducted a well-publicized oversight visit to Oak study the structure of both physical and “The success and credibility of science are anchored in the willingness of Ridge last March, praised the project’s un- biological matter must have access to scientists to: questionable scientific merit and modern neutron facilities. Otherwise, (1) Expose their ideas and results to independent testing and replication by recommended full funding for R&D. But our nation will be at a severe other scientists. This requires the complete and open exchange of data, Sensenbrenner also expressed concern about disadvantage in advancing new procedures and materials. project management as well as cost and science and technology. The Council (2) Abandon or modify accepted conclusions when confronted with more schedule estimates and recommended no of the American Physical Society urges complete or reliable or observational evidence. allocation of funds for construction in FY2000. Congress to continue to provide the Adherence to these principles provides a mechanism for self-correction that A new project director and tighter man- necessary funding for completion of the is the foundation of the credibility of science.” agement procedures has helped allay many project in a timely manner.”
4 January 2000 APS News Solar Eruptions, Pollution Reduction Open Letter to APS Members Featured at DPP Meeting The American Physical Society has as its core mission the advancement and diffusion of physics. We have long championed the principle that science is hysicists discussed the latest significantly reduce pollution in those vehicles. universal and that open exchange among scientists is essential for advancing discoveries in the universe of plasmas With the success of their laboratory tests, Cohn P science. As physicists, we all speak the same language and have the same objective when the APS Division of Plasma Physics and his colleagues have proposed to — to understand the physical world. The laws of nature that we uncover transcend (DPP)—one of the Society’s largest units— demonstrate the plasmatron within a year in national borders. The remarkable achievements of physics are the product of the held its annual meeting November 15-19, a bus that runs on natural gas, with the aim of world community, and we owe an immense debt of gratitude to physicists from 1999, in Seattle, Washington, capitalizing on significantly reducing the smog that results many nations. what has proven to be a banner year for from these vehicles. The APS Council resolution adopted on 21 May 1999 states that “Any negative plasma research. Last spring, Livermore Powerful Protons characterization of scientists on the basis of ethnic or national origins is destructive physicists announced that they had In a development that may provide ben- to science and American values.” As a deeply held general principle, the APS produced modest amounts of nuclear efits to electronics manufacturing and medical deplores actions by government or any other institution that target individuals on fusion on a tabletop—by shining a laser radiation therapy, Livermore researchers have the basis of ethnicity or national origins. Over the course of many years, the pulse on a small cluster of deuterium and devised a way to generate intense beams of contributions of immigrant scientists, foreign students, and visitors from many tritium atoms (see APS News, July 1999). powerful ions from a tiny spot. Using a single nations have enriched our knowledge and culture and improved the quality of Conducting basic research into the plasmas pulse of light from Livermore’s Petawatt la- our lives. created by laser removal of material, ser, the most powerful in the world, the We are also deeply concerned about actions that impede the free communication University of Michigan researchers researchers have generated 30 trillion pro- of unclassified work in the international community. Especially distressing to us accidentally discovered a tabletop method tons with energies of up to 50 MeV, from a are restrictions on international scientific exchanges. Science can only flourish in for separating chemical isotopes of the same tiny spot approximately 400 microns in size. an atmosphere of openness. element. Other Livermore researchers created Although no other laser is as powerful as the The American Physical Society takes pride in and derives strength from its antimatter with laser light using the Petawatt, Petawatt, the researchers nonetheless believe internationally diverse membership. I want to reaffirm the Society’s commitment the world’s most powerful laser. that their technique can be widely applied to the universality of science and express anew our immense appreciation for the Solar Eruptions to provide more compact sources of high- invaluable contributions of our colleagues from around the world. In efforts that may ultimately improve velocity ions than previously possible. With my best wishes—Jerome Friedman, 1999 President, APS forecasting of space weather, Naval Research In their demonstration, a single laser pulse Laboratory scientists have come up with a strikes a thin slab of plastic or gold, ejecting new explanation for what triggers coronal electrons which form a cloud of negative mass ejections (CMEs), violent eruptions of charge around the back of the target. The MEETING BRIEFS plasma from the Sun. An important determi- cloud pulls positively charged ions from the nant of the environment between Earth and back of this target which are rapidly acceler- Division of Nuclear Physics, 20-23 October 1999, Asilomar, CA the Sun, CMEs can create geomagnetic storms ated to high energies. The ions are The APS Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) held its annual fall meeting in which interfere with cell-phone communi- accelerated to extremely high energies over October at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA. In addition to cations on Earth. The prevailing theory for a short distance (almost 1 MeV/micron for invited sessions on a wide range of topics in nuclear physics — such as neutron CMEs says that the energy responsible for protons). In principle, any type of high-ve- physics, short-lived nuclei, broken symmetries and frontiers in the composition of these eruptions comes from the corona, the locity ion can be generated simply by matter — there were four mini-symposia focusing on such topics as next genera- Sun’s outermost atmosphere. But this theory depositing atoms of the desired species onto tion cold neutron experiments, and science with the next generation of radioactive often clashes with actual observations of CMEs. the back of the target. The researchers envi- beam facilities, as well as two parallel workshops: one on quark and lepton mix- Examining a wealth of new data on CMEs sion the possibility of creating an “ion lens.” ing, and the other on structure functions of heavy nuclei at the Relativistic Heavy from the SOHO spacecraft, James Chen and By shaping a concave section from a target, Ion Collider (RHIC).The conference also featured a special plenary session sum- Jonathan Krall of the Naval Research Labora- one can imagine that the ejected ions focus marizing results of a recent survey by the National Research Council [”Physics in the tory argue that the magnetic energy toward a point, further enhancing the bright- New Era,” conducted by the late David Schramm] of the status of physics research in responsible for these eruptions (about 1015 ness of the ion beam. the US A panel of distinguished speakers reviewed the current status of research in elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic, molecular and optical science, grams of mass ejected at speeds of up to1000 Vortex Crystals km/s) is stored below the photosphere, the condensed matter and materials physics, and astrophysics and cosmology. For several years, UC-San Diego research- visible solar surface underneath the corona. ers have been observing surprising patterns Their explanation involves the concept of Gaseous Electronics Conference, 5-8 October 1999, Norfolk, VA in turbulent plasmas of electrons. In their ex- nd “solar flux ropes,” giant magnetic field loops The 52 annual Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC), held in October in Norfolk, periments, they trap billions of electrons in rooted below the photosphere. When sub- VA, is an official topical conference of the APS run under the auspices of the Division of magnetic fields to make them act like fluid photospheric processes increase the amount Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP). The program included a GEC Foun- particles flowing turbulently on a flat surface. of electrical current along a flux rope, the dation lecture by Alex Dalgarno of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics on Many important turbulent flows in nature are rope expands, taking plasma with it and eject- the historical evolution of cross section calculations in atomic and molecular collision principally two dimensional, such as the Great ing it into interplanetary space. theory, as well as a one-day workshop on non-coherent light sources, covering such Red Spot of Jupiter and large-scale ocean topics as electronic stabilization of high density discharge (HID) lamps, low pressure Advances in Plasmatrons currents. The researchers have noticed that discharge light sources, and advanced X-ray diagnostics using HID lamps. Dan Cohn of MIT reported on advances the electrons can spontaneously form a “vor- In addition, there was a special memorial session honoring Will Allis, a co-founder of in a fuel-preparation device known as a tex crystal,” consisting of 2-20 tightly spinning the GEC and honorary chairman since 1996, who died after a brief illness in March 1999. plasmatron. A wine-bottle-sized device, the whirlpools frozen in place amidst an utterly The session featured three distinguished speakers. Mark Kushner of the University of plasmatron can greatly reduce pollution turbulent background. Illinois summarized Allis’ landmark contributions to the theory of electron and ion trans- emissions in vehicles while being com- Physicists have lacked a port in low-temperature plasmas, along with his other academic, technical and pletely compatible with conventional comprehensive theory of what enables administrative accomplishments. James Lawler of the University of Wisconsin focused automobile technology. Head of the MIT these structures to arise. Presenting the first on resonance radiation transport in low-pressure discharges in atomic gases. And Graeme Plasma Technology Division, Cohn be- quantitative theory of vortex crystals, Lister of Osram Sylvania Inc. summarized recent developments in the modeling and lieves that the plasmatron can be a “game Dezhe Jin of UC-San Diego says that the diagnostics of fluorescent lamps. changer” in the automobile field. Specifi- large whirlpools or vortices must shuffle cally, he believes that the plasmatron can around other particles provide a reasonable alternative to much in a flow to optimize publicized fuel-cells—considerably sooner how randomly these and at much lower cost —if implemented in background particles hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles which offer are distributed— high fuel efficiency. thereby maximizing When connected to a fuel tank, the the amount of disorder, plasmatron converts some of the fuel into a and creating the most hydrogen-rich gas. The hydrogen then travels stable state for the to the engine along with untreated fuel. system—before they Because of its favorable combustion have the opportunity properties, the hydrogen enables the engine to merge with one to run with a greater proportion of air— another and form a bringing about a lower engine temperature single larger whirlpool. (greatly reducing nitrogen oxide pollutants) Says Jin, “We should not and more efficient operation (because of the be surprised if some day properties of air molecules). Cohn now we observe orderly sets estimates that the plasmatron can reduce of large scale hurricanes hydrocarbon emissions by up to 90% at or storms in large scale engine startup, the time at which most fluid systems of some automotive emissions occur. Along with co- planets—even the Earth plasmatron inventors Leslie Bromberg and or on Jupiter.” Demonstrating a technique that may lead to advances in certain forms of radiation therapy and electronics Figure courtesy of Scott C. Wilks Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Alexander Rabinovich at MIT, Cohn has done —Philip F. Schewe manufacturing, Livermore’s Petawatt, the world’s most powerful laser, impinges upon a target to generate 30 trillion work indicating that employing the and Ben P. Stein, AIP protons from a tiny spot only 400 microns in size. Two other research groups, in Michigan and the United Kingdom, plasmatron in diesel engines might Public Information have demonstrated this technique with smaller-scale lasers. 5 APS News January 2000 APS Council Approves New Journal Pricing Model he APS Council approved a new, are immensely successful, with high us- Society to consider charging more for elec- Unlimited online access through Tmulti-tiered pricing model for the age by the research community. In addition tronic access to offset the continued registration of an IP address will still be Society’s journals at its November to current articles, members can also sub- economic squeeze on publications. included with all subscriptions. meeting, which includes differential prices scribe to the Physical Review Online According to McIlrath, the proposed Subsequent modifications to the new between institutions to reflect differences Archive (PROLA), which contains half of new pricing structure will feature a base pricing scheme will be made as needed, in size and online usage. The new all material ever published in the Physical price for the journals charged to all non- based on experience and further consul- scheme — developed by APS Treasurer Review, with plans to extend the archive member subscribers, but will institute a tation both with librarians and the Thomas McIlrath with input from the APS all the way back to the journal’s genesis. surcharge for research intensive institu- scientific member communities. “As with Publications Oversight Committee, and However, the development of elec- tions, based on the standard Carnegie any fundamental change, it is expected in consultation with various librarians — tronic distribution of the journals and Classification scheme. [The revenue ex- that the model will evolve as experience was prompted largely by the rapid growth PROLA represents a multi-million dollar pected to be thus obtained is roughly is accumulated and as reaction is obtained of electronic access to, and usage of, online investment by the Society, and the cost equivalent to the cost of maintaining the from subscribers and users,” says McIlrath, APS journals, as well as concerns over of maintaining these products now ex- APS journals on the Web.] Since there is adding that preliminary discussions with declining subscriptions to the Society’s ceeds 10% of the overall Publications no equivalent to the Carnegie classifica- librarians revealed broad support for such paper journals, particularly the budget. At the same time, nonmember tion for foreign subscriptions, records of a change in pricing. “The involvement nonmember (library) subscriptions, which subscriptions dropped 4% between 1997 online usage will be used to establish of the community is essential to accep- form the core of the financial support for and 1998, and another 5% between 1998 these prices. Institutional subscribers with tance of the change by the libraries and the Society’s publishing activities. and 1999, while member subscriptions multiple subscriptions will only be re- various user communities.” Recent years have brought major to print journals also continue to decline quired to pay the enhanced charges on APS Editor-in-Chief Martin Blume changes in both the usage of APS journal at a rapidly accelerating rate. their first subscription. noted that “Three years ago it was de- content and in subscription patterns sup- Furthermore, large research-intensive For the first time, there will also be an cided to include access to electronic porting the journals, according to APS institutions that have maintained multiple online-only option available at a 15% versions of our publications at institutions Treasurer Thomas McIlrath. The APS now subscriptions in the past are also abandon- discount below the print-plus-online price, who subscribed to the print versions. It has electronic versions of all its journals ing this practice in favor of downloading as well as the possibility of special is now appropriate, with the reliability available to APS members at low cost, as electronic articles, reducing their level of consortium agreements for institutions or of electronic access no longer in ques- well as special electronic publications such contribution to journal support. In fact, the non-traditional subscribers who may have tion, to charge for the electronic products, as Physical Review Focus and internal only sector that shows rapid growth is special needs and don’t fit within the and to charge more for access by larger monitoring of usage shows these products member online subscriptions, causing the confines of the new pricing model. research institutions.” APS and AIP Jointly Launch Virtual Journals he APS and the American Institute such as high-temperature superconduc- journals, along with a link to the various contributing to a given virtual journal will T of Physics (AIP) announced in tivity or ferroelectrics. Taking advantage abstracts and, if the user has a subscrip- now be able to get the content that they October that they would launch the first of the ease of electronic access, the vir- tion to the source journals in question, to need rapidly, conveniently, and for less two of a series of “virtual” journals in the tual journals are intended to highlight the articles themselves. Non-subscribers money than is possible by traditional physical sciences this month. Jointly advances in important fields that might will have the option of purchasing ar- hardcopy document delivery.” developed by the two organizations, the otherwise be buried in broadly based sci- ticles from the source journals for Articles appearing in the two new vir- Virtual Journal of Biological Physics ence journals. Authors may also be immediate online delivery. In the longer tual journals will be selected by editors Research and the Virtual Journal of encouraged to submit such papers in these term, APS and AIP are mulling the possi- who are recognized experts in those Nanoscale Science and Technology will areas to those journals, such as the Physi- bility of selling separate subscriptions to fields. Robert Austin of Princeton Univer- be online journals that will collect relevant cal Review or Physical Review Letters, if the virtual journals, targeting such spe- sity will serve as editor of the Virtual papers from a broad range of physical they know they will receive special at- cialized audiences as pharmaceutical Journal of Biological Physics Research, science journals, including those tention. “Virtual journals will provide users companies, who may wish to keep while David Awschalom of the Univer- published by the APS and AIP, as well as with quick, convenient access to infor- abreast of developments in, for example, sity of California, Santa Barbara has been selected journals from participating mation in cutting edge fields,” says biological physics, but don’t wish to in- named editor of the Virtual Journal of publishers in AIP’s Online Journal Blume. “Gathering into one spot all the vest in expensive multiple journal Nanoscale Science and Technology. Publishing Service. papers on a given topic will help spe- subscriptions that contain many papers Other virtual journals will be launched as According to APS Editor-in-Chief Mar- cialists keep abreast of the latest in fields not of interest to them. warranted, focusing on new and devel- tin Blume, the impetus for the venture developments, not only with title ‘alerts,’ “Virtual journals will provide affordable oping fields that cut across a range of arose from discussions with AIP about the but with abstracts and full-text articles.” access to individuals or small institutions traditional publications. difficulty both organizations have had in Initially, the virtual journals will con- with specialized interests,” notes Marc For additional information, see http:// the past launching what are known as sist primarily of a browsable, monthly Brodsky, AIP’s executive director and www.ojps.org/vj, or contact Martin Burke, “niche journals”—i.e., journals that focus table of contents listing articles in bio- CEO. “Those who could not afford to sub- Publisher, AIP Journals and Technical Pub- on rapidly emerging specialized topics, logical physics appearing in participating scribe to the complete line of journals lications, 516-576-2406; [email protected]. APS Leads Effort for Teacher Preparation he APS is taking the lead in helping From 1984 to the present, various na- of the APS, AAPT and AIP. “If it is true that teacher reform; their willingness to work Tphysics departments play a major tional reports on science education have students teach as they were taught, then in collaboration with faculty from the school role in the preparation of physics and decried the inadequate preparation and we believe that to improve physics and or department of education; their degree physical science teachers. In a partnership lack of competency of new science teach- physical science teaching and learning in of success with previous efforts; and their with the American Association of Physics ers at all levels of K-12 education, calling K-12, universities must model effective willingness to shift their own resources to Teachers (AAPT) and the American for the radical reform of ineffective and teaching and learning approaches for pro- the PhysTEC program. The initial sites in- Institute for Physics (AIP), the APS has antiquated teacher preparation program. spective physics and physical science clude a mix of Research One and smaller proposed a comprehensive program According to APS Director of Education and teachers,” says Stein. Rather than focusing institutions, as well as one or more mem- aimed at significantly improving the Outreach Fred Stein, recent reports “con- on many scientific disciplines at one col- bers of the historically black colleges and science background and the instructional tinue to be critical of the ability of teachers laborative site, PhysTEC will concentrate universities. approaches by (1) encouraging an active to provide their students with a sufficient its efforts and resources to reform one dis- Once PhysTEC begins major effort will collaboration between the physics level of understanding so students can cipline at many major university sites. It be made to implement two key compo- department and the school or department contribute to an increasingly complex, in- will build in part on the pioneering phys- nents: a teacher-in-residence who will work of education; and (2) involving the local formation-rich and technical society.” ics education research of the past 20 years. full-time in the physics department, and a school community through the Inadequate understanding of science con- For example, PhysTEC will draw on the restructured introductory physics course employment of a local Teacher-in- tent (physics in particular) and a lack of experience of Lillian McDermott of the Uni- that will promote active learning in an in- Residence. Dubbed the Physics Teacher student-centered, inquiry-based ap- versity of Washington, who delineated the tegrated lecture and laboratory format. Education Coalition (PhysTEC), the proaches in science classrooms are the two deficiencies of the numerical problem- “This model will encourage less reliance proposal is being prepared for submission most frequently cited criticisms. “The re- solving approach, as well as Dean Zollman on the authoritarian, teacher-dominated to the National Science Foundation in sults of these deficiencies are high school at Kansas State and John Layman of the transfer model of science instruction, and support of activities that would graduates who lack problem-solving abili- University of Maryland, who promote ac- will allow a more spontaneous interchange dramatically increase the role of physics ties and adequate knowledge of science, tive learning through the creation of of ideas to discover relationships, rather departments nation-wide in the and are unprepared for the worlds of work inquiry-based university physics courses. than confirm them,” says Stein. There will preparation of science teachers. As and higher education,” says Stein. The first phase of the program began also be a strong emphasis on field-based proposed, over the next five years 20 It is hoped that PhysTEC will provide last September with a series of professional experiences of future teachers by increas- universities and colleges will form a physics departments with the support and contacts, interviews and visits to institu- ing contact between the physics coalition with the three societies to technical assistance they need to dramati- tions. Selection criteria included their departments and teachers in local public improve teacher preparation, with six to cally improve science teacher preparation, degree of enthusiasm to model good schools, initially through outstanding in- eight selected as primary program and to widely distribute new teaching teaching practices; their commitment to service teachers and, later, through former institutions. models through the combined resources be actively involved with preservice teachers-in-residence.
6 January 2000 APS News Announcements
January 15, 2000 Deadlines APS Council and Committee
See the December issue of APS News or APS home page (www.aps.org) Position Nominations Call for details about the fellowship program and application procedures. For: APS Mass Media Fellowship Program — Summer 2000 VICE-PRESIDENT In affiliation with the popular AAAS program, the APS is sponsoring two ten- GENERAL COUNCILLOR week fellowships for physics students to work full-time over the summer as NOMINATING COMMITTEE reporters, researchers, and production assistants in mass media organizations Vice-Chairperson-Elect • Members nationwide. Visit http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/Media.html (includes PDF PANEL ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS application forms) Vice-Chairperson-Elect • Members MAIL APPLICATIONS TO: APS Washington Office • ATTN: Mass Media Fellowship Program Please send your nominations to: The American Physical Society; One Physics 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 1050 • Washington DC 20045 Ellipse; College Park, MD 20740-3844; Attn: Danita Boonchaisri; (301) 209-3288; 2000-2001 APS/AIP Congressional Science Fellowships fax: (301) 209-0865; email: [email protected]. A nomination form is available at www.aps.org/exec/nomform.html. DEADLINE IS JANUARY 31, 2000. The American Physical Society and The American Institute of Physics are currently accepting applications for their 2000-2001 Congressional Science Fellowship Programs. Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative, or congressional committee. Constitutional Admendment, continued from page 1 The last major revision to the APS Con- ing the 5 Section Advisors with 2 voting MAIL APPLICATIONS TO: stitution in 1990 established a Section Councillors, which the Task Force APS/AIP Congressional Science Fellowship Programs representational scheme based on X, a decided to do, and to reconsider the role c/o Erika Ridgeway • APS Executive Office percentage of the total APS membership of the General Councillors. One Physics Ellipse • College Park, MD 20740-3844 (currently, X = 3). X was used to deter- The task force declined to lower the mine the number of councillors from number of general councillors further divisions (with larger divisions having than to 8, since they often provide bal- more); while forums would gain a Coun- ance and diversity to the Council through Prize and Award Nominations cilor, topical groups could become divisions, the election of women, minorities, and geographical sections were entitled to a younger physicists, and physicists em- See detailed submittal information in December 1999 APS News or at Council advisor once their membership per- ployed in industry. One International www.aps.org under the Prize and Awards button. centage exceeded X. X also determined the Councillor with a 2-year term was added number of General Councillors, currently 16, to the Council. The rationale for this, ac- OTTO LAPORTE AWARD in an indirect way. cording to Holt, is that foreign members Endowed by the friends of Otto Laporte and the Division of Fluid Dynamics. Purpose: To recognize outstanding research accomplishments pertaining to The task force presented an interim currently have no direct representation the physics of fluids. report to Council at its May 1999 meeting on Council and have difficulty winning (see APS News, August/September 1999), election when running against US physi- FLUID DYNAMICS PRIZE recommending that the role of X be re- cists. Two-year terms were deemed Supported by friends of the Division of Fluid Dynamics and the American duced and limiting divisions to one preferable to the usual four-year terms Institute of Physics journal Physics of Fluids. councilor each (14) and reducing the num- to alleviate the extra burden of travel for Purpose: To recognize and encourage outstanding achievement in fluid ber of general councilors from 16 to 9. In non-US physicists to attend Council
dynamics research. 2000 18, JANUARY DEADLINE: addition the threshold for forums to have meetings. To make the Council table sig- Council representation was increased from nificantly smaller, the Task Force JAMES CLERK MAXWELL PRIZE IN PLASMA PHYSICS X to 2X. Currently this will have no effect recommended that only a very limited Sponsored by Maxwell Technologies, Inc. on the number of Forum Councillors. number of non-voting Council Advisors Purpose: To recognize outstanding contributions to the field of plasma physics. There was strong Council support for re- be asked to sit at the main table. Other AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PLASMA PHYSICS RESEARCH ducing its own size. However the Council Council advisors would sit at additional Established with support from friends of the Division of Plasma Physics. asked the Task Force to consider replac- tables close by. Purpose: To recognize a particular recent outstanding achievement in plasma physics research. OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL THESIS IN PLASMA PHYSICS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE AWARD Established originally as the Simon Ramo Award and endowed in 1997 by APS CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS General Atomics Inc. The Council-approved additions and deletions to the relevant Purpose: To provide recognition to exceptional young scientists who have performed original thesis work of outstanding scientific quality and achieve- sections in the APS Constitution and Bylaws to reduce the size ment in the area of plasma physics. of the APS Council (see story, page 1) can be found online at DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2000 NICHOLSON MEDAL FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICE http://www.aps.org/apsnews/0100/proposal.html. The APS Sponsored by friends of Dwight Nicholson. membership is encouraged to read over the proposed Purpose: To recognize the humanitarian aspect of physics and physicists. amendments and comment accordingly; responses should be directed to the attention of Danita Boonchaisri, Council Administrator, APS, One Physics, Ellipse, College Park, MD Now Appearing in RMP... 20740; [email protected]. The articles in the January 2000 issue of Reviews of Modern Phys- ics are listed below. For brief descriptions of each article, consult the RMP website at
7 APS News January 2000 THE BACK PAGE Is There an Unconscious Discrimination Against Women in Science? by Howard Georgi uch progress has been made by situations in which this selection is almost not mean that the system is not eliminating Mwomen in science in the last 25 years, explicit. One of my favorite examples is many others who could be equally good. but “unconscious discrimination” still the Physics GRE exam. I can expand on remains. I offer the following tentative this if necessary. It is not impossible to Are assertiveness and single- theory of unconscious discrimination, along succeed as a scientist without being mindedness really necessary with possible strategies for improving the assertive and single-minded, but the (or even desirable) for a situation. While I have struggled with these system encourages and rewards people scientist? issues, I wish to emphasize that I am not with these traits in a number of ways. This question is more difficult to answer. an expert. This is a personal attempt to I am not sure that any controlled understand the troubling fact of gender How does selection for experiments have been done. My discrimination that I see in science. assertiveness and single- personal view is that what we want in a “Discrimination” is an interesting word. mindedness differentially affect scientist is not assertiveness, but intellectual There are two kinds of meanings: positives women? curiosity and thoughtfulness, and not single- that describe the mental process of Why should this matter more for women mindedness, but dedication and than for men? I realize that I am treading on perseverance. For the moment, I hope that differentiation, discernment or judgement; Howard Georgi and negatives that describe the misuse of dangerous ground here. Obviously, for these you will accept this as a working hypothesis. traits, as for any other similar traits, there is a differentiation to treat unfairly those who If assertiveness and single- it much more difficult to counteract the are different. My simplistic theory is that broad distribution in both men and women, effects of unconscious discrimination in and the distributions overlap. Nevertheless, mindedness are not really what in unconscious discrimination against we want, why did the system hiring. We have to convince search women in science, the latter follows from the distributions of assertiveness and single- committees to work hard twice; both to mindedness are strongly skewed towards develop to select for these, the former. I will argue that unconscious rather than what we are really overcome their preconception that good discrimination arises because the men. I think that most people would agree scientists must be assertive and single- that there are very strong cultural biases that interested in? application of our tools for discrimination This is a question for historians and minded, and also to identify women from between different scientists selects for make it more difficult for women than for a smaller pool. men to be assertive and single-minded. sociologists of science. But my suspicion many things, including qualities that are at is that the answer here has two parts. The best very indirectly related to being a good What can be done about this? Isn’t this a problem in system could develop because when it The good news is that the system is scientist, and that clash with cultural academia in general? Why is it developed, there was overt discrimination pressures. not evil, just misguided. But the bad news worse in science? against women, and so there was no is that unconscious discrimination arises In particular, our selection procedures I think that the answer is that in science, selective pressure to develop a system tend to select not only for talents that are due to deep-seated habits that will be very we actually do have quantitative tools. that worked for women as well as men. It hard to change. There are many proposed directly relevant to success in science, but There are quantitative ways of actually did develop, I think, and persists, also for assertiveness and single- ideas for changing this from the bottom distinguishing good science from bad because assertiveness and single- up. I hope that we can do it by changing mindedness. This causes problems for science, and for training good scientists. mindedness are easier to measure women (and others as well). There are our system of educating and evaluating These tools really exist and they work! quantitatively than the qualities that we scientists, rather than simply encouraging probably other gender-linked traits that we We produce people who do great science. are really interested in, intellectual curiosity, also select for, but I will focus on these girls and women to break out of the cultural This system has been honed over many dedication, and so on, which have more stereotypes against assertiveness and two because I think that they are years to the point that we now tend to human dimensions. Assertiveness and particularly obvious and damaging. single-mindedness. But meanwhile, we take it for granted. It is this very success single-mindedness are stand-ins that should try to support women’s sports Do we really select for that makes it possible to accept the system worked pretty well for a large group of programs, and other things that help break assertiveness and single- uncritically, and that makes unconscious men in previous generations. Even though down these stereotypes. From the top mindedness? discrimination easy. I hasten to add, they are no longer very appropriate, our down, there are a few strategies that may This question hardly needs an answer. however, that just because we have a system still selects for them. And because help in hiring. The idea, in each case, is to There are many obvious examples of system that produces good scientists does it “works” (at least if you ignore gender try to open up the search procedure and discrimination and such things), we haven’t make it easier to break out of the same tried very hard to do better. old system. How does the selection for (1) Do not make a single ordered list assertiveness and single- of candidates. Make several lists using mindedness give rise to different criteria. This may help remind the unconscious discrimination search committee that many talents are against women? important to success in science, and that Here there are many answers. From different candidates will rate differently in the top down, when department chairs each one. Try to think carefully about all and search committees look for the best the different ways that candidates can scientists, they tend to exclude those who contribute. are not demonstrably assertive and single- (2) Do not define the area of the search minded. This tends to eliminate women. too narrowly. Very narrow searches tend In fact, the situation is worse, because the to exclude women just because of cultural bias against assertiveness in women pipeline issues. And the more narrow the puts even those women who are selected search, the easier it is to fall into the trap by the system at a disadvantage. They may of making a single ordered list without be perceived as good scientists, but thinking carefully about the criteria. disagreeable people. From the bottom up, (3) Open up the search procedure. the mismatch between the cultural Don’t let it be handled exclusively by a stereotypes of women and scientists makes small committee of “experts.” it harder for girls to develop as scientists. They (4) If you send a search letter, ask your are constantly pushed towards other informants to list the best women and vocations. I hope that this is changing, but if minorities in the field, even if they do not so, the process has been very slow. rate them as highly as the top men. This This contributes to the familiar pipeline will at least get people thinking about the problem that we hear so much about issue, and may turn up candidates that today. There are not as many women as would be overlooked otherwise. men in the pool at any level and the (5) And most important, keep trying disparity increases as we go up the even when none of the strategies work. academic ladder. Those of us who are This is a job for optimists. committed to increasing the participation Howard Georgi is Mallinckrodt of women in science find these pipeline professor of physics at Harvard University. issues incredibly frustrating. The small Excerpted from Who Will Do the Science number of women in the pipeline makes in the Future, National Academy Press, Washington DC, 2000.
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