October 2007 Volume 16, No. 9

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Members Respond to APS NEWS President’s letter A Publication of the American Physical Society • www.aps.org/publications/apsnews page 5

Curtis Callan Elected next APS vice-President US Olympiad Team Brings Back APS members have elected as the new vice-chair of the APS In 1969, he moved back to Princ- Medals and Memories From Iran Curtis Callan, professor and for- Nominating Committee, which eton as a long-term member of By Katherine McAlpine mer chair of the depart- has the responsibility of selecting the Institute for Advanced Study The five-member US travel- countries and customs. ment at Princeton University, as a slate of candidates each year and rejoined Princeton Univer- ing team competed against 322 “The IPhO exam itself only the Society’s next vice president. to run for APS office. Katherine sity in 1972. He is currently the of the brightest physics students took up 10 hours over two days,” Callan will assume the office in Freese, a professor of physics at J. S. McDonnell Distinguished from 72 other countries at the said student Kenan Diab, recent January 2008. At the same time, the Univer- University Professor 38th International Physics Olym- graduate of Hawken School in Cherry Murray of Lawrence sity of Michi- of Physics. Callan is piad (IPhO). Each member of Ohio. “The most interesting stuff the team was decorated as they that happened at IPhO wasn’t di- brought two gold and three silver rectly exam-related.” medals back home to the US (see OLYMPIAD continued on page 6 accompanying photo). They were welcomed to Iran Friday, July 13th, attending opening cer- emonies Saturday morn- ing. The Olympiad Pictured here are the members of the APS Presidential line who will assume office on January 1, 2008. From left: Arthur closed with a banquet on Bienenstock, President; Cherry Murray, President-elect; Curtis Callan, vice-President; and , past-President. Saturday, July 21st. In between, aside from the Livermore National Laboratory gan, and Marcela Carena, a senior a long-time member, and was competition, their time will become president-elect, and scientist at Fermilab, were elected chair from 1990 to 1995, of JA- was filled with touring of Stanford as general councilors. Sabyasachi SON, a group that advises the US historic sites in Isfahan University will serve as APS (Shobo) Bhattacharya, Director of government on national security and the surrounding area, president for 2008, succeeding the Tata Institute of Fundamental implications of science and tech- introduction to new cui- 2007 APS President Leo Kadan- Research (TIFR), Mumbai, India, nology. He has served as chair of sines, swimming in salty off of the University of Chicago. was elected as international coun- the Nominating Committee of the Decorated US Physics Team. From left, Kenan waters, and camaraderie Diab (silver), Haofei Wei (gold), Jenny Kwan (sil- Callan will be President-elect in cilor. APS. Callan was elected to mem- among students of many ver), Jason LaRue (gold), Rui Hu (silver). 2009, and will serve as APS Pres- Callan, a theoretical particle bership in the National Academy ident in 2010. physicist, received his PhD from of Sciences in 1987. He received Three APS Members Receive In other election results, An- Princeton in 1964. In 1967, after the 2000 Sakurai Medal for Par- gela Olinto, a professor of astron- postdoctoral work at Princeton, ticle Theory of the APS and the National Medal of Science omy and astrophysics at the Uni- he took an assistant professorship 2004 of the Interna- Three APS members are among including Rydberg atoms, cav- versity of Chicago, was selected in physics at Harvard University. CALLAN continued on page 3 the recipients of the 2005 and ity , 2006 National Medal of Science, quantum chaos; for developing Physics Bachelors Degrees Show 40% Gain in Six Years and one APS member was among techniques that opened the way the recipients of the 2006 National to Bose-Einstein Condensation in The number of physics degrees Astronomy bachelor’s degrees have cording to the report. Medal of Technology. The awards a gas; and for lucid explanations awarded at all levels in the US in- risen sharply in the past few years, The study mentions several pos- honor the nation’s top scientists of physics to non-specialists and creased in 2005. The information with 343 awarded in 2005. sible reasons for the upward trends, and innovators. exemplary service to the scientific comes from the recently released The recent gain “substantially including increases in the college President Bush presented the community.” Enrollments and Degrees Report, outpaces gains seen in degree pro- age population, the proportion of medals in a ceremony at the White Stryer was cited “for his elu- 2005, from the AIP statistical re- duction for related majors during high school graduates going to col- House on July 27. cidation of the biochemical basis search center, which surveys phys- the same time period,” the report lege, and the number of high school APS members Daniel Kleppner of signal amplification in vision ics departments annually. says, but physics remains a relative- students taking physics. In addition, of MIT and Lubert Stryer of Stan- and pioneering the development The number of physics bachelor’s ly unpopular major, with just 3.6 out the report suggests that some efforts ford University received the 2006 of high density micro-arrays for degrees has been increasing steadily of every 1000 bachelor’s degrees in by the physics community may also National Medal of Science. genetic analysis. His influential for the past 6 years, reaching 5113 all fields in 2005, and about 2% of be responsible for some of the in- Kleppner was cited for “his biochemistry textbook has influ- in 2005. This represents a 40% in- the bachelor’s degrees in natural crease in physics majors, though the pioneering scientific studies of enced and inspired millions of crease over the recent low in 1999. sciences, math, and engineering, ac- DEGREES continued on page 7 the interaction of atoms and light MEDAL continued on page 6 New Research Raises Old Questions APS Selects Bowen as New Congressional Fellow About Electromagnetic Fields A high energy physicist from of Joseph Campbell (author of Recently published research sug- electric blankets. Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the new The Hero with a Thousand Fac- gests that electric fields can influence The scientific community gen- APS Congressional Fellow for es, among other seminal works). the growth of brain tumors. This erally refuted these claims, citing 2007-2008. Matthew Bowen, However, his religious studies might suggest that low-energy elec- flaws in the analysis and an absence who completed his graduate professors “just didn’t excite me tromagnetic fields, such as those near of any credible physical mechanism. study at the University of Wash- the way I’d hoped they would,” power lines, also have some health In 1995, the APS Council passed a ington in 2006, will spend the he says. effect. When APS News asked sev- statement that said, in part, “The next year broadening his con- A mechanics class and a stint eral APS members with expertise in scientific literature and the reports gressional experience through in the lab with a high-energy this area to comment, they expressed of reviews by other panels show no direct involvement with the leg- experimental physics group at the view that this study should not consistent, significant link between islative and political process. Brown tipped the scales in fa- change our thinking about the safety cancer and power line fields.” The APS Congressional Fel- vor of a physics major, which of power lines. A National Academies panel also lowship program is intended to Bowen hadn’t really thought Bowen completed in 2000. His Beginning in 1979, various studied the possible connection be- provide a public service by mak- about becoming a scientist un- thesis focused on top quark pair groups have claimed, based on sta- tween power lines and public health, ing individuals with scientific til his undergraduate studies at production at Fermilab’s D0 ex- tistical analysis, that those living and issued a report in 1996 that con- knowledge and skills available Brown University. Initially, he periment, specifically applying near power lines have an increased cluded that “the current body of evi- to members of Congress. In turn, planned on majoring in religious commercial server applications risk of cancer. Later the claims were dence does not show that exposure the program enables the scien- studies with the intent of becom- towards the analysis of large data extended to include other devices to these fields presents a human- tists selected to gain experience ing a comparative mythologist, sets. Not only did Bowen’s work that generate low-level electromag- health hazard.” in the political process. having been inspired in high demonstrate improvement in the netic fields, such as cell phones and RESEARCH continued on page 7 Unlike many PhD physicists, school by reading the writings BOWEN continued on page 3 2 • October 2007 APS NEWS

Members in the Media This Month in Physics History “Pre-blog, this sort of rumor of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, on the October, 1957: Soviets launch would have circulated among per- Minnesota bridge collapse, WEAU haps a few dozen physicists. Now News, August 2, 2007 first artificial satellite into Earth orbit with blogs even string theorists who “You’re older, with crazy white ifty years ago, on October 4, 1957, the Soviet whose name comes from the Russian for “traveling can’t spell Higgs became immedi- hair. You’re a physicist.” ately aware of inside information FUnion launched Sputnik, the first man-made sat- companion,” orbited Earth once every 96 minutes, Brian Jones, Colorado State ellite, shocking the American public and beginning flying in an elliptical path that reached 141.7 miles about D Zero data.” University, on fitting the “Einstein Joe Lykken, Fermilab, on rumors the Space Age. from Earth at its closest approach, and 588 miles stereotype,” News and Record, People had been dreaming of space travel for away at its farthest point. Amateur radio operators that the Higgs had been detected (Greensboro, NC) July 31, 2007 at Fermilab, The New York Times, some time before the launch of Sputnik. In 1903 Rus- could easily pick up the signals it constantly sent out July 24, 2007 “It used to be if you wanted to sian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky showed at 20 and 40 MHz. It continued circling the globe make a mechanical change in your mathematically that an artificial satellite was feasi- until January 1958. “Baseball actually isn’t doing too golf swing, it could take months to ble, though the US paid little attention to his work. The small beeping ball was enough to terrify the bad a job compared to other leagues. do that. But if you can hear what’s Rocketry developed over the next several decades, American public, which was taken by surprise by Probably the worst is the National going on, you can change the sound and the idea of spaceflight captured the satellite’s launch. US scientists Football League with only 16 games space almost instantly.” the public’s imagination. tracked its course, and its signals in a season.” Robert Grober, Yale University, In 1952, the International Coun- were broadcast on radio and tele- Eli Ben-Naim, Los Alamos Na- on developing a tool that uses sounds cil of Scientific Unions decided to vision. The satellite could even be tional Lab, on his statistical study to help people improve their golf establish the International Geo- seen from Earth with binoculars as that found that the best baseball team swing, The New York Times, August physical Year. The IGY was sched- it flew overhead. The public was does not always finish first in the 6, 2007 uled for 18 months from July 1957 afraid that since the Soviets could league, USA Today, July 30, 2007 to December 1958, chosen because launch a satellite into space, then “How can you not work to solve solar activity would be at a high they could also launch missiles with “If you talk to many scientists, a problem when you have a solution point during that time period. The nuclear warheads that could reach their first exposure to science may in your back pocket, and you see “year” would be a sort of extrava- the US. Some people even believed be watching a cartoon or seeing a somebody is under abysmally harsh ganza of geophysical science, with that the satellite was spying on us, far-out science-fiction movie. I know conditions, suffering agony?” many scientific studies planned. or that its meaningless beeps were there are many scientists who enjoy Ashok Gadgil, Lawrence Berke- As part of the IGY, ICSU called actually some sort of code. Presi- The Simpsons.” ley National Laboratory, on a wood- for Earth orbiting satellites to carry dent Eisenhower tried to calm the Paul Halpern, University of the fired stove he developed for refugees out scientific experiments during country, but his words were seen as Sciences in Philadelphia, who has in Darfur that is much more efficient Courtesy of NASA the year. In July 1955, the White a sign of unconcern, which angered written a book on science and The than the wood fires they usually cook Sergei Korolev House announced plans for the first the public even more. Simpsons, USA Today, August 13, over, Reuters, August 7, 2007 2007 satellite and called for proposals. In September, the Responding to the public panic that the Russians “It’s a real New York fuel. It uses Naval Research Lab’s Vanguard satellite was chosen. had beaten us into space, the Defense Department “I think there are a lot of women what we have here.” The Soviet Union also announced plans to launch an approved another satellite, Explorer, in addition to in physics—and there really aren’t Stephen Paul, Princeton Plasma IGY satellite. the Vanguard mission. About two months after the that many women in physics—who Physics Laboratory, on his process The Russian satellite effort was led by Sergei Ko- first Sputnik launch, the US, in a hurry to prove our sort of don’t really know how they for turning trash into fuel, New York rolev, though his name was kept secret until after his own capabilities, attempted to launch Vanguard, but should dress. You want to just blend Sun, August 14, 2007 death in 1966. Korolev was born in 1907, and trained it exploded on the launch pad. in. On the other hand, you’re never at university to become an aerospace engineer. In the Finally, on January 31, 1958, the US made it into going to blend in. The great thing “It may be wise at first to do a less 1930s he worked on developing long range missiles. space with the successful launch of satellite Explorer about getting older is you don’t have expensive project that still does very In 1938, he was arrested on trumped-up charges and I. Explorer I made one of the most important scientif- to care.” good physics.” sent to prison; he spent the next few years in several ic discoveries of the international geophysical year, Lisa Randall, Harvard, Vogue, Abraham Seiden, UC Santa forced labor camps, including one of the most dread- the Van Allen radiation belts, and the discovery was August 2007 Cruz, on the proposed “Project X” ed in the gulag. During WWII he and other engineers soon confirmed by Explorer-III, launched on March “If anything gives way anywhere at Fermilab, Chicago Tribune, Au- were sent to prison design camps, where imprisoned 26, 1958. On March 17, 1958, the Vanguard I satel- in the structure the structure can’t gust 20, 2007 engineers designed rockets for military use. After the lite was launched. It weighed only about 3 pounds, hold itself up.” war Korolev was released from prison and continued and was about the size of a grapefruit. Erik Hendrickson, University Members continued on page 5 work on long range ballistic missiles. Less than a month after the first Sputnik launch, In 1953, Korolev began work on the R7, the first the Soviet Union launched a second Sputnik satel- intercontinental ballistic missile, which he success- lite, this time carrying the first living passenger in APS Web Writer Wins Award fully tested in August 1957. The powerful rocket was space, a dog named Laika. This was followed by Don Monroe, a freelance science ductor computer chip research. He capable of launching satellites weighing more than a the May 15, 1958 launch of Sputnik III, which car- journalist and an APS Fellow, is the attended New York University’s ton into orbit. The planned scientific payload (which ried a variety of scientific instruments. The Rus- first to win the Acoustical Society Science and Environmental Report- later became Sputnik III) was not yet ready, but Ko- sians went on to send the first human into orbit, on of America’s (ASA) new award for ing Program and then began his sec- rolev, hearing plans for Vanguard, was determined April 12, 1961. science writing in electronic media. ond career in science journalism. to beat the Americans into space, so he decided to There are now thousands of man-made satel- His award-winning article, “Why “His combination of 20 years’ proceed with the launch of a smaller satellite with no lites orbiting Earth. Following Sputnik, fears that the Inner Ear is Snail-Shaped,” was experience as a physicist and a de- scientific instruments. The Soviets originally hoped the US was losing the space race led to a drive published in APS’s online maga- gree in science journalism are a re- to schedule the launch for September 17, the 100th to improve American scientific and engineering zine Physical Review Focus in 2006 ally rare and valuable contribution,” anniversary of the birth of Tsiolkovsky; they were capabilities. The US government poured more (http://focus.aps.org/story/v17/st8). said David Ehrenstein, the editor of able to put their first satellite into orbit a just few funding into science, science education was em- The article explains how the Physical Review Focus. weeks later. phasized in schools, and more people went into curled shape of the inner ear con- Monroe will receive a $1000 Launched on October 4, 1957, Sputnik I was science and engineering careers. This October, we tributes to better hearing. prize and an award certificate, a shiny aluminum alloy sphere about the size of a commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sputnik, Monroe graduated from MIT which will be presented at the 2007 beach ball. It weighed 184 pounds, much heavier and fifty years of scientific and technological in- with a PhD in physics in 1985 and ASA Fall Meeting, to be held in than America’s planned Vanguard satellite. Sputnik, novation in the Space Age. worked as a scientist in semicon- New Orleans in November.

Series II, Vol. 16, No. 9 For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Editor-in-Chief (Plasma), Scott Milner (Polymer Physics), Paul Wolf October 2007 American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Gene Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on leave) (Ohio Section) APS NEWS © 2007 The American Physical Society Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least Past-President 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please John J. Hopfield*, Princeton University ADVISORS send both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, General Councillors Representatives from Other Societies Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests Robert Austin, Christina Back, Elizabeth Beise, Wendell Fred Dylla, AIP; Harvey Leff, AAPT from subscribers for missing issues will be honored Hill, Evelyn Hu*, Ann Orel*, Arthur Ramirez, Richart Editor•...... Alan Chodos without charge only if received within 6 months of the Slusher*, International Advisors Contributing Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical Postage Paid International Councillor Francisco Ramos Gómez, Mexican Physical Society Staff Writer...... Ernie Tretkoff at College Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. Albrecht Wagner Melanie Campbell, Canadian Association of Physicists Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Mem- Chair, Nominating Committee Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik bership Department, American Physical Society, One Margaret Murnane Staff Representatives Forefronts Editor...... Craig Davis Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten Proofreader...... Edward Lee Robert Eisenstein Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, ed to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College APS COUNCIL 2007 Division, Forum and Section Councillors of Education and Diversity; Michael Lubell, Director, monthly, except the August/September issue, by the Park, MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. President Charles Dermer (Astrophysics), P. Julienne (Atomic, Public Affairs; Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Chris- American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Leo P. Kadanoff*, University of Chicago Molecular & Optical Physics) Robert Eisenberg (Bio- tine Giaccone, Director, Journal Operations; Michael lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It con- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publi- President-Elect logical), Charles S. Parmenter (Chemical), Richard M. Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer tains news of the Society and of its Divisions,Topical cation delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing Arthur Bienenstock*, Stanford University Martin (Computational), Moses H. Chan (Condensed Groups, Sections and Forums; advance information on abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. Vice-President Matter Physics), James Brasseur (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Administrator for Governing Committees meetings of the Society; and reports to the Society by its Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Cherry Murray*, Lawrence Livermore National Labora- Zimmerman* (Forum on Education), Roger Stuewer Ken Cole committees and task forces, as well as opinions. librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. tory (Forum on History of Physics), Patricia Mooney* Executive Officer (Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics), David Ernst Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville (Forum on International Physics), Philip “Bo” Ham- * Members of the APS Executive Board ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- should be addressed as follows: For APS Members– (on leave) mer* (Forum on Physics and Society), Steven Rolston dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Membership Department, American Physical Society, Treasurer (Laser Science), Leonard Feldman* (Materials), Akif the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, Joseph Serene*, Georgetown University (emeritus) Balantekin (Nuclear), John Jaros* (Particles & Fields), correspondence regarding APS News should be direct- [email protected]. Ronald Ruth (Physics of Beams), David Hammer APS NEWS October 2007 • 3

CALLAN continued from page 1 tional Center for Theoretical Phys- d’Excellence Award of the French program that brings Latin Ameri- ics. Agence Nationale de Recherche. can students to pursue research at Callan’s early work focused on “One of the top challenges of Fermilab, and has given public out- using general properties of quan- our leadership should be to increase reach lectures in the Fermilab area. tum field theory to understand the the funding for basic research with Carena sees an important role new phenomena of particle phys- a well planned long term vision. for APS in bringing together the A Pox on Both Their Houses ics. Later he turned to the study As part of facing this challenge, different subfields. “As physics of nonperturbative the effective communication of the becomes broader and more com- by Michael S. Lubell, APS Di- al sustainability. phenomena. Callan’s research then fundamental value of the scientific plex, it is important to maintain rector of Public Affairs It would be more than a great turned toward . In re- endeavor and, in particular, of the the strength of our core disciplines. You would think that a President pity if governmental paralysis and cent years, he has been exploring physical sciences, to policy makers The field must meet this goal by with approval ratings in the low thir- public outrage about the institu- how physical principles may con- and the public at large should be a fostering the interconnections, ties and an inner circle of advisors tions of government conspire to strain biological phenomena. priority,” Olinto said in her candi- both intellectual and technical, that who have headed for the Texas hills derail the federal science educa- Callan said he was “honored to date’s statement. increasingly tie together different would be contrite and in the mood tion and research initiatives and receive the votes of the American A theoretical cosmologist, subfields,” she said in her candi- for compromise. You would think the dollars they require. It would Physical Society members.” Freese received her PhD in Phys- date’s statement. She also supports that a President with a war that has be a tragedy if the policies and au- In considering his priorities as ics in 1984 from the University of APS education and outreach and taken almost 4,000 American lives, thorizations in the America COM- he joins the presidential line, “my Chicago. She is now a professor of partnerships with related organiza- severely injured several tens of PETES Act–which the President overriding goal is to make sure physics at the University of Michi- tions such as AAPT. thousands more, killed hundreds of signed into law on August 9 after that APS does the right thing to gan. Her interests span particle Bhattacharya is an experimental thousands of Iraqis and dislocated it had passed the Senate by unani- ensure the vitality of our science,” physics, astrophysics, general rela- condensed matter physicist. He re- millions more, a war that nearly mous consent and had garnered 367 he said. “I will do my best to serve tivity, and climate science. Freese ceived his PhD in physics in 1978 seventy percent of American voters House votes–were still-born in their the interests of the physics profes- has served on many advisory pan- from Northwestern University. want ended, a war that is running implementation. sion as issues present themselves. els and committees, including the He spent his post-doctoral years up a tab of $3 billion per week, you But as the first session of the would think that such a President 110th Congress winds down, the Everybody can have some view of Astronomy and Astrophysics Ad- at the University of Rhode Island, might lose a bit of his swagger. But Senate is struggling to find the nec- what he would like to accomplish; visory Committee (AAAC) man- and at the University of Chicago. you would be wrong. essary 60 votes it needs to pass any what you can actually accomplish dated by Congress; and the Dark Subsequently, he worked at Exxon Matter Scientific Advisory Group. Most Presidents, as they enter of its pending bills; Democrats in depends on the opportunities that Corporate Research, New Jersey present themselves.” In 1997 she was Senior Program the last fifteen months of their Con- both chambers remain divided on and at the NEC Research Institute, In his candidate’s statement, Officer at the Board of Atmospher- stitutionally-limited term, focus on Iraq and energy policy; and House Princeton. In 2002 he left NEC Callan said he had been drawn to ic Sciences and Climate at the Na- creating an enduring legacy. But if and Senate conferees are haggling to join the Tata Institute of Fun- physics as a student by the “fasci- tional Research Council. President Bush is focusing on leg- over spending priorities. damental Research (TIFR). His nating scientific mysteries the field In her candidate’s statement, acy, he’s fooled me and everyone The President’s threatened veto current research interests include addressed,” and he believes that she emphasized the need for APS else in Washington. of any spending bill that exceeds his scanning probe studies of domain APS can play an important role to inform and engage the public, Whether it’s supreme self-con- budgetary request has only served wall dynamics in systems such as in keeping the frontier of physics encourage young people to pursue fidence, a skin that is thicker than to poison the atmosphere further. ferroelectrics, ferromagnets and open. He suggested that one way to physics, and advocate for science rawhide or just plain obstinacy, the The White House argues that fed- multiferroics as well as optical push the frontier is to “define phys- funding. “Science is the “seed corn” President seems bent on tough- eral deficits have spiraled out of tweezer-based studies of complex ics as the unceasing quest to expand for many developments in society ing out his waning days in office control and that Congress must trim the scope of precise mathematical which must be sustained. It is our fluids. He serves several commit- without giving an inch on policy, $21 billion in spending on domestic understanding to the widest pos- job to make sure that members of tees, including the Commission on budgetary priorities or ideology. discretionary programs to avoid the sible range of natural phenomena. Congress as well as the public at Structure and Dynamics of Con- About the only place President vetoes. The nascent attempt to subject the large realize the big returns for so- densed Matter of the International Bush seems to have gotten religion Democrats disdainfully say that phenomena of life to physics-style ciety that result from every dollar Union of Pure and Applied Physics is putting a lid on spending of the the President’s concern over defi- explanation is a promising example spent on science,” she wrote. (IUPAP), the editorial board of Re- domestic sort. cits has a hollow ring, since Repub- of an expansion of physics beyond Carena, a theoretical particle ports on Progress in Physics of the And how have the Democrats licans controlled the White House its historic bounds,” he said in his physicist, received her PhD in phys- Institute of Physics, UK, the Sci- responded? You might think that a and Congress for most of the last statement. He also stressed the con- ics from the University of Hamburg entific Advisory Committee to the party that has regained control of six years during which spending nection between physics and soci- in 1989. She has been a staff sci- Cabinet, Government of India and Congress after more than a decade ballooned. And they note that Presi- etal issues. The APS is the natural entist at Fermilab since 1997. Her the Basic Sciences Steering Com- in the political boondocks would dent Bush has asked Congress for vehicle for articulating the position research explores the possible con- mittee of the Planning Commis- show some spunk. But, judging by almost $200 billion in supplemental of the physics profession and for nections between Higgs physics, sion, Government of India. the polls, American voters think the war spending for Iraq and Afghani- making that position known to the supersymmetry, unification, flavor “I believe that the active in- Democrats spunkless. Now that At- stan this year, ten times the amount public.” physics, and dark matter. Carena is volvement of practicing physicists torney General Alberto Gonzales is he is asking Congress to trim from Olinto received her PhD in a member of the APS Committee is essential for framing informed gone, about the only Washington other federal programs. Physics from MIT in 1987. She on International Scientific Affairs. policies and putting in place institution that gets lower ratings Add to this a looming economic is now a professor at the Univer- She is a former member of the APS mechanisms for substantive global than the White House is Congress, recession, the implosion of sev- sity of Chicago. Her recent work Division of Particles and Fields engagement,” he said in his candi- which barely cracks 20 percent ap- eral hefty hedge funds, a frighten- has focused on the nature of the Executive Committee and the cur- date’s statement. He plans to build proval in the latest surveys. ing growth in mortgage foreclo- dark matter in the universe and rent chair of the DPF Nominating on his experience in both academia Main Street seems to have had sures, a potentially crippling credit the origin of the highest energy Committee. She also serves on the and industry in America and inter- it with both ends of Pennsylvania crunch and partisan bickering over cosmic particles. She has served Project Prioritiza- nationally to “help strengthen the Avenue. President Bush isn’t run- tax restructuring and you have the on many advisory committees for tion Panel (P5) of the U.S. DOE/ ability of the APS to forge mutually ning again, but all 435 House seats makings of an astounding political the NRC, DOE, NSF, and NASA. NSF High Energy Physics Advi- beneficial partnerships with its peer and one third of the Senate seats storm. In 2006, she received the Chaire sory Panel. She originated a visitor groups around the world.” will be up for grabs in 2008. And Should Congress and the White if voters break with precedent and House fail to resolve their differ- assign blame to their own members ences over spending and should BOWEN continued from page 1 of Congress, more than a few in- the federal government be forced cumbents could be in trouble. to shut down, each side is betting time needed to perform such the existence of dark matter in ven Chu give a colloquium on For science, there’s a certain that the other side will receive the analyses, it proved to be an ex- the universe might change how the global energy challenges we irony in the public’s bashing of majority of the public’s scorn. cellent foundation for his gradu- the Higgs boson is discovered. face. Impressed, in 2006, Bowen Washington at this very juncture. It In fact, both sides could both be ate work on the electroweak pro- “The idea was that the particles spent three months as a Science comes at a time when both political wrong. The public has little toler- duction of single top quarks at making up dark matter might and Technology Graduate Fel- parties and both branches of gov- ance left for Beltway blame, bum- hadron colliders. have their own Higgs boson, and low at the National Academies ernment have finally recognized bling and bombast and could sim- Through his years of study, “I this might mix with the Stan- in Washington, DC, preparing that math, science and engineering ply decide to vote for a new begin- learned how to take a complex dard Model Higgs,” he explains. background research and policy are the foundations of American ning in 2008. Michael Bloomberg, system, break it down, propose “This scenario implies that Higgs analysis for committee reports prosperity and security and of glob- are you listening? solutions, analyze those solu- bosons with exceptionally large on a wide range of topics. The tions, and communicate the final masses are theoretically viable. experience proved so enjoyable, results as clearly and honestly as Time will tell what the LHC he decided to apply for a Con- include US energy policy, cli- I have been exposed to a wide possible,” he says. “Performing experiments actually find, but gressional Fellowship. mate change, and the future of range of science and technology original research also taught me perhaps it will include a super- Following an intensive orien- US particle physics, particularly issues I would be excited to work to expect unanticipated develop- heavy Higgs.” tation process organized by the laying the foundation for possi- on,” he says. Beyond the coming ments and to quickly adapt to For all his love of physics re- American Association for the bly hosting the International Lin- year, his plans have yet to take new realities.” search, Bowen is equally com- Advancement of Science, Bow- ear Collider. shape. He may return to physics Since completing his PhD, mitted to making a difference en will choose where to spend Bowen would like to work in research, but he doesn’t rule out he has continued doing research in the world at large through his his fellowship year: either work- those areas during his fellowship the possibility of pursuing subse- with the Michigan Center for involvement with science policy. ing in a Congressional office, or year. However, “Since coming quent positions in science policy. Theoretical Physics (MCTP), His interest was sparked when with one of the many associated to Washington [through his Na- “I guess we’ll see how the year exploring the notion that perhaps he heard Nobel Laureate Ste- committees. His policy interests tional Academies fellowship] goes,” he says. 4 • October 2007 APS NEWS Letters Respect for the Other is Too Often Missing

The July APS News provided rose to top positions as Ministers in me with much food for thought on their government and Presidents of two very different issues. The Back top universities. Instead we find the The Lighter Side of Science Page has a very impressive article: flamboyant empty talk described in The “Violence of Our Knowledge: the article “Nobel Laureates Tackle Warnings Accompanying Your Inflatable Universe On Higher Education and Peace Middle East Problems”. Making” by Parker J. Palmer. The The “respect for the other” that By Justin Kahn following paragraph in this article we have tried to introduce is sim- Congratulations on your re- To Synchronize Them. actual paradox that threatens the gives the key to many problems: ply missing. Without it there is not ceipt of an Inflatable Universe. Your Inflatable Universe, even “So what can we do about the vi- much hope for progress. whole of our reality. DO NOT While we can’t tell you where it as you read this, is moving to- olence of our knowledge? We don’t A completely different example RUIN EXISTENCE FOR THE came from, we can tell you with a wards a state of total decay. Our need to import a new culture to the in “This Month in Physics History” REST OF US. Thanks. certain amount of confidence that lawyers assure us that this is a law, academy. We need to reclaim the states that “BCS theory was quickly The mysteries of the universe it will be around for some time. and nothing can be done about it. best of the culture in which we have accepted as correct”. are many. Be careful with these. WARNINGS FOR THE IN- Actual Star Dust is highly flam- always been rooted. For example, This reveals other aspects for the If you ignore them you may find FLATABLE UNIVERSE: mable. Do not sprinkle it on your scholars at best always have respect absence of respect for the other that yourself missing out on the deep- Inflatable Universe is a fun and loved ones. If you get Star Dust for otherness, whether it comes to has hurt the physics community. educational tool for you and your in your eyes, you must take im- est emotional and philosophical subatomic particles or people. If BCS was not accepted so quick- children. Please be aware that the mediate action. Forcibly hold your experiences known to humanity. we could reclaim that simple epis- ly. I spent a sabbatical year in 1958- following precautions should be eyelids open while flushing out On the other hand if you spend too temological principle that knowing 59 at the University of Illinois at observed. with water. You must rotate your much time thinking about these requires respect, we could get a Urbana and saw BCS criticized as good start on reducing violence in nonsense by people at the top of the Allow adequate space for set- eyeball so that the whole surface is mysteries you could end up going the academy.” establishment because it was not ting up the Inflatable Universe. exposed to the water stream. You nuts. But in earlier articles in the same gauge invariant. That year Bard- Please be aware that the universe will look ridiculous. Do not get too close to the black APS News we find the absence of een invited a young physicist, Phil will continue to expand, even af- Regarding the Miniature Box. holes. You will not survive. respect for the other, creating un- Anderson, to give a colloquium in ter you have finished inflating. Your set contains a scaled-down Be patient with civilizations as Also, be aware that if you do not version of the box which the uni- solvable problems. which he not only showed how to they evolve. inflate the universe at all, it will verse comes in. For the sake of A small group of Palestinian and restore gauge invariance to BCS, he Batteries are not included. inflate itself. Know that while the authenticity we must include it. Israeli academics learned respect also introduced a new mechanism Justin Kahn is an adjunct in- for the other in a public lecture in which is claimed to be the same as Inflatable Universe is not to scale, However, you should not place it eventually will be to scale at a this box in your universe. Think structor in philosophy at Notre December 1982 by four Palestinian the later present- Dame of Ohio. A slightly longer professors at a Weizmann Institute ed in particle physics. The absence ratio of one to one. about what happens: in a sense, version of the above piece ap- auditorium. Their simple message of “respect for the other” in the way Included with your Inflatable the box which once contained the is the key to Mideast peace : “We this physics was treated by the con- Universe is a set of clocks. They universe is actually now contained peared in issue 16 of the Café Ir- don’t want to drive you into the sea; densed matter and particle physics are not synchronized. Do Not Try by the universe. This creates an real. we don’t want you to drive us into communities may have played an the desert. We need a two-state solu- important role in the failure of the Doubling Plan Sounds Fuzzy tion with peace and mutual respect”. SSC accelerator to obtain congres- The APS Executive Board’s smaller institutions–such as my ing situation where many stu- But “respect for the other” was not sional funding. advocacy of doubling the num- own–administratively-mandated dents enter college with weak forthcoming from Israelis, who first ber of physics majors, particular- minimum course-enrollment re- high-school preparation. Our ad- dismissed them as naive young aca- Harry J. Lipkin ly with a view to addressing the quirements constrain the teach- ministrators need to hear author- demics and ignored them as they Rehovot, Israel shortage of high-school physics ing of upper-level courses to al- itative outside-source messages teachers (APS News, August/ ternating years, making it tough explaining that physics is a ver- Biblical Creation Has Lots of Wiggle Room September 2007) is laudable but enough for a student to complete tically-integrated discipline and In the July APS News you state perfectly compatible with the big woefully short on practical ad- the program in 4 years even if needs to be supported as such “the biblical creation story...claims bang and the 14 billion year old uni- vice beyond a fuzzy-sounding they get on track at the outset. for an institution to be credible, that Earth is only 6,000 years old verse. In addition, Hebrew genealo- suggestion to make degree plans I have seen many students con- while we in the trenches need ef- and was created by God in six 24 gies often have many gaps in them, more user-friendly. Indeed, I sider careers in secondary teach- fective strategies to help us work have to wonder how many Board ing only to become turned off by with state and local education hour days.” In fact, the Bible makes so the Bible makes no claims as to no claim as to the age of Earth. The members come into daily con- the bureaucracy and twaddle of administrations. These might be the time scale when humans first Hebrew word “yom” translated tact with undergraduate students their Education programs. These better places to start. appeared on Earth. I would expect “day” often means a long period and programs; the problem may programs often seem to end up much better fact checking from APS of time, just as the English word not be the typical structure of a attracting analytically weak stu- Cameron Reed does when I write “the day of the News, rather than perpetuating false physics major as such. In many dents, leading to a self-propagat- Alma MI dinosaur.” Many Biblical scholars ideas. and Christians believe the “days” Doubling Need Manufactured by Self-serving Bureaucrats Mike Strauss of creation are long periods of time What, may I ask, apart from And why “doubling”? The vious detriment to the Ameri- and the biblical story of creation is Norman, OK insuring the continued employ- APS Board can’t possibly have can economy. More physics Undergraduate Research Key to Gender Equity ment of physics faculty, is the any quantitative basis for that bachelors–men, women, mi- intended purpose of doubling number. Why not “fourpled”? norities–or martians–would be We applaud the efforts of the research; for state universities, that the number of physics bache- Or halved, for that matter? We a result of a surge of interest in Gender Equity Conference organiz- percentage is about 50%. Appar- lors? [APS News, August/Sep- have been seeing self-serv- physics, not a source of such ers and participants to strengthen the ently, typical research professors tember 2007] Who, apart from ing declarations from both interest, and will do nothing to women in physics enterprise at uni- are only interested in their postdocs, self-interested physics bureau- the APS and the AAPT (not improve the teaching of high versities and national laboratories, PhD students, and/or (best) graduate crats, has identified a need? It to mention the IEEE) apparat- school physics. as reported in the June APS News. students. It would be much better can’t be to satisfy a demand chiks, for decades–with no in- We agree with Barbara Whitten for undergraduate students, female in the marketplace–where are dication that anyone has paid Robert A. Myers that the greatest leak from the pipe- and male alike, that many more fac- the “physicists wanted” ads? any attention, and with no ob- New York, NY line is at the undergraduate level. ulty participate in undergraduate re- Yet one major ingredient appears search, and, if needed, come down Physics Must be Relevant to the Real World to be missing in the discussions and from their ivory towers. report. No mention was made at all The headline suggested that I have been getting increas- basic research outside of a ba- tackling a wide range of prob- of using undergraduate research, as there is no silver bullet, but there are ingly disillusioned by some of sic research organization, but lems. There are hard problems an addictive tool to attract and retain lots of ways to help gender equity the editorial content of APS these “motherhood and apple to solve in areas from agricul- female students in physics. We have in physics. Our work indicates un- News and Physics Today. pie” statements make me skep- ture to telecommunications and a small, yet rather thriving Women dergraduate research could be the Every year the candidates in tical about whether the APS has from research to manufactur- in Science and Engineering pro- golden nugget to retain and attract the APS election talk about the any interest in exploring the ing. And while we should test gram at San Jose State University, female students in physics. Start need for increased funding to continuum between physics as and reformulate our models, we only partly supported by outside research at the undergraduate level, keep America competitive, but a scientific discipline and phys- must keep our beloved science funding from NSF and NIH. There and get them captivated to over- these talented scientists who ics as a means both to solve from becoming little more than have been no dropouts and no leak- come the frustrations and biases in write and speak so precisely real problems and to provide age has occurred in our WiSE@ the physics enterprise. Then, the rest in their work use vague, un- discipline to how problems are Hermann Hesse’s Glass Bead SJSU pipeline. will follow. defined concepts that cannot discussed and framed. Game. It has been reported that merely easily be quantified in their The apprenticeship program 20% of the research university fac- Carolus Boekema campaigns. I am probably one we call graduate school has Steve Rosenblum ulty are active in undergraduate San Jose, CA of the more vocal supporters of helped me immeasurably in Ithaca, New York APS NEWS October 2007 • 5 Comments on Leo Kadanoff’s Letter to the APS Membership On the Responsibilities of APS Editor’s Note: At the end of students and half of our baccalau- school physics teachers. Give a By Leo Kadanoff his message, Leo Kadanoff asked reates.” direction. I doubt that you will Editor’s Note: In early August, Physics Teachers (AAPT), we over- for responses, and many were re- noted that succeed.”–Gerald Gabrielse APS President Leo Kadanoff wrote see and aid two programs, PhysTEC ceived. Below, Michael Marder, “The tension within APS be- Many respondents mentioned to all APS members expressing and PTEC, aimed at improving and Professor of Physics at the Univer- tween those who would like to see the importance of improving sci- some thoughts on the responsibili- promoting the education of future sity of Texas, Austin, and Chair of the Society’s resources confined ence instruction at elementary and ties of APS in a number of areas. teachers of physics and physical the APS Committee on Education, to the support of physics research middle school levels as well: For those who missed this message, science. APS’s flagship program, presents some analysis of, and and those who regard physics ed- “Partly our students are being or who would like to see it again, we PhysTEC, is supported by the Na- quotations from, those responses. ucation at all levels a significant intellectually smothered by the reproduce it below. tional Science Foundation, private Overall Statistics part of our mission has always standardized testing, which starts As a tax exempt organization, donors, and ourselves. We oversee There were 188 responses by been with us. In the 1930s it led to in elementary school. I have seen APS has a legal responsibility to teacher training at ten universities email. 143 or 76% were support- the founding of the AAPT.” this in my daughter’s class here in serve the public welfare. We fulfill and colleges, each based upon a ive of APS playing a strong role There also were calls for in- Amherst MA, and in Santa Bar- this obligation in five main ways: cooperation between its physics de- in education. 28 or 15% were op- creased cooperation on education bara CA—two places which are journals, meetings, informing the partment and its school of education. posed to an increased role, and 17 matters with organizations such known for their excellent schools! government, informing the public, In each case, an experienced teacher or 9% did not take a position on as the Materials Research Society, They are being taught a jumble of and in helping education. The senior helps bring in the real world. whether APS should increase its and the American Mathematical factoids on test-prep worksheets.” leadership of APS is in reasonable We have reached a crossroad in activities in education. Society. They carry some weight –Jennie Traschen agreement on the first four; we have planning future educational pro- Against Expanding Edu- because the messages came from It was stated several times that the current presidents of the Ma- research and teaching are insepa- some disagreement about the last. I grams for APS’s PhysTEC, our cational Role terials Research Society and the rable, and that it is a pity that pro- go in the order named. flagship program, is set to dimin- From those who opposed the American Mathematical Society. fessional advancement at the ma- 1. Journals: We publish the ish by 60% as NSF support runs expansion of APS education activ- Many respondents talked of jor universities depends so much Physical Review family of journals, out next year. On the plus side, we ities, there was a fairly consistent the responsibility of physicists to on research to the exclusion of including Reviews of Modern Phys- have hired a new full-time person to line of argument. Most empha- combat ignorance about science in teaching. ics and Physical Review Letters. work on education. Working jointly sized that the AAPT should work Our per-word prices are very low; in this area, not the APS. As Peter the general population, often men- Twelve of the responses over- with AAPT, we have in planning tioning creationism and intelligent all came from women, and all sup- our impact upon professionals is an important new program aimed Wolynes put it, very high. In addition, we maintain “I think the differentiation in design. Joseph Abeles wrote ported increasing the role of APS at doubling the number of physics “APS should place an emphasis in education. Amy Bug remarked all the back issues and make them majors, while guiding these new function between APS and AAPT is a good one. Let’s do what we on seeking to elevate what I may “I have many women col- available online. majors toward teaching and a wide 2. Meetings: We conduct a di- each do well.” term the lowest-common-denomi- leagues who could not cover all variety of other occupational goals. verse set of professional meetings. Some additional common nator physics competence in our three vertices [of] the “teach- However, for the next year, only 5% Our largest meeting has reached points were that education funding society. The rest will eventually ing, research, family” triangle... of the present education spending 7,000 registrants. is a , and that it drags follow. The ability of the citizenry and changed the nature of their has been allocated for new educa- 3. Informing the government: physicists along with educational to comprehend and to respect the research to “research on teach- tion programs. Our Washington office informs pub- fads that they are ill-equipped to potential for advances in physics ing” in order to actually make There is considerable discussion lic officials about APS positions on address. One respondent com- and technology is fundamentally their lives work. Men more typi- within APS leadership about wheth- based on demystification of basic cally feel they are able to modify a variety of public issues, including mented that when he was in high er education should be a core APS physical principles. “ that triangle in other ways.... My and especially funding for science. school many years ago there was activity. One side of the discussion Many respondents spoke of the point is that the gender imbalance The office acts under the guidance a shift in physics education from points out that APS has traditionally importance of engaging with edu- exists; no one is smart enough of Council and committees of ex- what was then “standard” physics focused upon research while AAPT cational issues in order to retain to know how to change it; and it perts. [more mechanics subjects, home- has teaching as its central concern. influence in Washington. Stamatis is not going to change any time 4. Informing the public: APS work problem focus] to a Physical Further, US education is a huge Vokos put it this way: soon. If APS backs off on educa- provides information for various Science Study Committee [PSSC] “If APS removes engagement tion as a core value, it backs off on different “publics”–our members, problem and APS can hardly make curriculum [more focus on mod- with education as part of its mis- a woman-biased core value.” industrial scientists, chairs of phys- a dent in any part of it. ern physics subjects like wave sion, then the Society will return to A good fraction of those who ics departments, teachers, young On the other side, some of us ar- mechanics, and more discovery a state of being a (relatively) small support increased APS involve- students, ....The last two activities gue that this is the time to make use activities]. He thought the change of promised increased governmen- was for the worse and that the high special interest group of research ment with education are already have been materially increased in scientists that bemoans the state of actively involved. Many of them response to the National Academy tal investment in both science and school instructor couldn’t teach education. In this view, it is APS’s the new material. science education K-20 but is un- wrote to point out particular pro- of Sciences report “Rising above able to have any credible impact grams they feel are strong, or to the Gathering Storm”. This report responsibility to respond by bring- Another argument was that ing into being new and expanded there are already too many unem- in the scientific preparation of our ask for assistance in working with asks for increased governmental population and is impotent in any middle or high school students, spending upon research and educa- programs aimed at improving sci- ployed physicists. A respondent ence education. This ongoing dis- wondered why we need to train substantive involvement with poli- particularly in economically dis- tion aimed at the physical sciences cy makers on this issue.” advantaged parts of the country. cussion is likely to focus upon the more people for jobs that do not and mathematics. The importance of improving There was also much emphasis practical question of whether we exist, and asked who would bene- The goals of this report have high school physics teaching was on the importance of increasing shall support educational programs fit from this, other than the people been incorporated in the policies mentioned many times. Michael communication with the public at with our own resources or rely upon who are in the business of training and planning of both parties, con- Walock mentioned the importance every level. Suggestions ranged (and wait for) funding from govern- people for jobs that do not exist. gress, and the executive branch. of a particular teacher for him: from contacting local and national ment and private donors. In favor of Expanding Ed- 5. Education: The Gathering “As an American graduate stu- news organizations about impor- ucational Role Storm report’s emphasis upon edu- In parallel, physics departments dent in physics, I fall into a rela- tant developments in physics to The most common statement cation reflects a broadly felt worry all across the US are likely to have tively small group. The vast ma- speaking before school boards and from those who favored sustain- that our educational system is not discussions about their own educa- jority of my colleagues are from maintaining a steady flow of infor- ing or increasing the role of APS up to US needs for a knowledgeable tional missions. These discussions outside the United States.... When mation about physics to Congress. in education was that all efforts workforce and citizenry. might focus upon increased num- I was a high school student, I fully There were several protests that should be made in cooperation APS has long contributed to bers of physics majors, new teach- intended to go into engineering APS journals are not freely avail- with AAPT, and to complement improving education. We have out- ing goals, new teaching methods, as (aeronautical to be precise).This able. And Don Correll advised: their strengths. Many spoke of reach activities aimed at schoolchil- well as broader and more flexible was my goal, until I took a physics “Give every high school phys- the authority the APS commands dren, including successful websites curricula. They may also be aimed class in my junior year. Even with ics teacher free on-line access to in research universities and at the and contests. Our meetings include at reaching out to students interested the passing of almost 14 years, I Physics Today. Consider a middle federal level. Ken Krane com- workshops for teachers. Together in teaching careers and perhaps stu- still remember my teacher, Tom school level summary of physics mented, with the American Institute of Phys- dents whose main aims are knowl- Lagina. Mr. Lagina’s knowledge news highlights provided as a very “When I did a survey a few ics and the American Association of edge and good citizenship. and enthusiasm for the subject visible link available from the APS years ago, I discovered that of the was infectious. As a result of that home page.” 5000 or so physics professorial MEMBERS continued from page 2 class, I changed my career goals: There were several strong state- faculty at research-1 universities, I wanted (and still do) to be a ments of support for a continua- “This experiment is a giant gust 13, 2007 fewer than 500 were members of physicist.” tion of the PhysTEC project, some step forward in sensitivity. When- “Math, with its inner consis- the AAPT. Some of our leading re- Suggestions of how to improve saying APS should devote its own ever you get big step forwards in tency and beauty, is very much search universities have no AAPT high school teaching ranged from funds, and also some fond remem- technology, that’s when you can like music. There’s an inner har- members among their professo- preparing more and better teach- brances of PSSC physics from make a discovery.” mony, just something very beau- rial faculty. And 2/3 of those who ers, to providing workshops for cases where it was taught well. Robert Svoboda, University of tiful.” were members received their PhD teachers, and developing recom- Finally, some remarks from California, Davis, on a planned Leonard Parker, University degrees prior to 1971. The AAPT mendations for curricula: Don Langenberg (former APS experiment to detect dark mat- of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Mil- simply cannot speak to the educa- “You could try to see if the APS/ President and former Chancel- ter in the proposed deep under- waukee Journal Sentinel, August tion concerns of the universities AAPT could formulate a clear set lor of the University of Maryland that produce all of our graduate ground lab, Sacramento Bee, Au- 18, 2007 of curriculum guidelines for high COMMENTS continued on page 6 Focus on

Focus on

6 • October 2007 APS NEWS

COMMENTS continued from page 5 System) that are representative of and their number is growing. I’ve one of the Society’s primary func- the strength of feeling in many of joined the PSM crusade. tions! It should do so in partner- ocus on the messages. “I am of course aware that ship with AAPT, which has the “When we talk about STEM many of our colleagues see teach- very positive feature of engag- education we’re not just talking ing and learning as the province ing both college and pre-college This month’s group: about high school and early col- of lesser beings. I can’t count the teachers. APS should be–and be lege students. You and I are both times I have heard “But obvi- seen to be–the organization repre- Shock Compression of Condensed Matter aware that post-baccalaureate ed- ously you don’t understand. This senting the whole sector of science ucation in physics is an example is a research university, not an called physics in all of its aspects. Editor’s Note: This article is “There’s still a lot of discovery of Darwinism in its purest form. educational institution!” I would It should not be a narrowly-pur- the first in an occasional series science.” It has one and only one purpose, argue that teaching and learning posed organization of researchers that will highlight the activities With 367 members in 2007, the propagation of the physics fac- are worthy subjects of scholarly in physics. I empathize with the of APS’s ten topical groups, units GSCCM is one of the smaller ulty’s own specialized subspecies, research in themselves. Happily, argument that education is a huge that may be small in numbers but topical groups. GSCCM helps research physicists. We’re here some of our colleagues have em- issue in which APS cannot expect that are often the locus of cutting- its members stay connected and solely to make more just like our- braced that idea. There are per- to play a dominant role. True. But edge research. up to date on their field through selves. Recently, though, there has haps fifteen or twenty significant it can play an important leader- Shock compression of con- biennial topical conferences on arisen the radical idea that there physics education research pro- ship role, as some of its members densed matter, the study of the shock compression. This year’s is a role in the workforce for in- grams across the country, and already are. That argument has response of materials to rapid meeting, which took place June dividuals educated to the master’s I have been told by scientists in never stopped physicists from compression through the use of 24-29 in Hawaii, attracted about level in physics (or other sciences) other disciplines that physics is weighing in on national secu- explosive, laser, magnetic, and 430 attendees. and also equipped with skills use- leading the way in this. Some quite rity, energy policy, environmental gas gun drivers, is a dynamic The meeting included special ful in non-research careers, like respectable physicists are leading policy, climate change, and many field, and the APS topical group sessions on shock waves in medi- operating large genomic data such programs, including several other huge national issues. If we on shock compression of con- cal devices, isentropic compres- bases, running high-tech start- Nobel Laureates. So there’s hope. crawl into our shell and say we’ll densed matter (GSCCM) is help- sion of materials, and a town hall up companies, leading venture (I’ve found the following quotation focus entirely on our noble (and ing its members keep up with the meeting on future directions in capital operations in new fields, from Albert Einstein inspiring: “I Nobel) searches for the Higgs bo- latest developments. GSCCM dynamic high pressure research. etc. These are called Professional never teach my students; I only at- son and the nature of dark energy, Focuswas founded on in 1984 to promoteTopic Other topics included Groups inelastic Science Master’s degrees, and tempt to provide the conditions in eschewing any involvement with the development and exchange deformation, first-principles and might be thought of as the scien- which they can learn.) the pressing problems of our na- ofTopic information regarding the dy- molecular dynamicsGroups calculations, tific equivalent of the MBA or the “All that leads me to recom- tion in education, I don’t see any namic high-pressure properties explosives and reactive materi- MPH. There are now over a hun- mend in the strongest possible reason why our nation should con- of materials, shock physics, and als, geophysics and planetary dred such programs across the terms that APS enhance its em- tinue to support us as generously Focusdetonation physics on research. Topicphysics, optical spectroscopy andGroups country in about fifty universities, phasis on education and make it as it has.” Shock compression physicists multiscale and continuum model- study the behavior of materials ing. MEDAL continued from page 1 undergoing rapid compression, A number of recent develop- students.” Big Bang theory.” been instrumental in driving the most often in the form of a shock ments were reported at the meet- APS member Ralph A. Al- In addition, APS member Her- growth of fiber optic transmission wave propagating through the ing. For instance, graduate stu- pher, who passed away in August, wig W. Kogelnik of Bell Labs was systems for our nation’s commu- material. Impact creates a state dent Cindy Bolme of MIT and was one of eight recipients of the among the five recipients of the nications infrastructure.” where there is high pressure and Los Alamos described a new 2005 National Medal of Science. 2006 National Medal of Technol- The National Science Foun- often high temperature behind the technique that uses femtosecond Alpher was cited “for his unprec- ogy. He was cited “for his pioneer- dation administers the National propagating wave. Shock physi- laser-driven shock waves that edented work in the areas of nu- ing contributions and leadership Medal of Science, which was cists then use velocimetry, spec- produce a wide range of pressures cleosynthesis, for the prediction in the development of the tech- established by Congress for the troscopy, and diffraction tech- to determine the complete shock that universe expansion leaves nology of lasers, optoelectronics, White House in 1959. The Na- niques to analyze the response equation of state, not over the behind background radiation, and integrated optics, and lightwave tional Medal of Technology was of the material, looking for phase weeks or months usually needed, for providing the model for the communication systems that have established in 1980. transformations, chemical reac- but on a single laser shot lasting tions (in the case of explosives), just 300 picoseconds. Marcus OLYMPIAD continued from page 1 and the dynamic strength of the Knudson of Sandia National Lab material. described using the Sandia Z-ma- Diab counts the six-story Ali our own hands-on experience.” the task mainly consisted of data These techniques are useful chine to study the shock melting Qapu palace of Imam Square The team was aware that Is- collection and analysis. All of for understanding and develop- properties of diamond. William among his favorite sites, particu- lamic law was in force in Iran, but us were provided with our own ing armor for military use and Nellis of Harvard explained how larly the music room at the top felt it was not overwhelming. “In equipment, and it was more than for developing new defense several common and ordinarily which “had hundreds of holes Iran, all the women wore scarves enough to complete the task with mechanisms against attackers. soft materials, when compressed carved into the walls in the shape and there was no pork,” recount- the necessary precision,” said They also contribute fundamental to pressures over one million at- of musical instruments. The room ed Haofei Wei, a recent graduate Wei. knowledge that can be used in the mospheres, become far stiffer was not large, but the collective from Oklahoma School of Sci- However, data collection re- aerospace and automotive indus- than diamonds. effect of all these orifices gave ence and Math. “Also, there was quired the use of a photo-resistor tries for many applications. The topical group also pre- the room some pretty stunning a strict separation between the that took three or four minutes Because of the military appli- sented the biennial Shock Com- acoustics.” living quarters of the male and to stabilize. Only being able to cations of the field, many shock pression Science Award, which “The highlight of the whole female contestants, although the record one data point every five physicists work for national labs this year was given to Dennis competition would be meeting rules about male-female contact and/or are part of the defense Grady of Applied Research Asso- representatives of all of the differ- were not extended to between minutes meant that assembling community, said David Funk, ciates (Sandia National Laborato- ent countries and cultures around team members and contestants in the necessary set of forty to fifty current chair of the GSCCM. ries retiree). the world. I had a great time talk- general.” data points was incredibly time- In addition to the applications, The topical group has recently ing and having fun with every- Kwan, the only woman in consuming. shock physics has fundamental launched a quarterly newslet- one there,” said Rui Hu, a senior the group, was untroubled by According to Diab, speed dur- interest, said Funk. Scientists use ter that contains information on from Charter School of Wilming- the headscarf, or hajib, and by ing the experiment marked the shock techniques to understand a upcoming conferences, news of ton in Delaware. “Everyone there the rules of conduct. “Although difference between earning a wide variety of materials’ prop- award winners, job announce- spoke a little bit of English, so I had extra clothing restrictions silver and gold medal among US erties. For instance, shock tech- ments, obituaries, and other items communication wasn’t difficult. I and I could not shake hands with team members. But they all found niques are useful in the study of of interest to the topical group. can also speak fluent Chinese, so Iranian men, I felt that people the experiment interesting. Earth and other planetary materi- The newsletter should help to I was able to communicate very treated me in the same manner, Beyond the physics com- als, because they can be used to keep the community involved, well with the Malaysian and the if not with more politeness than petition, each student reported generate extreme high tempera- said Funk. Chinese [teams].” usual.” coming away from the experi- ture and pressure conditions such The topical group has also The international aspect was Since the students took both ence with an appreciation for the as those that might be found in been working to hold dedicated a favorite of coaches Bob Shurtz the theory and experimental tests beauty and history of Iran as well giant planetary interiors. sessions at the APS March Meet- and Paul Stanley as well. Shurtz, in the privacy of tall cubicles set as the hospitality of its people. As Recently, increases in com- ing. In recent years GSCCM at- of Hawken School, noted, “We up in a large gymnasium, she was Diab describes it, “Deserts don’t puting power have made it pos- tendance at the March Meeting definitely have ongoing friend- allowed to remove the scarf dur- usually have a reputation for be- sible to simulate materials at the has been about 45-50 people; ships with a number of coaches ing the competition. While the ing pretty, but there were breath- atomic level. Simulations can be the topical group would like to that we have seen now for sev- theory test was easy compared to taking ranges of stone hills, and done with up to several billion at- increase that to about 80. At this eral years.” years past, Kwan and Wei found oms. Previously, shock scientists year’s March Meeting, the inter- All of the students enjoyed that the question about a model the endless dunes of sand in the had only been able to study ma- ests of GSCCM were represented the camping excursion in the of a car’s airbag system, involv- more rural parts of the country terials at a composite level, but at a focus session on Earth and silk gardens. “It was much more ing springs and capacitors, was were starkly beautiful.” now they can use simulations to planetary materials. GSCCM relaxing,” said Jenny Kwan, a tough. Said Wei, “I was surprised at begin to connect what is happen- vice-Chair Marcus Knudson is graduate from San Marcos High The experiment required the how friendly everyone was to ing at the atomic level with how leading the effort to plan sessions School in California. “Lots of students to find the band gap in a Americans, given the impression it gives rise to the bulk properties that will help to ensure strong booths were set up so that we thin film of semi-conducting ma- created by our media that Ira- of the material. This has opened GSCCM participation at the 2008 could see Iranian music, pottery, terial. “We were given the neces- nians in general were hostile to up new opportunities, said Funk. March Meeting in New Orleans. and calligraphy in action and gain sary theoretical information, and America.” APS NEWS October 2007 • 7 ANNOUNCEMENTS APS CONGRESSIONAL US Government Student Fellowships and Scholarships SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program 2007-2008 2008-2009 This fellowship program provides students with three years of financial support including a $30,000 annual stipend and $10,500 cost-of-education allowance. U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents at or near the beginning of THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY is currently accepting research-based graduate studies in Chemistry, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Geo- sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences are eligible applications for the Congressional Science Fellowship Program. to apply. For additional information and deadlines, please go to https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/ Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, representative or congressional committee. They are afforded an opportunity to learn The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG) the legislative process and explore science policy issues from the Sponsored by the Department of Defense, this fellowship program is intended for U.S. citizens at or near the begin- lawmakers’ perspective. In turn, Fellows have the opportunity to ning of their graduate studies in science and/or engineering programs. The fellowships are for three year tenures and lend scientific and technical expertise to public policy issues. provide an annual stipend of over $30,000. Full tuition and fees and a health insurance allowance are included as part QUALIFICATIONS include a PhD or equivalent in physics or a of the program. For additional information, please go to http://www.asee.org/ndseg closely related field, a strong interest in science and technology policy and, ideally, some experience in applying scientific knowl- SMART Defense Scholarship for Service Program edge toward the solution of societal problems. Fellows are required This Department of Defense Program is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in the Science, to be U.S. citizens and members of the APS. Mathematics and Engineering fields and provides an annual salary, full tuition, and other normal educational expenses TERM OF APPOINTMENT is one year, beginning in September including health insurance and a book allowance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, and at least 18 years of age. There is an employment obligation to Department of Defense with this education program. For additional infor- of 2008 with participation in a two week orientation sponsored by mation, please go to http://www.asee.org/smart AAAS. Fellows have considerable choice in congressional assign- ments. A STIPEND is offered in addition to an allowance for relocation, Distinguished Traveling Lecturer Program in Laser Science in-service travel, and health insurance premiums. APPLICATION should consist of a letter of intent of no more The Division of Laser Sciences (DLS) of the American Physical Society announces its lecture program in Laser Science, and invites applications from schools to host a lecturer in 2008. Lecturers will visit selected academic institutions for two days, than two pages, a two-page resume, with one additional page for during which time they will give a public lecture open to the entire academic community and meet informally with students publications, and three letters of reference. Please see the APS and faculty. website (http://www.aps.org/policy/fellowships/congressional.cfm) The DLS will cover the travel expenses and honorarium of the lecturer. The host institution will be responsible only for the for detailed information on materials required for applying and other local expenses of the lecturer and for advertising the public lecture. Awards to host institutions will be made by the selection information on the program. committee after consulting with the lecturers. Priority will be given to those institutions that do not have extensive resources for similar programs. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE BY JANUARY 15, 2008. Applications should be sent to the DTL committee Chair Rainer Grobe ([email protected]) and to the DLS Secretary- Treasurer John Fourkas ([email protected]). The deadline for application for visits in Spring 2008 is November 30 2007. Detailed information about the program and the application procedure is available on the DLS-DTL home page: http://physics.sdsu.edu/~anderson/DTL/ American Institute Lecturers for the Spring and Fall 2008: Laurie Butler, University of Chicago, Hui Cao, Northwestern Univer- sity, Eric Cornell, University of Colorado, Jim Kafka, Spectra Physics, Fleming Krim, University of Wisconsin, Christopher of Physics Monroe, University of Maryland, Luis A. Orozco, University of Maryland, Carlos Stroud, University of Rochester, Ron Wals- worth, Harvard University, Linda Young, Argonne National Lab. State Department Science Fellowship RESEARCH continued from page 1 The APS council reaffirmed its fields in the 100-200 kHz range, a paradigm, but that is shooting in the Experience a unique year in Washington, DC. 1995 statement in 2005, stating that, much higher frequency than the 60 dark.” One has to look at the epide- Contribute to US foreign policy while learning how “Since that time, there have been Hz power lines in the U.S. “If we miology for any connection between the policy making process operates. several large in vivo studies of ani- move the frequency down, below power lines and health, he said. The This Fellowship is open to all qualified members of APS mal populations subjected for their 100kHz, or above 300kHz, we don’t area of power lines and public health and other AIP Member Societies, of all ages and career life span to high magnetic fields and get an effect,” Palti says. In addition, is “a well-researched area, with levels. By sponsoring at least one Fellow a year in the epidemiological studies, done with external electric fields would not much conflicting data, and many State Department, this program benefits the government, larger populations and with direct, penetrate the body. “The reason why have taken one item and ignored the the science community, and the individual Fellows. rather than surrogate, measurements we are using electrodes, is that there rest,” he said. of the magnetic field exposure. is a very bad impedance matching Richard Wilson, emeritus pro- Qualifications include: These studies have produced no re- between the air and the tissue, so a fessor of physics at Harvard, has • U.S. citizenship sults that change the earlier assess- very small fraction of the field pen- studied the effects of extremely low- • AIP Member Society membership ment by APS.” etrates the tissue. We are applying it level doses of radiation. When asked • PhD or equivalent in physics-related field Now, Yoram Palti of the Tech- directly to the tissue, so we get ef- about whether this new work might Applicants should possess interest or experience in scien- nion-Israel Institute of Technology, fectively much stronger field,” Palti indicate electric fields such as those tific or technical aspects of foreign policy. and colleagues have found that low said. near power lines could affect the Application deadline: November 1, 2007 intensity, alternating electric fields Another study by Damir Jani- body, he said, “Indeed electric fields For more information, please see: can disrupt cell division. The re- gro, Luca Cucullo and colleagues in the body have a great effect on http://www.aip.org/gov/sdf. html. search is reported in PNAS (E. D. at the Cleveland Clinic found that cells. But the external fields do not Kirson et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 50Hz low intensity alternating cur- penetrate the body.” USA 104, 10152 (2007); also see rent can slow cell division in some Charles Stevens, of the Salk In- Search and Discovery, August 2007 cases. (Cucullo et al. Glia, 51, 65 stitute in La Jolla, CA, chaired the APS Division of Plasma Physics Physics Today). The researchers (2005))The studies were done using 1996 National Academies study. Job Fair found that electric fields applied to several types of tumor cells in vitro. Referring to the recent research, he tumor cells in vitro and in mice and Janigro said, “We found that cell di- said, “The fields used were much Looking for a job? Looking for the ideal candidate? Let rats could slow the cells’ division vision was very much inhibited, in a larger than would occur near power the APS/DPP Job Fair do the work for you! and even kill dividing tumor cells. very reversible way.” lines or appliances. The fields pro- They then developed a treatment for Other experts didn’t think these duced by power lines are lower Don’t miss this opportunity! an aggressive type of brain cancer, studies should cause us to change than those that occur naturally in November 12-14, 2007 in which electrodes stuck to patients’ our thinking about the safety of the body because of currents flow- Rosen Centre Hotel heads apply 200 kHz electric fields. power lines. ing associated with nerve and mus- A small clinical trial with 10 patients The 1995 APS statement was cle activity. These fields are more Orlando, FL found that the treatment seems to based on a report written by David than an order of magnitude greater Register today at: http://www.aps.org/careers/employment/ slow the progression of tumors and Hafemeister of CalPoly, San Luis than what occur naturally.” He said jobfairs.cfm lengthen the survival time of patients Obispo. When asked about this new he’d like to see the study confirmed in the study. study, Hafemeister said he still sees by more research. “I would not take For more information contact Alix Brice at 301-209-3187 or Palti, said there is no connec- no reason to think power lines cause seriously the effect of electric fields at [email protected] tion between his studies and electric cancer. “The basic physics makes it on cell division until it has been power lines or home appliances. The hard to believe there is cancer being repeated in another laboratory,” he treatment uses alternating electric caused. There could be some new added. DEGREES continued from page 1 effect of those programs is hard to predict that physics bachelor’s pro- the class of 2005, which is 2.8 % reached an all time high in 2005, at ents, in 2005, 21% were women, measure. The study mentioned two duction will continue to increase for of all PhDs in the U.S., and a 14% 60 percent of the class. However, similar to the previous few years. such initiatives: the National Task at least the next few years,” the re- increase over the previous year. The “because first-year student enroll- Among PhDs, the representation Force on Undergraduate Physics’ port says. number of masters degrees, both ments among US citizens rose of women declined to 14% of the Strategic Programs for Innovations As reported in the August/Sep- terminal and enroute to PhD, has sharply in the early 2000s, it is ex- class of 2005, down from 18% in in Undergraduate Physics: (SPIN- tember APS News, APS supports also been increasing. The number of pected that US citizens will return to 2002. The report points out that the UP): Project Report and a workshop doubling the number of bachelor’s PhDs is predicted to continue to in- being the majority of physics PhDs number of women is small, and “al- for new physics faculty organized degrees, in part to produce more crease for at least the next few years, by 2008 or 2009,” the report says. though short-term trends can seem by AAPT. high school physics teachers. based on first year graduate student Women and minorities continue significant, it is advisable to view Based on junior enrollment fig- Graduate degrees have been in- enrollment. to be underrepresented among phys- the overall trend for several years.” ures and the predicted college age creasing as well, the study found. The percentage of non-US citi- ics degree recipients at all levels. The report is online at http:// population, “It is probably safe to There were 1244 physics PhDs in zens among physics PhD recipients Among bachelor’s degree recipi- www.aip.org/statistics/catalog.html. 8 • October 2007 APS NEWS The Back Page

force. We worked through the afternoon fol- hen I was planning a trip to Paki- lowing a break for lunch. From time-to-time Wstan in December 2006, quite a few Exploring Science Education in Pakistan they would take a short break to clear their friends were concerned. So was I. Some heads and also to discuss among themselves friends and colleagues who taught at the without me. Then we would resume again. I yearly International Nathiagali Summer By Usha Mallik also gave them problems related to the top- College had been given armed escorts ics; that is when I realized their need for help when they traveled around during the in math. But they were following the con- summer school. I was born in India and cepts and the underlying inter-connections am a naturalized US citizen; a few friends very well. Most of all, they wanted to keep pointed out what a winning combination that would make to going. certain groups in Pakistan and its border areas. In the end, it At the end of the afternoon, I had to leave for Karachi, and turned out to be a wonderful visit, however. I kept hearing from them “If only you were here for two days, I am from the subcontinent, born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) we could have learned so much more.’’ The eagerness in their after the independence of India and Pakistan. Together the sub- eyes to learn and the sparkle when they understood would per- continent represents nearly 1.3 billion people. Life has been haps have made the trip worthwhile by itself. Zafar accom- kind to me in allowing me to live a privileged life. Now in my panied me back to Karachi, a two-and-a-half hour drive. Ap- advanced career, I wanted to find a way to contribute substan- parently, they told Zafar that after talking with me they could tially by helping where help is very much needed. To me, this see how everything was connected; that all these laws were is education in science. Having the perspective of an advanced not isolated at all; so I felt that my effort was successful. As a education, I, like many others, recognize the multitude of ways token of their appreciation, they presented me with a “chador,” very basic scientific knowledge can open up a whole new a regional custom. world of opportunities for the less privileged children, who by These rural young womens’ struggle toward independence, far outnumber the very few with opportunities to build a future Usha Mallik (third from left) in Hyderabad with (l to r) Rozina Junejo, their conviction of helping their society by doing something Najma Baladi, Tahmina Junejo, Ambrin Junejo, and Munwar Noor. life like mine. worthwhile: a courageous journey they had already started by This was the purpose of my travel. We all know the prob- in and out of Pakistan. Over many phone calls and e-mails, I joining the TRD program, touched me deeply. I could not have lems we face in the US in preparation of science and math in found an appropriate infrastructure to make a pilot project pos- asked for a more worthwhile organization for an infrastructure elementary and middle schools. Children do not learn funda- sible. A number of kindred souls among the physicists who are of a pilot program. mentals of physical sciences in most schools, because knowl- faculty members at various universities and people involved in In Karachi, I met three senior physicists, all women. One, edgeable teachers are rare in primary and in middle schools. higher education were also enthusiastic to help. Tahira Arshed, retired from a faculty position in Tennessee, is Time and again many studies found (e.g., Taking Science to For example, Zafar Junejo, a native of Sindh province with now working toward science literacy in Pakistan. The other School, published by National Research Council in 2007) that a PhD in computer technology, felt a calling to ameliorate lives two are Fatima Hasnain, the Secretary General for the Center children at early ages are much more intellectually capable of the rural areas of Sindh by helping the local people in their for Physics Education, and Aquila Islam, who is the director of than they are generally given credit for. In addition, when sci- general well-being in health, finance, science, environment, academics in a secondary school in Karachi. ence is not presented to them in their early schooling with ap- etc. He also started a major effort to help women. The game of Based on my discussions with them, I came up with a plan propriate challenges and explanations, many children quickly chess was taught to make the people think strategically about for my pilot project. Except for a few privileged schools, the lose interest and develop a subliminal dislike for subjects like their future, in particular to train them to think about all the op- elementary and middle school teachers typically have similar physical sciences and math. tions open to them in their various enterprises. Zafar secured scientific background whether they work in rural or urban ar- Imagine now the situation in countries which are much less some NGO funding for his project (Trust for Rural Develop- eas. The pilot program will have two centers: one rural, using privileged, with a much lower GDP, like Pakistan, where few ment: TRD) and has already developed a successful infra- the TRD’s infrastructure, and another urban, say, in Lahore, children are fortunate enough even to attend a proper school. structure, working in the rural areas with a center in the city of quite close to Islamabad. For those who do, only a select few have teachers with ade- Hyderabad, the largest city in Sindh near the region of Dadu. The program will consist of a yearly workshop for six quate scientific background. In such cases, most of the children Being a native of the region was helpful to Zafar. He connected weeks in the summer, when the schools are off. We will grow up in hopelessness for their future, eventually replaced by with quite a few local schools, people and started his project. have to use four master trainers for each workshop, four frustration and anger, thus providing fertile ground for planting This sounded like a very good organization to use as an infra- of whom will be drawn from Arvind Gupta’s school, with seeds of destruction, which are too easily supplied. This leads structure for a pilot project. Zafar sounded most eager for me two from the US and two from Pakistan. Each workshop to a lose-lose proposition for their future as well as for that of to base a part of this project in Dadu. will enroll no more that twenty teachers. The lessons will the country-–in fact, for the world at large. So I decided to visit the area and meet some of these people be strongly oriented toward hands-on training. Some of the If instead somehow we could enrich them with future op- to survey the situation for myself. I took a trip to Islamabad, equipment (science toys) will be constructed and some pur- tions with hands-on physical science training, a large number Hyderabad and Karachi. I met with A.H. Nayyar (Executive chased, focusing on as much construction as possible. This of them would have many options open to them in future; Director of Developments in Literacy) who is also a physicist will include physics, chemistry, some biology/botany and whether as scientists and engineers or as simple tradespeople and is very well connected to the school system in Islamabad. math. such as electricians, carpenters or plumbers. The hope of a Arvind Gupta, an Indian citizen, featured a lot in our dis- Because it is critical to maintain continuity, there will productive future will lessen the frustration and anger, making cussions. A PhD in Computer Science from the University of be a week-long practice workshop for the participants six way for constructive thoughts and actions, leading to a win- Toronto, he felt a calling to take the wonders of science to chil- months later to review what they have learned, how they win proposition all around. dren by making science toys from very cheap locally available have fared in their respective schools and, in addition, for a How do we reach the largest number of children in the materials, sometimes even garbage (http://www.indiatogether. few days they should teach certain parts to some elementary shortest amount of time? Some people have already found the org/2004/feb/edu-science.htm). With the flair of a superb ma- and/or middle schools located in Islamabad and/or Karachi. answer: the best way to start teaching science properly is by gician, his demonstrations are apparently mesmerizing. He is Coming in contact with schools in these large cities will teaching the teachers involved. If we can train young teach- well-known, very much in demand, and has a center in Poone, build up confidence among the rural teachers. ers (with emphasis on the rural India. These workshops will be supervised with the help of regions) in physical sciences My next stop was the TRD center in the city of Hyderabad educational authorities. Some of these twenty participants ...the best way where everything taught is where I spent almost a day and a half. My hosts (and host- of the workshop will be encouraged to return the following to start teaching based on demonstrations or ex- esses) were Zafar–the Director, Najma Baladi–the Program year at a slightly elevated level, as assistants to the master science properly periments, these teachers will Officer, and Rozina Junejo–the Administrator. I was also wel- trainers, so that by the third year they can serve as trainers is by teaching themselves get interested and comed by about fourteen or fifteen young men and women, all themselves. In this way the two specific centers will mostly of them participants in the TRD program and many of them the teachers take their training back to their be self-supporting, with help from local scientists and sup- classrooms. The teachers will school teachers in the Dadu region. A large number of them port for holding the workshops. Doubtless we would learn involved. participate in constructing the were single young women in their twenties. I asked questions in a three-year span of the pilot project about how best to equipment as much as possible. about their schools, their students and the classes they taught. modify our implementation to fit the local needs. If this is The equipment will be constructed out of locally available ma- A handful of the women were really quite outspoken; when successful, the pilot program can be enlarged to other work- terial. This way science can be taught in a limited budget even asked about what their experiences were in teaching math and shops in other areas and even in other neighboring coun- in the remote areas. The challenge is in coming up with such sciences (mostly middle and elementary schools) and the dif- tries. ideas. ficulties facing them, they were quite forthright. I then got into So far this is my dream, shared with the people I met. This was my reason for joining the APS Committee on In- a discussion of teaching specific topics such as Newton’s laws, These young women, of whom I met a handful, have taken ternational Affairs (CISA) in APS. The committee was very gravitational force, and the periodic table. They asked ques- a very courageous step forward. With a little effort we can supportive when I broached the subject. My goal was to see tions in specific areas and discussed their problems because of make a big difference in their struggle to build a future for whether a pilot program could be established in Pakistan, pri- the need to memorize so much in physics and chemistry. themselves as well as for the next generations. I have initi- marily with the help of local scientists, educators and human- Next morning, a few of them gathered around and wanted ated all of the planning and then taken this trip to be able ists, because such an education program can only be sustained to talk more with me to elaborate on what we had discussed the to make a realistic proposal for a pilot project. It is now properly when such a need is strongly felt by the locals. evening before. Apparently, they had discussed the topics from time to act to make this into reality and find some form of I contacted a few key people in Pakistan, starting with the night before among themselves and had agreed that it was financial support to establish the pilot project. If we from Pervez Hoodbhoy, a theoretical Particle physicist in Pakistan difficult to remember so many isolated laws and rules in phys- the US (e.g., the APS) cannot help, then who can? who has been active in several areas including education and ics. I started with reviewing mass, momentum, inertia, force Usha Mallik is a professor of physics at the University humanitarian causes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_ with Newton’s laws and conservation of momentum and en- of Iowa. Hoodbhoy). Through him I got to know a number of people ergy followed by potential and kinetic energy and gravitational

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