July 2014 • Vol. 23, No. 7

Q & A with A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY New Director of National Science Foundation WWW.APS.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/APSNEWS See page 3

“Open Data” Policy a Cause for Optimism and Concern Physical Review Letters Publishes BICEP2 Paper on Possible Evidence for Cosmic Inflation By Michael Lucibella mons’ Science Commons project. questions about the policy, includ- Plans are moving ahead slowly In March 2014, OSTP collected, ing what kind of data is covered and On March 17, 2014, researchers from the Background Imaging of for making public the raw data ob- reviewed and returned proposals where it will be stored. Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (BICEP2) experiment announced tained by federally funded scien- from 23 agencies. The proposals The memorandum defines data that they had obtained evidence of cosmic inflation–the theory that tists, though how that ultimately haven’t been released to the public. generally as “digital recorded fac- after the big bang, the universe expanded by 60 orders of magnitude might take shape is still unclear. Over the next several months, OSTP tual material commonly accepted in about 10-35 second. In a paper published on June 19 in Physical Experts expressed both excitement will meet with agency representa- in the scientific community” and goes on to say that items like note- Review Letters (http://journals.aps.org/prl), the BICEP2 team presents and apprehension about the final tives to continue to refine proposals. books, physical objects, peer review their data and analysis in a peer-reviewed venue. form the new policy might take. “I certainly expect that by the On February 22, 2013, the ad- end of this year we’ll see the plans,” reports and preliminary drafts and analyses wouldn’t be included. In addition to the BICEP2 paper, Physical Review Letters has pub- ministration’s Office of Science and Wilbanks said. More than a year after the memo However, pinning down precisely lished several theoretical analyses and a special editorial comment. Technology Policy (OSTP) released was first issued, there has been no what might be included and what Accompanying the research papers, Physics features a Viewpoint a memorandum stipulating that all official word as to how the federal might not be could prove to be commentary (http://physics.aps.org/articles/v7/64) by Lawrence federal agencies that fund more than agencies plan on implementing the tricky. Krauss and a Focus article (http://physics.aps.org/articles/v7/65) by $100 million in research come up opening of scientists’ datasets. “The agencies are struggling David Lindley. with a plan to open up peer re- viewed results and raw data to the However, data experts are not wor- with how to deal with datasets,” public. ried and have applauded the admin- said Bonnie Carroll, CEO of Infor- If the inflationary origin of the signal is confirmed by upcoming stud- “Most of the noise has been istration for its deliberative pace. mation International Associates. ies, the result will be a “milestone in the history of cosmology,” the around the literature, not the data, “They recognize that this is a “The problem with datasets is peo- editors note. The next chapter of the story will be written when other but the data is likely going to have very difficult problem, far more dif- ple don’t really have a good defini- experiments, such as the European Space Agency’s Planck satellite, the longest term impact,” said John ficult even than open access [for tion of what is included and what release their results later this year. Wilbanks, the chief commons of- publications],” said Michael Lubell, isn’t.” ficer at Sage Bionetworks, and who director of public affairs for APS. Carroll added that because there had previously run Creative Com- There are several outstanding DATA continued on page 6

Keen Minds Prep for the International Physics Olympiad Supernova Explosions Now in 3D

By Jessica Orwig By Calla Cofield By itself, a flexible, plastic “Hot At the 2014 APS April Meeting Wheels” toy car track is pretty mun- in Savannah, Caltech theoretical dane. Add a can of racket balls and astrophysicist Christian Ott pre- a team of the top high-school phys- sented the first 3D computer simu- ics students in the country, and you lation of a rapidly rotating, highly have the makings of an intriguing magnetized core-collapse super- science experiment. nova. The new work reveals a much Each year, the American Asso- more asymmetric picture of these ciation of Physics Teachers and a monsters than previous 2D models, number of member societies of the and may also provide insight into American Institute of Physics spon- how the collapsing matter becomes sor a two-week competitive training a black hole. camp held on the University of The simulations by Ott and col- Maryland campus at the end of May. leagues look specifically at a so- Moesta/Ott/Richers, California Institute of Technology The purpose is to select five high Michael Lucibella called “engine driven” core-col- school students, from a pool of about lapse supernova, which is SImulation of a rapidly rotating and highly magnetized supernova 20, who will represent the US in the Rohan Kodialam, a junior from High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ, characterized as hyperenergetic, International Physics Olympiad is one of the students who participated in the training camp for the Interna- even by supernova standards. These The asymmetry appears to arise (IPhO) annual competition. This tional Physics Olympiad. supernovae eject material into space from a “kink instability” which de- year, the Olympiad will take place “What you get out of it is actu- a free-response, calculus-based at nearly the speed of light and pro- velops in the 3D model, and cannot in Astana, Kazakhstan from July ally interesting,” said assistant exam and from that pool, the 19 duce gamma ray bursts in the pro- emerge in models with only two 13-21. coach, Andrew Lin, who has been students with the highest exam cess. dimensions. This type of instabil- ity is also seen in tokamak reactors, It’s essentially physics boot part of the coaching team for 14 scores packed their suitcases for Previous models of rapidly rotat- ing and highly magnetized super- which use magnetic fields to confine camp, but instead of climbing walls years, and was a member of the U.S. Maryland. and jumping hurdles, the students novae assumed symmetry around plasma and control its shape. Physics Olympiad team in 1998 and Most of these students just com- take on obstacle courses that chal- the vertical axis of the star, thus “So this is physics we’re famil- 1999. “You can tell how hollow the pleted their junior or senior year in lenge their intellectual capacities. showing changes in only two di- iar with,” he said. “It’s just the first racket ball is.” By timing how long high school. For the graduating Each day, students attend lectures mensions. The ejected plasma forms time that we actually see that in a the ball takes to roll down the track, seniors, this boot camp is one of the covering topics like optics and spe- two symmetric jets along the verti- supernova.” students can calculate its moment last steps before they enter college. cial relativity, take written exams, cal axis–blossoming out along the Running on the Blue Waters su- of inertia and from that estimate the Many of them will be attending and conduct laboratory experiments. MIT, Stanford, or the California pole lines, reaching the same height percomputer at the University of Although the complex problem volume of empty space inside. and forming the same shape. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Two weeks of non-stop physics Institute of Technology this fall. sets and activities are akin to what Some of the younger students, “Our simulation…looks funda- simulation requires 6 terabytes of would be a daunting prospect for first and second-year college stu- who are still in high school, have mentally different,” said Ott at a memory to run, with a total simula- many high school students, but dents see, the experiments can be yet to take a class in physics, but press conference in Savannah. The tion output of 500 terabytes of data. these young adults are unique. This surprisingly simple and easy for any that does not stop them from seek- new model shows a notably asym- The model also differs from pre- past January 4,277 students took physics teacher to coordinate. One ing out physics topics on their own. metric explosion: The plasma ap- vious 2D models by showing that the “F=ma” exam, which consists of this year’s eight lab activities Such is the case for the youngest pears to emerge along the axis once as the explosion takes place, matter involved no more than a Hot Wheels of multiple choice physics-based member of this year’s boot camp again, but rather than forming jets, may still accrete onto the central race track, racket balls and a stop- questions. The students with the top it spreads out into two lumpy, asym- neutron star that forms when the watch. 300 to 400 scores then completed OLYMPIAD continued on page 6 metric lobes. SUPERNOVA continued on page 7 2 • July 2014

Members This Month in Physics History in the Media July 19, 1595: Kepler’s Insight Leading to Mysterium Cosmographicum oday, we think of physics and astronomy as because the astronomer was so poor, but eventu- being inexorably linked, but this was not the ally relented. Kepler married Müller in April, 1597. “If the world wants to do this Museum of Natural History, on T case in the 16th century, when the former was The marriage was not a particularly happy one, science, then the world should or- alien invasions, The Washington deemed natural philosophy, while the latter was and Müller died of spotted fever in 1611. (His ganize, with Fermilab as the host, Post, June 5, 2014. linked to mathematics and liberal arts. One scien- second marriage, to Susanna Reuttinger in 1613, to solve the problems and make it tist who helped break down that barrier was Jo- proved more successful.) happen.” “They want to bulldoze it, which hannes Kepler. Mysterium Cosmographicum was an unusual Steven Ritz, Santa Cruz Institute is really atrocious to me…. It’s like Born in December 1571, just west of modern- scientific treatise, given the inclusion of a detailed for Particle Physics, on the P5 re- burning the Alexandria Library.” day Stuttgart, Kepler was the grandson of a former chapter attempting to reconcile the Bible with the port’s recommendation on interna- Dennis Papadopoulos, the Uni- lord mayor, the youngest of four geocentrism of Copernicus. Those tionalizing the Long-Baseline Neu- versity of Maryland, on the plan to children. By the time of his birth, passages were removed before the trino Experiment, NBCNews.com demolish the High Frequency Ac- the family’s financial circumstanc- book was published late in 1596. May 21, 2014. tive Auroral Research Program in es were much reduced, and his This work cemented his reputation. Alaska, National Public Radio, June father eked out a living as a mer- He sent copies to several noted col- “What CERN did for the Higgs 10, 2014. cenary, abandoning the family leagues, including Danish astrono- boson, we want to do with the neu- when young Johannes was just five mer Tycho Brahe, who initially trino.” “To throw the ball that hard and years old. His mother was a healer offered a rather harsh critique of Joe Lykken, Fermilab, on future that quickly (after all, he didn’t have and herbalist–a dangerous profes- the German scientist’s model. neutrino experiments outlined in time to ‘aim’) with that accuracy is sion in that superstitious age. Kepler was keen to address the P5 report, The Associated Press, truly an amazing feat. Everyone A bout with smallpox crippled those criticisms and make further May 21, 2014. who has seen the throw knows that his hands and hampered his vision, progress on his ideas. Since Brahe already, but now we’ve quantified but Kepler showed a gift for math- had amassed far more accurate “Nobel prizes were predicted exactly how amazing it was.” ematics early on. He fell in love observational data from his private and scores of theoretical models Alan Nathan, University of Il- with astronomy at age six, when observatory than that readily avail- spawned. The announcement also linois, analyzing an out made by his mother took him out to able to Kepler, he visited influenced decisions about aca- Oakland A’s fielder Yoenis Ces- watch a comet streak across Brahe in Prague early in 1600, demic appointments and the rejec- pedes on June 10, The Los Angeles the night sky. He experienced studying Brahe’s data on Mars tions of papers and grants. It even Times, June 12, 2014. his first lunar eclipse a few to test the theory laid out in had a role in governmental planning years later. He studied phi- the Mysterium Cosmographi- of large-scale projects.” “At these twinning boundaries, losophy and theology at the cum. The following year, he Paul Steinhardt, Princeton Uni- the crystals on each side are bond- University of Tübingen, where moved his entire family to versity, on the BICEP2 controversy, ing together much better.” he gained a reputation as a Brahe’s observatory–in part PBS News Hour, June 4, 2014. Bo Xu, Yanshan University in skilled astrologer–still consid- because he had been banished China, on creating a new class of ered a legitimate branch of from Graz for refusing to con- “I believe that the scrutiny the diamond structure stronger than astronomy at the time–and vert to Catholicism. BICEP2 results have received in- any previous natural or synthetic embraced the then-relatively- When Brahe died soon af- dicates what an exciting discovery diamond, The Los Angeles Times, new Copernican heliocentric ter, Kepler succeeded him as this will be, if confirmed…. Person- June 11, 2014. system for the motion of the imperial mathematician; his ally, I am looking forward to the planets, eventually becoming Lutheran faith was tolerated information from Planck and other “The result of such an attempt a math and astronomy teacher in the Prague court. His duties measurements that will hopefully will be broken teeth of the fork.” in Graz. Wikimedia Commons mostly consisted of providing shed light on whether we really Natalia Dubrovinskaia, the On July 19, 1595, while (Top) A 1610 portrait of Johannes Kepler horoscopes to the emperor. have found a Rosetta Stone from University of Bayreuth in Germany, lecturing on the periodic con- by an unknown artist. (Bottom) Kepler's Kepler despised much of as- the early universe, or simply some sharing her concerns about Xu’s junction of Jupiter and Saturn, Platonic solid model of the Solar system trology, dismissing it as “evil- unexpected interstellar dirt.” method of determining his dia- from Mysterium Cosmographicum (1596). Kepler had an insight: There smelling dung,” but–a crea- Marc Kamionkowski, Johns monds’ strength by comparing it to might be a geometric under- ture of his era–he believed a Hopkins University, on the BICEP2 testing a steel knife by pressing it pinning to the universe. He worked out a scheme scientific approach to the subject could be useful. controversy, PBS News Hour, June against an aluminum fork, The Los in which the five Platonic solids–octahedron, ico- He later published a treatise attempting to find 4, 2014. Angeles Times, June 11, 2014. sahedron, dodecahedron, tetrahedron, and cube– middle ground between the overselling of astrol- could be encased within spheres and then nested ogy and what he thought was a kneejerk rejection “We actually have some evidence “Seven years, I can wait that within each other. This produced six layers, which of it by many scientists. of what happens when a high tech- long…. I’ve had a good career, but in Kepler’s view corresponded to the six planets Brahe’s observational data proved invaluable nological culture meets a low-tech- I’ll be a lot happier if I can see a known at the time (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, to Kepler’s research, which expanded to include nology culture…. Our species bears break-even fusion device before I Jupiter and Saturn). He even worked out a pre- the laws of optics. In 1604, he published Astrono- this out multiple times in the his- kick off.” liminary formula connecting the size of each plan- miae Pars Optica, which helped lay the foundation tory books, and it doesn’t bode well Nicholas Krall, on consulting et’s orb to how long each took to complete one of modern optics. Those insights proved useful for the culture that has less technol- with the EMC2 Fusion company, orbit around the sun, although he later discarded when he studied the newly invented telescopes ogy. But I would say to fear an alien NBCNews.com, June 13, 2014. it in favor of something more precise. used by Galileo and designed an improved Keple- for that reason is more a reflection This became the basis for one of his earliest rian model using two convex lenses, rather than of how we know we treat each “If you’re going to rely on that treatises, Mysterium Cosmographicum, among the one convex and one concave. Kepler also witnessed other than it is on how we could ever as an operational system, one first defenses of the nascent Copernican system to a supernova in October 1604, which became the possibly suspect an alien to treat us. shouldn’t be too surprised that it appear in print. His labors over its publication basis for De Stella Nova, published two years And so why should we be the mea- does tend to fail more than you’d nearly ended his engagement to a rich young wid- later. sure of hatred in the universe?” like.” ow named Barbara Müller. Her father initially Kepler also tried his hand at more fanciful writ- Neil deGrasse Tyson, American MEMBERS continued on page 7 opposed the match, despite Kepler’s noble birth, KEPLER continued on page 3

Series II, Vol. 23, No. 7 APS COUNCIL 2014 Chair, Nominating Committee International Advisor Paul L. McEuen Kenneth Ragan, Canadian Association of Physicists July 2014 President © 2014 The American Physical Society Malcolm R. Beasley*, Stanford University Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Staff Representatives Robert Jaffe Tracy Alinger, Director, Information Services (College President-Elect Park); Mark D. Doyle, Director, Journal Information Editor•...... David Voss Samuel H. Aronson*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Division, Forum and Section Councilors Systems (Ridge); Amy Flatten, Director of International (Retired) Miriam Forman (Astrophysics), Thomas Gallagher Affairs; Terri Gaier, Director of Meetings; Barbara Hicks, Staff Science Writer ...... Michael Lucibella (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), Jose Onuchic Associate Editor/Director of Business Initiatives; Ted Vice President Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson (Biological), Amy Mullin (Chemical), Frances Hellman* Hodapp, Director of Education and Diversity; Trish Let- Homer A. Neal*, University of Michigan (Condensed Matter Physics), Steven Gottlieb (Compu- tieri, Director of Membership; Darlene Logan, Director Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik tational), James Wallace (Fluid Dynamics), Gay Stewart of Development; Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Executive Officer (Forum on Education), Eric Sorte, (Forum on Graduate Daniel T. Kulp, Editorial Director; Christine Giaccone, Proofreader...... Edward Lee Kate P. Kirby*, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) Student Affairs), Dan Kleppner (Forum on History of Director, Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, Control- APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- Physics), Gregory Meisner* (Forum on Industrial and ler and Assistant Treasurer; Rebecca Thompson, Head of Treasurer/Publisher monthly, except the August/September issue, by the tion delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Paid at Col- Applied Physics), Young-Kee Kim (Forum on Interna- Public Outreach; Amy Halstead, Special Assistant to the Joseph W. Serene*, Georgetown University (Emeritus) American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- lege Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. tional Physics), Lowell Brown (Forum on Physics and Editor in Chief; James W. Taylor, Deputy Executive Of- lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains Society), Anthony M. Johnson* (Laser Science), James ficer; Editor in Chief news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, For address changes, please send both the old and new Chelikowsky (Materials), David McIntyre (Northwest Gene D. Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on leave) Sections, and Forums; advance information on meetings addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label from Section), Wick Haxton (Nuclear), Philip Michael Tuts Administrator for Governing Committees of the Society; and reports to the Society by its commit- a recent issue. Changes can be emailed to membership@ (Particles & Fields), John N. Galayda (Physics of Past-President Ken Cole tees and task forces, as well as opinions. aps.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Beams), Vincent Chan* (Plasma), Mark Ediger (Polymer Michael S. Turner*, University of Chicago News, Membership Department, American Physical Physics), Nan Phiney (California Section) * Members of the APS Executive Board Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- General Councilors ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- 3844. ADVISORS (Non-Voting) Haiyan Gao*, Marcelo Gleiser, Nadya Mason, Pierre dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Representatives from other Societies Meystre*, Keivan G. Stassun* the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All cor- Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 H. Frederick Dylla, AIP; Steve Iona, AAPT ; Robert respondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Fedosejevs, Canadian Association of Physicists International Councilors Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Marcia Barbosa, Annick Suzor-Weiner*, Kiyoshi Ueda MD 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. July 2014 • 3

Education Corner APS educational programs and publications Profiles In Versatility

Award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education Interview with France A. Córdova, New Director of NSF Created by the APS Committee on Education, the award recog- nizes departments and programs that support best practices in By Alaina G. Levine lege, I majored in English Litera- AGL: You stayed in physics for education at the undergraduate level. Nominations for the award On March 31, 2014, France A. ture and it wasn’t until after I a little bit and then you moved into are being accepted until July 15. More information can be found at Córdova was sworn in as Director graduated and was doing a project service, management in academia http://www.aps.org/programs/education/undergrad/faculty/award. of the National Science Foundation back east that I saw a television and in government. You’re back in cfm (NSF). An astrophysicist with a special on neutron stars which had government now. What is it about doctorate in the subject from recently been discovered. And the government and more broadly ser- Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs Caltech, she started her education- very next day (I was living in Cam- vice that really attracts you? The American Association of Physics Teachers and APS have formed al career as an English major at bridge), I went down to MIT and FC: The head of NASA asked the Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs (J-TUPP), Stanford University. Córdova has asked for a job at the Center for me to interview for the [NASA] which is charged with engaging the physics community to develop served in a variety of administrative Space Research [now the Kavli Chief Scientist position, and I did, a report that answers the question What skills and knowledge should and leadership positions in higher Institute for Astrophysics and and he asked me to join NASA, the next generation of undergraduate physics degree holders pos- education and government, includ- Space Research] and they hired me temporarily leaving Penn State to sess to be well prepared for a diverse set of careers? By providing ing Chief Scientist of the National and that was my entry into science, do that. That was my first policy/ guidelines and recommendations on content, pedagogy, profes- Aeronautics and Space Administra- so it was a very unusual pathway. governmental position and I just sional skills and student engagement, the report will give physics tion (NASA), Vice Chancellor for found that I really enjoyed it. I departments across the country a blueprint for enhancing their research at the University of Cali- loved collaborating with the other undergraduate programs. fornia, Santa Barbara, Chancellor agencies, being a part and [taking] of the University of California, a leadership role in the National J-TUPP will be led by Paula Heron (University of Washington) and Riverside, and President of Purdue Science and Technology Council Laurie McNeil (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The University. These are excerpts from on their subcommittee on science. other members of J-TUPP are Douglas Arion (Carthage College), an interview, with the full text Penn State had given me a leave J.D. Garcia (University of Arizona), S. James Gates (University of available online. for 3 years–and [when] I was due Maryland-College Park), Elizabeth McCormack (Bryn Mawr College), AGL: What was it about physics to go back, I was offered positions Duncan Moore (University of Rochester), Helen Quinn (Stanford that attracted you in the first place? in administrative science leader- Linear Accelerator Center), Quinton Williams (Jackson State Uni- FC: My first real encounter with ship, and I accepted one at UC versity), and Lawrence Woolf (General Atomics Aeronautical Sys- physics was in the 7th grade and Santa Barbara, which was Vice tems). The group will seek input from physicists (including physics we were doing science fair projects. Chancellor for Research. I loved students) in academia, national laboratories and business and in- I saw the Bohr model of the hydro- that position because I was close dustry, and professionals in other STEM disciplines that employ gen atom in an encyclopedia and I to science and scientists, but I was physics graduates and whose students take physics courses. J-TUPP was smitten. I just couldn’t believe also able to further a research agen- expects to finish its report by mid-2016. that scientists could infer some- NSF da and move the needle forward, Save the Date for PhysTEC thing so beautiful, so strange from France A. Córdova especially in interdisciplinary re- The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) Conference observations and data. But…I had search, and that really got me in- is the nation’s largest meeting dedicated to physics teacher educa- no role models or mentors in sci- AGL: I love your boldness. You terested in and comfortable in the tion. The 2015 PhysTEC Conference will be held February 5-7, ence and there were also a range of set a good standard and role mod- world of administration. 2015 at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront in Seattle, WA. The confer- things that I really did enjoy, in- el for many people. AGL: Was there anything par- ence will focus on Thriving Programs and will feature a pre-confer- cluding literature and poetry and FC: Well it’s either boldness or ence Learning Assistant Workshop on February 5, a post-conference writing. So when I went off to col- obtuseness. [Laughs] CÓRDOVA continued on page 7 workshop on Building Thriving Programs on February 7-8, and a joint poster session on February 6. More information can be found at: http://www.phystec.org/conferences/2015/ Graduate Education in Physics Conference Report Released The 2nd APS Graduate Education in Physics Conference was held 2014 Kavli Prizes go to APS Members January 31-February 2, 2013, at the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland. The report from this successful confer- Four APS members and an ence was released this month and expands on the two major rec- APS Prize winner were among the ommendations from the conference: increasing diversity in physics recipients of this year’s Kavli and improving the professional training of students in physics Prizes. graduate programs. The final report will be sent to all physics de- The Kavli Foundation an- partments in the United States this summer and is now available nounced awards for research into free of charge on the APS website. For a link to the report, see http:// the early inflation of the universe www.aps.org/programs/education/graduate/ and for pushing the resolution limits of nano-optics. The winners were named during a live online broadcast from the World Science Festival on May 29 in New York KEPLER continued from page 2 Kavli Astrophysics Prize Winners City. Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Alexei Starobinsky ing, penning an allegory called Som- time (the Law of Equal Areas); and Alan Guth of MIT, Andrei nium (The Dream) in 1611–arguably the ratio of the squares of any two Linde of Stanford University and the earliest work of science fiction, planetary periods is equal to the ra- Alexei Starobinsky of the Landau since it centered on a trip to the tio of the cubes of their average Institute for Theoretical Physics moon and speculated about what distances from the sun (the Law of at the Russian Academy of Sci- astronomy would be like if con- Harmonies). The first two laws ences won for their exploration of ducted on another planet. Many formed the basis for his treatise As- the brief period of hyperexpansion years later, Somnium would be used tronomia Nova, and all three ap- in the very early universe. Guth as evidence in his mother’s 14-month peared in his most influential work, previously won APS’s 1992 Julius imprisonment and trial for witch- the Epitome Astronomiae Coperni- Edgar Lilienfeld Prize for his craft; it described a woman who canae. work on cosmic inflation, and summons a demon for help in mix- Kepler died on November 15, Starobinsky is an APS fellow. Kavli Nanoscience Prize Winners ing potions. (He revised the work 1630, and while the location of his Members Stefan Hell of the Thomas Ebbesen, Stefan Hell, John Pendry, after her acquittal to make the al- grave has been lost over the inter- Max Planck Institute for Biophys- For photo credits, go to http://kavliprize.no, click on "Media" and then legorical aspects crystal clear for vening centuries, the epitaph he ical Chemistry and John Pendry on "Photo Archive." the too-literal minded.) penned for himself survived: of Imperial College London Of course, Kepler is best known Mensus eram coelos, nunc terrae shared the nanoscience award impossible. Pendry previously won neuroscience. The winners in each for his Laws of Planetary Motion. metior umbras: with Thomas Ebbesen of the Uni- APS’s 2013 James C. McGroddy category share a $1 million cash The planets move in elliptical orbits Mens coelestis erat, corporis versité de Strasbourg, France, for Prize for New Materials. prize, and each receive a medal and around the sun (Law of Ellipses); if umbra jacet. their independent work on using Presented in conjunction with scroll honoring their accomplish- you draw an imaginary line from I measured the skies, now the nanotechnology to improve the the Norwegian Academy of Sci- ment. The Kavli Foundation was the center of the sun to the center of shadows I measure resolution of optical microscopes ence and Letters, the annual awards established in 2000 by a donation a given planet, that line will sweep Skybound was the mind, earth- to less than 200 nanometers, an recognize pioneering science in from entrepreneur Fred Kavli, who out equal areas in equal amounts of bound the body rests. achievement once thought to be astrophysics, nanoscience, and passed away late last year. 4 • July 2014

Preparing Physicists for Entrepreneurship International News By Michael Lucibella hoping to create a network of col- Physics professors are pushing lege physics departments to share ...from the APS Office of International Affairs to incorporate more business and ideas and best practices for building innovation education into their de- up entrepreneurship physics educa- partments’ curricula. At a meeting tion. Doha: A Beacon for Science in the Middle East at the American Center for Physics “We want to make entrepreneur- in College Park, MD, on June 5-6, ship and innovation education as By Hussein M. Zbib professors from across the country robust in the physics curricula as it and Canada gathered to develop has been in the engineering curri- Most of the news we read and and scientific research. Over the research center. strategies to encourage their home cula for the last two decades.” Bai- hear about the Middle East points past decade, Doha has been invest- Education City is now the home institutions to teach physics students ley said. “Basically the engineers only to instabilities and chaos in ing heavily in higher education, for branch campuses for renowned entrepreneurship skills. have been doing this for 20 years, countries like Egypt, Syria, and research infrastructure, and nation- universities in the US, Canada, and “This meeting is intended to seed so there’s no reason that physicists Iraq, which have been known his- al research laboratories and institu- France. Each one of these branch a movement,” said Crystal Bailey, can’t do the same.” torically to be the scientific powers tions. campuses offers programs that the careers program manager at APS Entrepreneurship education in that part of the world. However, In the spring of 2005, I was complement the programs offered and organizer of the conference, would include non-physics courses I want to share with you some ob- among a group of US scientists who at the other campuses. For example, “Reinventing the Physicist: Innova- about finance, intellectual property, servations regarding scientific de- were invited to attend a meeting in the Texas A&M University branch tion and Entrepreneurship Educa- business plans, communication, and velopments in Qatar that, unfortu- Doha under the banner “Interna- offers degrees in chemical, electri- tion for the 21st Century.” presentation. Only about 3 percent nately, do not receive the attention tional Conference on Materials cal, mechanical, and petroleum “It is not going to be a one-off of students who earn a physics bach- they deserve in the media. These engineering, while the Carnegie conference where we write a report elor’s degree go on to become ten- positive developments present a Mellon University branch offers and we’re done. This group is going ured faculty and instead enter the beacon of hope for the reemergence degrees in computer science, infor- to continue to meet, continue to private sector or other careers. of science in a region that was once mation systems, and biological sci- share ideas, and continue to build “If you go into the private sector, known as a destination for scholars ences. However, Qatar University, a community of practitioners, and clearly you need to know a whole from afar to seek knowledge and to the main public university in Qatar, this meeting is the first step in the lot of stuff that isn’t physics,” said contribute to arts and sciences. offers programs in all disciplines of process.” Douglas Arion, a professor of en- I visited Doha a number of times, arts and science, engineering, law, She added that the organizers are MEETING continued on page 7 mainly on short business trips, to medicine, education and humani- attend a conference, work on re- ties; the physics program is offered search projects with my collabora- within the department of Mathemat- tors at the Texas A&M University ics, Statistics and Physics. campus in Education City, and to Education City and Doha’s fast Report on Graduate Education Released give lectures at research institutions. growth is driven by the “Qatar Na- On my last trip in the fall of 2013, tional Vision 2030” report, which By Deanna Ratnikova dapp (APS), Chandralekha Singh I asked the driver who picked me outlines ambitious goals and strat- Most physics graduate students (University of Pittsburgh), Michael Thoennessen (Michigan State), and up at the Doha International Airport Hussein M. Zbib egies aiming at establishing “Qatar will end up employed outside of to drive me around the city before as a knowledge-based economy.” academia, yet few physics graduate Lawrence Woolf (General Atom- dropping me off at my hotel. I was Research and Education: Future This is a document I enjoyed read- programs have adapted in recent ics)–emphasized the need for phys- curious to see the night life in the Trends and Opportunities.” This ing: It presents a coherent path to years to accommodate more inter- ics departments to define their over- city that looked, as viewed from the was the first meeting of its kind to the future to transform Qatar into disciplinary research and interests. all goals in order to develop a plane above, like any other big mod- be held in Qatar, and the trip was an advanced country by 2030. One A call to better prepare students for coherent program that builds on ern metropolitan city, shining with sponsored by the US National Sci- of the four pillars discussed in this diverse careers, the increasing di- their specific strengths, rather than lights emitted from dense traffic and ence Foundation (NSF). We met for document is focused on human re- versity within the field, and recom- seeking a one-size-fits-all solution. high-rise buildings. three days with local and regional sources and education, and the mendations on how to move for- The authors recognize that not all Doha indeed has become an in- scientists to discuss and explore document outlines a set of objec- ward were outlined at the 2nd of the recommendations in the re- ternational city, attracting business materials science education and tives, some of which are specific to Graduate Education in Physics port may be appropriate for every from all over the world and mixing research in that part of the world. the development of scientific re- Conference. Organized jointly by department, but they can enrich its traditions with cosmopolitan life. The meeting took place in Educa- search and higher education. It is APS and the American Association physics graduate programs if imple- This was in sharp contrast to the tion City, located on the outskirts refreshing to see that in the midst of Physics Teachers (AAPT), this mented in a way that aligns with impressions I had during my first of Doha. Although there were a few of chaos and continuous wars in conference took place January departmental goals and strengths. trip in 2005. Since then, Doha has buildings then, there was much con- that part of the world, Qatar opted 31-February 2, 2013 at the Ameri- The report highlighted efforts been undergoing unprecedented struction underway in the surround- to invest heavily in human develop- can Center for Physics in College such as developing a department growth and modernization in all ing areas, signaling the initiation of ment, education and science. Most Park, Maryland, with 107 partici- identity, adding flexibility to the sectors of its economy, infrastruc- a massive project. I learned later intriguing is Qatar Foundation’s pants from 74 different institutions. curriculum, teaching students pro- ture, industry and educational sys- that this project was part of a mas- commitment to funding basic sci- Released this month, the confer- fessional skills, and engaging alum- tem. Most attractive to me is the ter plan to transform Education City entific research by establishing ence report–prepared by Renee ni working outside of academia as massive investment in education into an international education and DOHA continued on page 6 Diehl (Penn State), Theodore Ho- GRAD ED continued on page 6

Telling the History of Physics Through Historical Places

By Calla Cofield and Michael significant events; science history ics-themed study abroad trip to Lucibella has incorporated the idea rela- Germany, Switzerland and Den- Learning the history of physics tively recently. mark. “Civil War courses take their The program focused on the has for years been centrally fo- students to Civil War sites all the birth of modern physics, between cused on the “what,” rather than time,” said Gregory Good, the di- 1905 and 1945, and combined the “where.” However, recently rector of AIP’s Center for History historical sight-seeing with a phys- historians have started talking of Physics. “Any way you can get ics curriculum. Students were more about the locations where people into real locations and out asked to learn about relativity, discoveries were made, especially of the classroom can help.” quantum physics and nuclear phys- to people who aren’t historians. He added that countries in Eu- ics, while also visiting the places “It makes the history of physics rope have been the most proactive where physicists like Schrödinger, much more real by being in a loca- about officially identifying and Heisenberg, Bohr and of course tion where physics was done. You designating historic scientific sites. Einstein, laid the foundations for can kind of imagine what went “We’re slow with this in the these subfields. on,” said Paul Halpern, a physics States. The Europeans have been In Bern, Switzerland, which is historian who put together a phys- paying attention for a long time to littered with Einstein-affiliated ics history tour of Washington historical sites connected to fa- landmarks, the group was granted D.C. “People can appreciate the mous scientists,” Good said. access to the room where Einstein history of physics by seeing the Gerd Kortemeyer, a professor worked as a patent clerk at the sites where scientists worked and of physics at Michigan State Uni- Swiss Patent Office. The room, lived. I think it makes history more versity, explored a number of these which is not open to the public, vivid.” landmarks with his students. In overlooks a train station, and in- Daniel Schwen,Wikimedia Commons Historians in other areas have 2008 and 2011 he led groups of spired some interesting conclu- Places such as Einstein's house on the Kramgasse in Bern, Switzerland, offer long focused on the locations of 18 students on a five-week, phys- HISTORICAL continued on page 6 opportunities to teach physics history. July 2014 • 5

Washington Dispatch Updates from the APS Office of Public Affairs APS Committee on International Freedom of Scientists

POLICY UPDATE Fiscal Year 2015 Budget CIFS Briefs: Highlighting the Connection Between Congress received the president’s fiscal year 2015 Budget Request on March 4 and has been making steady progress on appropria- Human Rights and Science for the Physics Community tion bills since then. The House has already passed the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) bill that funds the National Science Since its creation in 1980, the tions/apsnews/201405/sister.cfm after he attended a scientific meet- Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technol- APS Committee on International Petition Calling for the Release ing in Stony Brook, NY, to which ogy (NIST), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Freedom of Scientists (CIFS) has of Omid Kokabee he had been invited to give a talk. (NASA), and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). advocated for and defended the Earlier this year, APS, Amnesty ITEP’s administration had placed As has been the case in the past few years, the House elected to rights of scientists around the International, the Committee of conditions on approving his travel reduce spending on justice accounts and allocate some of those globe. Recent APS and Committee Concerned Scientists, and United to the conference–such as receiving funds to science. activities include: for Iran co-sponsored a petition call- a security clearance for his talk that Andrei Sakharov Prize ing for the unconditional release of was based on his published re- Although the full Senate has not yet considered the CJS bill, the APS presented its 2014 Andrei Omid Kokabee from prison. To take search. Gorsky refused to comply spending levels reported out by the Senate appropriations com- Sakharov Prize to Boris Altshuler advantage of the fact that Kokabee with the demands as he deemed mittee would largely reverse the House tilt toward science at the and Omid Kokabee at the APS was receiving the Sakharov Prize them to be “illegal.” Numerous col- expense of justice. For example, the House would fund NSF at April Meeting in Savannah. The at the APS April Meeting, CIFS set $7.40 B, $0.15 B higher than White House request or the Senate leagues and scientists have spoken Prize recognizes scientists who up a booth at the meeting to educate out in his defense, and several mark. It would also fund NASA at $17.90 B, $0.44 B higher than have demonstrated leadership in attendees about Kokabee and ask the request or the Senate mark. By contrast, the House was less physicists resigned from the aca- defending and supporting human that they sign the petition. These generous with NIST, funding it at $0.86 B, $0.04 B lower than the demic council of ITEP in protest. rights. Altshuler, of the P.N. Leb- signatures and others from around request or the Senate mark. Both the House and Senate would CIFS wrote to the Russian Min- edev Physical Institute in Russia, the world are being collected by fund OSTP at $5.55M. istry of Education and Science to was recognized For his life-long Amnesty International to send to express its concern that a scientist struggle for democracy in Russia Iranian authorities. Thus far, only the House has taken up Department of Defense was being fired for what appeared (DOD) spending. Compared to the presidential request, the House and for his advocacy on behalf of When Kokabee’s family visited the rights of neglected children. him in prison the day after the to be trumped-up reasons. CIFS would increase funding of DOD Basic Research by $0.1 B to $2.03 stressed that scientific progress re- B and Applied Research by $0.7 B to $4.35 B. Kokabee, physics graduate student awards ceremony, they were able and prisoner of conscience in Iran, to share photos of the ceremony and lies on the freedom of scientists to travel and engage in the interna- Although congressional appropriators have been moving forward, was honored For his courage in of attendees at the booth. Kokabee’s authorizers have been far less successful in advancing legislation refusing to use his physics knowl- sister reported that they appreciate tional scientific enterprise. As CIFS to update the expiring 2010 America COMPETES Act, which edge to work on projects that he the support that they are receiving stated in its letter, “scientific prog- provided funding targets for NSF, the National Institute for Stan- deemed harmful to humanity, in from APS. ress works best when scientific de- dards and Technology (NIST), NASA, and the Department of the face of extreme physical and Alexander Gorsky cisions are made based on scien- Energy (DOE) Office of Science. The House Science, Space, and psychological pressure. Since In March, Alexander Gorksy was tific merit” rather than “political Technology (SS&T) Committee elected to split COMPETES reau- Kokabee is in prison, his sister removed from his position at the considerations.” The Committee thorization into two separate bills, the “FIRST” Act, which ad- Leila accepted on his behalf. For Institute of Theoretical and Ex- asked that the ITEP administration dresses NSF, NASA, NIST, and OSTP, and the “EINSTEIN” Act, more, see the June issue of APS perimental Physics (ITEP) in Mos- reconsider its action and reinstate which addresses only DOE. Both bills contain policy provisions News: http://www.aps.org/publica- cow. He was fired for “truancy” Gorsky to his scientific position. that would substantially alter NSF and DOE procedures and pri- orities which many science and technology organizations have spoken against. Although the House SS&T Committee has a long record of developing bipartisan legislation, the FIRST and EINSTEIN Acts have created a substantial rift between the Republican major- Particle Physics Panel: US Needs More Global Partnership ity and the Democratic minority. Subcommittee and committee By Michael Lucibella Projected budget shortfalls have fice of Science’s construction bud- votes on the bills and amendments have been largely along party dogged the project, putting the un- get from 16 percent to between 20 lines. A new top-level government re- port urges the United States to be- derground detector in jeopardy. and 25 percent. However a number of other proj- WASHINGTON OFFICE ACTIVITIES come more of an international The report also recommends in- ISSUE: MEDIA UPDATE player in the field of high-energy ternational investment in the up- ects were targeted for termination. Roll Call, a leading newspaper on Capitol Hill, published the latest physics. coming high-luminosity upgrade These included NuSTORM, RA- column by APS Director of Public Affairs Michael S. Lubell on May The Particle Physics Project Pri- for the Large Hadron Collider and DAR, CHIPS and LAr1 neutrino 12. Titled “America Can’t Afford to Ignore Science,” the piece points oritization Panel, referred to as P5, some level of support for Japan’s detectors, the MICE and MAP out that “science holds the key to increased prosperity for all submitted its draft outline for the International Linear Collider, de- muon experiments and the ORKA Americans, not just rich and middle class, but also the poor among next decade of science experiments pending on available budgets. kaon experiment. In addition, the us.” funded by the National Science “Particle physics is global,” said report recommended that develop- Foundation and the Department of Steven Ritz of the University of ment of the Dark Energy Spectro- In other media news, the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Wash- Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science California, Santa Cruz and chair of scopic Instrument move forward ington published an op-ed on May 24 by Eric Beier, a junior at on May 22, recommending pro- P5. “The United States and major provided that the overall budget Washington State University where he is chapter president of the grams to boost, continue or cut. players in other regions can togeth- increases by at least 3 percent per Society of Physics Students. In the piece, Beier makes the case “It’s more than a collection of er address the full breadth of the year. that research should be a priority for the US to ensure that students cool experiments,” said Andrew field’s most urgent scientific ques- The House Science, Space and are prepared for an “increasingly competitive and globalized world.” Lankford, chair of the DOE Office tions if each hosts a unique world- Technology subcommittee on en- class facility at home and partners ergy seemed positive about the of Science’s High Energy Physics ISSUE: APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA) in high-priority facilities hosted panel’s recommendations when POPA continues its review of the APS 2007 Statement on Climate Advisory Panel (HEPAP). “It’s a elsewhere.” they were presented at a June 10 Change. More information can be found on the following webpage: ten year strategic plan that’s been Although for international con- hearing. Members of congress ap- http://www.aps.org/policy/statements/climate-review.cfm put forward.” One of the report’s top recom- sortia large projects are best, the peared receptive to the report’s recommendations and the partisan- POPA has received Council commentary regarding the POPA- mendations is that the United States report’s authors envision a leading ship that has worked its way into approved rewording of APS Statement 08.1 on the Civic Engage- internationalize its biggest planned role for the United States in a num- other committee meetings was ment of Scientists; the APS Executive Board will now review both physics experiment, the Long Base- ber of small and medium sized proj- the statement and these comments. line Neutrino Experiment. ects. It recommends increasing ef- largely absent. “The activity should be refor- forts to develop a range of “While the US remains in a state POPA approved a proposed statement by the APS Committee on mulated under the auspices of a new second-generation dark matter de- of fiscal uncertainty, reducing over- the Status of Women in Physics at its June meeting and will now international collaboration, as an tectors, the Large Synoptic Survey all federal spending in order to ar- send it to the Council for comment prior to review by the APS internationally coordinated and in- Telescope, and Cosmic Microwave rive at a balanced budget should be Executive Board at its next meeting. ternationally funded program, with Background experiments. a top priority. Yet during this pro- Fermilab as host,” the report reads. “Several medium and small proj- cess, we cannot overlook the fact At its June meeting, POPA also entertained a preliminary pro- “The experiment should be de- ects in areas especially promising that the federal government plays posal for a study to explore incentives that could increase the signed, constructed, and operated for near-term discoveries and in a critical role when it comes to the number of well-qualified students entering teaching in key Science, by the international collaboration.” which the US is, or can be, in a nation’s long-term competitiveness Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) shortage ar- The project, to be renamed the leadership position, will move for- in the physical sciences,” said sub- eas. The POPA Physics & the Public Subcommittee will prepare Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, ward under all budget scenarios,” committee chair Cynthia Lummis a formal proposal for POPA’s consideration in the fall. looks for neutrino oscillations by the report said. (R-Wyo.). shooting a stream of neutrinos 800 To help develop this capacity, The P5 largely built their recom- Use the following link to log in to suggest future POPA studies: http:// the panel also urged investing more mendations off the lengthy Com- www.aps.org/policy/reports/ miles through Earth from Fermilab to a giant detector buried almost a in building new experiments, by munity Summer Study 2013, popu- mile underground in South Dakota. upping the fraction of the DOE Of- P5 continued on page 7 6 • July 2014

HISTORICAL continued from page 4 DATA continued from page 1

sions by the group. been using the APS list to create a is so much variety in the kinds of relatively few of them because rejected…then who in the public “Some of our students had to course that traces the history of US data collected by scientists, it’s there are a limited number of large knows enough to say that I read the original 1905 paper, and physics by way of its institutions. almost inevitable that exceptions experiments. Most already are open shouldn’t look at something be- they kept talking about trains com- Dartmouth itself was designated an will pop up that haven’t been cov- to the public in some way. cause it’s garbage?” Lubell said. ing in and synchronization of time APS historic site in 2012, which ered by whatever policy a funding “I think it will change physics “A large amount of data that you between trains,” said Kortemeyer. first led Kremer to think about using agency adopts. less than other fields where data take, especially at the beginning of “Well, you look out of [Einstein’s] the initiative to explore science his- Where data are to be stored starts from a more ‘artisanal’ an experiment…is probably not window there and you look out on tory. presents its own potential issues. source,” Wilbanks said. “If biology correct.” the main train station of Bern…and “It’s not really a physics course, Some experiments, especially those got to where physics is, I think that The reason cited in the mandate you see trains coming by, so that’s it’s not really a history course, it’s in high energy and astrophysics, we will all declare that a victory.” for opening the data is to let others what you write.” a writing course,” Kremer said. can collect terabytes or even exo- Right now, scientists are waiting use the raw information to innovate Kortemeyer, a native of Ger- “The approach that I take is history.” bytes of data. It’s not yet clear to hear what the administration and and ultimately spur the economy. many, says he was turned on to This year, he designed a ten- whether the mandates will require the agencies ultimately decide. However, Carroll said that she physics history by a colleague years week freshman writing class, with agencies to set up a single central OSTP did not respond to interview hopes that this will produce tools ago. As a teacher, he slowly realized each week focused on a different database or link to data stored on requests. and algorithms that can help inter- how history could help convey the historic site. The sites include the outside servers. Lubell cautions about the po- pret the data, rather than just link- true nature of physics. Hughes Research Laboratory (now “I don’t think they’ve even tential sweep of the requirements. ing to reams of raw data alone. “In many respects I think with HRL Laboratories), Johns Hopkins thought about that at this stage,” He said that if the mandate on data “What ultimately becomes im- the undergraduate physics classes… University, Harvard University, Lubell said. “These are huge huge ends up being overly broad, it could portant is the metadata and the we are doing physics a little bit of MIT, and Bell Laboratories. The datasets…. I think the magnitude include calibration data that could linkage to the documentation,” a disservice,” said Kortemeyer. students in the class are the ones in of the storage problem for a central be inherently misleading or even Carroll said. “More and more we’re While physics classes teach the stu- charge of putting together each repository would be extremely abused by individuals who want to linking to the data sets so the dents about mechanisms, formulas week’s lesson plans and required large.” misrepresent results. boundary between publication and and laws, he says they “hardly ever readings. Though high energy and astro- “If you force people to post all data becomes more and more po- convey what physics is really The class is designed for students physics datasets are large, there are their data, including the stuff you rous.” about.” He fears students will leave to develop their research skills, so these classes thinking physics is they’re put in charge of coming up only about putting numbers through with the class reading each week. OLYMPIAD continued from page 1 different equations to get more num- Before each class, a different team bers out. “And of course that makes of students compiles a list of differ- group, Celine Liang from Saratoga two tries for the team. This year’s was impressed with both the team them wonder why would anybody ent primary and secondary source High School in California. Liang team, which will be competing the coaches assembled as well as do that to themselves.” documents to understand both the just completed her second year in against more than 400 students all of the 19 students who attended The United States has a wealth science of that week’s discovery and high school and has yet to take the from 92 nations at the IPhO in Ka- this year’s training camp. of its own science history that stu- what Kremer calls “the institution- physics course her school offers. zakhstan, consists of: Shortly before they leave for dents can draw from. Although the al context,” or what it was like to “I did a little physics on my own • Alexander Bourzutschky, Kazakhstan, this year’s team will National Park Service’s National work at a particular laboratory. and I liked it so I kept going,” said Montgomery Blair High return to the University of Mary- Register of Historic Places does list “This is new stuff for me and I’m Liang, who at first said she was School, Silver Spring, MD land this July. There, they will have science-themed locations, profes- learning things myself about the intimidated by the trip to Mary- • Kevin Fei, Carmel High three, physics-filled days of past sional societies in the United States history of physics,” Kremer said. land. “I thought it would be way School, Carmel, IN IPhO experiments to prepare them have been the primary drivers for “At the end, the final exam that these different but it turns out to be bet- • Calvin Huang, Henry M. Gunn for the competition against the top identifying and promoting them. kids are going to write is, ‘Is there ter.” High School, Palo Alto, CA young physics minds in the world. IEEE has had a historical milestone a unique style of doing American Liang also qualified for the • Vikram Sundar, The Harker This preparation will involve about center since 1982, the American physics based on these ten case stud- mathematics Olympiad training School, San Jose, CA ten hours each day in the lab, Stan- Chemical Society set up their Na- ies?’” camp. Two days after she returns • Michael Winer, Montgomery ley said. tional Historic Chemical Landmarks Though the students don’t actu- home from Maryland, she is head- Blair High School, Silver “In some ways, this is the stron- program in 1992, and APS started ally visit the sites in the course, ing off to Nebraska for more nu- Spring, MD gest group I have seen, with a num- its own Historic Sites Initiative in other than Dartmouth itself, Kremer meric fun. And when she’s not Paul Stanley, who is the chair ber of campers who would have 2004. So far APS has installed 34 said that using a site to talk about a taking or preparing for exams she of the physics department at Beloit been outstanding at the IPhO,” plaques at locations across the coun- discovery gives the students a feel plays violin and tennis, and she College and lead coach of the U.S. Stanley said. “The desire to excel try, highlighting the locations where for each location’s intellectual his- swims. Physics Olympiad team, described in physics and on exams without researchers made important discov- tory. Although Liang will not be one this year’s team as, “A very cohe- being competitive was an interest- eries. “The whole course is sort of a of the five students traveling to sive, very supportive group.” Stan- ing social dynamic. It was as if Richard Kremer, a history pro- question as to whether location mat- Kazakhstan, there is always next ley will be traveling with the stu- each member really wanted all of fessor at Dartmouth College, has ters,” Kremer said. year, since every student is allowed dents to Kazakhstan and said he the members to succeed.”

GRAD ED continued from page 4 DOHA continued from page 4 ways to improve the professional Conference. For example, this latest Qatar National Research Fund nities. I now see many scientists at of the US national laboratories, training of students in physics grad- report recommends additional (QNRF). international conferences present- opted to relocate to Doha to lead uate programs. Flexibility in the changes in the student advising pro- In 2009, Eyad Masad, of Texas ing the results of research sup- QEERI. Under his leadership, graduate program and its curriculum cess and student career preparation. A&M University at Qatar, intro- ported by QNRF. Scientists from QEERI is now attracting top-notch is also key to ensuring the success It also recommends collecting data duced me to his colleague Ghassan various institutions in Qatar and in scientists and is building state-of- of a diverse group of graduate stu- related to these changes, so APS and Kridli in the mechanical engineer- collaboration with scientists from the art research facilities in comput- dents, and several talks at the con- the AAPT can analyze and evaluate ing department to explore the pos- across the globe, now compete for ing, materials science and environ- ference focused on the need to en- the progress made toward address- sibility of submitting a collabora- research funding from QNRF. In mental research. gage more students from ing the challenges of physics grad- tive research proposal to QNRF. At its recent Annual Forum, QNRF This is only a glimpse of what underrepresented minority groups. uate education. first I must admit that I was reluc- announced that it had received 798 is emerging in Doha in terms of Meg Urry of Yale provided the This conference, a follow-up to tant and wanted to learn more about proposals and awarded grants for scientific developments. It seems keynote address on the future of the 2008 Graduate Education in QNRF before committing myself 162 proposals across 22 institutions. that the Qatar Foundation is putting physics graduate education and the Physics Conference, was held to to such an effort. After all, support This is indeed an impressive ac- together all the pieces of the puzzle diversity challenge facing the field. generate discussions on topics such for science and basic scientific re- complishment in a very short pe- for a potentially successful, sustain- She stressed that physics PhD pro- as preparing graduate students for search in that part of the world, riod of time. able, and world-class scientific grams must expand to include more non-academic careers, enhancing despite its tremendous resources Besides QNRF, Qatar Founda- network. This is rather inspiration- diverse participants if they want to advising, improving diversity, and and wealth, has been lacking for tion is also establishing a number al in a region with huge wealth and maintain the highest level of qual- debating graduate school admis- years. It is no secret that the scien- of national organizations. During natural resources, yet with tremen- ity. According to Urry, “Graduate sions policies, including use of the tific productivity from countries in dous untapped human potential, education [in physics] must diver- GRE. Planning for the event began that region has accounted for a very my most recent visit to Doha in the especially its younger generation. sify not just because of fairness or in 2010 under the leadership of small fraction of global output–it fall of 2013, my long-time friend I have enjoyed visiting Doha and equal opportunity–although that Chandralekha Singh, a member of is even among the smallest com- and colleague, Mohammad Khaleel, observing its transformation into a certainly ought to concern us–but the APS Committee on Education pared to other developing countries. invited me to visit the offices of the modern city. Perhaps on my next because it’s vital for physics.” (COE) and chair of the COE Grad- However, as I learned about QNRF, newly established Qatar Energy and visit, I will see yet again new and With significant input and feed- uate Education Subcommittee. The I thought that there is something Environment Research Institute back from graduate students and National Science Foundation pro- positive about to happen that may (QEERI). This is one of four re- fascinating developments taking representatives from industry and vided support for the conference in turn things around. search institutions being built by place in that part of the world. national labs, the report from the late 2012. QNRF, much like NSF in the Qatar Foundation to fulfill the goals Hussein M. Zbib is Professor of 2013 conference builds upon the The final report will be sent to US, fosters original and competi- of Vision 2030. Although these in- Mechanical and Materials Engi- recommendations of the 2006 APS- all physics departments throughout tively selected research in engineer- stitutions are still in their nascent neering at Washington State Uni- AAPT Task Force on graduate edu- the United States and made avail- ing and basic sciences. The impact stage, they are already attracting versity, and a member of the APS cation in physics and of the 2008 able free of charge on the APS web- of QNRF is already being felt in the best scientists from across the Committee on International Scien- APS Graduate Education in Physics site. the international scientific commu- world. Khaleel, a leader from one tific Affairs. July 2014 • 7

CÓRDOVA continued from page 3 ANNOUNCEMENT ticularly in your physics back- ground to this position. I am very, have on the nation and the world. I ground and more broadly in your very interested in how we can hope they’ll be part of what our aim scientific background that you felt broaden our efforts in preparing the is, which is affecting the next gen- aided you and best prepared you next generation for careers in STEM eration of scientists and engineers, for this career? fields, and so I’m focused on that. and not just the ones that enroll in FC: I think the characteristic of We have terrific pocket efforts all their classes but all the ones that are 1/f noise: Implications for being curious and attracted to dif- around the country, [but] they don’t somewhere else on campus…like solid-state quantum informations ficult problems is just something always talk to each other in a sys- me, as an English major, who could E. Paladino, Y. M. Galperin, G. Falci, and B. L. Altshuler that marks me as an individual. It’s temic and scalable way, so I think potentially be the next director of Decoherence is a crucial limitation to storing and processing part of my make-up, from the time we’re going to be doing a lot more NSF. How can they reach out to that quantum information. When other sources of decoherence I wanted to be Nancy Drew (when focusing on how we can take that potential scientist or engineer and are eliminated, 1/f noise due to the coupling of microscopic I was in grade school) because I effort to the next level. There are communicate how wonderful their degrees of freedom to the device, remains. This review dis- loved mysteries and trying to figure huge populations of [underrepre- disciplines are and that it is an op- cusses the mechanisms behind decoherence induced by 1/f out and solve things. I just like go- sented] people that we are not tap- portunity to fulfill our curiosity noise, and ways to minimize its effects. ing headlong into a challenge. When ping for STEM careers. We’re just about how nature works and op- I go river rafting I like going over not reaching them, so I think we portunities to be the first person to http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.86.361 the big [rapids]. I like things that can do much better there, and that see something in nature that no- look difficult and intractable to was one of my reasons for taking body’s ever seen before? http://journals.aps.org/rmp solve–they challenge me because the job. And another goal is to in- AGL: You are such a successful they are more interesting to [solve]. crease public communication about woman in science. Do you have any So I think that’s definitely a char- the value of investments in funda- thoughts for women who are in sci- P5 continued from page 5 acteristic of a scientist, being at- mental science and engineering, entific areas that are underpopu- larly known as “Snowmass on the DOE charged the panel to come tracted by what you don’t know and which clearly has kept the US ahead lated by women, such as physics? Mississippi.” The nine-day-long up with recommendations for the what’s a challenge and I find it in innovation and discovery. I think Is there some advice you would seminar brought together hundreds next ten years under different bud- translates into the world of admin- you’ll see more effort in both formal offer that you’ve learned from your- of physicists from a range of disci- get scenarios: flat for three years, istration and public policy. and informal venues that NSF will self being able to excel as a scien- plines within high-energy physics then 2 percent growth over seven AGL: Can you share with me a be looking at to engage the public tist? to weigh in on the future of tie field. years; two percent growth for the career highlight or accomplishment to help improve the understanding FC: A couple of things come to They produced a comprehensive first three years followed by seven that you’re especially proud of (so of the value of basic research and mind. One is that you have to be a report of several thousand pages years of 3 percent growth, and an far)? its impact, how it affects our daily little bit obtuse and single-minded that highlighted outstanding re- “unconstrained budget” which es- FC: There are just a few. When lives, and why what we do is wor- to help you ignore barriers. There search questions, recommended sentially asked the panel to come I was at UC Riverside as Chancel- thy of investment. are always bumps in the road for directions for research and possible up with a program for the U.S. to lor, I laid the foundation for a new AGL: Regarding the research men and women and people of ev- future experiments. lead the world in high energy phys- medical school for an area of Cali- areas that NSF supports, what spe- ery background. Part of it is not to The P5, appointed by HEPAP ics. fornia that was really underserved, cific areas of research do you think pay attention to all the potential and last convened in 2008, has been For more information on the P5 of 4 million people. A new medical are going to be the most promising, stuff that can bother you, because reviewing the Snowmass report and meeting, visit school hadn’t been built west of the let’s say in the next 5 to 10 years. there’s always a lot of that out there, assembling their recommendations http://science.energy.gov/ Mississippi in over 40 years. So that What are you excited about? and the other thing is to try to put for the DOE’s Office of Science hep/hepap/reports. was a big undertaking and we got FC: There’s just so much. One yourself in a situation that is sup- since September. it done, and I was the one who kind other thing that characterizes me is portive. For example Caltech, my of pioneered that and laid the foun- that I am hopefully interested in graduate school, just said “ok so we dation of the approval of the uni- everything. It’s just I’m exception- got an English major here, how do MEETING continued from page 4 versity regents and most impor- ally interested in the last thing that we help her?” and they helped me tantly with the medical school deans walked into my office [laughs]. I design a program to fill in my math trepreneurship at Carthage College. “I really want to make it a full of the five prominent medical come out of the NASA community background. And as long as I was “The truth of the matter is we all fledged [Jet Propulsion Lab] in a schools that UC already has. So I’m [so] I’m extremely interested in willing to work hard and show that learn by the seat of our pants, but single building,” Tagg said. “Pro- very proud of that. And then the everything we find out about the I was very enthusiastic about it they that's not necessarily the best way viding space, technical resources, other thing at UC Riverside was we cosmos and all the unique tele- were going to reciprocate and help to do it.” and on-demand learning enables increased the success metrics for scopes that we have already built me to be a success. If you’re not in Presenters at the conference said students, teachers and working sci- minority students, of which there and are doing incredible new ob- also that a better entrepreneurship an environment that is supportive, entists and engineers to collaborate are many. About 30% were His- servations, and the ones we are program could help recruit and re- then you find one that is. I feel that on innovation that society greatly panic students and 70% overall involved in that are just getting tain physics students. Universities you have choices. And your choice needs.” were students of what were then started. A geoscientist will come in that implemented business-focused should be you don’t choose to make Duncan Moore, who teaches minority populations. It was very to my office and talk about a re- programs have seen their depart- things worse for yourself: Try to entrepreneurship at the University important for a research institution search vessel program, and I get ment sizes grow. choose pathways that are more help- of Rochester, highlighted how many to demonstrate that students who excited about seas. There’s Antarc- “We had to think hard about how ful because they exist all around of his students had gone on to start had more disadvantaged back- tica and the Arctic and all the polar we get students back into physics,” you and identifying them and get- their own companies, and how that grounds could graduate at the same programs we have. That’s unique, said Randy Tagg of the University in turn benefits both the school and rate as the rest of the student popu- that NSF has the charge of running ting on them is really key. I just of Colorado. “Present conditions the local community. lation. the polar science facilities for the have found huge, huge support, and are really excellent for student in- “The mission we have is trans- AGL: So thinking forward, what country and has the leadership po- I am absolutely positive that there novators.” forming ideas into enterprises that are some of your umbrella goals for sition in really the entire world. are people out there who are not In addition to entrepreneurship, NSF? [And related,] you obviously Basically what NSF does is it sup- supportive, but I haven’t heard them presenters also emphasized the need create either economic or social wanted this job for a reason. How ports all fields of science and engi- [laughs]. I just ignore them. to teach technical skills to under- value,” Moore said. He added that can you impact NSF? neering–that’s our real strength. Alaina G. Levine is the author graduates and high school students. the skills taught in an entrepreneur- FC: First of all, they’re doing AGL: What can physicists look of Networking for Nerds (Wiley, Tagg started an “Innovation Hyper- ship program carry over into almost fabulous things here and I want to forward to at NSF under your lead- 2014) and President of Quantum lab” at a high school in Aurora, any career, even if only about six do no harm to those things. [NSF] ership? Success Solutions, a science career Colorado, for high school students percent of his graduates start their is involved in so many core pro- FC: If there’s a message I would and professional development con- to get hands-on experience learning own tech businesses. “I can teach grams and interdisciplinary pro- ask physicists to help us with, it is sulting enterprise. She can be con- the basics of mechanical engineer- you the elements of being an entre- grams [as well as] programs that to do their part to communicate to tacted through www.alainalevine. ing, electronics, materials science, preneur…. But I can’t teach you to work with other agencies.... But the public about the excitement and com, or followed on twitter @ and even some nanotech by design- actually be an entrepreneur. It’s why me? I bring a different back- impact that science and scientists AlainaGLevine. ing and building their own projects. something in your DNA.”

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star initially collapses. This addi- It may, in fact, be the accretion tion of matter means the highly onto the newly formed, rapidly MEMBERS continued from page 2 dense body could gain enough spinning black hole that drives matter to form a black hole. the subsequent explosion. This, Dean A. Wilkening, Lawrence tion-shifted tunneling resonances to “There is presently a lot of says Ott, “…would be consistent Livermore National Laboratory, on a larger number of lattice sites…. APS NEWS discussion in the astrophysics with observations of the galactic the shortcomings of the Ground- Fortunately, developing intuition for community if such supernovae/ core-collapse supernova remnant based Midcourse Defense missile the quantum dynamics of even five online: gamma-ray bursts harbor (and are W49B, which exhibits signatures defense system, The Los Angeles or six particles is already exciting www.aps.org/ driven by) a neutron star or a of a very aspherical explosion, Times, June 15, 2014. and important.” black hole,” said Ott in an email. but shows no signs of the presence Jonathan Simon, a physicist at publications/ “Our model suggests that a black of a neutron star.” “[T]he tunneling process becomes the University of Chicago, on the hole may form and could be at the The work is detailed in the slower and slower the farther the applications of newly developed apsnews center of the supernova/gamma- April 20 issue of The Astrophys- atoms have to hop. This does not quantum tunneling system, FoxNews. ray burst.” ical Journal. bode well for scaling such interac- com, June 18, 2104. 8 • July 2014

ou might assume that young physicists, and awareness in human rights in relation to Ywith their busy and focused lives, have science, the issue is still widely misunderstood. never considered that science could be a tool When asked to describe, in a few words, any for protecting human rights, and vice versa. Human Rights: Engaging Physics Students individual cases of their fellow colleagues whose Many graduate students, myself included, human rights have been violated or are at risk, have limited interaction with the world outside and Current Graduates a large number of responses cited complaints of academic groups or annual research confer- that were not applicable–i.e., failing to receive By Vikram Singh Prasher ences, which seldom discuss issues like human an extension on a research topic, problems with rights. Last summer, when I was offered the visa renewals, and other miscellaneous day-to- opportunity to represent APS at the day grievances. It is clear that graduate American Association for Advance- students and alumni alike must continue ment of Science, Science and Human to educate themselves and their peers in Rights Coalition (AAAS SHRC) as a order to construct a well-rounded view of student delegate, I eagerly agreed–de- spite the fact that I had very little in- this issue. sight as to what exactly that involved. This can be achieved by actively par- Although I had dived headfirst into ticipating and engaging in efforts by or- unfamiliar territory, I surfaced with ganizations, such as AAAS SHRC and APS not only a newfound awareness of my Committee on International Freedom of own responsibilities as a physicist in Scientists (CIFS), which are working at regards to protecting human rights, but local or national level, in this field. also with the comforting knowledge There are a variety of ways to get in- that my peers and colleagues were will- volved in the AAAS SHRC, from attend- ing to embark on this journey too. ing its meetings, which are free of charge Attending the Coalition’s July 2013 for student and post-docs, to volunteering two-day annual meeting themed “The in their ongoing efforts. The Coalition Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scien- recently held a competition to connect tific Progress and Its Applications” in directly with students by organizing stu- Washington D.C., the heart of political dent poster competitions in its annual activity, was a revealing experience meetings. This competition, which asks for me. Throughout the plenary lec- students to submit a poster that should tures and breakout meetings, immersed reflect their understanding on a given re- in the intersection of the social and lated topic, is open to undergraduate and natural sciences, I gained a deep, crit- graduate students interested in science ical understanding of complex issues Wikimedia Commons and human rights. that relate science and human rights, Left, the author; right, Abduljalil al-Singace, former professor of engineering at the University of Bah- CIFS, one of many APS advisory Com- rain, was imprisoned for speaking out about the country's human rights record. The APS Committee such as: spreading knowledge through mittees, is charged with monitoring the on International Freedom of Scientists was involved in advocating for his release. open-access science literature while rights of scientists. The Committee has preserving the viability of peer review, been advocating for the release of Omid ensuring global access to new tech- Kokabee as well as advocating for the nologies, and securing other basic rights for all people through graduate school will help their generation of scientists un- rights of other scientists such as Abduljalil al-Singace, an science and its applications. derstand how their work relates to human rights. When asked engineer in Bahrain who has essentially been imprisoned for A similar meeting in January of 2014, “Disability Rights what aspects of this subject they were most interested in speaking out about Bahrain’s human rights record. CIFS is and Accessing the Benefits of Scientific Progress and Its learning more about, a majority of responders indicated they also collaborating with the APS Forum on Graduate Student Applications,” opened my eyes to the ways in which science were curious about the relationship between human rights and engineering greatly influence the human rights of persons and the application of physics as well as their personal re- Affairs to ensure that APS student members are aware of with disabilities. These sessions, while similar in nature to sponsibilities in protecting human rights as physicists. So CIFS initiatives, so that if they experience any violations of the 2013 convocation, focused more on how access to science clearly the desire to learn is there; but how can we make their rights, they would see it as a platform for assistance. and technology can affect the rights of people with disabili- human rights a part of graduate students’ personal focus? To connect the hectic lives of graduate students to current ties, both positively and negatively. Some of the sessions APS awareness efforts, I feel it is important to bring human also explored challenges faced by disabled students, research rights campaigns directly to campuses and curriculums to practitioners, and subjects of research as they seek various "Although I had dived headfirst into unfamiliar more successfully bridge the gap. With the insight gained opportunities in the science and engineering fields. Now territory, I surfaced with not only a newfound from the survey responses, APS plans to develop activities, armed with a fresh appreciation for the role of science in awareness of my own responsibilities as a physicist such as educational seminars at its upcoming annual meet- protecting human rights, I felt more confident than ever in in regards to protecting human rights, but also with ings, aimed at engaging APS members in issues related to my ability to successfully fulfill my role as a Student Rep- the comforting knowledge that my peers and physics and human rights. resentative. As my tenure comes to an end, I realize more acutely than colleagues were willing to embark on this journey The primary role of the Student Representative is to raise ever that I have had an amazing opportunity to become part awareness of the AAAS SHRC Coalition within his or her too." of a community with a laser-like focus on promoting a view organization (APS in my case), with an end goal of increas- of science inseparable from basic human rights. I would like ing participation in the Coalition by students and young APS has long been an ardent champion of human rights, to thank both APS and the AAAS SHRC for allowing grad- professionals. With this in mind, my first objective was to spearheading many human rights campaigns, projects and uate students, such as myself, exposure at such an early stage design and draft a survey of current graduate students and informational seminars. In February of 2011, physics gradu- in their careers to the vibrant level of thought, energy, effi- early career physicists who are members of APS in order to ate student Omid Kokabee, of the University of Texas at ciency, and motivation found within an organization that is gauge their knowledge of human rights. The survey in- Austin, while on a visit home was imprisoned in Iran on working diligently to make the world a better place. I also cluded both a range of general questions (such as what APS accusations of “communicating with a hostile government” wish to thank everyone who participated in the survey for members think of human rights), and also specific inquiries and “receiving illegal earnings.” APS has worked tirelessly helping to build a strong foundation to construct future en- (for example: their knowledge of specific cases and/or their to bring awareness and support to the Kokabee case, sup- deavors upon. I extend my hand to my peers in partnership thoughts on if and how they see the connection between porting petitions and lodging protests against his imprison- so that we may all continue to learn and benefit from one physics and human rights). The survey was sent out to grad- ment. When asked if they were aware of the Kokabee case, another as we move forward in our mission to protect human uate students and junior members of the APS Forums on many survey responders replied in the negative. Out of the rights as responsible physicists. Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA) and International Physics few who recognized the case, a high percentage indicated Acknowlegements: The author would like to extend spe- (FIP) between December 2013 and January 2014. that they had learned about the incident through APS efforts cial thanks to Jessica Wyndham (Associate Director, AAAS The members of the Coalition were extremely heartened to bring awareness to the cause. Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program), by the overwhelming response to the survey, which reflect- Survey takers were then asked to describe, in a few words, Michele Irwin (APS) and Laura Dewhirst (psychology student ed that the majority of student members believe that human how the Kokabee case affected them personally. While replies rights are important to science and scientific research. It was were mixed, the underlying tone of responses were ones of at UMass Lowell) for their help and guidance in conducting also encouraging that a modest number of responders replied empathy, anger, and concern. In particular, many interna- the survey. that they were currently involved, or had previously been tional students were concerned for their own safety and rights Vikram Singh Prasher is a graduate student in the phys- involved, in various human rights campaigns, Amnesty In- while abroad or in their native country. A large majority of ics department of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. ternational, volunteer work, and demonstrations. these reactions also portrayed a desire and motivation to He served as the 2012-2014 Member-At-Large and newslet- While these data are promising, the survey also sug- participate and partner in efforts to sow seeds of human rights ter editor for the APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs gested that physics graduate students and early career phys- awareness among their peers to help mitigate future tragedies. and is currently APS Student Representative for the AAAS icists do not believe that what they are currently learning in While the survey helped to momentarily spark interest Science and Human Rights Coalition.

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