August/September 2017 • Vol. 26, No. 8

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Physics Olympiad Results APS.ORG/APSNEWS Page 4

2018 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement 2017 APS General Election Results in Research Awarded to Eugene Parker

By David Voss By David Voss Voting in the 2017 APS General The APS Council Steering Election came to a close on July Committee has voted to award 31, and the results are in: Philip H. the Society’s 2018 Medal for Bucksbaum of Stanford University Exceptional Achievement in has been elected vice president, Research to Eugene Parker, pro- Larry Gladney of University of fessor emeritus at the University Pennsylvania becomes chair-elect of Chicago. Parker, 90, is recog- of the APS Nominating Committee, nized for his “many fundamental Ahmadou Wagué of Dakar Cheikh contributions to space physics, Anta Diop University in Senegal plasma physics, solar physics, will be international councilor, and astrophysics during the past and Vivian F. Incera of the City 60 plus years.” University of New York/College Phil Bucksbaum Larry Gladney “Eugene N. Parker is the dean of Staten Island will become gen- Academy of Sciences and the 2019 and president in 2020. of the field of space and astrophysi- Eugene Parker eral councilor. Their terms begin American Academy of Arts and “I’m honored to be elected, and cal plasma physics,” commented January 1, 2018. Sciences. Within APS he has been I’m looking forward to the oppor- Louis Lanzerotti of the New Jersey planetary magnetic field would be Phil Bucksbaum holds the active in the Division of Atomic, tunity to serve the members and Institute of Technology. “Parker’s locked into the coronal plasma and Marguerite Blake Wilbur Chair Molecular, and Optical Physics the Society,” said Bucksbaum. “I seminal theoretical work beginning would exhibit a spiral shape as the in Natural Science at Stanford and the Division of Laser Science. know we are facing challenges, in in the mid-1950s revolutionized solar wind carried it into the region University, with appointments in He has served as a Laser Science the changing landscape for interna- understanding of the solar corona known as the heliosphere. Physics and Applied Physics, and Divisional Associate Editor for tional cooperation, in the future of and its production of the inter- “There are very few scientists in in Photon Science at SLAC. His Physical Review Letters (PRL), journal publishing, in the future of planetary medium, and the effects the history of science of whom it current research is in laser inter- he was a member of the 2013 federal funding for physics, as well of the medium on Earth’s space can be said that they were respon- rogation of atoms and molecules PRL Visiting Committee, and he as other areas. There are also tre- environment.” sible for the establishment of an to explore structure and dynam- has served on the APS Executive mendous opportunities in physics Parker’s theory of the solar entire scientific discipline,” said ics on the femtosecond scale. Board. As vice president in 2018 in the 21st century, and APS has an wind led to a new understanding of Lennard Fisk of the University Bucksbaum is a Fellow of APS and he joins the APS presidential line important role in communicating the interplanetary medium. In par- of Michigan. “In the late 1950s, has been elected to the National and will become president-elect in ELECTION continued on page 4 ticular, he predicted that the inter- PARKER continued on page 4

NSF Grant For Women in Physics physics.aps.org By Rachel Gaal Research News: Editors’ Choice Regularly drawing 19 million A Monthly Recap of Papers Selected by the Editors viewers each year, the comedy TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory is Movie Archived on DNA premiering its 11th season in late Molecule September 2017. The male four- A research team has stored a Nature some featured in the show—two short digital movie inside the DNA Caltech physicists, an astrophysi- of live bacteria. DNA—our genetic cist, and an aerospace engineer—all information-bearer—is known to share the same “geeky intellectual” have the potential for encoding outlook on life. What about aspir- information at high density. In ing physicists, however, who don’t 2013, scientists managed to encode fit the male nerd image—are they 739 kilobytes of information into welcome? Thanks to a $3 million a synthetic strand of DNA, suf- grant from the National Science Zahra Hazari ficient to store simultaneously all Foundation (NSF), research- 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, one ers from Florida International physics at FIU and the lead inves- image, and a 26-second excerpt Researchers stored Muybridge's famous galloping horse film in DNA University (FIU), Texas A&M tigator of this project, her research of Martin Luther King’s “I have University–Commerce, the has centered on reforming the a dream” speech. Now, Shipman Twirling Black Holes Caught own, but only a handful of SMBH American Association of Physics physics learning environment to et al. have further boosted DNA’s in the Act pairs have been observed so far. Teachers (AAPT), and APS will raise the participation of underrep- information carrying capacity, A decade-long study of a dis- The radio galaxy 0402+379 hosts begin a multi-year project to resented groups who pursue phys- reporting in Nature (DOI: 10.1038/ tant galaxy has uncovered the first the closest known SMBH pair, esti- encourage more women to over- ics, especially women. nature23017) the first archiving of evidence of orbital motion in a mated to be 24 light years apart come the negative stereotypes and “[Shows like these] are hugely pair of supermassive black holes from Earth. Researchers monitored enter the field of physics. detrimental to opening up doors for a movie inside a living cell. The (SMBHs). This type of black 0402+379 from 2003 to 2015 with “[The Big Bang Theory] is a people who have never considered researchers first encoded the black- hole—often more massive than a the Very Long Baseline Array, funny show, and the ‘nerd’ stereo- the field, because they don’t look or and-white pixels of the movie’s million stars—is found at the cen- which is a system of ten radio tele- types are funny … but we need to act the right way,” Hazari said. “... frames into the four “letters” of a ter of many galaxies, including our scopes spread across the U.S. An change the ‘Big Bang Theory’ view you don’t have to act that way and DNA strand—the A, G, C, and T analysis of this data by Bansal et of what a physicist or a physics be that way to do physics, you can nucleobases. Using the new gene- al., presented in the Astrophysical student looks like,” Zahra Hazari be a caring and nurturing woman. editing technique called CRISPR, Journal (DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ told APS News in an interview. My research is about mythbust- they then placed the DNA into an aa74e1), shows that the black holes Currently an associate professor of NSF GRANT continued on page 6 E. coli bacterium. The movie’s frames could later be retrieved are moving relative to each other. From our planet’s vantage point,

by sequencing the cells’ DNA. Josh Valenzuela/UNM The stored movie was Eadweard the detected motion is a sluggish Muybridge’s The Horse in Motion, 1.6 microarcseconds per year. a groundbreaking motion picture By making assumptions about recorded in 1878 through strobo- the orbit’s shape, the researchers scopic photography. With the new estimate that it will take 28,000 DNA technique, the authors found years for a full revolution. At this they could accurately reconstruct rate, the pair will not be merging each frame of the movie. Dance of the massive objects RESEARCH continued on page 6

Revised 09/25/17 2 • August/September 2017

Spotlight on Development This Month in Physics History Help Strengthen the Future of the Physics Commmunity by Becoming a Member of the APS Legacy Circle August 5, 1816: Sir Francis Ronalds’

Dear Valued Member of the the Society to better serve the Telegraph Design Rejected Physics Community, professional physics community, he public generally associates Samuel Morse tubes buried in the ground. At each end of the line We hope that APS has been help educate the next generation Twith the invention of the telegraph, which a clockwork mechanism turned synchronously instrumental in your career success. of physicists, and communicate the revolutionized long-distance communication. But revolving discs with letters on them. A frictional Now, we invite you to strengthen excitement of physics to the gen- decades earlier, a London cheese merchant turned electricity machine kept the wire continuously the future of the physics commu- eral public for generations to come. amateur scientist and inventor, Sir Francis Ronalds, charged, while at each end two pith balls hung from nity by becoming a member of the Kindly use the form below to created his own version of an electric telegraph. the wire on silk threads, and since they were simi- APS Legacy Circle. request additional information, and/ Ronalds proclaimed, “Give me materiel enough, larly charged from the wire they stayed apart. When Some of you will soon be or share with us your intentions and and I will electrify the world.” But the world wasn’t someone desired to send a message he earthed the receiving planned giving informa- be counted as a member of the APS quite ready for his vision; it would be two decades wire at his end at the moment when the dial indi- tion that we hope will be useful in Legacy Circle. before William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone cated the desired letter. At the receiving end the guiding your philanthropic deci- Thank you for your consideration. commercialized the telegraph. pith balls would fall together when earthed and the sion-making. Estate gifts to support Sincerely, Born in 1788 to London cheesemongers, recipient noted the letter showing on his dial at that APS programs—that need not cost Irene I. Lukoff Ronalds was the second of 11 children. He attended moment. The system was slow and depended on the you in your lifetime—will enable APS Director of Development a Unitarian school before taking on an appren- two dials staying in step, but Ronalds demonstrated ticeship with his father at age 14. When he was that it would work over 150 metres of wire.” (1) just 19, Ronalds took over the family business Not only did he create the device, he had a £ I have included the American Physical Society (APS) in for several years after his vision of a wired world my estate plans. father died. But he also where political leaders £ Please recognize me in the APS Legacy Circle. had a strong scientific could converse across long interest in chemistry and distances, writing, “Let us £ I would like to remain anonymous. the relatively young field have electrical conversazi-

of electricity, carrying out wikimedia commons one offices, communicat- £ I would like to learn more about leaving a gift to APS in numerous experiments in ing with each other all over my will. Please send me your complimentary booklet his own home. He also the kingdom.” “37 Things People ‘Know’ About Wills That Aren’t Really amassed an impressive Excited about the So.” personal library of books potential for his device Name: on electricity, keeping and praise from a few col- what may have been the leagues, Ronalds offered Address: first card catalog system Clockwork telegraph his design to the British to sort them. Eventually Admiralty. But the timing Phone: he handed off the cheese was bad: a French appara- business to his younger tus called the semaphore

MAIL TO: Development Office brother so he could pour had been developed in the American Physical Society all his energies into the 1790s, and the Admiralty One Physics Ellipse study of electricity. had installed a similar wikimedia commons College Park, MD 20740-3844 Ronalds published his setup between London first papers on the dry and Portsmouth just the Phone: 301-209-3224 E-mail: [email protected] pile battery and how it week before. On August 5, generated electricity in 1816, Ronalds’ vision was Philosophical Magazine soundly rejected by the in 1814, followed by a Secretary of the Admiralty description of the first Sir John Barrow, who BEAM Fund Provides Aid to electric clock. He fig- showed a remarkable lack ured out how to record of prescience when he Undergrad Mentees changes in electricity in declared, “Telegraphs of the atmosphere using an any kind are wholly unnec- Undergraduate students have obtain funds as quickly as two days electrograph, and built Sir Francis Ronalds essary; and that no other enough to worry about just getting after they apply. an “influence machine” than the one now in use through E&M, thermodynamics, To be eligible, students must be capable of generating electricity. He came up will be adopted.” and lab courses; emergencies hap- pursuing an undergraduate degree with the first description of how induction affects Ronalds took the rejection of his signature inven- pen, however, and they can turn in physics or a closely related field, signal transmission in insulated cables, and devel- tion in stride, insisting he harbored “not a shadow life upside down. But now students and they must be part of the NMC oped new forms of electrical insulation based on of resentment,” although also expressing hope that in the APS National Mentoring as a mentee (for more on how to that work. eventually someone in a leadership role would Community (NMC) can get emer- participate visit the NMC web- But his place in history is due to his creation recognize the value of an electric telegraph for the gency financial assistance. site at aps.org/nmc). Among the of an electric telegraph at age 28, inspired by his future of communication. The field continued to On August 1, the APS BEAM things that can be paid for with earlier work on electric clocks. In the summer of advance for the next two decades, until the sub- (Bringing Emergency Aid to the emergency funds are medical 1816, Ronalds was living at his mother’s house at sequent inventions of the battery and the electro- Mentees) Fund began offering expenses, childcare, transporta- Hammersmith. He set up a makeshift laboratory magnet. That enabled Cooke and Wheatstone to small grants to provide under- tion, and tuition. For complete above the stable, and commandeered her back- develop their own rudimentary telegraph in 1837. graduate mentees with monetary information on allowable expenses yard to design, build, and test his telegraph, “in support to help them complete their and how to fill out an application, which [two parallel] wires were enclosed in glass RONALDS continued on page 3 degrees. And the fund offers rapid response: If approved, students can BEAM FUND continued on page 7

Series II, Vol. 26, No. 8 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2017 General Councilors Applied Physics), Young-Kee Kim* (Forum on Inter- August/September 2017 President Nadya Mason, Gail McLaughlin*, Bonnie Fleming, national Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics © 2017 American Physical Society Laura H. Greene*, Florida State University, National Andrea Liu and Society), Beverly Berger (Gravitational Physics), High Magnetic Field Laboratory Nicholas Bigelow* (Laser Science), Samuel Bader International Councilors (Materials Physics), Akif Baha Balantekin (Nuclear Editor...... David Voss President-Elect Eliezer Rabinovici, Johanna Stachel, Kiyoshi Ueda, Physics), P. Michael Tuts (Particles & Fields), Thomas Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Berkeley/ Marta Losada Roser (Physics of Beams), Cary Forest (Plasma Phys- Science Writer ...... Rachel Gaal LBNL ics), Murugappan Muthukumar (Polymer Physics), Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine Chair, Nominating Committee Philip Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), Carlos Wexler Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Vice President Paul Chaikin, New York University (Prairie Section) David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Copyeditor and Proofreader...... Edward Lee University of California, Santa Barbara Chair, Panel on Public Affairs * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors Frances A. Houle, Lawrence Berkeley National APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- Past-President Laboratory SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM monthly, except the August/September issue, by the tion delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Paid at Col- Homer A. Neal*, University of Michigan Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer, Jane Hopkins American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- lege Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. Editor in Chief Gould, Chief Financial Officer, Kate P. Kirby, Chief lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains Chief Executive Officer Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University (on Executive Officer, Matthew M. Salter, Publisher, news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, For address changes, please send both the old and new Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) leave) James W. Taylor, Deputy Executive Officerand Chief Sections, and Forums; advance information on meetings addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label from Operating Officer, Michael Thoennessen, Editor in of the Society; and reports to the Society by its commit- a recent issue. Changes can be emailed to membership@ Speaker of the Council Division, Forum and Section Councilors Chief, tees and task forces, as well as opinions. aps.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Daniel Kleppner*, Massachusetts Institute of Technol- Miriam Forman (Astrophysics), Timothy Gay* News, Membership Department, American Physical ogy (Emeritus) (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics), William Bi- Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- alek (Biological Physics), Robert Continetti (Chemical ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- 3844. Treasurer Physics), John Bradley Marston* (Condensed Matter dress and daytime telephone number. APS reserves the James Hollenhorst*, Agilent Technologies Physics), Giulia Galli (Computational Physics), Ann right to select and to edit for length and clarity. All cor- Karagozian (Fluid Dynamics), Noah Finkelstein (Fo- respondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Corporate Secretary rum on Education), Julia Gonski, (Forum on Graduate Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Ken Cole, APS Student Affairs), Dan Kleppner* (Forum on History MD 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. of Physics), John Rumble* (Forum on Industrial and August/September 2017 • 3 Change is in the Air

News from the APS Office By Fred Schlachter to deploy as soon as 2020. The This efficiency is used to good As I sat in my car in total frus- company is optimistic, even though effect in the present generation of of Public Affairs tration at the horrific traffic jam on several critical components are electric cars. APS Members Make Gains with Science Advocacy my way to a battery conference, my missing or still in early stages of NASA is exploring electric mind wandered to a fantasy from development. planes. Engineers point out that By Tawanda W. Johnson A key component is a suit- electric motors are much smaller my youth: flying cars. The Dick able battery. Batteries that can and lighter than jet engines, allow- APS members are making big making decisions on bills that Tracy two-way wristwatch-radio power such a plane and be quickly ing them to be integrated into the moves in the science policy arena, directly affect the livelihood of became reality with the first Apple recharged do not exist due to insuf- fuselage rather than having them helping to ensure that the U.S. many educators and professionals Watch. Why not flying cars? ficient specific energy (energy per hang under a wing. The result maintains robust science budgets in the scientific community, and There have been many attempts. unit weight), low charging rate, would be improved propulsion-air- to keep the nation on a path of jobs I felt I had to voice my concerns One 1947 flying car looked like poor cycle life, and cost. A German frame integration and operational and prosperity. regarding science funding.” a Cessna glued to a Ford Pinto: company—Lilium—along with efficiency. Unfortunately, pres- Dominic Calabrese, a physics Calabrese added, “My involve- the Convair Model 118. There other companies are working on ent batteries do not store enough professor at Sierra ment (in science advo- is little interest at the moment in a demonstration electric VTOL energy to power an electric plane College in Rocklin, cacy) has given me a car that flies, and, as long as it plane, but it is a long way from over a useful distance. NASA is California, working the chance to make a uses lift, it would require an air- certification and production. developing the X-57, a plane with with the APS Office of difference in the lives port runway. But while I was en 14 electric motors turning pro- Public Affairs (OPA), of the members of the route from Berkeley to San Jose to pellers and set into a uniquely- landed an op-ed in science community. It attend “Beyond Lithium Ion (BLI) designed wing. the Auburn Journal, has also allowed me to X” at IBM Research-Almaden, the A battery-powered VTOL plane urging his representa- be heard by my con- thought of leaping over the traffic illustrates some of the challenges tive Tom McClintock gressional represen- stuck on I-880 reinforced my dream (CA-4th) to reject tative. Lastly, I hope wikimedia commons that product designers face in the Dominic Calabrese of flying right over the traffic jam. 21st century. Better, cheaper energy President Trump’s pro- my involvement has When I finally got to BLI-X, I posed cuts to science. increased our con- storage is required to make many found the mood more upbeat and such products feasible. It is impor- McClintock serves on gressional district’s optimistic than in recent years, as the House Committee awareness of the sig- tant for expanding the use of wind progress will likely result in bat- and solar energy sources, which on the Budget, and thus nificance of federal teries that have a higher energy- plays an integral role in science funding.” are of little use when clouds block storage density, are less expensive When do I get my flying car? funding decisions. Calabrese took his the sun or the wind is not blowing. and possibly safer, and will likely A highlight of advocacy a step fur- There are a host of other obsta- Energy storage from wind and allow new applications. I was par- Calabrese’s piece: ther by meeting with cles that must be overcome: Pilots solar may not require batteries, since ticularly intrigued by the prospect “His [Trump’s] pro- McClintock’s staff in must be trained, and even with- portability is not necessary. Energy of a new battery chemistry: lithium/ posed 2018 budget his local office, along out pilots, government approved can be stored in thermal, kinetic, and Karen King sulfur. But my mind kept returning would do considerable with Greg Mack, autonomous flight-control software potential forms. The most important to the traffic jam I had negotiated harm to scientific innovation that APS government policy special- will eventually be necessary; infra- criteria for utility-scale energy stor- and musing about flying over it. has not only positively impacted ist, to underscore key points in his structure needs for takeoff/landing/ age are long life, low cost, long-term Helicopters are far too expen- California’s $47 billion agricultural op-ed. McClintock’s staffers—both recharging/air-traffic control must reliability, and scalability. Advanced sive and noisy to be a viable option production, but also the millions of locally and in Washington, D.C., be met; battery safety in aircraft batteries may be useful but not for most of us. Flying cars might be farms across the country.” have responded in a favorable man- (certain phones are not allowed always the best option for utility- a pipe dream, but vertical-take-off- Calabrese said it is crucial that ner toward the importance of fund- on commercial flights today due scale energy storage. and-landing (VTOL) planes could scientists educate members of ing science. to the risk of battery fires) must The optimistic mood at BLI-X be an alternative. A VTOL craft Congress on the importance of “McClintock was on our advo- be addressed; and a clear busi- was due in large measure to two could take off and land at a small science. cacy target list, but he was a chal- ness model must be developed. recent developments. local “vertiport.” Making the plane “Very few politicians in lenge,” said Francis Slakey, OPA Convincing customers to board a (1) All-solid-state batteries, Washington, D.C. and the state and interim director. “He represents a electric and powered by batteries plane with huge batteries could be where the conventional flamma- local levels have a background in rural district with no significant will eliminate carbon-dioxide pro- a problem. Noise at urban verti- ble liquid organic electrolytes are duction if electricity from a green the sciences,” he said. “They are ADVOCACY continued on page 6 ports will likely meet with oppo- replaced with solid materials, will grid is used. Of course, the problem sition. And costs could be in the reduce or eliminate the fire hazard of going to and from the vertiport stratosphere. for batteries. Ceramics and glasses RONALDS continued from page 2 remains. The low energy-storage density are contenders, although more (Some sources say Wheatstone had facturing portable tripod stands to The uber-disruptive company of batteries and thus their weight is development is necessary. seen Ronalds’ telegraph as a boy.) support drawing boards for artists Uber says it has a solution. It has an issue; however, electric motors (2) Batteries with a lithium Within two years, their system working in the field. proposed a summon-on-demand are greatly more efficient than (Li)-metal anode and a cathode was being used to send messages He also pursued meteorologi- service using battery-powered internal-combustion or jet engines, containing primarily sulfur (S) between local railway stations, as cal interests, developing scientific VTOL air taxis, which it intends and they are more quiet as well. CHANGE continued on page 6 much as 29 kilometers apart. British instruments to study electricity and police relied on the telegraph in geomagnetism in the atmosphere. 1845 to help capture fugitive mur- In 1842, he established the Kew derer John Tawell. Observatory, which became one Their approach was ultimately of the leading meteorological and Careers Report superseded by the telegraph system geomagnetic facilities in the world, created by an American portrait art- rivaling the famous Greenwich “Startup Stories” Encourage Physics Innovation and Entrepreneurship ist turned inventor named Samuel Observatory. By Mary Ann Mort Finley Breese Morse. Morse also Ronalds did live to see his vision invented his own system of dots come to fruition. And not everyone For my final project in an elec- semester, physics students are tin- and dashes, which could be com- forgot his contributions: The fledg- tronics and instrumentation course kering away and making gadgets bined to represent letters of the ling Society of Telegraph Engineers last year, I created a device that var- and gizmos to help make their alphabet, called Morse Code. He (which inherited his formidable ied the colors on a strip of LEDs lives more convenient—so why convinced Congress to construct library) dubbed him the “father of according to audio frequencies. My not find ways to bring these ideas an experimental telegraph line from telegraphy” and declared he “must goal was to cut down on the effort to market? Washington, D.C. to Baltimore. always stand as the first of English that goes into pre-programming In an effort to give students And on May 24, 1844, he sent Telegraph Engineering.” He was light shows for music concerts by these real-world skills, APS is the message “What hath God knighted for his efforts in 1870. letting the frequency filters do the promoting physics innovation and wrought?” from the old Supreme He died at home near Hastings on work. But once my product was entrepreneurship (PIE) education Court chamber in Washington to his August 28, 1873, aged 85. finished, I had no idea what to do for physics undergraduates through partner, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore. References: next or how to put it on the market. the NSF-funded PIPELINE proj- By 1869, the East and West coasts 1. The Institute of Engineering and As the next semester started, my ect. This project brings together the were connected by telegraph. Technology. Resources/Archive/ enthusiasm for the project died. efforts of six universities to develop Mary Ann Mort As for Ronalds, he didn’t pub- Highlights. Sir Francis Ronalds's If I had an opportunity to take a and implement new approaches to ulty, but also those with careers as lish a paper again in Philosophical Telegraph. (theiet.org/resources/ class for physics students on mar- teaching PIE. Alongside the physics entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs in library/archives/featured/francis- Magazine for the next 32 years, but keting, patents, and how to navi- curriculum, these courses aim to the private sector where team man- ronalds.cfm). he was far from idle. He turned his gate the business world, I might help physics students commercial- agement, leadership, and project focus to mechanical and civil engi- 2. Ronalds, Beverley F. “The Bicen- have pursued ways to design and ize new technologies that they cre- management skills are so essential tennial of Francis Ronald’s Elec- neering, traveling extensively and tric Telegraph,” Physics Today. produce more devices like the one ate, as well as develop leadership, for success. developing new surveying tools as February 2016. from my final project. And what communication, and multi-disci- APS also has a new online fea- well as drawing instruments to help if there were a new kind of class, plinary team skills. These skills ture called “Startup Stories.” These 3. Ronalds, Beverley F. Sir Francis artists achieve better perspective in Ronalds: Father of the Electric lab, or part of an existing class that will not only serve the meager five are profiles highlighting young their sketches. He wound up with Telegraph. London: Imperial Col- covers how to take innovative ideas percent of physics bachelors des- physics entrepreneurs who have a strong side business in manu- lege Press. 2016. from prototype to product? Every tined to be permanent physics fac- STARTUP continued on page 5 4 • August/September 2017 IPhO 2017 Unites Physics Brainiacs in Indonesia APS Leadership and Staff By Rachel Gaal After qualifying exams, Featured in Physics World countless practice problems, and group preparation sessions, the U.S. physics team set off for Physics World, the member Also included is news cover- Yogyakarta, Indonesia in late July magazine of the UK Institute of age of physics in the U.S., com- to compete at the 48th annual Physics, focuses on physics in the mentary by U.S. Congressman International Physics Olympiad United States in the latest of their Bill Foster, a Q&A with former (IPhO). The seven-day trip, from “Special Report” series. Among the director of the Office of Science July 16-24, brought together over articles is a round-table discussion and Technology Policy John with 2017 APS President Laura Holdren, Robert Crease on the 300 high school students from Greene, 2017 APS President- DOE laboratories, and more. 88 countries to put their physics Elect Roger Falcone, and Francis The digital version is free- skills to the test. This year, the U.S. Slakey, interim director of the to-read and available at physic- team placed 8th overall in medal APS Office of Public Affairs. sworld.com count—winning three gold and two silver medals. “We tied for eighth place in the medal count … about the same as last year’s [competition],” Paul Stanley of Beloit College told APS News. As one of three team leaders 2017 U.S. Olympiad team (L-R): Jimmy Qin, Sanjay Raman, Michele Song, for the U.S. Physics team, Stanley Shreyas Balaji, Kye Shi is no stranger to the stiff competi- tion of IPhO. “Our medals were perfect opportunity for students to sented at the opening ceremony, better [this year]; they were bet- calculate and explore the properties which offered both students and ter for everyone. [But] the exams of a new seismic-detecting technol- team leaders bits of inspiration for were challenging … lots of number ogy, called the parallel dipole line their difficult competition ahead. Vernon J. Ehlers 1934-2017 crunching for the experiment[s], (PDL) magnetic trap. “Everything we have accom- and some pretty heavy theory for To relieve some of the test-tak- plished is inherited by the younger By David Voss the theoretical exam[s].” ing jitters, the participants of IPhO generation … they must be edu- Former Republican U.S. All competitors were given were taken to Borobudur Temple, cated and provided the access Congressman Vernon Ehlers, 83, two experimental and three the- Yogyakarta palace, and Tembi to more appropriate methods of died at his home in Grand Rapids, oretical questions that ranged Village. Students made special education. Only then can they be Michigan, on August 15. Ehlers from estimating the speed of gal- dyed clothes, known as batik, and better than those who came before was a nuclear physicist who won axy clusters with dark matter, to were able to play a part in making them,” Habibie asserted. “There election to the U.S. House of solving for thermodynamic vari- traditional music. are two types of physicists [in the Representatives in 1993, and served ables in earthquake and volcanic As a welcoming gesture to the world]. One will become like me, until his retirement in 2011, rep- eruptions. Allotted a mere five IPhO group, past-president of and the other will become like resenting the 3rd Congresssional hours for the experimental por- Indonesia and aeronautic engineer Einstein. I hope that participating District of Michigan. He was the tion of their exam, students were B.J. Habibie created a special video in this physics olympiad will help first of a small, select club of three required to tinker with lasers to message for this year’s competitors. guide [these students] to choose physicists, including former Rep. find the refractive index and diffu- Habibie, known as “Mr. Crack,” where to go when [they] finish Vernon Ehlers Rush Holt (D-NJ) and current Rep. sion rates of a saltwater solution. was the first scientist to help fix [their] education.” Bill Foster (D-IL). He was a strong there were opportunities and obli- Indonesia is also prone to volcanic a problem with failure in aircraft The 2017 U.S. Physics supporter of scientific research, sci- gations to be involved in public activity and tsunamis associated structures known as random crack Traveling Team includes Shreyas ence education, and a defender of affairs.” with large-scale earthquakes—a propagation. His video was pre- IPHO continuedon page 5 the National Science Foundation. Holt noted that such a stance “Vern was a serious scientist of took some nerve. “Back when he some accomplishment,” observed was advising [former Congressman ELECTION continued from page 1 Rush Holt, Chief Executive Officer and U.S. President] Gerald Ford, it was not something a young physi- the joy and excitement of science of the American Association for to the public and to government.” the Advancement of Science, about cist would normally do. It took the recognition that this was something Larry Gladney is the Associate his former congressional colleague. Dean for the Natural Sciences in “But he understood very early on a scientist could and should do.” “Vern Ehlers was a friend and the School of Arts and Sciences that involvement in politics and and Edmund J. & Louise W. Kahn public matters was not incompat- a mentor to me when I entered Congress as the 3rd member of Professor for Faculty Excellence ible with serious physics research in the Department of Physics and and teaching. Vern realized that EHLERS continued on page 7 Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania. His research interests are in astro-particle physics and cosmology and in experimental par- PARKER continued from page 1 ticle physics for which he received the APS Edward A. Bouchet Award as a young untenured professor at Eugene Parker received his Ahmadou Wagué Vivian Incera the University of Chicago, Gene B.S. degree from Michigan State in 1997. He currently serves on the Parker wrote his seminal paper on University in 1948 and his Ph.D. Program Advisory Committee for elected Vice President of the quently cross the formal boundaries the acceleration of the solar wind, from the California Institute of the Advanced Laser Interferometer African Physical Society when of other areas. Over her academic predicting that it would be a super- Technology in 1951. After an assis- Gravitational-Wave Observatory. it was launched in January 2010, career, she has made important sonic flow. This work was ridiculed tant professorship at the University Gladney is also incoming chair and is currently a coordinator of the contributions to the understanding by more senior, well-established of Utah, he joined the faculty of of the APS Forum on Outreach International Steering Committee of the properties of strongly inter- astrophysicists.” Parker’s predic- the University of Chicago in 1957. and Engaging the Public. He will of the new African Optics and acting matter under extreme condi- tion was confirmed by the Mariner Since then, he has published key serve as 2018 chair-elect of the Photonics Society. He organized tions. As the new Dean of Science 2 spacecraft in 1962 and by the papers in solar magnetohydrody- APS Nominating Committee and a national campaign called “Light at the College of Staten Island, she Voyager missions. namics, cosmic ray physics, and then as chair in 2019. The com- to the People” in bringing Solar has already spearheaded several “Gene Parker has a wonderful space plasma physics. mittee is responsible for putting Lamps into schools in many remote initiatives to increase student suc- and exceptional record of seminal The APS Medal for Exceptional forward candidates for positions villages without electricity in cess, foster faculty research, and contributions … over the many Achievement in Research was initi- in the elected leadership of APS. Senegal. Wagué is a founding mem- promote the representation and years of his distinguished career,” ated in 2016. The first medal was Ahmadou Wagué is Professor ber of the African Laser Centre in success of women in the STEM said Roger Falcone, chair of the awarded Edward Witten of the of Physics at the Dakar Cheikh Johannesburg, where he works to fields. Incera has served on the 2018 APS Medal selection com- Institute for Advanced Study and the Anta Diop University, in Senegal develop laser facilities in South APS Committee on Minorities and mittee. “It is remarkable to see so 2017 medal was awarded to Daniel West Africa, where he has been Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, as the Elected Chair of the Texas many effects that bear his name.” Kleppner of the Massachusetts involved in teaching general phys- Kenya, Namibia, Tunisia, Algeria, Section of the APS. She was the Dr. “Focusing on our nearest star, Institute of Technology. The medal ics, quantum mechanics, optics, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Egypt, C. Sharp Cook Chair in Physics at Gene has taken on the incred- includes a prize of $50,000, a cer- atomic physics, and laser spec- among others. the University of Texas at El Paso ibly difficult task of elucidating tificate citing the contribution made troscopy. Wagué is a member of Vivian Incera is Professor of and received a national award many of its complexities and has by the recipient, an allowance for the Senegalese National Academy Physics and the Dean of Science and for Leadership in College-level provided the world with new and travel to the APS Medal Ceremony of Science and Technology where Technology at the City University Promotion of Education. better understanding of the sun,” in Washington D.C. on February 1, he is in charge of the Committee of New York/College of Staten See aps.org/about/governance/ said APS Chief Executive Officer 2018 and an invited talk at an APS on Science Education and Relation Island. She is a high-energy theorist, election/index.cfm for more Kate Kirby. meeting. with Young Scholars. He was although her research interests fre- information. August/September 2017 • 5 Science Research in Gaza in Palestine Education & Diversity Update APS Releases Updated Statistics on Women, Minorities, and By Sultana N. Nahar Education Meeting Zher Samak, a post- Drawing on national databases, each year APS collects and produces a graduate student from Gaza in number of graphics and data files that document the participation of Palestine pursuing her Ph.D. in various groups in physics. To see the latest numbers and historical trends the physics department of Cairo on physics majors (bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D.’s), women in physics, University in Egypt, taught me a underrepresented minorities, and more, visit aps.org/programs/education/ lot about higher education in Gaza. statistics. Thanks to Sam Montgomery from the New Mexico Institute of Like most others, I was aware of Mining and Technology for his help in assembling the data. their elementary and high schools but not their universities. Zher grad- NMC Travel Awards for 2017 Día de la Física Deadline: Sep- uated from the Islamic University tember 21 of Gaza (IUG) with a bachelor’s The APS National Mentoring Community (NMC) is partnering with the and a master’s degree in physics. National Society of Hispanic Physicists to co-sponsor their Día de la Física Gaza has several universities, such at the University of Utah on October 21, 2017 in Salt Lake City. This meet- as Al Azhar, Al Aqsa, Islamic, and ing, which occurs during the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos Palestine Technical College, but and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference, offers program- the Islamic University of Gaza is ming specific to physicists and physics students. Travel awards are the only research university there available for NMC participants. For more information, visit go.aps.org/ that offers a master’s degree in nmc-2017. Not an NMC member? Join at aps.org/nmc. physics. The faculty members in Faculty and student winners of prizes (with certificates) with the IUG Pres- ident Professor Awadallah (in the middle) at the 2017 annual recognition APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics Appli- other departments and in other uni- versities include students in their program for education and research in STEM subjects founded by Sultana cation for Students Opens September 1 Nahar. The 2018 APS CUWiP will be held at twelve universities across the U.S. research programs, but not at the and Canada January 12–14, and provide great opportunities for women graduate degree level yet. IUG held its sixth International 7 to faculty members for high qual- in physics to network, as well as learn from scientific presentations, panel Zher saved money as a school- Conference on Science ity research publications and best discussions, graduate school fairs, and career expos! Applications are teacher to pursue her Ph.D. degree Development, and I was invited teaching skill and 7 to students for to be the keynote presenter in the the best academic performances in open September 1 – October 13 at aps.org/cuwip. in physics in Cairo University, where I taught a lecture course on inauguration session. Unfortunately the departments of physics, biology, Interested in hosting a APS CUWiP at your university in 2019? atomic astrophysics and plasma I was not able to attend the chemistry, mathematics, and six APS CUWiPs are three-day regional conferences at multiple sites across opacity. Her own savings was not Conference, but instead I sent my departments of engineering. They the U.S. and Canada, and are designed to increase the recruitment and enough and hence her parents also slides on “Atomic processes: From were distributed for the first time in retention of undergraduate women in physics. If you are interested in contributed. She came to me asking Universe to Cancer Treatment” April 2017 at the end of IUG’s 2nd applying to be a host site for our 2019 conferences, please visit go.aps. whether she could join the course with my Skype contact informa- observation of the research week org/cuwiphost and submit an application form by November 1. Email after her research advisor Professor tion to answer questions after the where various research activities [email protected] for more information. Sherbini informed her about it. I presentation. But due to a power were demonstrated. The winners outage in Gaza, Skype did not of the prizes were also revealing. Free Professional Skills Seminars for Students welcomed her. work, so a professor answered Of the faculty prizes, five went to With support from the National Science Foundation, APS has trained A tall, strong young woman in a the questions. Participants came male faculty members and one to another cohort of women in physics to facilitate professional skills seminars black abaya whose way of speak- from the universities in Gaza, a female faculty member who was for students and postdocs at your university! Professional Skills Develop- ing showed determination and and from neighboring Arab coun- from engineering. However, six of ment Seminars are designed to reach women in physics, and will teach persistence in pursuing the degree, tries of Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the seven student prizes went to students communication and negotiation skills. Visit go.aps.org/psd- Zher stood out as different from and the city of Bethlehem, and female students. It was impressive wseminars to find a facilitator near you! other students with happy faces. She lived alone far from campus I joined remotely from the U.S. to see the sincerity and devotion of Woman Physicist of the Month and used to take the bus every- The research areas covered were the women, and I hope that such Dr. Lilia Woods obtained a Ph.D. in condensed day carrying a heavy old laptop. in chemistry, environmental engi- practices will also be adopted by matter physics from the University of Tennessee Her laptop was the only computer neering, earth sciences, water and the men. under the guidance of Prof. Gerald D. Mahan. She unable to connect to wi-fi internet renewable/green energy, marine The author is a research profes- was a postdoctoral researcher at the Oak Ridge during the computational workshop sciences, life and health sciences, sor in the Department of Astronomy National Laboratory/University of Tennessee, which on R-matrix and atomic structure and biotechnology, mathematics, at The Ohio State University, was followed by a National Research Council codes that I was conducting. She and physics. The presentations Columbus, Ohio. She is a Fellow Director’s-funded postdoc position at the U.S. Naval took the final exam with a cold covered interesting and modern of the APS and known as the Iron Research Laboratory. Dr. Woods then joined the and a fever but did well. I offered topics titled such as “Zinc and Lady for extensive work on iron department of physics at the University of South her $300 toward purchasing a new Magnesium Levels in Osteoporosis ions under the Opacity Project Lilia Woods Florida, where she is currently a professor. Her computer, but she refused politely Patients from Northern Gaza Strip” and the Iron Project. She received group of graduate students and postdocs works on a variety of cutting- saying that she needed only prayer and “Dispersion Characteristics of her Ph.D. in physics from Wayne edge problems reaching across condensed matter physics, materials for her success. She accepted it Graphene Surface Plasmon four- State University, Detroit, Michigan science, and devices. She works with faculty and graduate students to only when I explained that it was layer Waveguide.” in 1987. With A.K. Pradhan she develop presentations, in-class demonstrations, lab visits, and experiments for her sincerity and performance I established a recognition pro- co-authored the textbook Atomic so high school students can actively participate and prepare for success- in the course. Through Zher I came gram in STEM (science, technol- Astrophysics and Spectroscopy ful undergraduate studies in physics. to know more about IUG and made ogy, engineering, mathematics) (Cambridge 2011), and maintains contact with it. I helped members in areas in IUG in 2015 to moti- her online database NORAD- Nominate the next Woman Physicist of the Month by emailing the nominee's the physics department to become vate and promote education and Atomic-Data. She has been promot- name, institution, email, and CV, as well as one to three paragraphs about members of APS at no cost. research in basic and applied sci- ing STEM education and research the nominee and why she is worthy of recognition to [email protected]. On March 14–15, 2017, ences. The program gives 14 prizes, in developing countries since 1995.

STARTUP continued from page 3 IPHO continued from page 4 used their physics knowledge to to physics faculty who train future business, I will be interested to find Balaji from John Foster Dulles High mation on qualifying exams to join start their own innovative busi- generations of physicists. The indi- out how the curriculum evolves School in Sugar Land, TX; Jimmy the U.S. Physics Olympiad team. nesses. As an APS Careers intern vidual pathways to success are dif- through the PIPELINE project. Qin of Seminole High School in The 48th IPhO 2017 was orga- through the Society of Physics ferent for each entrepreneur, but A class that covers the process of Sanford, FL; Sanjay Raman of nized by the Directorate General of Students, personally interview- the idea of attracting investors by creating a business, which mir- Lakeside School in Seattle, WA; Primary and Secondary Education ing and writing up the stories of effectively communicating the rors research in many ways, could Kye Shi of Monte Vista Christian in the Ministry of Education and these fascinating entrepreneurs goals is universal. strengthen the contributions of School in Watsonville, CA; and Culture (MoEC) of the Republic was inspirational because I heard These Startup Stories are a part physicists. Physicists already have Michelle Song of Mission San Jose of Indonesia. about their success in overcoming of a larger effort by APS to promote technical problem-solving skills, High School in Fremont, CA. The To learn more about this year’s obstacles. These profiles get stu- PIE. There is also a monthly news- and teaching them to apply that American Association of Physics IPhO and to see the official results, dents like me excited about solving letter on the latest developments in pragmatic mindset to other aspects Teachers (aapt.org) has more infor- visit ipho2017.id global problems by using our phys- PIE Education (sign up at aps.org/ of life offers the possibility of ics training in innovative ways. The programs/education/innovation/ improving life for all of us. Startup Stories are available on the pipeline/), and a student-oriented The author is a graduat- PIPELINE homepage at aps.org/ webinar on entrepreneurship com- ing senior in Applied Physics at programs/education/innovation/ ing up this fall. PIPELINE mem- Sacramento State. She just fin- APS News online index.cfm bers also presented several talks at ished a summer internship at APS And the Startup Stories aren’t the 2017 American Association of through the Society of Physics aps.org/apsnews just for students. While the profiles Physics Teachers Summer Meeting Students. You can learn more give entrepreneurial tips to students in Cincinnati. about her internship by reading her as they complete their undergradu- As a physics student who has blog at spsnational.org/programs/ ate degrees, the advice also applies daydreamed of starting my own internships/2017/mary-ann-mort. 6 • August/September 2017

NSF GRANT continued from page 1 BACK PAGE continued from page 8 ing, and to [eliminate bias against] we haven’t wrapped it into practice made an improvement in society. cuts, and have some substantial should be funding this and not that. women’s participation in physics.” yet,” Hazari said. “[My team and Hard numbers and documentation disagreements. Although federal R&D funding Although the show hasn’t made I] want to use [academic research] of the impacts of any budget cuts It is highly likely that the appro- is only 3% of the annual budget, it major controversy, popular culture to change the face of physics, the are also important inputs to both priations committees will propose is a critically important investment might be taking a toll on those who education system, and to increase the Office of Management and a Continuing Resolution (CR) for in the future of our nation. pursue physical science careers. pathways and empower women in Budget and the Hill, and best devel- FY18 of the non-defense budgets, The author is Benjamin Peirce Even though as many women physics, rather than have all of this oped in conjunction with the APS keeping the government running Professor of Technology and Public take high school physics as men, valuable research sit in a journal.” Office of Public Affairs, Panel on temporarily at the same levels as Policy in the John A. Paulson women make up only 20 percent of With the four years of NSF Public Affairs, and Physics Policy FY17, given the little time left School of Engineering and Applied the undergraduates in physics. And funding, Hazari plans to care- Committee. Since congressional before October to negotiate the Sciences and Professor of Physics, according to Hazari, the imbalance fully field-test her program with staffers turn over regularly these proposed changes. An important Harvard University. She served as has historically been an issue in small numbers of teachers for two arguments need to be made con- point to make to your congressio- the Director of the Department of certain disciplines of engineering years. “What we are really trying stantly and consistently on the Hill nal representatives and their staff Energy’s Office of Science from and physics; biology has a slight to hammer home is ‘how do we and in your district. is that a full-year CR for FY18 2015 until 2017, overseeing $5.5 overrepresentation of women, and make these interventions usable for Obviously there are many enacted at the administration’s billion in research funding as well national priorities. A balance needs FY17 levels, rather than a stopgap as the management of 10 national chemistry is at or around parity, physics teachers, and how do we to be struck between the support CR of a few months followed by an laboratories. She was dean of the she said. reach them?’ Whether you are in of science and the next generation attempt to enact an FY18 budget, School of Engineering and Applied “Women tend not to choose a rural area, or the inner city, these physical science careers because of scientists on the one hand and will allow a more measured process Sciences at Harvard from 2009 until are materials that [we want] them they don’t see them as impactful meeting important near-term goals for management of the scientific 2014, and principal associate direc- to use,” Hazari explained. “It’s a .... on average, [they] tend to be of the nation on the other, with the community. A full-year’s CR in tor for science and technology from very difficult task, but we [have] interested in careers that can make caveat that it can take years for fun- FY18 would also allow the admin- 2007 to 2009 and deputy director for help from teachers that come from a change in society, that can better damental science to make a huge istration more time to focus on its science and technology from 2004 those demographic regions.” If all our future in society, so they don’t difference and that it is not known FY19 budget formulation, which is to 2007 at Lawrence Livermore goes as planned, there will be a see physics as a pathway for that,” at the time that a particular piece of starting now. National Laboratory. From 1978 nationwide rollout by 2019 with Hazari explained. “We are going research will be a home run. But if I’ll end with an extremely to 2004, Murray held a number to show how people with physics a targeted goal of reaching 16,000 you don’t swing, no home runs will important point: Although I have of positions at Bell Laboratories degrees go on to work on cancer educators. ever be hit. In the meantime other been talking about physical sci- (Lucent Technologies). She served research, they work on things that “[16,000 teachers] is a daunting nations are eagerly at bat. ence, we need to come together as as APS president in 2009, and is a can make a huge difference in number,” Hazari admitted. But her The House and Senate marks the whole science community to member of the National Academy of the world.” strategies to reach teachers far and from the appropriations committees argue that a broad spectrum of gov- Sciences and National Academy of While efforts are on the rise wide includes help from APS and introduced to the floor just before ernment-supported R&D is impor- Engineering as well as a Fellow of to retain female physics under- AAPT, who have a vast network of the August recess have restored tant, rather than pointing fingers the American Academy of Arts and graduates—including the APS physics educators. “We [hope to] some but not all of the major at other disciplines and saying we Sciences. Conferences for Undergraduate train regional teacher leaders who Women in Physics (CUWiP)— will go out and run workshops in RESEARCH continued from page 1 Hazari wants to tackle the preced- their region, and include webinars ing step of recruitment with her for additional teachers throughout anytime soon, but astronomers quency of a 12C6+ reference ion to generators (TRNG), which create upcoming research. the country,” Hazari said. “I know continue to hunt for evidence of derive the proton mass with a pre- a random series of 0s and 1s that “We … understand the issues [our plan] is very risky, but the big- SMBH mergers, which are pre- cision of 32 parts per trillion, and encode your data. But as technol- for women and what the critical ger risk is not trying anything. It’s dicted to be powerful sources of were confronted with a surprise: ogy becomes sleeker, smaller, and timeframes are for intervention, but always better to try something.” gravitational waves. the proton mass value differs by more powerful, it is more difficult Proton is Lighter than three standard deviations from the to fit TRNGs into microcircuits. Expected CODATA value (an international Researchers have now found that A new measurement of the mass compilation of physical data). combining carbon nanotubes with of the proton is the most precise to The value of the proton mass is static random access memory ADVOCACY continued from page 3 date and at the same time signifi- a key parameter in many aspects cells can create true random bit research footprint—he’s an influen- week later in a letter in Dispatch. cantly disagrees with the previous of chemistry and physics. The streams. As Hersham et al. report tial member of Congress, but from He wrote, “I have serious concerns consensus value. Heiße et al. report authors next plan to improve the in NanoLetters (DOI: 10.1021/acs. his point of view, he had no rea- with some of the cuts included in the result, which they obtained by experimental precision by reduc- nanolett.7b02118), they exploited son to care about science.” That’s the president’s budget.” comparing the motion of a sin- ing field inhomogeneities in the the natural thermal fluctuations no longer the case, added Slakey. Blunt is vice chair of the gle proton in a magnetic field to Penning trap—the main source that occur in carbon nanotubes to “Dominic changed that.” Republican Conference, putting that of a carbon ion, in Physical of systematic error. For more, see digitize high and low voltages into Calabrese’s advice to APS mem- him in charge of messaging for Review Letters (DOI: 10.1103/ the Synopsis in Physics, “Proton bits (high voltage = 1, low voltage bers who want to become involved all Senate Republicans. “So when PhysRevLett.119.033001). The Loses Weight.” = 0). Their circuit passed a series in advocacy: “If there is an issue he publicly challenged Trump’s researchers stored a proton in a Nanotubes Generate “Truly” of rigorous checks, including a you really feel passionate about, budget proposal in response to Penning trap, a special configu- Random Bits National Institute of Standards you should try to get involved. Karen’s op-ed,” Slakey explained, ration of electric and magnetic Cell phones, computers, and and Technology test suite. The You can contact the APS Office of “it enabled other Republican sena- fields, and measured its cyclotron even watches are capable of keep- team’s work could pave a path for Public Affairs [[email protected]] to tors to do the same.” frequency, which is proportional to ing you online 24/7. To protect pri- the development of low-cost and get started. Nobody else is better King was elated with Blunt’s the ratio of charge to mass. They vacy, information is encrypted with widely applicable security devices equipped to express their concerns response, but she explained that she compared this to the cyclotron fre- the help of true random number for next-generation electronics. about science policy than a person did not get involved with advocacy trained in the sciences.” for personal gain. Karen King, an assistant teach- “Advocacy is not about personal CHANGE continued from page 3 ing professor in the Department rewards; I got involved because it may become feasible. A Li/S bat- battery nearly thirty years ago. The author is a physicist of Physics and Astronomy at the feels like the right thing to do. A tery would have an energy density There is an example of a Li/S retired from Lawrence Berkeley University of Missouri, said she positive response from policymak- twice today’s Li-ion batteries with battery in use for flight: Sion Power National Laboratory, a Fellow of became involved in advocacy ers is encouraging, but it is also criti- potentially increased safety when a makes a Li/S battery for UAVs the American Physical Society, because she holds “a deep con- cal to maintain sustained effort, even solid electrolyte is employed, and (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). But viction that all students deserve in the face of discouraging results.” and an occasional policy ana- reduced material cost. Lithium it is a long way from a UAV to lyst and consultant to APS. He is a high-quality education that Her tips for those who want to metal reacts violently with water, transporting humans. includes rigorous courses with get involved in advocacy: especially interested in the future which should be possible only in The two advances listed above of renewable-energy storage and critical-thinking skills.” “I encourage [students] to get the event of serious physical dam- could considerably increase the the application of electricity to our “Whether a child dreams of involved at multiple levels of age; or fire could occur if a cell range and lower the cost of electric transportation future. He is also being a doctor, engineer, or an government, including present- shorts due to growth of a dendrite. cars, make batteries more safe, and astrophysicist, she should have ing undergraduate research at our Li/S batteries still have some maybe even make electric VTOL a Commissioner on the Energy access to challenging courses and state capitol or applying for fed- challenges in cycle life and high- planes a reality, but perhaps not Commission of the city of Berkeley, support of teachers to reach her eral summer internships. The APS rate manufacturing but look very soon. Our battery future is looking CA: one of his present issues is aspirations,” King explained. Advocacy Dashboard (aps.org/ promising. If these challenges can brighter than it has in recent times. replacing natural gas with electric- Working with the APS Office policy/issues/) is a good resource be overcome, Li/S would be the I am still dreaming about being ity for residential space and water of Public Affairs, she wrote an for further actions that citizens first significant new battery chemis- able to fly over those awful free- heating. Fred continues his study of op-ed that appeared in St. Louis can take. Finally, I think much try since the invention of the Li-ion way jams. the Thai language in his spare time. Dispatch. It urged U.S. Sen. Roy can be gained, especially locally, Blunt to support STEM education by focusing on building relation- by fully funding Titles II and IV in ships—getting to know local teach- News and commentary about the Every Student Succeeds Act, ers, administrators, and folks in our research from the APS journals which were targeted for cuts in own city government.” TM the White House budget proposal. The author is Press Secretary Sign up for Alerts: physics.aps.org Surprisingly, Blunt responded a in the APS Office of Public Affairs. August/September 2017 • 7

SAVE Double your exposure THE by giving an outreach talk Join the nation’s largest meeting dedicated to the Learn how to increase DATE enrollment of physics majors education of future physics teachers in addition to your science talk! FOEP will have contributed sessions at the 2018 2018 2018 APS March and April meetings. These PhysTEC Building Thriving talks do not count against your “one scientific Undergraduate talk”quota, so you can still submit a scientific Conference Physics Programs presentation. We look forward to hearing PET February 9–10 about your work. Workshop American Center for Physics February 10–11 February 8 College Park, MD FOEP Full Day Pre-Conference FORUM ON OUTREACH & travel funding available ENGAGING THE PUBLIC phystec.org/conferences/2018/

MAMEETINGRCH2018 M A R C H 5 - 9 LOS ANGELES, CA SUPPORTING DIVERSITY Upgrade for APS March Meeting IN PHYSICS Abstract System Currently accepting new faculty Starting in September, abstract submissions for the 2018 APS March Meeting will be handled by an online manage- mentors and undergraduate ment system called ScholarOne. The new online system mentees! features a simplified submission interface that allows ab- stracts to be saved in draft form and edited online until the New: BEAM Fund - Emergency submission deadline (November 3). aid for students now available. aps.org/nmc A number of changes have been made to the submission procedure as well: Abstracts must be submitted in HTML format using ScholarOne's Rich Text Editor, and submis- sions will require an APS web ID and password to ensure CONFERENCES FOR that submitters are members of APS in good standing (or UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN members of a reciprocal society). For more information about the 2018 APS March Meeting IN PHYSICS and updates on the submission process, visit the meeting website at aps.org/meetings/march/

Photo: © 2017 Christina + David EHLERS continued from page 4 January 12–14, 2018 the bipartisan Ph.D. Physicists' replace Rep. Paul Henry, who died Caucus,” said Foster. “At the time I in office. Arizona State University was elected, Vern had already spent Michael Turner, director of the Cal Poly Pomona/Pomona College/ more than a decade trying to bring Kavli Institute for Cosmological Harvey Mudd College logic and rational analysis to the Physics at the University of Columbia/Barnard/City College deeply irrational business we were Chicago and former APS President, George Washington University in. He understood both the need to served with Ehlers on the APS Iowa State University #apsCUWiP insist on valid scientific analysis of Physics Policy Committee. “Vern Queen’s University (Canada) technological issues like Ballistic was the first Ph.D. physicist in Rochester Institute of Technology Missile Defense and the separate Congress and he did us proud,” University of Kansas APPLICATION DEADLINE need to apply one’s deeply held said Turner. “As they say, you University of North Florida OCTOBER 13, 2017 beliefs towards issues like envi- only get one chance to make first University of Oregon aps.org/cuwip ronmental protection. Vern’s career impressions, and Vern made a good University of Toledo will serve forever as a model to first impression for the physicists University of Virginia anyone thinking of using their tech- who would follow. He was bipar- nical knowledge to make Congress tisan, low-key and wise.” and our world a better place.” “His colleagues knew he had Become A CUWiP 2019 Host Site! Apply by November 1, 2017 Born in Minnesota in 1934, a science background, but he Ehlers received his bachelor’s wasn’t pushy or preachy about and Ph.D. degrees in physics from it,” added Turner. “Instead, he the University of California at was very approachable and a good Berkeley. He carried out research communicator. He was generous at the Lawrence Berkeley National with his time and over the years Laboratory and then joined the fac- provided much wise counsel to MAMEETINGRCH2018 ulty of Calvin College in Grand the APS. When he stepped down Rapids. He entered the Michigan from Congress, he bemoaned the M A R C H 5–9, 2018 state House of Representatives growing polarization. He served at LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA in 1983. In 1993, he entered the a time when science was bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives and we benefitted from the support after winning a special election to of both parties.“ Call for Abstracts

The scientific program is the cornerstone of the March Meeting and gives BEAM FUND continued from page 2 researchers an opportunity to present their work to other scientists and receive see the BEAM website at aps.org/ Such generosity is only one of valuable feedback, meet potential collaborators, and even future employers. programs/minorities/nmc/nmc- many ways to support APS pro- beam.cfm. grams. If you too would like to DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 3, 2017 The BEAM fund was made pos- make a difference in the lives aps.org/meetings/march sible in part with a grant from the of others, please contact APS Kenton and Amy Brown Fund of Director of Development Irene the Winston-Salem Foundation. Lukoff ([email protected]). 8 • August/September 2017

The Federal Budget, Part One: Physical Science Research and Development Funding for Fiscal Year 2018—a Call to Action By Cherry Murray

Note: this article is based on a presenta- After that, there was the space station, a slight tion given to the 2017 APS April Meeting in uptick in NASA in the mid 1980s, and a major Washington, D.C. in January 2017, with an increase in life-sciences and medical spending added mid-August update. due to the war on cancer and doubling of the When I gave a presentation at the 2017 National Institutes of Health budget starting APS “April” Meeting last January, I had just in the early 1990’s. completed my appointment as the Director International trends in domestic R&D of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy spending (industry and government spend- (DOE), which as the APS News readership ing) over time are both interesting and alarm- knows is the largest funder of physical science ing as shown in Figure 2. In the U.S. and the research in the federal government. European Union, R&D spending has been I hadn’t actually paid a lot of attention to climbing nicely, but you can see the amazing the entire federal budget until I became a fed- skyrocket of the domestic R&D spending of eral employee, and then I found it to be quite China over the last 20 years. China has made it sobering. part of its 15-year plans to aggressively catch In this Back Page article spread across two up. They have a plan to grow R&D in a com- issues of APS News, I will first, in this Part One, prehensive multi-year strategic program, with cover some historical trends in U.S. research plans for a national lab and academic system and development (R&D) funding, contrasted to rival those of the U.S. and Europe. with that of some other nations, and then pro- Science is international, and the only way vide an update on the administration’s proposed to lead in science is to stay ahead of the com- budget for the next fiscal year (FY18) and a call Figure 1. Trends in federal non-defense spending on R&D in constant 2014 dollars petition. The global competition here is for the to the physics community to respond. best and brightest minds, which will be drawn In Part Two, in the October issue, I will to the nations with the greatest ecosystem for give a short tutorial on the federal budget as a scientific R&D and industrial innovation. It is whole and where R&D fits into it, and I hope of strategic importance to the national security to have an update on the congressional budget of the U.S. that cutting-edge biology, materials marks for FY18. research, and the fastest indigenous computers The process and timeline by which the are now in China, and that both China and U.S. federal budget is built Europe are heavily investing in advances in The U.S. federal government is normally quantum science and technologies, brain sci- working on three annual budgets simultane- ence and artificial intelligence, new energy ously. The budget for FY17, from October 1, technologies, and synthetic biology—areas 2016 to September 30, 2017, is being executed on the cusp of major advances in science and by agencies now. Let’s call that budget the FY industry. budget. Funding for Physical Sciences R&D in At the same time, the FY+1 budget is under the FY18 Federal Budget consideration by Congress; that budget is (nor- The administration’s proposed FY18 bud- mally) submitted to congress by the president get drastically slashes non-defense discretion- during the first week in February of FY, i.e., ary spending and R&D. Wild swings in R&D four months after the start of FY and eight budgets are especially poor ways to manage a months prior to the start of FY+1. Congress scientific workforce, and there is considerable must assess this budget, usually through hear- pushback from Congress on this. ings and testimony, and enact 12 separate The administration’s FY18 proposed budget appropriations for the FY+1 budget. cuts to R&D spending in the physical sciences Because of the turnover in the presiden- terminate the Advanced Research Projects tial administration last January, submission Figure 2. Trends in national and European Union R&D spending in current purchasing power Agency - Energy, and range from 11% to the to Congress of the president’s FY18 proposed parity dollars Source: U.S. National Science Board National Science Foundation to 16% for DOE budget was delayed until late May, and con- Office of Science and 30 to 70% for applied gressional budget hearings are just now being held for FY18 fundamental research, underpins technology and economic energy programs at DOE. In addition there are proposed as I write this in late June. development in the U.S. Economists have shown that 85% drastic reductions in the earth observation and environmental Concurrent with congressional consideration of the FY+1 of our economic growth is due to investment in R&D. Our R&D programs across all government agencies. budget, the administration is formulating the FY+2 budget, a committee and many others have worried about how the U.S. These cuts if enacted in the DOE R&D budget would process led by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is losing its international lead in science and technology, how immediately trigger layoffs of roughly 25% of staff at the and negotiated separately with each agency; the formulation quickly that can happen, and how hard it would be to regain. ten DOE Office of Science national laboratories, and reduce process can take as long as one year prior to the submission Relevant to physical science research is the “discretion- operations at the scientific user facilities by 11% to 40%, to Congress. ary” spending part of the federal budget, a yearly budget which would lose the ability to accommodate about 20% of Trends in Federal Spending on Research and process for about a third of the entire budget of $3.7 trillion the current user base, three quarters of which comes from Development through the appropriations committees of Congress. This academia. The DOE cuts, if enacted, would reduce the phys- Why do governments fund research and development? It comprises about half defense and half nondefense spending. ics research funding directly going to universities by 20%, is not because, as we all know, science is beautiful. And the R&D part of each of those is about 10%, together on top of reductions from other agencies. The drastic reduc- In 1945, after the major R&D effort that arguably won the a very small slice of the total federal budget—roughly 3%. tions in applied energy program R&D would cause the U.S. war, Vannevar Bush, the first science advisor to the president, Despite the importance of federal investment, and its to lose its lead in technology development and economic in his report Science: The Great Frontier made the case for relatively small percentage of the entire federal budget, the competitiveness in the major global energy transformation federal government support of research. His argument was federal spending on R&D, as a percentage of gross domestic happening in the next decades. that industry does applied research and development, while product (GDP), is going down. In fact, it is pretty much fol- In addition, the reduction in science and energy funding at the federal government must invest in basic research broadly lowing the decreases in all discretionary budgets over the the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration defense underpinning both national security and the economy. last thirty years: R&D went from 1.2% of GDP in the late labs would result in layoffs and be devastating to their ability The U.S. funds federal R&D to ensure national security, 1970s to just under 0.8% in 2016. to recruit and retain the best science and engineering staff, innovation, and economic competitiveness—and over the The half of federal spending on R&D for defense is essential for their national security mission. years, improvements in health and food supply and improve- mostly for major systems development. Very little is for A Call to Action for the Physics Community ments in the environment have been added as well. But the basic research—the basic research portion of defense R&D So what can the physics community do? first three are by far the major reasons. has been decreasing over the last 50 years. And non-defense You can propose to your congressional representa- Federal investment in R&D since the 1950s has been a R&D continues to go down as a percentage of GDP, despite tives that the support of research in general, and in par- major contributor to the U.S. military and economic global all of the sound arguments to the contrary. ticular fundamental research, is an important investment position; but sustaining that global position is no longer There have been large fluctuations in the funding of types in national security and the economy. This is best done a given. of non-defense federal R&D as shown in Figure 1: first start- through face-to-face discussions and by telling real stories A U.S. National Academies committee on which I served ing in 1957, as a response to Sputnik, the Apollo program of how your research or other research in their district has in 2007 (and which issued the Rising Above the Gathering provided major funding for NASA. And then there was a blip Storm report) pointed out that federal R&D, especially in in energy research during the oil embargo starting in 1973. BACK PAGE continued on page 6

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