Careers CUWiP Grows for Eight Congressional Visit Day Primer African Light Source Garners 02 03 Years in a Row 04 05 Critical Political Backing

March 2019 • Vol. 28, No. 3 aps.org/apsnews

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

JOURNALS LEADERSHIP New Journal Launch: Physical Review Research 2019 APS President David Gross PS has announced the the APS suite of peer-reviewed BY LEAH POFFENBERGER newest title in its portfo- journals, which also includes A lio of peer-reviewed jour- nine prestigious hybrid titles. David Gross has been a member of nals—Physical Review Research All articles published in the new APS for over 50 years, during which (PRResearch). The publication journal will be immediately free he has become a renowned and highly will be fully open-access (OA) and to read, and readers anywhere in decorated theoretical physicist—and cover the entire range of physics, the world may reuse the content a Nobel Laureate, after winning the including interdisciplinary and according to the terms of a CC-BY Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004. He newly emerging areas. The jour- 4.0 International license. was Director of the Kavli Institute nal will open for submissions this “PRResearch will be positioned of Theoretical Physics (KITP) at the spring with the aim to publish its alongside Physical Review A-E, with from PRX or another journal in University of California from 1997 to first papers in the second half of similar selection criteria to these the family, to PRResearch should: 2012, and now serves as the president this year. established topical titles” explains • Present important and novel of APS. Gross sat down with APS News “As we continue to expand Michael Thoennessen, Editor in results that advance a par- to discuss his goals for his presidential publishing options for our Chief for the APS journals. “It ticular field of research year, the new APS Strategic Plan, and David Gross authors and readers, Physical will offer a fully OA option for all the future of APS. The interview has • Generate interest for readers Internally, last year was a very Review Research is the latest addi- authors who prefer or require that been edited for length and clarity. with a connection to physics busy year for all of us, especially tion to our world-leading fam- model and seek the Physical Review • Represent an authoritative Q: Can you outline your plans for for APS management and mem- ily of journals in physics and refereeing and publishing experi- and substantive addition to the presidential year? bers of the Board and Council, as related research areas,” says ence they value and trust.” the body of literature A: One thing that I have learned we put together a Strategic Plan APS Publisher Matthew Salter. Among the open access titles • Explore the subject mat- from serving as APS Vice President for the society [see go.aps.org/ “This new journal will aim to published by APS, PRResearch ter comprehensively and and President Elect is that in this strategicplan]. advance and disseminate scientific will complement Physical Review X thoroughly position you have to swing with It was a lot of work, but worth- research and discovery, promote (PRX), which has a similarly broad the punches. Larger national “Submissions to PRResearch while. I am very pleased that the physics, and serve the broader scope but is extremely selective goals for the APS are currently will be handled by the same pro- Strategic Plan contains new ini- physics community. In these ways as the highest impact, fully OA, on hold, as we are largely in a fessional editorial team of Ph.D. tiatives that are exciting and will it will directly support our mission multidisciplinary physics jour- defensive mode trying to prevent scientists who manage peer review lead to new programs and new at APS.” nal in the world. According to the bad things from happening. APS ways of doing things. There are PRResearch will become the author guidelines, manuscripts has had some important victo- fourth fully OA journal within directly submitted, or transferred PRRESEARCH CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 ries in this regard in recent years. PRESIDENT CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

STRATEGIC PLAN Reminder: APS Innovation Fund APS Strategic Plan: Process and Results On February 7, all APS members were sent an Physicist Nan Phinney (SLAC) served years ago (APS Strategic Plan: 2015- email about the launch of a new initiative: the as Chair of the APS Strategic Plan 2017) was created before the APS APS Innovation Fund (IF). The IF is part of the Steering Committee. She spoke with corporate reform (aps.org/about/ if APS Strategic Plan: 2019 and initial proposals APS News about the APS Strategic reform/), when APS was run by a Plan: 2019 and how it came together triumvirate. That Strategic Plan are due on March 18. For more information, MISSION VISION V ALUES see page 3 and visit go.aps.org/innovationfund over the past year. For more on the didn’t cover APS as a whole. For new Strategic Plan see the special instance, publishing is a very TM insert in this issue. The interview has important part of APS and the old Innovation Fund been edited for length and clarity. Strategic Plan didn’t really address MEETINGS Q: What is a strategic plan and it. And one of the big issues now is APS April Meeting Preview why does APS need one? open access—how do we respond A: In general, it’s a good idea to that without losing the peer for any organization to look ahead review process that everyone his year’s APS April Meeting There were four subcommittees and decide where it wants to be in values. will head to Denver, that addressed various key issues APRIL MEETING 2019 five years. It’s easy to get buried Q: How did the process for creat- Colorado, where attendees (go.aps.org/strategicplan). I would T in solving today’s problems and ing the new Strategic Plan work? can share in a range of sympo- forget the longer perspective. A: The planning for the new sia, scientific presentations, and quarks cosmos The Strategic Plan from a few Strategic Plan was very thorough. APS PLAN CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 workshops. In keeping with the conference theme of “Quarks to the Cosmos,” the topics will touch Q2C JOURNALS on the smallest constituents of matter and the largest structures Gouvêa (Northwestern University) Embracing All Aspects of Materials Research will discuss neutrino mass and in the universe. More than 1,000 BY CHRIS LEIGHTON AND ATHANASIOS CHANTIS conference-goers will converge on physics beyond the Standard the Sheraton Denver Downtown Model. Susanne Mertens (TUM/ Hotel for four days of physics MPI-Munich) will cover differ- organized by 22 APS membership ent direct and indirect approaches units and committees. to measurement of the neu- Three distinguished scientists trino mass. Marcos Santander will speak about neutrino physics (University of Alabama) will at the Kavli Foundation Keynote present recent results from the he field of materials science focus on materials research. This many fields of chemistry and Plenary Session on Monday, April is inextricably intertwined changed on April 4, 2017, when engineering (electrical, chemi- 15 (8:30 AM–10:15 AM). André de MEETING CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 T with numerous fields of Physical Review Materials, the cal, mechanical, etc.), reflecting physics. It is thus unsurprising youngest member of the Physical the interdisciplinary nature of the that materials-related research Review family, was launched. field. Inclusiveness, broadening of has traditionally featured promi- The original goal of Physical the footprint of the Physical Review, nently in several Physical Review Review Materials, which was cre- and expansion to non-traditional journals, including Physical Review ated in response to substantial areas were thus anticipated (and Letters, Physical Review B, Physical analysis and information gather- welcomed) goals of the journal. Review E, Physical Review X, Physical ing by APS, was to fully embrace The intention was to publish high Review Applied, and Reviews of all aspects of materials research, quality, original experimental and Modern Physics. Historically, how- across many disciplines. The ever, the Physical Review never latter include not only physics, featured a journal with an explicit but also materials science, and PRM CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 2 • March 2019

CAREERS A Mile in My Shoes: The Story of My THIS MONTH IN Personal Journey to a Fulfilling Physics Career, and What You Can Learn from It Physics History BY CRYSTAL BAILEY

n my role at APS, I’m often in March 29, 1959: Lyman Briggs Publishes Research the position of advising stu- Results on Spin of a Baseball I dents about the career out- comes they might expect once they receive their degree. A big t’s the spin, not the speed, that is critical for part of my mission at APS is help- achieving the unique trajectory of a curve ing students to expand their vision I ball in baseball. We know this because of a beyond the confines of academia to physicist and lifelong baseball fan named Lyman encompass a much broader spec- Briggs, who conducted wind tunnel experiments trum of possibility (as an aside, did in the late 1950s to determine the answer once and you know that out of all physics for all. And he did that work after retiring from a PhDs initially employed in poten- long, distinguished physics career, proving that tially permanent positions, 70% there really is no age limit to scientific curiosity. were in the private sector? You can Crystal Bailey Born in 1874 in Battle Creek, Michigan, Briggs’ read a lot more about that in an AIP family ancestors came to America in 1621 on a ship Statistical Research Center report As you advance in your edu- called the Fortune, which followed the original - go.aps.org/2UdSh2s, and in an cation, your goals and priorities Mayflower. He never attended high school, but article I wrote in 2013 for the FGSA will change, but having a “guiding was admitted to Michigan Agricultural College Newsletter - go.aps.org/2GNDI2y). star”—at least one career outcome (now Michigan State University) by examination, In the process of advis- that you think you might enjoy— graduating second in his class four years later. He Airflow moving past a spinning baseball in a wind tun- nel. NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY ing students about careers I am which actually requires the degree majored in agriculture, but his true interests lay also occasionally in the position you’re pursuing will give you resil- in mechanical engineering and physics. He earned to share details about my own ience in the face of difficulty. When a master’s degree in physics in 1895 from the and distressed” to discover that Briggs had merely personal career journey from a things got tough for me as a grad- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and finished put the reports in his safe and hadn’t shown nuclear physics graduate student uate student, not actually wanting his PhD at Johns Hopkins University in 1903. them to anyone. Oliphant insisted on meeting to a program manager at one of the career outcome I thought my Briggs married his wife, Katherine Cooke, in with the full Uranium Committee, and ultimately the largest physics societies in the degree would lead to did nothing to 1896 while still an undergraduate. (Katherine and persuaded US physicists to devote their efforts world—and the “cautionary tales” motivate me to stay engaged. You their daughter, Isabel, later developed the Myers- to developing the bomb. That effort ultimately that come along with that story. don’t have to stick to your plan, Briggs Type Indicator personality test.) After get- became the Manhattan Project. Briggs retired So I would like to take a moment but having some sort of plan—a ting his PhD, he joined the US Department of from NBS in 1945, at age 72, just as the war was to share three key pieces of advice reason for being there—is hugely Agriculture, helping found the field of soil physics. ending. But he still continued his research, setting that I wish someone had been there important. One research area was studying how a plant’s environment affected its water uptake. up a laboratory at NBS for studying fluids under to give me as I embarked on my Choose Your Advisor Very, Very, In 1920, Briggs joined the National Bureau negative pressure—a return of sorts to his work graduate education in physics. Carefully of Standards (NBS, now the National Institute on water uptake via capillary action of plants as All of us have heard horror sto- Have a Good Reason to Be There of Standards and Technology), heading the a young scientist. ries about heartless research advi- The primary reasons I went to Engineering Physics Division. Along with Hugh The war brought on a rubber shortage, so the sors who seem to be on a mission graduate school were: a) I was good L. Dryden, he did pioneering research on the aero- rubber cores of baseballs during that period were to make their graduate students at and enjoyed doing research, dynamics of very high-speed airfoils. He also replaced with cork. Pitchers loved it, but batters miserable. But you don’t have to and grad school was a good way co-invented an earth inductor compass, used to complained that the new balls didn’t travel as far be working for someone like that to continue that, and b) it’s what determine an airplane’s bearing in relation to the when hit. Briggs conducted experiments at NBS to still have a problematic rela- everyone expected me to do. At no Earth’s magnetic field. (Charles Lindbergh used and reported in a January 1945 article in the NBS tionship. In my case, my thesis point did I consider whether a PhD such a compass on his historic trans-Atlantic Journal of Research that “a hard-hit ball [with a advisor was a great person—there in physics was actually necessary flight in 1927.) In 1932, President Herbert C. cork center] might be expected to fall about 30 was just a mismatch between his for me to achieve a future career Hoover nominated Briggs as the new director for feet shorter than the prewar ball hit under the style of management and what I goal (believe it or not, I actually NBS, but his Congressional approval was delayed, same conditions.” needed in order to be productive wasn’t interested in a permanent and Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in Nearly 15 years later, Briggs was back with and happy. This was a stressor career in academia, which of course the interim. Roosevelt honored his predecessor’s more baseball physics experiments. There was a I (wrongly!) believed was the only choice, purportedly saying he had no idea what longstanding heated debate about whether a curve JOURNEY CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 thing I could do with a PhD). Briggs’ personal politics might be: “All I know ball thrown by a baseball pitcher really curved, is that he is the best qualified man for the job.” or whether it was an optical illusion. (St. Louis During World War II, Roosevelt appointed Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean once famously coun- the 65-year-old Briggs to head the Advisory tered in the 1930s, “Ball can’t curve? Shucks, get Committee on Uranium, with the objective of behind a tree and I’ll hit you with an optical illu- investigating its fission potential. Progress was sion.” Briggs knew the so-called Magnus Effect slow, in part due to Briggs’ own poor health. It (in which a spinning object moving through a fluid Beginning with this issue, APS News has a new design. was a British team, headed by German refugees experiences a differential pressure that causes the Among the changes readers will see is a top line on page Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls, who discovered object to be deflected) played a role, but how much 1 pointing to articles of special interest, more readable that purified U-235 could be used to make an did the curvature depend on speed, and how much on the ball’s spin? fonts, and additional subject headings to improve naviga- atomic bomb. A committee of prominent British scientists sent their report to Briggs, but heard He set out to settle the debate once and for all, tion. We hope you like the result and welcome feedback nothing. with the help of the Washington Senators baseball at [email protected]. Finally, a frustrated Marcus Oliphant (who team. Pitchers threw baseballs at Griffith Field - David Voss, Editor, APS News. mentored Frisch and Peierls) flew to Washington to meet with Briggs personally, and was “amazed BRIGGS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Series II, Vol. 28, No. 3 March 2019 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2019 General Councilors Materials Physics), Baha Balantekin* (Division of © 2019 American Physical Society Bonnie Fleming, Andrea J. Liu*, Nuclear Physics), Elizabeth Simmons (Division of President Vivian F. Incera*, Robin L. B. Selinger Particles and Fields), Stuart Henderson (Division David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical of Physics of Beams), Amitava Bhattacharjee (Di- Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara International Councilors vision of Plasma Physics), Murugappan Muthu- Editor...... David Voss Johanna Stachel, Marta Losada*, kumar (Division of Polymer Physics), Charles H. Staff Science Writer...... Leah Poffenberger President-Elect Ahmadou Wagué*, Enge Wang Bennett (Division of Quantum Information), Noah Philip H. Bucksbaum*, Stanford University and Finkelstein (Forum on Education), Julia Gon- Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Chair, Nominating Committee ski (Forum on Graduate Student Affairs), Virginia Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Larry D. Gladney, Yale University Trimble (Forum on the History of Physics), John Vice President Rumble, Jr.*(Forum on Industrial and Applied Sylvester J. Gates*, Brown Theoretical Physics Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Physics), Emanuela Barzi (Forum on International APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD Center, Brown University James D. Wells, University of Michigan Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics and So- monthly, except for a combined August-Sep- 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. ciety), Philip R. Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), tember issue, 11 times per year, by the Ameri- Past President Editor in Chief Nora Berrah (New England Section) can Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It publication delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Berkeley (on leave) Senior Management Team contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mail- Margaret Bandera, Chief Financial Officer; Mark Topical Groups, Sections, and Forums; advance ing offices. Chief Executive Officer Division, Forum, and Section Councilors Doyle, Chief Information Officer; Kate P. Kirby, information on meetings of the Society; and re- Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) Michael Coleman Miller Division of Astrophys- Chief Executive Officer;Matthew M. Salter, ports to the Society by its committees and task For address changes, please send both the old ( ics), David Schultz (Division of Atomic, Molecular, Publisher; Francis Slakey, Chief Government forces, as well as opinions. and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Speaker of the Council and Optical Physics), William Bialek (Division of Affairs Officer; James W. Taylor, Deputy mailing label from a recent issue. Changes can be John Rumble, Jr.*, R&R Data Services Biological Physics), Robert Continetti (Division of Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer; Letters to the editor are welcomed from the emailed to [email protected]. Postmaster: Chemical Physics), John Bradley Marston* (Di- Michael Thoennessen, Editor in Chief membership. Letters must be signed and should Send address changes to APS News, Membership Treasurer vision of Condensed Matter Physics), Giulia Galli include an address and daytime telephone num- Department, American Physical Society, One James Hollenhorst* Agilent Technologies (Division of Computational Physics), Howard Stone * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors ber. APS reserves the right to select and to edit Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. , (Division of Fluid Dynamics), Beverly Berger* (Di- for length and clarity. All correspondence re- Corporate Secretary vision of Gravitational Physics), John Fourkas (Di- garding APS News should be directed to: Editor, Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Jeanette Russo, American Physical Society vision of Laser Science), Samuel Bader (Division of March 2019 • 3

HONORS STRATEGIC PLAN 2019 APS Medal Ceremony and APS Innovation Fund: Advancing the Physics Enterprise

Leadership Convocation s part of the recently unit or committee, which will be BY LEAH POFFENBERGER adopted APS Strategic Plan: asked to provide a brief statement A 2019 APS has launched a of support. APS staff will also PS membership comprises Research for his “seminal contri- new program—the APS Innovation assist by preparing a comment 47 “units”–Divisions, butions to theoretical condensed Fund (IF)—to foster collabora- regarding impacts on staffing and A Forums, Topical Groups, matter physics.” tive partnerships that support existing programs. and regional Sections. Each A plenary session Friday morn- the interests of the physics com- Investigators whose prelimi- year, leaders of these units con- ing allowed convocation attendees munity. An IF announcement nary proposals are selected in the if gregate in Washington D.C. the chance to hear from the APS email went to all APS members first phase will be invited to sub- for the annual APS Leadership staff leadership about the status of on February 7, 2019. The deadline mit 5-page full proposals. Convocation, Medal Ceremony, APS as an organization, new devel- for preliminary proposals is March The proposals will be reviewed and Congressional Visits Day. At opments in journal publishing, 18. To download the preliminary by the APS Innovation Fund this year’s Convocation (January and efforts in science policy and proposal form, visit the IF webpage Committee, which will assess 31 to February 2), attendees had government affairs. More sessions at aps.org/programs/innovation/ applications against four stan- TM the chance to meet with other unit throughout the day, led by APS fund/. dards: proposals must be rel- leaders, learn about current and employees, provided unit leaders APS members may submit pro- evant, beneficial, innovative, and May 2019: Finalists are notified upcoming programs at APS, and with an overview of the many pro- posals to work with APS staff in measurable. and asked to develop a full pro- participate in advocacy efforts in grams and services offered at APS. developing innovative activities The proposals must be new posal in collaboration with APS support of science. An evening reception celebrat- in areas of public engagement, concepts and not continuations of staff Congressional Visits Day on ing the 90th anniversary of Reviews advocacy, education, diversity, and current APS activities. The fund June 15, 2019: Deadline for finalists Thursday, January 31, organized of Modern Physics (RMP) brought careers, among many others. The will not support physics research to submit full proposals by the APS Office of Government unit leaders together with RMP and 3–5 projects that are ultimately or the salaries of graduate students August 2019: Grant recipients are Affairs, took unit leaders to Capitol Physical Review editors. This was selected will be funded for up to and staff running existing efforts. notified Hill to meet with Congressional followed by an address by APS Past two years with grants ranging Important Deadlines representatives from across the President Roger Falcone. from $25,000–$100,000 per year. March 18, 2019: Deadline for APS Innovation Fund Committee: country to advocate for support of On Saturday morning, 2019 After two years, funded projects submission of preliminary 2019 APS President David Gross science. Discussions ranged from APS President David Gross spoke will end, obtain outside funding, proposals (co-chair), APS Director of Project research funding to the need for to convocation attendees about or be deemed important enough to March 18–25, 2019: Units and Development Theodore Hodapp (co- reform of the visa system to ensure his priorities for the coming year, chair), 2019 Speaker-Elect of the APS be integrated into APS’s operating Committees are contacted for scientific mobility. especially focusing on rolling out Council Andrea Liu (University of budget. comment on pre-proposals The APS Medal Ceremony and the new APS Strategic Plan and Pennsylvania), APS Chief Government The IF process begins with April–May 2019: Proposals are Reception took place on Thursday kicking off the APS Innovation Affairs Officer Francis Slakey, and a brief preliminary proposal. reviewed by the APS Innovation 2019 Speaker of the APS Council John night, honoring Harvard physi- Fund. The Convocation wrapped up Members need to identify an APS Fund Committee Rumble (R&R Data Services). cist Bertrand I. Halperin. APS with discussions among unit lead- President David Gross presented ers, APS leadership, and staff about Halperin with the 2019 APS Medal specific implementation goals for WOMEN IN PHYSICS for Exceptional Achievement in 2019 and beyond. CUWiP Grows for Eight Years in a Row BY LEAH POFFENBERGER

he APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in T Physics (CUWiP) support women pursuing degrees in phys- ics with the opportunity to expe- rience a professional conference and meet other women in physics. The 2019 conferences, held January 18 through January 20, spanned 12 different sites and hit a record attendance of around 2,000, con- tinuing a trend of growth for the past 8 years. A hallmark of CUWiP is its character as a multi-site event: Attendees will travel to the site nearest them, instead of converging at one location. All locations saw an increase in applicants and attendees CUWiP attendees at a poster presentation by Sahar Ahmadi (University of compared to previous years. The California, Santa Cruz) on dark matter research. universities that hosted the event APS President David Gross (L) presents the APS Medal to Betrand I. Halperin (R). are: College of New Jersey, College KYLE BERGENER of William and Mary, Michigan “CUWiP now attracts nearly for the 2019 CIWiP, more than any State University, Northwestern every female undergraduate previous CUWiP.” University, Texas A&M University physics major in the US, largely At each site, undergraduate - Corpus Christi, University of due in part to targeted market- women had the opportunity to Alabama, Tuscaloosa, University ing, institutions committed to attend talks by faculty, panel dis- BRIGGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 of California, Davis, University promoting the continuation of cussions about graduate school and of California, Santa Barbara, degrees by female undergradu- careers in physics, laboratory tours and Briggs photographed the flight on how much a curveball curves; University of Massachusetts, ates, and the value seen by past and more. Fabiola Gianotti, CERN path with a stroboscopic camera to spin is the critical factor. Amherst, University of Ottawa attendees,” said Kai Wright, APS Director-General, was the CUWiP capture speed and curvature. He Briggs died on March 25, 1963, (Canada), University of Washington, Women’s Programs Coordinator. keynote speaker and gave a talk also experimented with propelling at age 88. Edward Condon, who Seattle, and Utah State University. “We received over 2600 applicants titled “Why a professional life in a ball from an airgun and photo- succeeded him as NBS director, physics?” graphing the flight path. The balls declared, “Briggs should always “Dr. Gianotti’s talk gave details had been marked to also measure be remembered as one of the great of her path to becoming a physi- the spin, but the marks were too figures in Washington during the cist which included her study of small to show up on the resulting first half of the century, when the humanities, constant curiosity photographs. Federal Government was slowly as a child, and continuous quest So Briggs turned to the NBS and stumblingly groping towards for knowledge. Her research in wind tunnel he helped build back a realization of the important role experimental particle physics and in 1917, tossing in baseballs and science must play in the full future high-energy accelerators was letting them freefall against the development of human society.” of particular interest to attend- horizontal wind streams, causing Further Reading: ees who were eager to ask ques- the balls to curve. When the base- 1. Briggs, Lyman J. (1945) “Methods tions during her Q&A session. Dr. balls hit the ground, they bounced for measuring the coefficient of Gianotti expressed that it does not off a piece of cardboard treated restitution and the spin of a ball,” matter if you had a late start in with lampblack, putting a smudge J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand. 34: 1-23. physics as long as you have a pas- on the ball to show the point of 2. Briggs, Lyman J. (1959) “Effect of sion,” said Wright. spin and speed on the lateral de- impact. The results, published on flection (curve) of a baseball and the March 29, 1959, were clear: the Magnus effect for smooth spheres,” Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, welcomes attendees to their For more information on CUWiP, visit speed of the ball had little effect Am. J. Phys. 27: 589-96. CUWiP conference. go.aps.org/2GsPHBz 4 • March 2019

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Congressional Visit Day Primer APS Members Advocate for Science on Capitol BY LEAH POFFENBERGER Hill During Congressional Visits Day he APS Office of Government based on state and congressional BY TAWANDA W. JOHNSON Affairs (OGA) plays a vital district, spread out on Capitol Hill T role in speaking up for for a full day of meetings with their n a mission for sci- physics, and science as a whole, in respective representatives and sen- ence, about 60 leaders of the creation of government policy. ators. These groups include APS O APS membership units But its most effective work isn’t members from a variety of physics recently braved the polar vortex done alone: Partnering with APS backgrounds and levels of experi- that blanketed Capitol Hill to advo- members who can speak as both ence—graduate students are often cate for action on crucial policy constituents and physicists is more among the most compelling and issues during the Society’s first likely to get results (see OGA article effective CVD attendees. Congressional Visits Day (CVD) of on this page). Most of the meetings, typi- the new year. In conjunction with the APS cally lasting 15 to 20 minutes, Representing 25 states across Leadership Convocation held in but sometimes longer, are with the country, the volunteers visited Washington D.C. every year (see congressional staffers respon- nearly 100 congressional offices p. 3), this partnership comes to life to advocate for: supporting fed- sible for handling science policy through an annual Congressional erally funded scientific research; issues. At some meetings, the Visits Day (CVD). At this year’s requesting action on climate Congressperson may drop by to CVD, APS members, including the change; rebuilding America’s express support for science fund- Presidential Line, attended nearly research infrastructure; promot- APS Unit leaders representing Texas — Carlos Bertulani (far left); Christina Mark- ing or express interest in co-spon- 100 meetings in congressional ing legislation to address sexual ert (third from left); and Sally Hicks (far right) — met with Patrick Michaels (sec- soring bills to address issues laid offices. harassment in the sciences; and ond from left) concerning science policy issues and their impact on the state. out by policy briefs. Participating in CVD doesn’t making the F-1 visa “dual intent” After a long day of meetings, require special skills or lobbying to enable international students CVD participants were invited to experience, thanks to groundwork to simultaneously study and apply Tennessee, Knoxville, noted that and wildfires due to climate the National Press Building where laid by OGA. At a pre-CVD briefing, for citizenship in the United States. she and her colleagues received change. OGA is located, to decompress and attendees were given issue briefs, The unit leaders shared personal favorable feedback after advocat- “The DoD report was very debrief. Attendees shared their based on APS reports, to familiarize stories related to the issues and ing for sustained, robust federally helpful in making the case that experiences, highlighting suc- themselves with policy points and explained to staffers how those funded research during a total of climate change is a national secu- cesses, and reflecting on the day’s to give to staffers at congressional stories affected their congressio- 10 congressional meetings. They rity issue,” she said. Palen added offices. The issues of concern this meetings. nal members’ districts and states. included talking with staffers that staffers were amenable to her year were: supporting research and While CVD is a special annual “The APS Office of Government representing U.S. Senators Lamar point and asked if they could fol- development funding, rebuilding event for APS, OGA recognizes the Affairs (OGA) mobilized APS mem- Alexander and Marsha Blackburn, low up with her to gather more research infrastructure, F-1 visa value of connecting constituents bers to add their voices to these both of whom represent her state. information. reform, sexual harassment in sci- and representatives year-round. important science policy issues,” Stacy Palen, physics professor The importance of America’s ence, and climate change. The Any APS member with a desire to said APS President David Gross. and director of the Ott Planetarium research infrastructure captured pre-brief also featured a “mock influence science policy or advocate “As stated in our newly released at Weber University in Utah, said the attention of a staffer during meeting,” to familiarize first-time for issues in physics can contact strategic plan, ‘APS is committed to her discussion about climate a discussion in U.S. Senator Pat CVD-goers on what to expect dur- OGA for assistance setting up their advocating effectively for the con- change went well with staffers Toomey’s office. Nitin Samarth, ing their visits with congressional own congressional visit day. To ditions that support a robust sci- representing U.S. Senators Mitt chair-elect of the APS Division offices. advocate on science policy issues, entific research enterprise, which Romney and Mike Lee, and U.S. of Materials Physics and head of On the day of the visits, CVD visit OGA’s Advocacy Dashboard at enhances economic growth and Representative Rob Bishop. Palen the Physics Department at Penn participants, broken into groups aps.org/policy/issues/. trains people to address some of the explained that the Hill Air Force State University, highlighted the urgent problems facing society.’” Base, situated on a plateau in her Nadia Fomin, assistant profes- state, is at risk because it is sus- sor of physics at the University of ceptible to flash floods, droughts CVD CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 APS Annual Signal Boost is a monthly email video newsletter alerting APS Business Meeting members to policy issues and identifying opportunities to get involved. Past issues are available at go.aps.org/2nr298D. Join Our Mailing List: visit the sign-up page at go.aps.org/2nqGtJP.

riday, April 12 4:00 p.m. M FYI: SCIENCE POLICY NEWS FROM AIP At the APS April Meeting in ener, Droegemeier Outlines Agenda in First Speech as APS leaders will provide an overview of the Society and answer uestions from members. All OSTP Director members are invited to attend in person or watch BY WILLIAM THOMAS live online. n February 15, Oklahoma research, and he called for a new Visit the APS website for more information and to meteorologist Kelvin quadrennial assessment of the U.S. submit your uestions for APS leadership: O Droegemeier made his first R&D enterprise placed in a global public appearance as director of context. aps.orgaboutgoernancemeeting.cfm the White House Office of Science In addition, Droegemeier and Technology Policy (OSTP), stressed the benefits of viewing addressing a large audience at the R&D in terms of “thematic portfo- annual meeting of the American lios” that cut across research topics current cross-cutting efforts such Association for the Advancement of and disciplines. As an example, he as the National Nanotechnology Science in Washington, D.C. pointed to artificial intelligence, Initiative. He did say, though, it In his remarks, he outlined a noting it spans numerous disci- would not involve any “wholesale set of policy priorities while avoid- plines ranging from computer sci- change” in the structure of federal ing such controversial issues as ence to psychology and ethics. He research budgets. President Trump’s views on cli- said this heterogeneity presently The second pillar involves Read APS NEWS mate change and proposed cuts makes it difficult to answer such improving partnerships among to research budgets. Striking an elemental policy questions as how actors in the federal government, online optimistic tone, he said “there is much funding is dedicated to the industry, academia, and nonprofit literally no better time in the his- field or how many students and sectors, focusing on “intersection tory of this planet or any better researchers are working in it. points” such as data use, workforce place on Earth to be engaging the Droegemeier emphasized that development, and access to facili- quest for scientific knowledge and thinking in terms of portfolios ties. He also said that reforming understanding than right here, makes it easier to leverage the intellectual property policies would right now in America.” links between R&D programs, likewise promote innovation. Droegemeier grouped his ideas arguing, “If we do this, we’ll maxi- Expressing a desire to “rekin- for the future into three “pillars,” mize the use of available dollars, dle those famous blue-sky indus- which he said will support a new minimize unnecessary duplication, trial research labs of the past,” “bold era” in science and technol- and greatly … increase collabora- Droegemeier proposed the creation aps.org/apsnews ogy. He said the first pillar involves tion.” He did not indicate how his taking a long-term, holistic view of concept relates to the model set by OSTP CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 March 2019 • 5

INTERNATIONAL African Light Source Garners Critical Political Backing BY DANIEL GARISTO

ver 300 scientists congre- gated in Accra, Ghana from O January 28 to February 2 to discuss progress and ways to move forward with an African PhysTEC recognizes the following institutions for graduating 5 or more synchrotron. This second African well-prepared physics teachers in the past academic year. These colleges Light Source (AfLS) Conference and universities are leaders in addressing the nationwide shortage of was the first to be held in Africa, high school physics teachers. and attracted twice as many as the inaugural conference, which was held in Grenoble, France in 2015. In addition to the scientists who The 5+ Club attended, high-ranking mem- bers of the Ghanaian government 2017-2018 attended; the keynote address was delivered by Minister of Opening ceremony of the African Light Source Conference in Accra, Ghana. Brigham Young University (21) Environment, Science, Technology, On the dais are David Dodoo-Arhin (Conference Coordinator), Gilberto Artioli Rutgers The State University of New Jersey (8) and Innovation Kwabena Frimpong (University of Padova), Simon Connell (University of Johannesburg), Robert Boateng, and President Nana Kingsford-Abdoh (University of Ghana), Kwabena Frimpong Boateng (Minister Virginia Tech (8) of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana), Kwame Offei, Akufo-Addo pledged to support University of Kentucky (6) (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Students Affairs, University of Ghana), and the African Light Source (AfLS) Michele Zema (International Union of Crystallography). UNIVERSITY OF GHANA The College of New Jersey (5) initiative. “The most exciting thing is the around the world, but none cur- icist at Max Planck Institute for Ghanaian government’s excite- rently in Africa. Synchrotron light Solid State Research in Germany is ment about the project,” said sources are massive electron accel- a member of the African Diaspora. PhysTEC is led by the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association of erators that generate high inten- “For us scientists who are in Physics Teachers (AAPT). The 5+ Club application opens annually in September. Simon Connell, a physicist at the University of Johannesburg and sity X-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared the Diaspora, the most important the chair of the AfLS organizing light. This light enables a variety thing is coming together,” he said. committee. of precision measurements across “Even before we have a proper At the first AfLS meeting, the fields as diverse as drug discovery light source in Africa, [the AfLS attendees generated five “Grenoble to paleontology. project] is a door for collaboration Resolutions” establishing the While African scientists can and between African scientists.” The JOURNEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 importance of a light source in do work at light sources on other work Ngabonziza does in Germany Africa, and a roadmap to planning continents, a light source in Africa is not possible with present facili- which, combined with my lack of my passion for teaching physics the AfLS. Now, some of those ini- could reverse the brain drain, or ties in Africa. purpose in being in grad school, by filling in as an instructor for tial goals are starting to be met. diaspora of talented African scien- as well as some technical setbacks undergraduate labs and discus- There are 47 light sources tists. Prosper Ngabonziza, a phys- AFLS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 in my research, eventually drove sions at my old university. This me to leave the program (spoiler led me to pursue a PhD in phys- alert: I did come back and finish ics with the purpose of going into PRM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the PhD several years later. But the field of Physics Education theoretical research, covering all character and scope, shaped by warmly welcome further feedback. not until after having to take my Research (PER). And though this aspects of the prediction, synthe- both authors and referees. Efficient Looking forward, our goals are qualifying exams a second time meant retaking the quals—after sis, processing, structure, proper- collaboration among these journals to build on the strong response to re-establish my candidacy. Not having already passed them eight ties, and performance of materials. has in fact emerged as an impor- of the materials community, and fun. More about that below). years prior—I felt so passionate A journal complementing Physical tant by-product, strengthening the the steady stream of manuscripts The truth is, things may have about this goal that I was willing to Review B, Physical Review E, and Physical Review at the same time as it has generated, to broaden and been very different if I had con- tackle anything (if only I had had Physical Review Applied was thus broadening its scope and impact. deepen the international impact of sidered talking to my advisor that level of determination starting envisioned, publishing Regular Journal operations have of the journal. Further expansion and about the issues, or better yet, out, things would have gone more Articles, Rapid Communications, course grown to keep pace with community engagement in fields had sought out a new research smoothly for me!). And though I and Reviews, based on a fair and the above, including not only jour- such as soft matter, polymers, advisor—someone who was more didn’t ultimately end up work- expedient review process. nal staff but also our outstand- self-assembly, processing, solid- hands-on. Students are often very ing in the PER field, in my role at The response of the interna- ing Editorial Board. This board state and materials chemistry, and reluctant to seek out new mentor- APS I am still engaged in the act tional materials research commu- now comprises 28 preeminent materials for catalysis and electro- ship, especially when they feel that of teaching on a daily basis—only nity to the launch of Physical Review scientists from the US, Europe, chemistry is planned, among other their current advisor has invested instead of Maxwell’s Equations, Materials has been highly encour- Asia, and Australia, representing initiatives, along with consolida- years of resources into them. But I’m teaching physics students how aging. The volume and quality of universities, national laborato- tion of our footprint in existing at the end of the day, it is your life to pursue successful careers. manuscript submissions has been ries, user facilities, and research areas of strength. The journal will you’re leading, not your advisor’s, And though I did eventually such that the journal published institutes. The group is diverse in enter a new phase of its life in 2019 and your needs must take priority. finish the PhD, there would have its 1000th paper by November every respect, and their service with the publication of some key Besides, most advisors are genu- been loads of great career options 2018, only 17 months since the to the journal has played a sig- metrics, which we anticipate will inely invested in the well-being of available to me with a physics MS first issue. More important is the nificant role, along with our many help further solidify the journal’s their students, and would rather or BS, if I had known about them. depth, breadth, and significance dedicated referees, in enabling us standing. We would like to take this see you be successful with some- So if you happen to be consider- of these papers, which encom- to achieve the goal of offering a opportunity to thank the authors, one who is a good fit than see you ing leaving grad school, my advice pass: synthesis and processing; particularly rapid and fair review referees, APS staff, and support- continue to struggle in a dysfunc- is to take the time first to really structure and mechanical proper- process. Significantly, a new article ers who have helped start Physical tional situation. form an alternate plan before you ties; experimental and theoretical type has also recently been added Review Materials on its path. We If You Leave, Leave FOR Something take the plunge—because that methods; 2D materials; topologi- to the journal: Research Updates. look forward to further establish- My decision to leave the grad decision can be hard to reverse. cal materials; ferroic materials; These are focused, concise reviews ing the journal as a preeminent program with my Master’s hap- Use self-assessment tools to learn semiconductors; superconductors; of emerging areas of materi- choice for high quality, significant, pened abruptly, and without about other things which might be metamaterials and optical materi- als research, designed to provide and impactful materials research. a good fit, and conduct informa- much thought to what I might als; materials for energy; soft and an early and valuable resource to References tional interviews to get the “inside do instead—I was unhappy and amorphous materials; materials for readers studying or entering new 1. J.E. Gubernatis and T. Lookman, scoop” on what those careers I just wanted out. What happened catalysis and electrochemistry; and fields. The first three such arti- “Machine learning in materials de- next was an adventure which I are like. If you can be as inten- nanomaterials. Several areas have cles have now been published, on sign and discovery: Examples from don’t regret, despite the tough tional and well-informed about emerged as particular strengths of the topics of machine learning in the present and suggestions for consequences it brought for me: your options as possible, whether Physical Review Materials, including materials research [1], the prop- the future”, Phys. Rev. Materials 2, 120301 (2018). I moved to Nova Scotia, played you’re entering the workforce with mechanical properties, interfaces erties of a pivotal Dirac material a BS, MS or PhD, you have a much 2. I Crassee, R. Sankar, W.-L. Lee, the banjo, and “lived free” for and surfaces, ferroic materials, (Cd3As2) [2], and the emergence higher likelihood of connecting A. Akrap and M. Orlita, “3D dirac several months. But I was also 2D materials, materials for energy of a promising new material semimetal Cd As : A review of ma- with a career path that truly works 3 2 unemployed for the majority of harvesting and storage, first- in semiconductor research and terials properties”, Phys. Rev. Ma- for you. the time I was there, and had to principles-based calculation and applications (ScN) [3]. Further terials 2, 120302 (2018). worry constantly about scraping prediction, machine learning, and Research Updates are anticipated 3. B. Biswas and B. Saha, “Develop- ment of semiconducting ScN”, Phys. together enough money for rent Crystal Bailey is Head of Career functional materials such as oxides. due to what is already a positive Rev. Materials 3, 020301 (2019). and food. It was very dishearten- Programs at APS. She completed her The fraction of manuscripts com- response from authors, referees, ing to have an advanced physics PhD in nuclear physics in 2009 and bining experiment and theory has and readers. This response mirrors degree and not be able to secure a has been working on ways to help stu- also been notably large, accurately general feedback from the commu- Chris Leighton is Lead Editor of job as a line cook or bartender (I dents broaden their career horizons reflecting a characteristic of the nity regarding the scope, aims, and Physical Review Materials and ever since. You can reach her at bai- didn’t have any experience), which field. Overlap with journals such published papers in Physical Review Distinguished McKnight University [email protected]. This article is reprinted Professor in the Department of were the only jobs available where as Physical Review B, Physical Review Materials. Our Editors work hard to from the APS Forum on Graduate Chemical Engineering and Materials I was living. Applied, and Physical Review E, has interact with and listen to com- Student Affairs Newsletter (Fall 2017). Science, University of Minnesota. Eventually I moved back to For more on APS career programs, visit of course arisen, but the journal munity members, particularly at Athanasios Chantis is Managing Editor the States and reconnected with aps.org/careers/. has rapidly developed a unique conferences and meetings, and we of Physical Review Materials. 6 • March 2019

MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CVD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

IceCube experiment, a cubic-kilo- importance of integrating compu- positive impact of the university’s Debbie Dingell’s office, and he said to help us continue to make sure meter detector at the South Pole. tation into the physics curriculum materials research user facility. that it should be a ‘no-brainer’ for they have an enjoyable and impact- Several events will kick things and guide participants in discuss- “I explained to the staffer that Ms. Dingell to support a bill that ful CVD. As concerned constituents off as a prelude to the technical ing and planning how they would the Materials Innovation Platform addresses sexual harassment in the and scientific experts, APS mem- sessions. The APS Topical Group integrate computation into their user facility at Penn State, funded sciences,” she recalled. bers are some of the most effective on Hadronic Physics (GHP) is host- courses (for more, see the Back by the National Science Foundation APS leaders also did their part advocates on these policy issues,” ing their 8th workshop (jlab.org/ Page in this issue). at $20 million, is instrumental in during CVD. Regarding the F-1 said Mariah Heinzerling, APS indico/event/282/), also at the Saturday evening, Katherine attracting young scientists and visa “dual intent” initiative, APS Science Policy Assistant. Sheraton, from April 10 through 12. Freese (University of Michigan) will students to careers in materi- leadership pushed for amend- Moving forward, OGA plans to The APS Topical Group on Precision give a public lecture on “Dark Matter als physics. The staffer reacted ing Sections 101 and 214 of the continue to engage members in Measurements and Fundamental in the Universe,” explaining for a positively, and I stressed that we Immigration and Nationality Act to effecting change on Capitol Hill. Constants is holding a pre-meet- general audience the evidence for could use more facilities such as help make the U.S. more attractive “A key goal of this office is ing workshop on “New Ideas in this invisible component of the cos- this one.” to international students. to provide APS members with as Dark Matter Searches” on Friday, mos and the continuing investiga- Another topic highlighted dur- “We want the U.S. to continue many opportunities as possible April 12 (8:50 AM–5:15 PM). Also tion into its nature (7:00–8:00 PM). ing CVD: promoting legislation to to attract the best and brightest to lend their voices in support on Friday (4–5 PM), APS holds A special Town Hall session on address sexual harassment in the students to our universities,” Gross of physics and policy issues that its Annual Business Meeting with the APS Strategic Plan: 2019 will sciences. Midhat Farooq, a Ph.D. said. strengthen the scientific enter- presentations from APS leadership feature discussions of the plan- physics student at the University To ensure that future CVDs prise,” said Francis Slakey, APS and a chance to ask questions in- ning process, the plan content, and of Michigan, said she was encour- remain effective, a survey of APS Chief Government Affairs Officer. person and online. implementation goals for the com- aged by the response she received members’ experiences on Capitol On Saturday, April 13, members ing years. See the meeting website concerning the legislation. Hill has been circulated to them. of the Partnership for Integration for date, time, and location. “My group met with the science “OGA looks forward to The author is press secretary in the APS of Computation into Undergraduate For more information, see the staffer from U.S. Representative responses from our participants Office of Government Affairs. Physics (PICUP) will hold a work- APS April Meeting website at aps. shop (6:30–9:30 PM) on the org/meetings/april/. OSTP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

of what he provisionally called emphasizing the importance of ing on U.S. research. These include “alpha institutes.” He described creating “safe, welcoming, and imposing new export controls in them as a “scientific crucible” accommodating environments select technology areas and barring for bringing together experts for performing research.” He also Department of Energy employees, from different sectors to address expressed his desire to relieve contractors, and grantees from challenges in areas such as space researchers from “unnecessary and participating in talent recruitment exploration, climate change, and wasteful” regulatory requirements. programs operated by nations medicine. He said the institutes Droegemeier said one of his deemed “sensitive.” would be based at universities and “top priorities” is to prevent the colleges, with funding provided misappropriation of U.S.-funded The author is Senior Science Policy “primarily” by industry and non- research by “those attempting Analyst at FYI. profit institutions. to do us harm” and “those who The third pillar comprises steps would seek to reap the benefits of FYI has been a trusted source of that aim to protect and empower our hard work without doing hard science policy and funding news researchers as well as safeguard work themselves.” He did not since 1989, and is read by mem- their work. Droegemeier spoke name specific threats, but the fed- bers of Congress and their staff, extensively about the lack of diver- eral government is currently tak- federal agency heads, journalists, sity in the sciences and the need ing steps to prevent other nations, and US scientific leaders. Sign up to combat sexual harassment, particularly China, from capitaliz- for free FYI emails at aip.org/fyi.

AFLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

“Prosper is an excellent scien- “In the 1970s–80s, many sci- Conference on Crystallography as tist, but he’s not in Africa. If we're entists in the U.S., Europe…helped a way of broadening the scope of successful, he can come back in us to realize a synchrotron facil- scientists, in part because the AfLS Africa,” Connell said. ity in Japan,” said Hitoshi Abe, a is relevant to their work. Many At the meeting, conferees dis- physicist at KEK. “Now it’s our attendees of the crystallography cussed the unique science that turn to support the AfLS project.” conference had used a synchro- could be done at the AfLS. Study Interest in the AfLS goes tron in their research. They plan of diseases is a good example of beyond just the synchrotron to exploit this synergy for future this, according to Connell. Often, community, and the meeting endeavors. “A light source is viruses that are more common in had scientific sponsors around something that all people doing Africa, like specific strains of HIV, the world, including DESY, the crystallography would aspire to, are ignored in the rest of the world. International Atomic Energy ultimately,” said Connell. Precedent for large-scale African Agency, and Brookhaven National So what are the next steps? The science exists in collaborations Lab’s National Synchrotron Light AfLS group is working on a Pre- like the African Laser Centre, and Source-II. Conceptual Design report—a main facilities like the Southern African Connell is careful to clarify short-term goal—which they hope Large Telescope. that this is still fundamentally an to send out in the next few weeks. Right now, the logistics and Pan-African project. “There’s no This strategic plan would include ethics of sample transfer in and out element of neo-colonialism, of specifications about the power of the continent can be tricky, and the West thinking ‘This is some- of the synchrotron, including its having facilities in Africa would thing Africa must have,’” he said. beamlines and a business plan for ease some barriers to research. “Africa wants this.” acquiring resources to carry it out. One plenary talk focused on the The intent is that African Deciding an actual location will be paleontological possibilities with nations would also be footing the one of the later tasks. the AfLS. Instead of transporting majority of the bill for construc- Luckily, there are models to fossil samples out of Africa, and tion and operations. In the next work from. Researchers said they all the complications involved with few years, the AfLS organizing look to models like SIRIUS in Brazil that, researchers could ship them committee will generate a business as something to emulate. One of the to closer colleagues, or more easily plan that lays out models for how key features of these light sources make the trek themselves. funding could be apportioned. So is that they trained a large number This concern about location is far, no nation has explicitly com- of scientists at international light also why the second meeting took mitted a monetary amount for the sources and then managed to lure place in Accra and not in Europe project, which would likely cost most back once the local light went again. “It’s easier to get partici- several hundreds of millions to a online. The AfLS group hopes to pants, it's more serious, in terms few billion US dollars. send many young African scien- News and commentary about research from the of being a real African initiative,” Some cost-cutting proposals tists to synchrotrons for training, APS journals said Sekazi Mtingwa, a retired have included reusing spare parts increasing the numbers of trainees accelerator physicist from MIT. from other synchrotrons that from a few to hundreds. Sign up for Alerts: physics.aps.org An African location also makes have been decommissioned. “We More plans will be laid out next it easier for African scientists to already rejected getting parts from year, when the next African Light perform experiments at it—nearly the NSLS I,” Connell said. “I don't Source Conference is held in the 80 percent of the attendees were see any point in Africa having one third week of November 2020 at a based in Africa. that someone else cast off because location still to be decided. TM Still, international attendees the technology was behind.” from 5 other continents journeyed This year’s AfLS meeting was The author is a freelance writer in New to Accra. held jointly with the Pan-African York. March 2019 • 7

PRESIDENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 PRRESEARCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 some that I’m particularly inter- The world-wide web was invented for all of the Physical Review titles,” intended to maximize recognition community, including the next gen- ested in—the Innovation Fund (IF) by high energy physicists at CERN says Thoennessen. “We are cur- of researchers and the impact of the eration of physicists and research- [see go.aps.org/innovationfund], to communicate among particle rently recruiting active researchers work they publish in the journal. ers working in related fields. With a new annual meeting, and new physicists across the world. We, to serve as editorial board members “The Physical Review journals this new journal we hope to initi- ideas about the future of scientific the theorists, invented the arXiv. who will support the development have served physics well for over 125 ate conversations across traditional publications. The web and the arXiv have totally of this new journal.” years, and this new journal is a step boundaries, invite new opportunities Q: What is the purpose of the changed the way we disseminate In addition to reaching a broad towards ensuring that they con- for collaboration, and enable future Innovation Fund? scientific information. To some audience of readers across all of tinue to do so well into the future,” discoveries.” physics, papers of particular interest says Jeff Lewandowski, Associate A: APS is a membership organi- extent our journals haven’t caught up to these innovations. I would published in PRResearch will receive Publisher at APS. “As science evolves zation with almost 60,000 mem- For more information on Physical promotion via the journals website, to be more collaborative and global, bers, many of whom are very active like physics to take the lead within Review Research and to sign up for social media, Physics magazine, and Physical Review Research aims to meet and eager to serve. APS has funds the scientific community to deal e-alerts, visit the journal website at other outlets. These features are the needs of the broadest research that could be used to meet new with this problem. journals.aps.org/prresearch. goals and implement new ideas of Q: Are there other key things all these very talented people. That beyond some of these programs is the purpose of the Innovation you've already highlighted that you Fund. I am always impressed with want members to know about the APS PLAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the talent and creativity of physi- Strategic Plan? cists, especially our members. I A: When APS CEO Kate Kirby say the subcommittees really did The real work of the strategic getting input from all levels and have no doubt that, given a chal- decided to launch the Strategic a terrific job. They went out and plan was done by the subcommit- at least opening the website up to lenge and an incentive to imple- Plan process early last year, I did identified their constituencies. tees, but the steering commit- member comment and gathering ment new ideas, new ideas will not believe that it would be com- They interviewed people in all of tee also set up a very aggressive ideas from lots of different sources. emerge from the society. pletely ready to roll out at the lead- the supporting groups and com- schedule and, to our astonishment, A: Yes, and we also solicited The format of the Innovation ership convocation this January. I mittees that were relevant. And we we actually made it. There were input from the APS staff and not Fund is very flexible. We want to am very impressed by the efforts had encouraged them to be bold. times in the summer of 2018 where just the senior management. We incentivize our members and staff at APS of the staff and the Board We told them not to stay inside the we were having two or three two- asked for comments from the next to think of new ideas and to try and all the committees who put in box and we reassured them that if and-a-half hour telephone confer- level staff, because often the next them out. If they don’t work—then an incredible amount of work and their ideas were too bold, we might ences every week. We even called levels of management down in we will go on and do something completed the plan on schedule. an organization have really good consider them, but we wouldn't in from vacations in Oregon and else. This mode of operation, where Many of the goals and plans ideas, things that could open up necessarily publish them. Norway. one can experiment, try new things contained in the strategic plan new avenues of thinking. Each subcommittee wrote a None of us wanted the pro- and risk failure, I’ve always felt is are kind of standard. We want to very long report, much longer cess to drag on too long. It’s also Q: In terms of the implementation central to a flourishing organiza- improve current operations and than anything that made it into really important that something goals on the radar for the coming tion. It is an essential feature of a build on what APS has always been the Strategic Plan. There are a lot like this come out quickly after so year, there are things like the APS research institute like the KITP, doing and doing well, to doing it of very thoughtful ideas in those many people put in so much work. Innovation Fund (go.aps.org/inno- but is equally important to the APS. even better. Given my limited time reports. In compiling the Plan, the And so there was one final meeting vationfund) and a new potential So that is one of the motivations as President I will focus on imple- steering committee had to win- when we looked at each other and all-APS meeting. How were those for the IF. menting some of the newer initia- now the reports down. We obvi- said, we are actually done. selected? tives. The whole plan is one for the Q: You mentioned a new APS ously did not want a hundred-page A: All of the major initiatives next five to 10 years and it'll take Q: So, specifically your role was in meeting, expanding on the annual document, and it needed to be lean had a proponent or often several some time to implement. chairing the Steering Committee, leadership convocation. What are and minimal. We also didn’t want proponents. Those proponents so you were seeing this from the your thoughts along this line? Q: We’ve already discussed that to tie the hands of the APS senior could have been a member of a highest levels? A: We have had much discus- the changing journal publishing management in how they actu- subcommittee, or a subcommittee A: The steering committee sion at the APS—for decades— landscape presents a big chal- ally implement the Plan. So the chair, or a member of the steering tried to give feedback like “This is about whether to restore the lenge to APS. What are some other strategic plan as published had committee. I’m not quite sure how a good idea, but it’s probably not April Meeting, which used to be challenges you think are facing the to be kind of general. The sub- any specific initiative is going to on the immediate radar, so don't an annual meeting, to its original organization in the next year or committees came up with many work, but there's nothing wrong emphasize it a lot.” It was also a status. We decided not to touch even five to 10 years? more ideas than appear in the final with trying things. If they don’t matter of time-ordering because the April Meeting but to create A: APS is a membership orga- report and those will be considered work, you give them up after a the subcommittees in total came a different kind of meeting, one nization that addresses the needs by management over time. little while and do something else. that addresses some of the goals of science, especially physics, and up with a ton of really, really great Q: What was the role of the steer- Q: What would you like members that aren’t addressed by any of especially our members. Our job at ideas. But APS can only focus on ing committee in arriving at the of APS to especially take away APS is to help our members deal so many things at once and it will the other meetings, by building final Strategic Plan? from the Strategic Plan? on the leadership convocation, with the challenges that our soci- have to pick and choose the ones A: We met with the subcommit- A: I think the Strategic Plan which already brings many people ety faces. APS can amplify the voice that can be accomplished in a rea- tees early on to hear their plans for manages to integrate all the to Washington in early February. of physicists in making informed sonable amount of time and post- gathering input and to give them aspects of APS into “one APS,” Such an “annual meeting” will be decisions for society and informed pone the ones that are just going some guidance. Then there was a which has a been a mantra for different than the other meetings decisions about support and man- to take longer to sort out. big exchange back and forth with some time and which we are slowly that are organized by the units. It agement of science which is funded the subcommittee chairs and the Q: And the input information came achieving. There are a lot of cre- will be an all-APS meeting, some- largely by society. There we have from many sources? steering committee about their ative ideas about how the differ- thing like the AAAS annual meet- an enormously important role and A: Right, right. There were preliminary recommendations. ent branches of APS could interact ing. By highlighting advances in that's not going to go away. In fact, comments from the convocation, We tried to identify areas that they better and work together more physics across all fields we hope it's become more important in the shouldn’t put a whole lot of effort from the town hall meetings, and a closely, which I think will benefit to get attention from the media, last few years. That’s going to be into—things that weren’t going to member comment form on the APS the organization. And then there Congress, and funding agencies, an ongoing struggle. We probably make it into prime time. website, although I don’t recall are a number of ideas like the APS and be of interest to many of our need to do better. Always. I think Then the subcommittees went there being a lot of input on the Innovation Fund that we hope APS members. we are learning how to advocate off and talked some more and then website. The subcommittees devel- members will get excited about. better. Q: You also mentioned new ideas they came back to give us final rec- oped a long list of people to reach APS has always played this role in journal publishing as something ommendations. With that input, out to. And they got input from a and continues to do that. We have For more information, including you’re focused on in your presiden- the steering committee boiled lot of different stakeholders. all sorts of mechanisms to use our lists of members of the Strategic tial year. What new ideas would everything down into the strate- Q: In general, it sounds like it was Planning committees, visit go.aps. members and their knowledge and you like to see in this area? gic plan. a very comprehensive process of org/strategicplan. A: Journal publishing is at the their expertise to advise the gov- heart of the mission of the APS. ernment, to advise Congress, to It is also a major source of rev- advise the science agencies. But enue. A big part of the APS budget this is not a good time. We are comes from the [revenue] of the learning how precarious things can publishing business of APS. But the be. There are many, many, impor- very nature of scientific publish- tant issues facing our country and the world—issues that we are con- ing, and its business model, is in TM flux because of advances in IT, the cerned about. We must continue to Internet, and the arXiv, and the try to influence policies, ranging growing demands for open access. from very contentious issues ones I’m committed to trying to like climate and the environment, address this problem for the long to concerns about nuclear weap- Innovation Fund term. We should try to understand ons, and finally to concerns that what scientific publishing might are more parochial regarding the if Have a great idea for a collaborative project look like 10 years from now and scientific enterprise itself. We must that aligns with the APS mission and our new Strategic Plan? continue to address these issues think of ways whereby the com- Selected proposals receive $25,000-100,000 for up to 2 years. munity of physicists can play a and advocate for rational solutions. leading role in shaping this future. Deadline: March 18, 2019 Physicists have always taken For more about APS President David For more information: go.aps.org/innovationfund advantage of new technologies to Gross, see nobelprize.org/prizes/ improve scientific communication. physics/2004/gross/biographical/ 8 • March 2019 THE BACK PAGE

PICUP: The Partnership for the Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics ​​BY DANNY CABALLERO, LARRY ENGELHARDT, ROBERT HILBORN, MARIÉ LOPEZ DEL PUERTO, KELLY ROOS

omputation is how modern physics work is done. Many of the most recent noteworthy discoveries ​C in physics [1,2,3] have involved extensive use of computation. Whether it be data reduction, data analysis and modeling, or simulation, the importance of computation in modern science cannot be overstated. In fact, leading voices in physics education have advocated for computation to be included in the experience of all current and prospective physics majors [4]. When we look nationally, we do find more and more physics faculty are integrating computation into their courses [5], but that those are faculty for whom computa- tion is part of their research [6]. As we consider our roles as physics educators, we must reflect on how to teach the practice of physics in a way that represents the discipline authentically. We should afford our students the opportu- nity to engage with computation throughout the physics curriculum both to better support our students to enter an increasingly data-rich and model-driven world, and to better represent the discipline of physics in light of where it is and not where it was.​​ ​​In considering such changes to the physics curriculum, we must acknowledge that there are significant challenges PICUP conducts workshops that offer hands-on experience with computation in physics and practical ways to integrate computation in [7]. Faculty have a wide variety of responsibilities that put physics courses pressure on them. Some faculty might not feel they have the time or energy to make the necessary changes. Others might not feel expert enough to teach computation to their students. As computation is relatively absent from most courses and textbooks, there’s the additional challenge of teaching students something new without much pedagogi- cal support. Faculty might have questions like: what should my students learn; what if I get push back; or what if I fail? The typical reward structure for many faculty doesn’t value innovative teaching, which might lead to additional ques- tions: why should I do this; what should I be spending my time on; what if my department doesn’t care about this?​​ ​​While these are common challenges, they are not insur- mountable. In fact, the Partnership for the Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics (PICUP) has been working to support faculty who are interested in, or even just curious about, integrating computation into their courses. PICUP’s mission is to support the broader use of compu- Particle physics efforts, like the hunt for the Higgs boson at the ATLAS (left) and CMS (right) experiments at CERN wouldn't be possible tation across the physics curriculum. We are faculty from without a computational component. across the United States that aim to lower the barriers for teaching computation and to provide support to those fac- (gopicup.org) also contains many ready-to-use exercises aims to support this work. We invite faculty to reach out ulty and departments interested in adopting computation so that faculty can try computational activities that have and participate in this effort. into their courses. ​​ already been used by others, perhaps, in similar circum- References ​​PICUP runs a variety of workshops and provides com- stances. Materials on the PICUP website come in two flavors: 1. ATLAS Collaboration. Observation of a new particle in the munity support efforts. At national APS and American Exercise Sets and Faculty Commons activities. search for the Standard Model Higgs boson with the ATLAS Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) meetings, we con- Exercise Sets are substantial activities, which have a detector at the LHC, Physics Letters B, Volume 716, Issue 1 duct demonstration workshops that offer a short introduc- number of exercises and problems for students to work (2012). tion to PICUP, hands-on experience with computation, and through. Exercise Sets include learning goals, so faculty 2. CMS Collaboration. Observation of a new boson at a mass of practical ways to integrate computation into a course using know what the developer intended for their students to 125 GeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. Physics Letters spreadsheets and Python. We also offer more immersive learn; instructor guides, so faculty can see precisely how B, Volume 716, Issue 1, (2012). regional and departmental workshops that are tailored the developer uses them in their course; a description of 3. LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration. to the needs and interests of the faculty attending. These the relevant theory, so faculty can investigate the underly- GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary can include longer hands-on experiences as well as longer ing physics and algorithms used in the exercises; as well Neutron Star Inspiral. Physical Review Letters, Volume 119, Is- conversations about practical issues surrounding teaching as code for students to work from and solutions for fac- sue 16, (2017). computation and departmental change. ulty. Each Exercise Set is peer-reviewed to ensure all these 4. Behringer, Ernest. AAPT Recommendations for Computational Our most immersive experience is a week-long sum- supporting materials are present and are understandable Physics in Undergraduate Physics Curricula. Bulletin of the mer workshop where faculty from across the US work col- and useful to others, as well as to provide an incentive to American Physical Society 62 (2017). laboratively to develop plans and activities for integrating faculty who might receive credit for producing this kind of 5. Caballero, Marcos D., and Laura Merner. Prevalence and computation into their individual courses and/or the broader scholarly work. nature of computational instruction in undergraduate physics curriculum at their home institutions. Individual Exercise Sets often come in a variety of com- programs across the United States. Physical Review Physics In addition to these various face-to-face workshops, mon implementations such as Python, Matlab, Mathematica, Education Research 14.2 (2018): 020129. PICUP provides a variety of virtual support and community and spreadsheets, so that a faculty member might choose 6. Young, Nicholas T, Allen, Grant, Aiken, John M., Henderson, development mechanisms. The PICUP community uses the implementation with which they are most comfortable. Rachel, and Caballero, Marcos D. Identifying features predic- Slack—a web platform suited for team communication— Most importantly, the materials in the Exercise Sets reposi- tive of faculty integrating computation into physics courses. Physical Review Physics Education Research (2019, accept- for regular discussions. Community members can ask and tory are easily adaptable to individual faculty interests and ed) answer questions, share materials, and generally support pedagogical preferences. each other’s efforts to integrate computation at their local Faculty Commons activities are smaller in scale and can 7. Leary, Ashleigh, Irving, Paul W., and Caballero, Marcos D. The difficulties associated with integrating computation into under- institutions. We also host monthly online meetings where often be considered a single problem for students to work. graduate physics. Proceedings of the Physics Education Re- community members can discuss a variety of issues, from The Faculty Commons is not peer-reviewed and is intended search Conference (2018). how to support students with little or no experience with to be a place where faculty can quickly and easily upload computation to advocating for these changes with institu- materials for sharing and receiving community feedback. All tional administrators. materials posted to the PICUP website are Creative Commons Danny Caballero is the Lappan-Phillips Associate Professor of These workshops and the associated virtual interactions 4.0 licensed and faculty can alter and reuse them as they Physics Education in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at are aimed at helping faculty find the energy and space to see fit for non-commercial purposes. Michigan State University and an Associate Professor in the Center for Computing in Science Education at the University of Oslo. Larry work towards integrating computation while they develop The physics education community needs to increase the Engelhardt is a Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics greater expertise with teaching computation. We do this by use of computation in the physics curriculum. Computation and Engineering at Francis Marion University. Robert Hilborn is discussing successes and failures while iteratively improv- is a central tool of modern science. It has the potential to the Associate Executive Officer for the American Association of ing upon our efforts. Over the last several years, PICUP help students develop new and important insights into Physics Teachers. Marie Lopez del Puerto is an Associate Professor has worked to develop a community around computational physical systems. It is needed by our students in their future of Physics in the Department of Physics at the University of St. integration so no faculty member is alone in the process.​​ work and for them to engage in an increasingly data-rich Thomas. Kelly Roos is a Professor in the Caterpillar College of ​​In addition to support from PICUP personnel, our website and model-driven society. PICUP is an organization that Engineering and Technology at Bradley University.

The Back Page is a forum for member commentary and opinion. The views expressed are not necessarily those of APS. APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from APS members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected]