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2012 Report Executive Board President Jill A American Association of Physics Teachers annual2012 report Executive Board President Jill A. Marshall University of Texas – Austin Austin, TX President-Elect Gay Stewart University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Vice President Mary Beth Monroe Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX 2012 Secretary in Summary Steven Iona University of Colorado Denver, CO Treasurer Paul W. Zitzewitz University of Michigan – Dearborn Dearborn, MI Past President Presidential Statement 3 David R. Sokoloff Executive Officer Statement 4 University of Oregon Strategic Plan 6 Eugene, OR Publications 7 Chair of Section Representatives Marina Milner-Bolotin Electronic Communications 9 The University of British Columbia Membership 11 Vancouver, BC National Meetings 12 Vice Chair of Section Representatives Gregory Puskar Workshops and Programs 16 West Virginia University Collaborative Projects 19 Morgantown, WV Awards and Grants 22 At-Large Board Members Paul Williams Fundraising 27 Austin Community College Committee Contributions 29 Austin, TX AAPT Sections 31 Diane M. Riendeau Deerfield High School Financials 32 Deerfield, IL Steve Shropshire Idaho State University Pocatello, ID Editor American Journal of Physics David P. Jackson Dickinson College Carlisle, PA Editor The Physics Teacher Karl C. Mamola Appalachian State University Boone, NC Executive Officer Beth A. Cunningham President – Jill Marshall AAPT is a great organization to be part of—and the endowment. I am pleased to say that 2013 right now we are moving in exciting directions. will see a major campaign to fund the Phillips 2012 saw our finances continuing on the Medal. sound heading set in 2011 by my predecessor Recruiting and maintaining members con- David Sokoloff, Executive Officer Beth -Cun tinued to be a challenge in 2012, particularly ningham, and the Senior Management Team. outreach to high school teachers, our largest We went into 2012 with a net surplus in the membership category, graduate students and operating budget and a balanced budget for early career educators. In 2012 we continued the first time in recent memory, and, even af- to evaluate and develop our relationships with ter restoring funds borrowed from long-term other organizations, from our Sections to relat- reserves the previous year, left the year with a ed organizations such as the American Physi- slight profit in operations. We are enjoying a cal Society, with whom we are investigating the very different outlook from what we were facing when I possibility of regular joint meetings in the future. came on the board only a few years ago. Upon leaving the Presidency, I feel compelled to acknowl- 2012 was also a great year for our national meetings. edge my appreciation for the relationships I have developed Both the winter meeting in Ontario and the summer meet- and the valuable collaboration of others in the presidential ing were highly successful in terms of attendance and in chain and in the Executive Office. It has been a privilege terms of staying within budget. In Philadelphia, a record to work with Beth Cunningham, Mike Brosnan, Tiffany number of 62 pre-college teachers were part of High School Hayes, Marilyn Garnder, Erwin Campbell and others in Teachers Day at SM12. Plenary talks included such lumi- the Executive Office, including Patch Hicks and RaShonda naries as Brian Greene, Kip Thorne and the animators from Rosier, who joined us in 2012. I am grateful for Alex Dicki- Dreamworks who brought us the physics of “Puss N Boots” son’s statesmanship, David Cook’s patient and thoughtful and “How to Train Your Dragon”- not to mention Benjamin diligence (and grammatical expertise!), David Sokoloff’s Franklin, himself, brought to life in a one-man show. chudspeh and bold leadership in dealing with finances, Gay Other notable accomplishments of 2012 included: Stewart’s ability to do so many things at one time and Mary • Establishment of the Next Generation PTRA initiative Beth Monroe’s enduring wisdom and counsel. I know that • Input into the development process for the Next Gen- AAPT will be in capable hands as Mary Mogge joins the eration Science Standards and other policy issues. Board in 2013. I take a brief moment to note the fact that • Establishment of the Undergraduate Curriculum for the first time in our history there will be four women in Task Force. the presidential chain of AAPT in 2013- and reflect on the • Continuation of the trend to enhance Board effec- support our organization has always given to women, from tiveness with short-term Ad Hoc committees on key Melba Phillips on. objectives and Priorities Discussion as part of the Although it happened after the end of 2012, I also feel Board agenda compelled to acknowledge the passing of Paul Zitzewitz, • Support of ALPhA tandem conferences and immer- who did so much for AAPT, including, most recently, two sion experiences, as well as negotiations for a new terms as Treasurer. I am grateful that Steve Iona was willing AAPT/ALPhA undergraduate research award spon- to return to the Board, after so many years of service as Chair sored by TeachSpin. of the Section Reps and AAPT Executive Board Secretary, to 2012 also saw many challenges for AAPT, among them fill Paul’s unexpired term. Indeed this is a remarkable orga- ensuring the viability of our existing awards by developing nization, made remarkable by its diversity and its incredible their endowments. As of the end of 2012, our only fully en- spectrum of dedicated, capable and generous members. dowed award was the Paul W. Zitzewitz Award for Excel- As I write this, Gay Stewart is already in full charge as lence in Pre-College Physics Teaching. which was generous- AAPT President, and serving as a strong leader for our orga- ly endowed by Paul and his wife Barbara. Funding for the nization. I look forward to 2013 with her at the helm, and to Melba Newell Phillips Medal was down to a dangerously low the many opportunities and challenges it will bring. level in 2012. This is a good sign of the many women and men who merited this honor based on “creative leadership Regards, and dedicated service” to AAPT, but also a call to rebuild Jill Marshall AAPT 2012 Annual Report 3 Executive Officer – Beth A. Cunningham 2012 was another productive year for AAPT. AAPT/PTRA program. Karen Jo Matsler was The good news continues with AAPT’s budget. appointed as the new director and Pat Callahan We ended 2012 with a surplus in operations. was appointed as chair of the PTRA Oversight This surplus will be used to support the Committee. The initial members of the AAPT/ programs AAPT currently offers ensuring their PTRA Oversight Committee are recognized continued success and improvement. Some of leaders in K-12 physics education. Many have the surplus will also be added to our long-term served as PTRAs in the past and others have reserves. The overall economy continued to extensive experience in providing professional improve and was reflected in the growth of both development to teachers of physics. AAPT the long- and short-term reserves. Growing celebrates the long and proud heritage of the reserves is a goal in the 2010 Strategic Plan. AAPT/PTRA and the roles that all current and Those funds will provide a positive future for past PTRAs have played in its success. We plan AAPT. The staff continued to find efficiencies in the way to continue and extend this work for the next generation the office is operated including our information technology of teachers of physics. We also are continuing to serve the services shared with the other associations at the American needs of the current cadre of AAPT/PTRA’s to ensure that Center for Physics. Finally, the membership management those teacher leaders are prepared to lead workshops as software was upgraded in the spring. The upgrade will allow new standards are adopted and technology changes. We staff to make improvements to the member experience anticipate exciting developments as the program grows when renewing, making contributions, etc. into new areas and state-level PTRA activities continue to The year was also a time to reflect and advance some of receive funding. AAPT’s flagship programs. Below is a short summary of AAPT continued to provide support to the physics some of the changes made to two of AAPT’s program. education community through our extensive programs. Apparatus Competition: A review of the Apparatus Below is a short summary of the highlights of some of Competition was completed with recommendations for these programs. increasing visibility and awareness of the competition and encouraging physics educators to consider submitting SPIN-UP an entry. The Apparatus Competition was established to The final SPIN-UP (Strategic Programs for Innovations recognize, reward, and publicize worthwhile contributions in Undergraduate Physics) regional conference was held to physics teaching through demonstration and Austin, TX in May 2012 in response to the threat to close experiment. I encourage you to visit the competition low-producing physics programs in the Texas higher website to review past winning entries and learn more education system. This conference provided time for about the competition. We will continue to implement departmental teams to learn about components of thriving reviews of AAPT’s programs in order to better serve our physics programs and consider changes to their programs. members and the physics education community. The SPIN-UP program was funded by the National Science Foundation. AAPT/PTRA Another program that experienced major changes was The New Faculty Workshop and the Conference on the the Physics Teaching Resource Agent (PTRA) program. Role of Scientific Societies in STEM Faculty Workshops AAPT announced a new PTRA initiative in response to the AAPT continues to partner with the American Physical proposed Next Generation Science Standards. The AAPT Society and the American Astronomical Society to help new Executive Board has constituted a new committee, the faculty at research and four-year institutions understand AAPT/PTRA Oversight Committee, to provide advice and how to become more effective educators and support their guidance to the Executive Board in the planning and using quest to gain tenure.
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