February 2016 • Vol. 25, No. 2

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY New "Piggyback" Journals Page 5 WWW.APS.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/APSNEWS

2016 APS President — Homer Neal APS April Meeting Bound for Salt Lake City

By Emily Conover During a recent visit to APS in the town disapproved of their By Emily Conover Homer Neal, a particle physicist headquarters in College Park, Md., relationship. Coming soon to Salt Lake City, Neal recalled his childhood in the “We were both astounded, and from the University of Michigan and Utah: the 2016 APS April Meeting! small town of Franklin, Kentucky, agreed to stop our communica- a member of the ATLAS experiment, The meeting takes place Saturday, a place he described as “highly tions,” Neal said. “But it did teach took over as 2016 APS president on April 16 through Tuesday, April segregated,” with separate schools me that basically when individuals January 1. In 2015 he served as pres- 19 at the Salt Palace Convention and separate waiting rooms in the are working on a scientific project ident-elect and as vice president in Center. The meeting will feature together, the color of one’s skin 2014. At the University of Michigan, research from the APS divisions of doesn’t matter. It mattered to oth- Neal has served as interim presi- astrophysics; computational phys- ers, but it didn’t matter to us.” dent and vice president for research, ics; nuclear physics; particles and Emily Conover APS News sat down with the new fields; and physics of beams, along and as chair of the physics depart- president to hear about his priorities with a variety of forums and topi- Mei Bai of the Institute for Nuclear ment. He has also served as vice for his year leading the Society. cal groups. Physics in Jülich, Germany, will president for academic affairs and Wrapping up Corporate Organizers expect about 1300 discuss the importance of accelera- provost at Stony Brook University, Reform attendees. With 71 invited ses- tors to society; Marcel Demarteau and dean for research and graduate Corporate reform, which began sions, 94 contributed sessions, of Argonne National Laboratory development at Indiana University. after members voted in its favor in three poster sessions, and over 1000 will discuss the tools of particle Neal was a member of the board November 2014, restructured APS papers presented, attendees should physics and their impact, and Helen of directors of Ford Motor Com- Homer Neal senior management and redefined have plenty to do. Quinn of SLAC National Accel- pany for 18 years, and has served doctor’s office for white and black the roles of the Council of Represen- Three plenary sessions through- erator Laboratory will talk about on numerous advisory committees patients. Neal’s childhood hobby tatives and the Board of Directors. out the meeting will feature physics and education. for national labs and other scientific was ham radio, and he became close “There are several dangling issues distinguished speakers and impor- The Fred Kavli Plenary Session institutions. He received his Ph.D. in friends with another ham operator that will need follow-up,” Neal said. tant topics. will take place on Monday, and physics in 1966 from the University in his town, who was white. But, as Saturday’s plenary session fea- of Michigan. Neal is African-American, leaders NEAL continued on page 6 tures talks on physics and society. MEETING continued on page 6

New DOE Science Director Sets Art and Science in the Gallery of Fluid Motion Sights on “Pasteur’s Quadrant” By David Voss they had this gallery up. I was capti- says Kiger. “Then, in 1983 [fluid Attend the APS Division of vated.” Kiger is a physics professor dynamicist] Helen Reed organized By Emily Conover says. But she hopes also to expand Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting at the University of Maryland and the first Gallery of Fluid Motion at The new director of the Depart- the Office of Science’s focus on and you’ll be served a fairly con- has been running the gallery since the division meeting. Apparently ment of Energy (DOE) Office of research that falls within “Pasteur’s ventional menu of plenary talks and 2010. “I’ve always felt there was there was pent-up demand because Science, Cherry Murray, has just a quadrant.” Such research, like that technical sessions. Off the beaten an aesthetic quality to the fluid they got 70 entries.” That number year to accomplish her goals before of 19th century chemist Louis Pas- path, however, you might find a motion.” is even more significant when you her term ends with the Obama teur, sheds light on fundamental feast for the eyes. consider that three decades ago the administration’s exit. But Murray scientific questions but is also Each year the meeting hosts the meeting had only 400 attendees, still has plenty of plans in store. inspired by potential applications. division’s Gallery of Fluid Motion compared to over 3000 now. “It’s a short time, but I actually “I come from industry, and I (GFM), which showcases the win- Back then, the gallery entries think there can be some accom- think it is absolutely essential for ners in the annual contest for the were poster presentations. “Video plishment,” Murray says. “So, of advancing technologies — such best short videos and colorful poster entries came a decade later,” Kiger course I have a gazillion priorities, as energy technologies or national presentations. These highlight how explains, but even then it was cum- but I am very much focusing on security, which is another role of modern visualization methods and bersome. “They had to be sent in several of them.” the department — to have break- computer power can convey the on VHS tape, local organizers had First on her list is maintaining throughs in science.” To this end, complexity of fluid behavior (GFM to dub a master tape, then put it the Office of Science’s support of she plans to collaborate with other is at gfm.aps.org). in a VCR and have it loop. It was tedious.” fundamental research. “We are offices within DOE, like the Office And it’s not just science—also Simulation of the airflows created the biggest supporter of physical of Energy Efficiency & Renew- included is the aesthetic plea- by hummingbird wings during ma- science in the U.S., and I want able Energy (EERE), that work on sure of motion, color, sound, and neuvering flight. (Video V0088 at to absolutely maintain that,” she DIRECTOR continued on page 6 gfm.aps.org, winner of a Gallery of light. GFM coordinator Ken Kiger Fluid Motion award.) remembers his first encounter with

DOE the gallery: “As a first year grad This year’s gallery featured student, I went to the DFD with videos and posters ranging from my advisor,” Kiger recalls, “and colorful simulations of hum- mingbird flight to gruesome but effective models of blood loss and hemorrhaging produced by a pro- jectile passing through a human leg. Applied work involving new kinds of spray nozzles was displayed next Optical patterns produced by cha- to fundamental vortex ring dynam- otic flows on the surface of a soap ics. One clever video titled “A Day bubble. (Video V0040 at gfm.aps. in the Life of a Fluid Dynamicist” org, winner of a Milton van Dyke award.) showed many of the ways that we interact with fluid phenomena After a few years of tape wran- whether we know it or not. gling, the division reached out to The inspiration for the gallery APS, which now hosts the gallery came in the 1980s when physicist online. At modern-day DFD meet- "Jellyfish" pattern created by a vor- Milton van Dyke compiled a photo ings, the videos are displayed on The swearing-in of Cherry Murray (at left) as Director of the Office of Sci- tex ring falling through a stratified album to help teach fluid mechanics. eight flat-screen monitors next to ence by Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz. December 18, 2015 at DOE ambient liquid. (Poster P0050 at the poster presentations. And at this Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The third person is Cherry Murray's sister, gfm.aps.org, winner of a Milton van “He solicited images from the com- Nancy. Dyke award.) munity, and got over a thousand,” FLUID MOTION continued on page 7 Revised 4/11/16 2 • February 2016

Inside APS This Month in Physics History Jonathan Burkin, Units Coordinator February 1811: Amadeo Avogadro Enumerated the Molecular World In this series of articles, APS By Richard Williams oxygen were diatomic molecules, News sits down with APS employ- 2H + O → 2 H O ees to learn about their jobs, their Amadeo Avogadro, (1776-1856), lived in a time 2 2 2

Emily Conover would give a volume of H O twice that of the oxy- goals, and the things that make them of flux and uncertainty, in physics and in the gover- 2 gen. The experiments clearly confirmed that the tick. This month we chat with Units nance of his community. In physics, the very nature latter equation was the correct one. This resolved Coordinator Jonathan Burkin, who of the elements was debated by the leading scientists: the question once and for all. Avogadro was the serves as the intermediary between Was oxygen an atom or a diatomic molecule? In gov- first to understand that hydrogen and oxygen were the Society and its units — the ernance, Turin, and the Piedmont Region where he diatomic molecules. To appreciate the prescience member-led divisions, sections, lived were ruled successively by the Dukes of Savoy, of Avogadro’s achievement, note that, curiously, a forums, and topical groups. the King of Sardinia, and Napoleon Bonaparte, and century later, some influential scientists in the phys- What does the units coordina- threatened by the army of the Austro-Hungarian ics community still questioned the very existence tor do? Empire. of individual molecules. Illustrating this remaining The units coordinator was a Finally Turin was returned to the house of Savoy, classify you within a more spe- difference in views, the citation [2] for Jean Baptiste new position when I was hired. all of this during Avogadro’s lifetime, while he lived cialized group of people. It brings Perrin’s 1926 Nobel Prize in Physics read, “for The idea was that it would bridge in the same home. He resolved the molecule ques- a group of over 50,000 people his work on the discontinuous structure of matter, the gap between the units’ execu- tion in physics, and, to the detriment of his career, together in each area of study and and especially for his discovery of tive committees [which include gave his support to a political cause I think that’s important, because sedimentation equilibrium.” At the the chair and other leaders of the during the aftermath of Napoleon’s you’re not just a member of a huge time, referring to Perrin’s work, unit] and the Society itself. They legislation. His discovery of the organization, you’re also a member one scientist noted, “This put an needed someone to get everyone fundamental numerical property of a subset of people that have simi- end to the long struggle regarding on the same page, and be the liaison of gases underlies our understand- lar interests. the physical reality of molecules.” or the concierge to the units. So if ing of the molecular world. His Do you have any big projects When he first published his the executive committees need any- political activities cost him his that you’re working on right now? work, the scientific community thing, the coordinator takes care of it. professorship at the University of I have two big projects right took little note of Avogadro’s dis- That is what I initially started doing Turin, but he was reinstated in the now. The Leadership Convocation covery. In part, this was because and that’s mainly what I do now, next political cycle, not long after. is a large undertaking, as is the he made no effort to visit scientists but also, this position took on the His full name was Lorenzo inaugural APS Medal ceremony. in France and Germany to explain Leadership Convocation [an annual Romano Amedeo Carlo Avogadro, So my desk is filled with menus his ideas. Also, there were apparent meeting of APS leadership, includ- from a family with a long history and programs and stuff. Roughly exceptions to the law that all ideal ing the executive committees of each in the legal profession. Their name 100 executive committee officers gases contain the same number of unit] and planning the APS Medal derives from avvocato, Italian for from the units will participate in molecules per unit volume. For event [a new annual Society award]. lawyer. He followed the family Amadeo Avogadro explained ex- convocation. I work closely with example [3], solid NH Cl disso- What services do you provide profession for some years, then, perimental data on chemical reac- 4 our meetings department to book tions by proposing that equal gas ciates as it vaporizes to form the for the unit leadership? self-taught, began to work in phys- their hotel rooms, pick their meals volumes contain equal numbers molecules NH and HCl: The biggest service — the one ics. He became professor of physics 3 for the week; and then I take care of molecules, under the same NH Cl → NH + HCl at the Academy at Vercelli, and later conditions of temperature and 4 3 that keeps me most busy — is email of all the reimbursement. And for at the University of Turin. pressure. Thus, for a given quantity of communication. Executive Com- the medal ceremony, I work closely Much of physics, at the time, NH4Cl, the vapor contains more mittee officers will send me an with an event planner, and we have was focused on the nature of gases. The French molecules than it would if the NH4Cl vaporized email for their membership. I take developed the text for the program physicist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac observed that, in intact. This and some similar systems, appeared to care of formatting it; I submit it to and the invitation, and the meal. reactions of gases, the relative volumes of reactants invalidate Avogadro’s law. When the dissociation the communications staff, which What is your background? and products appeared to be in the ratio of small became known and understood, this was no longer gets it ready to send; I approve it; My background is in market- whole numbers. Avogadro went on from there [1]. the case. Eventually, in 1860, the Italian chemist, and then it goes out. So that’s what ing and communications. I went He concluded that the only way to explain Stanislao Cannizzaro, defended Avogadro’s work occupies most of my day. In addi- to Mount St. Mary’s University in Gay-Lussac’s observation was that, under identi- before the leading European scientists at an Inter- tion to that I take care of writing northern Maryland. It’s a small pri- cal conditions of temperature and pressure, for all national Chemical Congress in Karlsruhe, and the membership reports and running vate school. ideal gases, any given volume must contain the same validity of Avogadro’s law was finally recognized. membership campaigns. Did you have any interest in number of molecules. Avogadro’s number, N , is Unfortunately, Avogadro had died several years How many emails do you typi- physics before you started? A the number of molecules in the volume occupied earlier. cally handle? None whatsoever. However, I by a gram molecular weight of an ideal gas. The Today, 200 years after he proposed it, Avogadro’s Last year we did 464. think that helps, because I don’t magnitude of N was determined in many later law is taking on a new life in physics. In an article, Is it hard to keep track of have any bias towards units or A experiments, converging on the now-accepted value: “A More Fundamental International System of Units” all the different units and their towards what their studies or what N = 6.023 x 1023 particles per mole. The equal- [4], David Newell explains how the system of units needs? their goals are. I can just do my job A number-per-unit-volume concept is now known as will now be based entirely on physical constants. I think it just comes with the from a marketing and a communica- Avogadro’s law. Physical objects, such as the long-used standard position. I’ve learned each unit tions standpoint because that’s what The other major question at the time was whether meter, with two marks on a platinum bar, and the over time. Usually the unit leaders I’ve been trained to do. the elemental gases, hydrogen and oxygen, were standard kilogram, a platinum weight, both main- are pretty good at keeping up on You spend a lot of time inter- atoms or diatomic molecules. Avogadro neatly tained under controlled conditions in Paris, were long their unit statistics. They’re pretty acting with physicists. Do they resolved this question as well. He noted that if the among the reference standards for physical units. good about keeping in contact with live up to the stereotypes? gases were atoms, the reaction: Nowadays, the units are defined by seven physical me, and I tell them, “Use me for No, I think that the stereotype 2H + O → H O constants, one of which is Avogadro’s number. The whatever you need.” is definitely stronger than how 2 would give a volume of H O gas equal to the vol- others are: the velocity of light in vacuum, Planck’s Why should members get physicists actually behave. All of 2 involved in a unit? ume of oxygen. On the other hand, if hydrogen and AVOGADRO continued on page 5 I think being in a unit helps to BURKIN continued on page 4

Series II, Vol. 25, No. 2 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2016 International Councilors Staff Representatives February 2016 Marcia Barbosa, Eliezer Rabinovici, Johanna Stachel, Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer; Amy President © 2016 The American Physical Society Kiyoshi Ueda Flatten Director of International Affairs; Barbara Homer A. Neal*, University of Michigan Hicks, Associate Publisher; Ted Hodapp, Director Chair, Nominating Committee of Education and Diversity; Trish Lettieri, Director Editor...... David Voss President-Elect Paul Chaikin of Membership; TBD, Director of Development; Laura H. Greene*, Florida State University Staff Science Writer...... Emily Conover Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; Dan Kulp, Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Editorial Director; Christine Giaccone, Director, Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine Vice President Julia Philips Journal Operations; Terri Olsen, Director of Meetings; Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Berkeley/ Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson Matthew Salter, Publisher; Michael Stephens, LLBL Editor in Chief Controller and Assistant Treasurer; James W. Taylor, Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Dan Kulp* (Interim) Deputy Executive Officerand Chief Operating Officer Past-President Proofreader...... Edward Lee Samuel H. Aronson*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Division, Forum and Section Councilors * Members of the APS Board of Directors APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publica- (Retired) Miriam Forman (Astrophysics); Timothy Gay* monthly, except the August/September issue, by the tion delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Paid at Col- (Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics); Jose American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- lege Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. Chief Executive Officer Onuchic (Biological); Amy Mullin* (Chemical); lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains Kate P. Kirby*, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) TBD (Condensed Matter Physics); Giulia Galli news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, For address changes, please send both the old and new (Computational); Ann Karagozian (Fluid Dynamics); Sections, and Forums; advance information on meetings addresses, and, if possible, include a mailing label from Speaker of the Council Gay Stewart* (Forum on Education); TBD, (Forum of the Society; and reports to the Society by its commit- a recent issue. Changes can be emailed to membership@ Nan Phinney*, Stanford University on Graduate Student Affairs); Dan Kleppner* (Forum tees and task forces, as well as opinions. aps.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS on History of Physics); John Rumble, (Forum on News, Membership Department, American Physical Treasurer Industrial and Applied Physics); Young-Kee Kim* Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- James Hollenhorst*, Agilent Technologies (Forum on International Physics); TBD, (Forum ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- 3844. on Physics and Society); Nicholas Bigelow* (Laser dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Corporate Secretary Science); James Chelikowsky (Materials); Wick the right to select and to edit for length and clarity. All Ken Cole Haxton* (Nuclear); P. Michael Tuts (Particles & correspondence regarding APS News should be directed Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Fields); Thomas Roser (Physics of Beams); Cary to: Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College General Councilors Forest (Plasma); Mark Ediger (Polymer Physics); Nan Park, MD 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. Marcelo Gleiser, Nadya Mason, Gail McGlaughlin*, Phinney (California Section); Carlos Wexler (Prairie Bonnie Flemming Section) February 2016 • 3 New Physics Classification Scheme Unveiled Inside the Beltway By Emily Conover Watch out physicists: There’s A comparison between PACS and PhySH shows the differ- The Dichotomy Between Obama’s a new taxonomy in town. At the ences between the two classification schemes for a single beginning of January 2016, APS paper. As seen below, PACS often has more detailed terms, Mind and Skills unveiled the Physics Subject Head- with numbers associated to indicate their location in the PACS ings (PhySH) classification system, Hierarchy. In PhySH, terms are generally simpler, and each term By Michael S. Lubell, APS Director of Public Affairs which will replace the Physics and is assigned to a facet: In this case, the two facets represented Astronomy Classification Scheme are research areas and physical systems. As I watched President Obama cans into power across the country. (PACS) previously used to organize deliver his State of the Union He entered office in 2009 with APS journal articles into subject PACS: Address a few weeks ago, it struck what he saw as a mandate for areas. The new system will serve 03.75.Lm: Tunneling, Josephson effect, Bose-Einstein conden- me: Here is a man who has the change, having won 365 of 538 as a tool for readers of the APS sates in periodic potentials, solitons, vortices, and topological noblest intentions but—by his own electoral votes in the presidential journals — allowing for easier nav- excitations 42.65.Tg: Optical solitons; nonlinear guided waves admission—lacks the skills to meet election. He also entered office with igation through papers and topics 05.45.Yv: Nonlinear dynamics and chaos his own expectations. his eyes set on two bold initiatives: of interest — and will help APS Historians will probably write enacting universal health care legis- assign papers to editors. PhySH: that he had extraordinary character lation and tackling climate change. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) — an organization Research Areas: Bose-Einstein condensates, Optical lattices and intellect but not the ability to Despite his obvious intellect, of scientific member societies, of Physical Systems: Solitons persevere on the muddy playing he was a political novice. And which APS is one — created PACS field of national and international although many of the pros in Wash- in the 1970s. However, in 2010, AIP nuclear physics, biological phys- PhySH is also designed to be politics. In other words, he was a ington—including Rahm Emanuel, decided to stop maintaining it. A ics, or fluid dynamics. These two simpler for users to understand. right honorable gentleman, to use his then chief of staff—cautioned statement on AIP Publishing’s web- dimensions by which concepts are “The huge plus is that it’s word- British parliamentary lingo, but he him that such grandiose legislative site says, “The continuing evolution organized (facets and disciplines) based; there are actual English lacked the instincts and savvy that goals demanded bipartisan buy-in, of indexing, search, and technology allow readers to browse articles words rather than cryptic alpha- great presidents have. he elected to go it alone with his has brought into focus the inherent across subject matter, techniques, numeric codes,” says Abhishek He admitted as much when he sizable Democratic congressional limitations of PACS and as a result, disciplines, or other qualities. Agarwal, associate editor for Physi- said, “It’s one of the few regrets majorities. To make matters even AIP decided that PACS 2010 would Concepts can belong to more cal Review Letters, who helped of my presidency—that the rancor worse politically, he pushed his be the final version.” than one discipline and more than coordinate the development of and suspicion between the parties groundbreaking legislation at a This left a void, with no up-to- one facet. Solitons, for example, PhySH. “It’s much more intuitive; has gotten worse instead of bet- time when the nation was suffer- date classification system available belong to two facets: research areas it’s transparent.” ter. There’s no doubt a president ing economically. for APS journals. “Of course new and physical systems, as well as a Currently, APS is still collect- with the gifts of Lincoln or Roos- He was able to ram the con- concepts in physics are appearing number of disciplines: condensed ing PACS with submitted articles evelt might have better bridged the tentious Patient Protection and all the time, so it was starting to be matter and materials physics; fluid because internal peer review pro- divide, and I guarantee I’ll keep Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) problematic for new fields of phys- dynamics; nonlinear dynamics; par- cesses depend on them, but authors trying to be better so long as I hold through both chambers without ics,” says APS Chief Information ticles and fields; plasma physics; this office.” a single Republican vote, and he are now able to add PhySH terms Officer Mark Doyle. Topological and statistical physics. voluntarily. (For the newest APS The self-deprecation came late succeeded in mustering 219 House insulators, for example, are not The concepts also follow a journal, Physical Review Fluids, in the speech. Earlier he took a not- votes for the equally contentious included in PACS. As a result, hierarchy going from broader to authors are required to select so-veiled swipe at his Republican America Clean Energy and Security Doyle says, “We decided we were narrower subject matter. Loop PhySH terms.) In the coming critics when he remarked, “After Act (Waxman-Markey bill) with going to build our own.” The sys- quantum gravity is a narrower months, APS journals will phase all, it’s not much of a stretch to only eight Republicans supporting tem has been under development concept than quantum gravity, for out the use of PACS entirely. say that some of the only people it. Waxman-Markey ultimately died since 2012. example. Concepts are also con- Agarwal emphasizes that in America who are going to work in the Senate, but Obama was able PhySH categorizes papers nected to other, related concepts. PhySH should not yet be consid- the same job, in the same place, to go to the 2009 Copenhagen Cli- according to “concepts,” which are For example, spontaneous sym- ered a finished project, but, he says with a health and retirement pack- mate Change Conference boasting tags that indicate the subject mat- metry breaking is associated with age, for 30 years, are sitting in this at least partial success. ter of the paper and the discipline the related concepts of symmetries the feedback so far is “extremely chamber.” The president had a blockbuster it belongs to. During submission, and Higgs bosons. encouraging.” Of course, when it comes to par- first year: In addition to health care authors select these from a list The faceted hierarchy system “The information that’s coming tisan rancor, there’s plenty of blame and climate change legislation, of about 3000. These concepts should make it easier to browse in from the authors is very accurate to go around. Republicans, who he shepherded the $787-billion belong to “facets” — broad cat- papers and understand the connec- so far,” Agarwal says. “It’s very have controlled the House of Rep- economic stimulus plan and the egories that indicate the nature of tions between related papers and early days, but authors are using it resentatives since 2011, called a $80-billion auto bailout. But he the concept. The facets currently topics, Doyle says, as compared and they are using it largely the way vote to repeal Obamacare so many paid for his lack of political savvy include research areas, physical to PACS, which has a more rigid we envisioned they would use it.” times, I’ve lost count. They knew in 2010, when voters turned their systems, properties, techniques hierarchy. APS editors plan to continue each time that either Democrats backs on him and handed control of (computational, experimental, and An additional challenge with refining the system with input from in the Senate would kill the repeal the House over to Republicans, led theoretical), and professional top- PACS, Doyle says, is that it was the physics community. “It’s still legislation or the president would by a phalanx of tea party newcom- ics. “The idea is to try to distinguish not designed for the modern web very much under development,” veto it. They did it just to score ers. His presidential life has been a the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ from each environment. PhySH is designed to says Doyle. “We’re looking for feed- political points. misery since. other,” Doyle says. Concepts also support “linked data,” which would back on it. We’re looking to iterate.” Washington is where the blame Had his skills matched his mind, belong to disciplines — subfields allow computers to read and ana- More information about PhySH game is playing out, but it’s state it would have been a boon for sci- of study within physics, such as lyze data about the papers. is available at physh.aps.org capitals where the seeds of hyper- ence, because there has been no partisanship were sown. State president in my memory who had legislators and governors conspired a greater passion and appreciation 2016 Budget Boosts Funding for Science in U.S. to gerrymander districts that created for science. He has elevated sci- By Emily Conover Advanced Scientific Computing for geosciences and social sciences, safe seats for each political party, ence, technology, engineering, and Research, which received a 14.8 although social sciences funding removing all incentives for cooper- math (STEM) in the White House In mid-December, U.S. lawmak- percent increase, in a strong show was held flat. ation across the aisle in Washington. to levels I have never seen. And he ers finally ironed out the details of support for advanced supercom- The Department of Defense’s Following the 2010 election, has used his bully pulpit to take the of the 2016 budget, and science puting. On the other hand, the U.S. science and technology programs “fared reasonably well,” says APS Republicans gained single-party case for science to the public. contribution to ITER, the interna- received a significant 8.2 percent Director of Public Affairs Michael control of 21 state governments Even in his State of the Union tional fusion project in France, is increase, but basic research saw only Lubell. The $1.1-trillion omnibus (house, senate, and governorship), address he used science to high- capped at $115 million, and the bill a 1.4 percent increase. The National relegating Democrats to just 10. light the importance of immigration spending bill lays out the funding requests a report from the Secre- Institute of Standards and Technol- In most states, legislatures and reform, when he said, “I see [our landscape for government agencies tary of Energy on the future of the ogy received an 11.6 percent bump, governors control the redistricting future unfolding] in the Dreamer through September 2016. Thanks to project. and the National Oceanic and Atmo- that occurs following each decadal who stays up late at night to finish the budget deal Congress hashed NASA was a big winner, with spheric Administration received a census. And in 2011, Republicans her science project, and the teacher out in October, which rolled back a 7.1 percent increase overall and 5.8 percent increase. took full advantage of their position who comes in early, and maybe with spending caps established by the a 6.6 percent increase to its sci- Next year’s budget is now in the — as Democrats had done many some extra supplies that she bought Budget Control Act of 2011, the ence programs. Planetary science works. As APS News went to press, times before — setting the stage because she knows that that young bill increases overall discretion- received the largest increase of President Obama’s 2017 budget for decade-long GOP domination girl might someday cure a disease.” ary spending by 5.2 percent above NASA’s science programs, at 13.4 request to Congress was scheduled of the House of Representatives. It may be many years before we 2015, and for the most part, science percent. And the National Institutes for release on February 9. Thanks to President Obama was dealt a see another occupant of the White funding agencies received a fair of Health received a hefty increase the October budget deal, the 2017 lousy hand by the financial collapse House who values science as much share of the increase. of nearly $2 billion. budget will be “essentially a cost of 2008 and the “Great Recession” as President Obama. Perhaps the The Department of Energy’s The National Science Founda- of living increase,” says Lubell, that followed. But he has to bear next one will also have the political Office of Science received a boost tion received a relatively small and “the expectation will be that responsibility, in large part, for the skills to implement a STEM agenda of 5.6 percent. The biggest winner increase of 1.6 percent, but avoided both the president and Congress are 2010 election that swept Republi- more effectively. within the Office of Science was large cuts that had been proposed likely not to do too much tinkering.” 4 • February 2016

Physics in the City Letters In a recent American Institute need reviews of their basic math a college physics course. Members may submit letters to [email protected]. APS reserves the of Physics report it was stated that and algebra and repeated help in I have found that many high right to select letters and edit for length and clarity. African Americans are underrep- problem solving until they become school students do well in problem resented in the physical sciences, proficient at it. solving if the students are given and that the number of degrees Some physics teachers simply drills and practices on the various Neon Lights and the National in physics remained flat between give the students physics problems types of physics problems in the high 2003 and 2013. As a retired high to solve without much guidance school texts, with examples on how Bureau of Standards school inner city physics teacher and help and let the students try to to solve the given problems, with the I can positively state that there is solve the problems mostly on their physics teacher going around the In the December 2015 APS News, Exposition held in St. Louis in the a great deal of physics potential in own or together, resulting in turning classroom helping the students with “This Month in Physics History” has summer of 1904. The Bureau’s the inner city. What turns on most off most students and making the the problem solving. This type of the headline “December 1910: Neon enclosed electrical exhibit was students to become physics majors high school experience in physics high school course will turn on most lights debut at Paris Motor Show.” cooled by a 10-ton air conditioner. is a positive high school physics a negative one for most students. students, of any color, to physics. What took the French so long? Neon Besides being a great exhibit, the experience. Many students in the Some teachers give a physics course light signs debuted in 1904. electrical judges spent considerable inner city are weak in their math with little problem solving, and the Stewart Brekke The National Bureau of Stan- time enjoying “the cool.” NBS was skills in my experience and they result is an incompetent student in Downers Grove, Illinois dards [now the National Institute awarded a grand prize. for Standards and Technology] A photograph of the signs displayed a neon light sign spell- and some history appear at ing out “NBS,” and a helium light go.aps.org/1Pxj45g Civility and Science sign spelling out “Helium,” in 1904. In the November 2015 issue of who believe in man-made climate to the credibility of the entire sci- These were placed in the NBS Stanley D. Rasberry APS News, Michael Lubell wrote change are threatening RICO entific enterprise. I hope that in the pavilion at the Louisiana Purchase Lottsburg, Virginia an article questioning whether (Racketeer Influenced and Cor- scientific world, scientists on both science bears any responsibility rupt Organizations) prosecutions sides of the issue treat opponents for today’s political discontent. of scientists who are skeptics, and with more respect and avoid state- Although his article emphasized congressmen on the other side are ments like “The science is settled”; BURKIN continued from page 2 the gains in productivity without threatening to look into the gov- it almost certainly is not. Earth’s corresponding gains in living stan- ernment funding of the scientists atmosphere is extremely compli- the executive committee leaders Maryland to train with the best dard, I believe that there is another who are believers in human-induced cated and we do not understand it that I come in contact with have twirling coaches. And since 2010, important example in the climate climate change. Perhaps we can that well. been really great. I think at the end I have won 12 world gold medals. change dilemma. The statements expect no better of our politicians, of the day you have to remember We’ve been all over the place for the on both sides are getting meaner but when prestigious scientists sink Wallace Manheimer that they’re just trying to do their world championships. We were in and meaner. Members of Congress to the same level, they do real harm Allendale, New Jersey job, and they’re extremely intel- Belgium, Switzerland, England, and ligent people. just this past April I was in Italy. And There’s a rumor that you have we’ve been successful at each one, an unusual talent. Do you want which was good. Probably the better Science and Politics to share it? talking point is I was a semifinalist Michael Lubell’s “Inside the as evolution and global warming. comes closer to the beliefs of many Sure. So at four years old I on America’s Got Talent in 2008. Beltway” column (APS News, Are they wiser than the many more respected politicians than to those started competitive baton twirling. What do you like about baton November 2015) asks whether sci- who offer strong evidence favor- of despised communists. Perhaps I’ve been twirling since I was four twirling? ence bears responsibility for today’s ing these? Much of the media also we need to achieve responsibility so that’s twenty-one years. Once I have no idea. I don’t know. political discontent. My view differs shares the responsibility for pub- by fostering better interaction of I got to college I found there’s a People say, “Why baton?” I in that it is [scientists’] failure at licizing showmanship rather than scientists with the media in an effort team in Maryland that is one of the couldn’t tell you. I have no idea. the task of advocating understand- logical thinking. Mr. Lubell criti- to clear up some of these miscon- world’s best teams. So, a lot like It’s like this weird addiction. We ing of science that may be most cizes Mr. Sanders for his “Brooklyn ceptions. Olympic gymnasts will do — they’ll call it a sickness. responsible. I find it alarming when accent” and for “being just a plain move to Texas to train with the best This interview has been edited two of the three leading presidential old socialist,” while many do Richard S. Stein gymnastics coaches — I moved to and condensed. candidates question matters such not understand that his socialism Amherst, Massachusetts Supreme Court Hits a Nerve with Comments on Diversity By Emily Conover Equity & Inclusion in the Physics recently named one of Forbes’ 30 for me, because I feel that greater “What unique perspective does a & Astronomy Facebook group. Under 30 in science for 2016. responsibility. But that’s also some- minority student bring to a physics 2015 APS President Sam Aronson “The problem isn’t their answer thing that’s an extra weight to be class?” Supreme Court Chief Justice issued a statement on diversity in to the question, it’s that the ques- carrying around.” John Roberts asked this question physics and the National Society tion is being asked,” Marcus says, Hadiyah-Nicole Green is an — drawing a distinction between of Black Physicists issued a press “because no one’s asking why we assistant professor at Tuskegee Uni- humanities classes and the hard sci- release. Astrophysicist Jedidah Isler need to have white men in physics.” versity developing a treatment for ences — during oral arguments on of Vanderbilt University penned a He adds, “I think not restricting how cancer using nanoparticles activated December 9, in the case Fisher v. New York Times op-ed on the case. someone is supposed to look in order by laser light. She recently received University of Texas. APS News spoke with three to do science is part of not imposing a $1.1-million career development The case challenges affirmative accomplished African-American any particular way of thought onto award from the U.S. Department of action policies at the University physicists at different stages of how we solve problems.” Veterans Affairs Office of Research of Texas at Austin, which consid- their careers, to hear their thoughts Affirmative action policies at and Development. She began her ers race as a factor in admissions on the justices’ comments, and the universities are “part of the solu- career in fiber-optics research, but Jim Gates to help it ensure a diverse student importance of affirmative action tion,” Marcus says, but the problem after the aunt and uncle who had are global issues that need to be body. It centers on Abigail Fisher, and diversity in physics. goes beyond just who is admitted. raised her were each diagnosed with addressed, and no one group or no who contends that her application Some minority students, Marcus cancer, she changed direction, and one person can take on all of these for admission to the University of says, “Look at a department filled now uses her optics expertise to problems alone. It has to be a col- Texas was unfairly rejected based with white men — that’s what all fight the disease. lective effort.” upon the color of her skin: white. their professors look like, that’s “For someone to say, ‘What In controversial remarks that what all their peers look like — value does diversity have in a phys- were roundly condemned by and that’s a deterrent.” Therefore, ics class?’ it’s almost a ridiculous African-American and civil-rights he says, such policies alone won’t concept to me,” Green says. “Is it organizations, Justice Antonin Sca- solve the problem. worth the next four or five genera- lia stated, “There are those who Marcus says he understands tions of people dying from cancer, contend that it does not benefit the sentiment that race shouldn’t if the cure for cancer comes from African-Americans to get them be a factor in admissions.” Yes, Guy Marcus a black person, but we don’t train into the University of Texas where race shouldn’t matter, but it does, them, or we don’t accept them and they do not do well, as opposed to Guy Marcus is a Ph.D. student and this is the problem,” he says. embrace them?” having them go to a less-advanced at Johns Hopkins University at the “Maybe in some ways our society “When you start to say ‘What school ... a slower-track school Institute for Quantum Matter, where isn’t there yet. You can look out at Hadiyah-Nicole Green value do black people add to science where they do well.” he uses neutron scattering to study the field and see immediately that or physics in the classroom?’ it’s Large numbers of physicists quantum magnetism. He is an NSF it’s not there yet.” In response to the Supreme Court like, ‘What value don’t we bring?’” responded, affirming the importance Graduate Research Fellow, a 2013 As he is often the only black comments, Green says, “At a time she says. of diversity in the field, and critiqu- recipient of the APS LeRoy Apker physicist in the room, Marcus says where it’s necessary for all people Jim Gates is a theoretical physi- ing the justices’ comments. Nearly award for his undergraduate research he sometimes feels as if he repre- to pull together to solve the global cist at the University of Maryland, 2500 physicists signed a letter to at Wesleyan University, and was senting his entire race. “This is part issues of cancer, AIDS, clean water, the Supreme Court drafted by the an APS Minority Scholar. He was of what provides some base drive clean air, and global warming, these DIVERSITY continued on page 7 February 2016 • 5

Diversity Update New Journals Piggyback on arXiv By Emily Conover peer review software, the founders as quickly as possible. Bridge Program Now Accepting Student Applications A non-traditional style of scien- of the Open Journal of Astrophys- Another issue where Romary The APS Bridge Program aims to increase the number of underrep- tific publishing is gaining ground, ics have created a web interface sees potential improvement over resented minorities who earn a Ph.D. in physics. Applications for fall with new journals popping up in that allows a markup of the article. traditional journals is licensing. 2016 are now available. African-American, Hispanic-American, and recent months. The journals piggy- Reviewers comment on parts of “The only thing that counts for a Native American students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in physics back on the arXiv or other scientific the text and authors can respond, scholar is to be cited, so the license are encouraged to apply. repositories and apply peer review. with all discussion occurring in the should be as unconstrained as pos- A link to the accepted paper on the online interface. Authors make revi- sible so that on the one hand anyone Eligibility Requirements: Underrepresented minorities who will journal’s website sends readers to sions by posting a new version to can take the material and cite it, and complete or have already completed a bachelor’s degree in physics the paper on the repository. arXiv. “It’s traditional peer review second... you facilitate activities like or a closely related field and plan to pursue a physics doctoral degree but with a modern interface,” says text and data mining,” Romary says. are eligible. Adam Becker, managing editor of Proponents of overlay journals "Proponents hope to the journal. hope that others will follow their The deadline for applications is March 21, 2016. For more information provide inexpensive Another overlay journal, Dis- lead. “But whether they actually please visit apsbridgeprogram.org or email [email protected] crete Analysis, led by mathematician will, I don’t know,” Gowers says. open access publication Timothy Gowers of the University “By being one of the trailblazers I APS Announces 2017 CUWiP Sites and streamline the peer of Cambridge, has been accepting hope we can make it more likely The 2017 APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics review process. To save submissions since September, with that others will do the same.” (CUWiP) will be held January 13 - 15, 2017. The following universities money, such “overlay” the launch planned for the end of “Some people are not con- January. vinced,” Coles admits. One issue are hosting conferences: journals typically do • Harvard University Repeating a refrain common with these journals is they don’t • Montana State University away with some of the among supporters of open access have the prestige associated with • Princeton University services traditional publishing, Gowers points out established journals. But, Coles • Rice University publishers provide, for that academics write and review says, “It’s a lot to pay for a status articles for free, but then must pay • University of California, Los Angeles example typesetting and symbol. What we should be doing is • University of Colorado Boulder to read them. So the new journal, paying for the dissemination of sci- • University of Wisconsin copyediting." Gowers says, is “a natural thing entific knowledge, not the epaulets.” • Virginia Tech to want to do.” And it remains to be seen whether Discrete Analysis uses software overlay journals will be able to • Wayne State University Proponents hope to provide inex- called Scholastica for managing move beyond small-scale opera- pensive open access publication and submission and peer review. Scho- tions. “I very strongly support these The APS CUWiP goal is to help undergraduate women continue in streamline the peer review process. physics by providing them with the opportunity to experience a pro- lastica charges $10 per submitted things; I think they’re fantastic. But To save money, such “overlay” jour- fessional conference, information about graduate school and paper, but Gowers has secured I have concerns about scalability nals typically do away with some professions in physics, and access to other women in physics of all funds from Cambridge to cover and long-term sustainability,” says of the services traditional publishers ages with whom they can share experiences, advice, and ideas. the cost. Paul Ginsparg of Cornell University, provide, for example typesetting Learn more at: aps.org/cuwip who founded arXiv. and copyediting. “The hidden expenses in these Not everyone is convinced. “Once you start to Accepting Nominations for the CSWP Woman things are never really taken into Questions remain about the scal- Physicist of the Month get thousands or account when they operate on ability of overlay journals, and The APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP) tens of thousands of a small scale,” Ginsparg says. whether they will catch on — or Woman Physicist of the Month award recognizes female physicists “There’s either personal or institu- whether scientists will demand the manuscripts a year, you who have positively impacted other individuals’ lives and careers. tional subsidies going into the time, stamp of approval (and accompany- begin to need additional Each CSWP Woman Physicist of the Month is featured on the Women labor, internet connection, and all ing prestige) that the established, in Physics website (WomenInPhysics.org), announced in the Gazette, overhead to track, of the rest.” and recognized at a reception at an APS national meeting. traditional journals provide. coordinate, and confirm “I can easily see how it would The idea is by no means new — peer review... . These work for small journals in very proposals for journals interfacing Nomination is easy: Email a three-paragraph statement explaining costs are not negligible.” specific topic areas,” says APS Edi- why the physicist you are nominating is worthy to [email protected] with online archives appeared as far torial Director and Interim Editor back as the 1990s, and a few such in Chief Dan Kulp, who oversees Join the National Mentoring Community at the 2016 journals are established in math- the peer-reviewed journals pub- APS March Meeting ematics and computer science. But Gowers is known for having lished by APS. “Once you start to The APS National Mentoring Community (NMC) provides support for now, say proponents, it’s an idea an axe to grind with commercial get thousands or tens of thousands successful mentoring relationships with undergraduate students who whose time has come. publishers, particularly Elsevier; of manuscripts a year, you begin to in 2012 he sparked a boycott of the are underrepresented minorities in physics. Visit www.aps.org/nmc The newest such journal is the need additional overhead to track, company, protesting the high cost to register for free as an NMC mentor and then invite a student to Open Journal of Astrophysics, coordinate, and confirm peer review. of subscriptions to their journals, join as a mentee through the program. If you are an NMC participant which began accepting submissions ... These costs are not negligible.” large profit margins, and practice or simply wish to learn more about the NMC, please join us for an on December 22. Editor in Chief As a result, says Ginsparg, “I of bundling journals into pack- informal get-together on Sunday, March 13 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 Peter Coles of the University of don’t think they’ll ever be big enough ages so that libraries are forced p.m., at the 2016 APS March Meeting in Baltimore. We will provide Sussex says the idea came to him to change the entire landscape, and I to subscribe to journals that they refreshments, and we welcome your ideas on how to make the NMC several years ago in a meeting about don’t think it makes sense to move otherwise wouldn’t. as effective as possible. the cost of open access journals. the landscape over to this.” “They were talking about charging An overlay journal platform 2016 APS National Mentoring Community Conference thousands of pounds for making called Episciences currently hosts Registered NMC mentors and mentees are eligible for discounted articles open access,” Coles says, a handful of journals in computer science and mathematics. The “We’re still poking registration and travel funding to our second annual NMC Conference, and he thought, “I never consult around trying to figure which will take place on October 21 - 23, at the University of Houston journals now; I get all my papers two-year-old project is an effort of in Houston, TX. For more information, visit go.aps.org/nmc-conference from the arXiv.” By adding a front France’s Center for Direct Scien- out what is the right long end onto arXiv to provide peer tific Communication (CCSD), and term solution for all of MSI Travel Grants still available for 2016 PhysTEC review, Coles says, “We can dis- it interfaces with arXiv and other repositories, like HAL, a scholarly this and if nothing else Conference pense with the whole paraphernalia archive created by CCSD. that’s one of the reason It’s not too late! Faculty from minority-serving institutions (MSIs) are with traditional journals.” Episciences’ portfolio already encouraged to apply for travel grants to attend the 2016 PhysTEC Authors first submit their papers why these experiments includes some longstanding Conference, the nation’s largest meeting dedicated to physics teacher to arXiv, and then input the appro- currently remain so journals that have moved to the education. This conference will be held March 11 - 13 at the Royal priate arXiv ID on the journal’s platform, as well as new journals. important.” Sonesta Harbor Court in Baltimore, Maryland, immediately preceding website to indicate that they would Additionally, “we are discussing the 2016 APS March Meeting. Learn more and register now at: www. like their paper reviewed. The jour- with quite a few journals [that are] phystec.org/conferences/2016/ nal follows a standard peer review interested in joining the platform,” But Ginsparg supports the effort. process, with anonymous referees says Laurent Romary of the French “We’re still poking around trying whose comments remain private. Institute for Research in Computer to figure out what is the right long- When an article is accepted, a Science and Automation (INRIA), term solution for all of this and if AVOGADRO continued from page 2 link appears on the journal’s website a leader in the effort. nothing else that’s one of the reason Constant, Boltzmann’s Constant, References and the article is issued a digital Romary says one of the why these experiments currently the charge on the electron, the fre- A. Avogadro, Journal de Physique, 73, object identifier (DOI). The entire remain so important.” 58-76 [1811]. (An English translation is available important things such journals quency of the cesium-133 hyperfine by searching on “Alembic Club Reprint No. 4”) process is free for authors and read- do is decouple publication and “We have to keep trying these splitting frequency, and a luminous Jean Baptiste Perrin, Nobel Lecture in ers. As APS News went to press, peer review. He’s an advocate of different things,” Ginsparg says, intensity unit. Thus Avogadro’s Physics: 1926. Coles hoped to publish the first “post-publication peer review,” “because we’d like a more func- idea, barely recognized during his Svante Arrhenius, Nobel Lecture in Chem- batch of half-dozen papers at the tional and a more financially stable istry: 1903. in which the article is available lifetime, lives on centuries later as D. B. Newell, Physics Today, July, 35-41 end of January. while it’s being reviewed, allowing model 20 years from now than we one of the pillars of modern science. [2014]. To manage the submission and researchers to get their results out currently have.” 6 • February 2016

DIRECTOR continued from page 1 NEAL continued from page 1

applied energy technologies. dations made by that commission, He plans to work with the Board Neal would like to continue to another priority,” Neal said. “Diver- An experimental condensed Murray says she hopes to merge the and APS CEO Kate Kirby to ensure strengthen these efforts. Citing his sity efforts are already underway but matter physicist, Murray has held review process the Office of Science “that if kinks develop, that we take experience as a member of the board challenges remain.” a variety of prominent leadership uses for its labs with other parts of steps to resolve them.” of directors of Ford Motor Com- The plight of research scien- positions in the scientific commu- DOE, to create “a review process APS Strategic Plan pany, “I believe I have something tists nity, including the presidency of that doesn’t just review the science The most recent APS Strategic to offer there,” Neal said. Neal hopes to draw attention APS in 2009. She served as dean programs, but the science programs Plan, which set the goals for the Nurturing relations with other to research scientists who have of Harvard University’s Paulson and the applied energy programs” Society, was created in 2012, before societies received a Ph.D. and done a postdoc, School of Engineering and Applied together. She adds, “These labs are the recent corporate reform. “I and Neal would also like to work before entering into a long-term, Sciences between 2009 and 2014. an incredible national resource, and the other members of the presi- together with organizations like the untenured position in a research Prior to that, she was the principal the programs don’t all necessar- dential line believe that it’s very American Institute of Physics (AIP) group. If these scientists lose their associate director for science and ily know the capacities that these important to begin the process of and the American Association for funding, “We have situations where technology at Lawrence Livermore labs have because they only fund updating the plan, especially since the Advancement of Science. “What 40-year-old, 45-year-old people National Laboratory (LLNL). After their particular program.” Within so many major changes have been one could do would be to identify with a large salary are just being receiving her B.S. and Ph.D. in the Office of Science labs, Murray made,” Neal said. areas where we have similar goals.” kicked out the door when their work physics from MIT, she began her says, “Some of them have 50% of Fundraising plan Neal has already met with AIP CEO is finished, and it’s hard for them to career at Bell Labs in 1978, where their portfolio outside the Office of Forming a strategic plan for Robert Brown, he said. “We agreed find jobs,” Neal said. she stayed until 2004, eventually Science and we need to steward that fundraising will be a top priority to continue our discussions about APS presence in Washington moving into management roles dur- whole responsibility.” for Neal and the APS Development ways we might cooperate.” ing her time there. Neal plans to maintain the Soci- Fitting construction of new sci- Advisory Committee, which Neal International activities Murray, whose appointment ety’s contacts with Congress and entific facilities into the Office of says is “composed of some very fine Science is an increasingly was confirmed by the Senate on scientific agencies. He also hopes Science budget while maintaining external members.” international effort, and many December 10, 2015, took over to establish a more prominent research funding is also important, cutting-edge facilities are located from Patricia Dehmer, the deputy Impact of open access presence in Washington. Neal is Murray says. “We have a bal- overseas. “I would like to see APS director for science programs in With the increasing prevalence a member of the Council for the ance between building the major of open access publishing, the consider study-abroad programs for the Office of Science, who served Smithsonian National Museum facilities that are necessary for the Society may need to adjust its busi- physics students as something that as acting director after the previous of African American History and community to do world class sci- ness model if publishing income should be embraced,” Neal said. director, William Brinkman, left in Culture, which opens this year on ence, and funding the research so declines. “Right now a good frac- “And if that were to occur, I would 2013. With just a few weeks at the the National Mall in Washington that they can actually do the world tion of what supports other activities propose trying to get an endowment helm when APS News spoke with DC. “One of my concerns is what’s class science.” comes from publishing, and if we to help support such programs. That her, Murray says she is happy to going to be done to help little kids Luckily, Murray says, “The lost some fraction of the publish- would be doing something that I be there. After she stepped down see that science can be interest- 2016 budget is pretty good for ing income then that’s a big deal,” don’t think anyone else is really as dean of the Paulson School, she ing.” Neal said. “APS might help the Office of Science,” and she said Neal. “We should be prepared doing.” says she received a phone call from in laying out the science exhibits is optimistic about the 2017 bud- for that.” Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, Diversity efforts that should go into that museum, get. [As APS News went to press, who asked her to take on the job. Interactions with industry “I’ve been continually surprised both helping with outreach itself, President Obama’s 2017 budget “I decided, ‘Why not?’ I haven’t In recent years, APS has worked at the small number of minorities but also giving APS more visibility request was scheduled for rollout been in government before. Been to boost its contact with industry. choosing physics, so that should be on the Mall.” on February 9.] “The thing that’s in industry, been in a national lab, great about the Office of Science is been in academia.” that science really gets bipartisan Murray highlights the Office of MEETING continued from page 1 support,” she says. Science’s user facilities as another To make sure that the most of her priorities. “We provide, I’d neutrinos will take center stage, essential science gets funded, Istock say, the lion’s share of the scientific in honor of the 60th anniversary Murray highlights the importance user facilities that are world class,” of the first detection of neutrinos of communities setting funding she says. Such facilities include the by Frederick Reines and Clyde priorities and creating long-term ten national laboratories stewarded Cowan. The session will show- plans, like the 2014 Particle Phys- by the Office of Science. (DOE has case talks from the 2015 physics 17 national labs in total; the other ics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) nobel laureates, Arthur McDonald seven are associated with other parts report and the 2015 Long Range of Queen’s University in Kingston, of DOE.) Murray’s previous experi- Plan for Nuclear Science. When a Canada and Takaaki Kajita of the ence with national labs will come in community gets together, she says, University of Tokyo. Neta Bahcall handy for this job, she says. “We know what we need to do: We of Princeton University will speak At LLNL, a DOE lab under the have to fit it in the budget.” about the solar neutrino problem National Nuclear Security Admin- Murray attributes her lifelong and the work of her late husband, istration, Murray says, “I learned interest in science to her older John Bahcall. about the complexity of the DOE brother’s influence — and a bit of a Tuesday’s plenary session com- system and the absolutely essen- competitive spark. Her brother was memorates the 60th anniversary tial nature for national security.” a graduate student in physics at MIT of Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning when she was applying to colleges. Yang’s proposal to test for the vio- The labs, she says, serve as “emer- 2016 April Meeting goes to Salt Lake City. gency expertise” for the country “He basically said, ‘There’s no way lation of parity conservation in the — citing, for example, the tech- you could do physics, and definitely weak interaction,which was dem- session. At the Nobel Reception will be an Education and Diversity nical assistance the labs provided not at MIT.’ So I applied to MIT, onstrated by Chien-Shiung Wu. The on Monday night, attendees will Reception hosted by CSWP, the for the negotiations leading up to and I got in!” (Her brother has no session’s theme is “Symmetries.” have the opportunity to meet win- Committee on Minorities in Phys- the agreement reached with Iran recollection of this conversation, Gerald Gabrielse of Harvard Uni- ners of the Nobel Prize in physics. ics, and the Forum on Education. last year to dismantle parts of its Murray says.) versity will give a talk entitled, And on Sunday, the APS Prizes and All are welcome to attend both nuclear program. Murray had always thought “Stringent Low Energy Tests of Awards Ceremony will honor sci- events to network and unwind. Murray also served on the Com- she would become an artist — she the Standard Model, Its Symmetries entists who have made significant For undergraduate attendees, the mission to Review the Effectiveness comes from a family of painters. and Modifications,” and Xiaochao contributions to physics. meeting will feature the Future of of the National Energy Laborato- But the hands-on experience she Zheng of the University of Virginia Several events will focus on Physics Days sessions. On Satur- ries, which released a report in fall got at MIT clinched her interest in will speak about experiments prob- careers and professional skills. A day, a panel of grad students will 2015, outlining suggested improve- science. “From freshman year on I ing parity violation using electrons panel discussion on career oppor- answer questions about graduate ments to DOE’s national labs. (See did research in a lab and that’s what at GeV energy. Finally, Edward tunities for physicists is aimed at school over lunch. On Sunday, an APS News January 2016.) really got me hooked on physics,” Witten of the Institute for Advanced students or physicists early in their award ceremony will honor the top Following up on the recommen- she says. Study in Princeton, will give a careers. Two workshops on com- undergraduate speakers and poster talk titled “Symmetry and Geom- munication and negotiation will presentations at the meeting. etry.” Witten is the winner of the cover topics ranging from team- For early birds, or those who 2015 APS Medal for Exceptional work, to negotiation tactics, to simply can’t pack enough into the Achievement in Research, awarded dealing with difficult professional four days of the April meeting, there for “discoveries in the mathemati- situations. are the pre-meeting events on Fri- cal structure of quantum field For physicists looking to learn day. These include a workshop on theory that have opened new paths more about publishing in and ref- integrating computation into the in all areas of quantum physics.” ereeing for APS journals, there will undergrad physics curriculum, Lisa Randall of Harvard Univer- be a tutorial with presentations the APS Business Meeting, and a sity will give a public lecture titled from APS editors, and a reception “tweetup” for social media buffs aps.org/apsnews “Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: at which editors will be on hand to who plan to chronicle the meeting The Astounding Interconnected- answer questions. on twitter. ness of the Universe.” The Committee on the Status We hope to see you there! A welcome reception on Sat- of Women in Physics (CSWP) is For more information about the urday evening will occur in hosting a meet and greet on Sun- APS April Meeting, visit aps.org/ conjunction with the first poster day evening. Also on Sunday, there meetings/april. February 2016 • 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reviews of Modern Physics PhysTEC Google matrix analysis of directed networks Leonardo Ermann, Klaus M. Frahm, Dima L. Shepelyansky 2016 Conference How can information from communication and social networks in modern societies be processed, classi- fied, and retrieved? For this new mathematical methods have to be invented for a precise characteriza- tion of the existing networks and their search engines. This article describes the properties of the Google March 11-13, 2016 matrix and its efficiency in analyzing directed networks by way of several examples like the World Wide Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, Maryland Web, Wikipedia, world trade, social and citation networks, DNA sequences and Ulam networks, and oth- ers. The underlying analytical and numerical tools used thereby originate from fields like quantum chaos and random matrix theory. Register by Feb. 26, 2016 journals.aps.org/rmp Join us for the nation’s largest meeting dedicated to physics teacher education. This conference will be held in conjunction DIVERSITY continued from page 4 with the 2016 APS March Meeting. College Park, known for his work importance of diversity in phys- that especially the physics com- Travel support is available for faculty from minority-serving institutions. on string theory, supersymmetry, ics classes. “He asked specifically munity really ought to respond to.” phystec.org/conferences/2016/ and supergravity. He is a member about physics, which for me was Diversity, Gates argues, is of the National Academy of Sci- stunning. I wondered if he had come necessary to do the best possible ences, a recipient of the National across some of Einstein’s writings science. “If you want to get the TM Medal of Science, and he serves on on his perspective on race in Amer- most active, the most innovative, the President’s Council of Advisors ica. Einstein actually said that from the most rapid-moving science, I on Science and Technology. He has his perspective racism is a disease.” believe ... diversity drives higher previously written about diversity Gates says the question is a valid Now Accepting Student Applications levels of innovation.” in science for The Scientist and one. “I take the Chief Justice’s ques- The APS Bridge Program other publications. tion as a serious question asked by For links to the statements men- aims to increase the number of “I was thunderstruck by the someone whose mind is looking to tioned in this article, visit the online underrepresented minorities question,” Gates said, referring to work things out and is looking for version of APS News at aps.org/ who earn a Ph.D. in physics by Justice Roberts’ question about the answers. So I think it’s a question apsnews. helping students gain admission to graduate programs. African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native American students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in physics are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is March 21, 2016. FLUID MOTION continued from page 1 Eligibility Requirements fluids cineplex, red/green glasses Underrepresented minorities who will complete or have already are handed out for 3D videos. completed a bachelor’s degree in physics or a closely related field Awards are given for the best and plan to pursue a physics doctoral degree. entries and the criteria vary from apsbridgeprogram.org/ meeting to meeting. “For the most or email:[email protected] part [the judges] are told it’s an aes- thetic gallery,” Kiger says. “There should be some technical relevance, but we have a lot of [other] venues for technical presentations. [The entries] should be primarily visually representative of a phenomenon in an eye-catching or artistic way.” Erosion patterns modeled with water flowing over caramel. (Poster P0051 at The artistic side of fluid motion gfm.aps.org, winner of a Gallery of Fluid Motion award.) also fascinates Nicole Sharp, origi- to someone and they’ll crack up full-time with it and is working to nator of the provocatively named two seconds later,” Sharp says. She secure funding. website F*ck Yeah Fluid Dynamics picked the name at a time when “One of the things that is neat (Editor’s note: Fill in the vowel several websites catering to fans about the gallery is that they’re yourself.) Sharp, a recent Ph.D. of actors and television shows had constantly looking for new ways graduate in mechanical engineer- similar monikers. “I didn’t expect to innovate with it and to expand it even further,” explains Sharp. “It’s gotten enormously popular in the past few years — everybody wants to have a video in the gallery and everyone wants to have a shot at winning. I love the website because it provides a ton of material for me.” Both Kiger and Sharp hope to do more public outreach in the future. “The director of the computational science center at Stanford contacted me because they have a large build- ing they display art in,” says Kiger. TM Surface waves created by small droplets bouncing on an oil bath. (Video “She thought it would be great if Editor in Chief V0064 at gfm.aps.org, winner of a Gallery of Fluid Motion award.) we could print and frame some of APS seeks a highly respected member of the physics our best entries and display them.” ing, serves on the DFD Committee the website to grow this much, so community to serve as Editor in Chief for all APS Kiger thinks some kind of traveling on Media and Science Relations. I might have picked a different journals. Key responsibilities include: Her award-winning website fluid dynamics roadshow would be name.” Occasionally she is asked • ensuring the excellence and integrity of APS journal features video and photographic a way to inform the public about for a cleaner URL though. “Some content examples of fluid motion, along people can’t load the site at work, the field. with explanations of what readers and I think the entire country of Now that Sharp is full time • effectively communicating and representing APS are seeing. “I get a lot of comments Saudi Arabia can’t get access.” at FYFD, she plans to get more journals to a broad range of constituencies from people, some of them in the involved in science communica- FYFD, as it is more concisely • partnering with APS senior leaders, particularly the fluid dynamics community,” she known, has been featured in Wired tion. “It’s been my source of passion Publisher, to articulate and drive a strategic vision says. “They really appreciate a lot magazine as a recommended sci- and interest, but I’d like to expand for the APS publishing enterprise of different features of the website, ence site to visit, and now has the site to content creation,” she like seeing explanations of phenom- 223,000 followers. “I was on that says. “The nice thing about making Nominations, together with a brief supporting statement, ena they don’t see anywhere else, list with Neil deGrasse Tyson and my own videos or working with and applications from potential candidates should be or seeing the visuals and how they [astronomer and blogger] Phil Plait, researchers to make videos is that sent to [email protected]. relate to everyday life.” which was pretty stunning for me I can really put the explanation that See the full position description at Asked about the website name, as a graduate student,” says Sharp. is the heart of FYFD in with the storbeckpimentel. she admits that is poses a few prob- The website was initially a labor visuals – have everything together com/resources/uploads/institution/APSEiCPD.pdf lems. “I’ll hand my business card of love, but Sharp has opted to go in a single product.” 8 • February 2016

Prologue: In late 1993 the U.S. Congress recession, the United States had entered a cancelled the Superconducting Super period of austerity not unlike what is occuring Collider(SSC), an enormous proton accel- Tunnel Visions: A Brief Comparison today in many developed Western countries. erator designed to attain a collision energy of In this constricted fiscal environment, a poorly 40 TeV, nearly triple that of the Large Hadron of the SSC and LHC Projects understood basic-science project experiencing Collider (LHC). While the SSC’s failure left By Michael Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, and Adrienne W. Kolb large cost overruns and lacking major foreign widespread bitterness and an empty tunnel contributions posed an easy political target for in Texas, the LHC went on to allow discovery of the long- Congressional budget-cutters to “sacrifice.” sought Higgs boson. What follows is an excerpt from Tunnel A 20 TeV proton collider — or perhaps just a billion- Visions, a comprehensive history of the rise and fall of the dollar extension of Fermilab facilities such as the Dedicated SSC recently published by the University of Chicago Press. Collider proposed in 1983 — would likely have survived the Fermilab Archives hile the Large Hadron Collider project at CERN also budget axe and discovered this light Higgs boson long ago. Wexperienced trying growth problems and cost overruns, For another option on the table during the 1983 meetings of increasing from an estimated 2.8 billion Swiss francs in 1996 the Wojcicki Supbanel was to have continued construction to more than 4.3 billion Swiss francs in 2009, it managed to of Brookhaven’s CBA/Isabelle collider while beginning survive and eventually discover the Higgs boson — using only design work on an intermediate-energy 4-5 TeV Fermilab about half its original design energy. When labor costs and machine, whose costs were then projected at about $600 in-kind contributions from participating nations are included, million. This more conservative approach would have main- the total approaches $10 billion, a figure often cited in the tained the high-energy physics research vitality of these two press. This achievement in the face of problems similar to productive DOE laboratories for at least another decade. And what the SSC project experienced, if not as severe, raises such smaller projects would surely have been more defen- the obvious question: why did CERN and its partner nations sible during the economic contractions of the early 1990s, succeed where the United States had failed? for they accorded better with the U.S. high-energy physics From its early days, many thought the SSC should have community’s diminished political capital in Washington. been sited at or near Fermilab, taking advantage of the exist- Their construction would also have proved much easier for ing infrastructure there, both physical and human. CERN had physicists to manage and control without having to involve done so for decades, building one machine after another as military-industrial engineers. extensions of its existing facilities and reusing parts of the Instead, the U.S. high-energy physics community elected older machines in new projects, thereby limiting costs. Perhaps to “bet the company” on an extremely ambitious 40 TeV as important, CERN had also gathered and developed some View along the SSC's main ring tunnel, as seen while under collider so large that it would probably have to be sited at a of the world’s most experienced accelerator physicists and construction in early 1993. new scientific laboratory in the American Southwest. Such engineers, who worked together smoothly as a team. Fermilab a choice was to abandon the three-laboratory DOE system had equally adept machine builders, (and substantial physical example a large cost overrun in 2001, had to be addressed in that had worked so well for nearly two decades and fostered infrastructure), who could have turned to other productive the Council, which represents the science ministries of mem- U.S. leadership in the field. Perceived European threats to efforts when the inevitable funding shortfalls occurred dur- ber nations and generally operates by consensus, especially this hegemony tipped the balance toward making the SSC a ing the annual Congressional appropriations process. And on major new projects like the LHC. This governing structure national project and away from it becoming a truly interna- the troublesome clashes that occurred at the SSC project ultimately helps maintain control of a project within the hands tional world laboratory as others were advocating. between high-energy physicists and engineers from the U.S. of the scientists involved, instead of allowing politicians or Unlike historians gazing into the past, however, high- military-industrial complex would not have erupted in the other government officials to intervene. energy physicists do not enjoy the benefit of hindsight when already well-integrated Fermilab culture. Because the Council must also address the wider interests planning a new machine. Guided partly by the dominant of European science ministries, CERN leaders have to be These pro-Fermilab arguments however ignore the realities theoretical paradigm, they work with a cloudy crystal ball sensitive to the pressures its annual budget, new projects, and of the American political process. A lucrative new proj- through which they can only guess at phenomena likely to cost overruns can exert on other worthy science. In this way, ect costing over $5 billion and promising more than 2,000 occur in a new energy range, and must plan accordingly. European small science had a valuable voice that was heard high-tech jobs cannot be “sole-sourced” to an existing U.S. And few can foresee what may transpire in the economic within the CERN governing process. The LHC project had laboratory, no matter how powerful its Congressional del- or political realms that might jeopardize such an enormous to be tailored to address such concerns before the Council egation. As politically astute Department of Energy leaders project requiring about a decade to complete and costing would grant it final approval. No similar mechanism existed recognized, the SSC project had to be offered up to all states billions of dollars, euro, or Swiss francs — or, relevantly within U.S. science, except for other, disgruntled scientists able to provide a suitable site, with the decision based (at least today, a trillion yen. This climate of uncertainty argues for to complain openly in prominent guest editorials and before publicly) on objective, rational criteria. A smaller project erring on the side of fiscal conservatism and for trying to Congressional hearings after SSC costs got out of hand in costing less than $1 billion and billed as a major upgrade of reduce expenses by building a new machine at an existing 1989 - 1991. The consequent polarization of the U.S. phys- existing facilities might have been sole-sourced to Fermilab, laboratory, thus recycling its infrastructure, both physical ics community helped undermine what had originally been given the political climate of the mid-1980s, but not one as and human. Such a gradual, incremental approach has been fairly broad House support for the project. prominent and costly as the SSC. It had to be placed on the followed successfully at CERN for six decades now, and to And because of such financial pressures, CERN had US auction block, and Texas made the best bid according to a lesser extent at other high-energy physics labs. to effectively internationalize the LHC project — obtain- the official DOE judgment criteria. But U.S. physicists elected to stray from this well-worn ing major commitments from non-member nations such as Unlike the SSC, the LHC project had solid project man- path in the case of the Superconducting Super Collider. It Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia and the United States agement throughout by a single physicist, [Lyn Evans], who took a giant leap of faith to imagine that they could construct — before going ahead with it. These contributions enabled had decades of experience with proton colliders. Despite an enormous new collider with over 20 times the energy of Evans and his team to proceed with a collider design able to major problems and cost overruns that eventually exceeded any machine that they had previously built, at a green-field reach the full 14 TeV collision energy rather than with the 40 percent, Evans enjoyed the strong support of the CERN site where everything had to be assembled anew from scratch initial phase of a down-scoped, two-phase project that might management, as well as from a deeply experienced cadre of — including its management team — and defend the project have been buildable with reduced funding. When the LHC physicists and engineers who worked together without the before Congress in times of fiscal austerity. A more modest project finally gained Council approval in 1996, it was a truly cultural clashes that occurred at the SSC Lab. And on the project sited instead at Fermilab (or Brookhaven) would likely international scientific project with firm financial backing LHC project, engineers reported ultimately to physicists, the have weathered less opposition and still be producing good users of the machine best able to make the required tradeoffs from more than 20 nations worldwide. physics results today. As one leading high-energy physicist when events did not play out as originally planned. The LHC And in the final analysis, the LHC was (somewhat fortu- acknowledged in hindsight, the SSC was probably “a bridge project encountered daunting difficulties, serious delays and itously) much more appropriately sized to its primary scientific too far” for this once-powerful scientific community. major cost overruns, too, but its core management team led goal: the discovery of the Higgs boson. The likelihood that by Evans held together and worked through these problems. this elusive quarry could turn up at such a low mass as 125 Michael Riordan has taught the history of physics and They also shared a common technological culture — as well GeV was not well appreciated until the late 1980s, when technology at Stanford University and the University of Cali- as understood and supported the project’s principal scientific theories involving supersymmetry began to suggest that such fornia, Santa Cruz. He is author of The Hunting of the Quark goals. Similar observations cannot be made regarding the a light Higgs boson might well occur. But by then the SSC and coauthor of Crystal Fire and The Shadows of Creation. military-industrial engineers who came to dominate SSC dice had been cast — in favor of a gargantuan 40 TeV col- He currently lives and works in Eastsound, Washington. construction. lider that would be able to uncover the roots of spontaneous Lillian Hoddeson, the Thomas Siebel Professor Emerita of CERN also enjoys an internal structure, governed by its symmetry breaking even if such phenomena were to occur the History of Science at the University of Illinois, is coauthor Council, that largely insulates its leaders and scientists from at masses as high as 2 TeV. of Crystal Fire, Critical Assembly, True Genius, and Fermilab. political infighting in and machinations of individual member After that fateful decision, which was endorsed unani- Adrienne W. Kolb, until recently the Fermilab archivist, nations. Unlike in the United States, the lab director or project mously by a HEPAP subpanel but added billions to the SSC is coauthor of Fermilab. manager cannot be hauled before a parliamentary investiga- cost, the U.S. high-energy physics community committed Reprinted with permission from Tunnel Visions: The Rise tions subcommittee and required to testify under oath about itself to an enormous project that became increasingly difficult and Fall of the Superconducting Super Collider by Michael management problems or cost overruns. Nor did the project to sustain politically amidst the worsening fiscal climate of Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, and Adrienne W. Kolb, published face annual appropriations battles and threats of termination, the early 1990s. With the end of the Cold War and subse- by the University of Chicago Press. © 2015 by The University as do major U.S. projects. Serious problems that arose, for quent lack of a hoped-for peace dividend during a stubborn of Chicago. 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