A Forum of The American Physical Society • Volume IX No. 4 • Spring 2005 From the Chair Report From The Chair by Nina Byers, Forum Chair It is good to greet 2005 in which we have the centennial celebra- topics); volunteers should get in touch with me.’ She also writes tion of Albert Einstein’s “miraculous year” and events marking that students at 4-year colleges are targeted and that FHP members the World Year of Physics (WYP). Hopefully as physicists we can who are at 4-year colleges should encourage applications. reach out beyond our own community to share our love of science I am pleased to announce that in response to the generosity and promote the formation of long-lasting, peaceful, nurturing of donors a Special Programs Fund has been established in our and productive societies. The Forum is engaged in various WYP APS account to receive and disperse funds earmarked for FHP. activities. We are joining with the Topical Group in Gravitation Details of the program are contained in the announcement that (GGR) to provide a volunteer WYP Speakers Program for schools follows this article. Funds have been donated in 2004 to provide and other groups See <http://www.physics2005.org/speakers/index. hard (paper) copies of our Newsletter and to reimburse, where html>. There is a fill-in form on the internet linked to this site to needed, invited speakers’ travel expenses. It is hoped in the future request a speaker and provide information about the talk a group Funds might also provide grants for research in history of physics would like to have. Richard Price <[email protected]> of and/or reimbursement of travel expense for presentation of con- the GGR and our own Virginia Trimble <[email protected]. tributed papers at APS meetings on history of physics. Generally edu> are organizing this (see also her note in this Newsletter). work on history of physics and travel to meetings to give papers There is some financial support, in part from APS Council, for on history of physics are not funded by sources which fund phys- speaker travel to institutions that do not have physics or physi- ics research. Therefore the Forum on History of Physics might cal sciences colloquia because they cannot afford them. Virginia make significant contributions to our subject were we able to writes ‘we definitely need more volunteer speakers, especially materially support some work; e.g., historical research generally people to talk about Einstein & history of physics (but also other requires documentation and bibliographic work that involve some expense. In my work I have found that students as paid research assistants have contributed greatly. Though their pay is small phys- ics majors find the work very rewarding because they learn some physics, and about history of physics and library resources. I plan to introduce a motion at our next Executive Committee meeting next April to establish a committee that will receive and admin- ister grant proposals. Donors are requested to send funds to the continued on page 2 INSIDE Editor’s Note 2 Forum News 3 Call for Nominations 4 Meeting Programs 5 Notes, Reports and Announcements 11 Book Reviews 15 Figure 1. Reprinted with permission The Herb Block Foundation EIN no. 26-0008276 Editor’s Note The History of Physics Newsletter Online vs. Paper which the reader is invited. You can also is published twice yearly by the Forum access all past issues of our Newsletter As noted in the previous Newsletter, on History of Physics of the American there. because of an anonymous gift we can Physical Society. It is distributed free ensure that all FHP members will continue to all members of the Forum. The Corrigenda to receive a print version, unless they spe- Forum also has reciprocal arrange- In the last Newsletter, in the contrib- cifically request not to receive same. Read- ments with the History of Science uted papers session, we referred to Ms. ers so requesting should send an email note Society, Philosophy of Science Associ- Elisabeth M. Sopka’s father as the late to the Editor. ation, HOPOS. Nonmembers who wish Dr. John J. Sopka. We are happy to say to receive the Newsletter should make Invitation to our Members that this characterization is incorrect, and a donation to the Forum of $5 per year apologize for the error. Your program committee invites you to (+ $3 additional for airmail). Each In the book review of Degrees Kelvin suggest topics/speakers for several FHP 3-year volume consists of six issues. by Davis Lindley, the river Kelvin was invited sessions for the March and April incorrectly placed near Cambridge. I quote Editor 2006 meetings. You will normally then from a note sent to me by Sidney Abrams, Benjamin Bederson be asked to help organize the sessions. Southern Oregon University, whom I New York University These can be sponsored just by FHP, topics thank for this correction: “Thomson Physics Department suitable for co-sponsorship by Divisions, indeed took the name Kelvin from a small 4 Washington Place Topical Groups, or other Forums, or (a par- river for the title given him by Queen New York , NY 10003 ticularly desirable format) one invited talk Victoria. However, this river is located [email protected] followed by several contributed ones, called not in Cambridge but in Glasgow! The (212) 529 8687 a “focussed session.” There is already at Kelvin runs quite close to the Univer- least one suggestion each for March and Associate Editor sity of Glasgow campus. The Botanic Gar- April. Please communicate others to the Michael Riordan dens, the University, Kelvin Hall and the 2006 program chair, [email protected]. Institute of Particle Physics Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum all University of California FHP Homepage: lie on its banks. The Kelvin flows into the Santa Cruz, CA 95064 River Clyde shortly thereafter.” —BB [email protected] All kinds of information concerning FHP (831) 459 5687 activities are available on the FHP website http://www.aps.org/units/fhp/index.cfm, to Report from the Chair continued from page 1 APS, Director of Development noting that a Named Lecture “At the March meet- Paper sessions in both the March and April they are earmarked for the FHP Special ing A.J. Kox will present the first Rob- meetings. Fund. The donor may specify a particular ert H. Dicke lecture on Einstein and All in all the activities of our Forum purpose for which he/she would like the Lorentz.”. The April meeting will be are rich and varied and promising for the funds to be used. Funds donated to APS particularly rich in FHP activities. Lillian future where we can safely predict increas- are tax deductible. Hoddeson will give the Gertrude-Scharff ing interest in the history of physics. Our Comments and discussion on the above Goldhaber Lecture, sponsored by the history provides good illustrations of the are very welcome and should be sent either Goldhaber family in honor of Trudi. In efficacy of collaborative efforts and ratio- to the Editor of the Newsletter or to me a joint session with the Forum on Phys- nal thought that might be inspirational be- <[email protected]>. ics and Society, we will mark the occa- yond the borders of our profession. I’d like Regular FHP activities have proceeded sion of the first Abraham Pais Award to to end by reminding readers of Sir Arthur with success in 2004. The Program Com- Martin Klein and he will deliver a lecture Eddington who led the 1919 eclipse ex- mittee, chaired by Bob Romer, has ar- entitled “Physics, History, and the His- pedition to observe the bending of light ranged attractive invited speaker sessions tory of Physics.” The Leo Szilard Prize passing close to the sun. It is said that, in the March (LA) and April (Tampa) APS winner will also speak in that session. We arising out of his Quaker upbringing, his general meetings. Please see the updated encourage as many FHP members as pos- motivation in part was to counter the wide- Program Bulletins for details: viz.,<http:// sible to attend this session. We will also spread hostility to the Germans in World www.aps.org/meet/MAR05 > and/or have our annual FHP Business Meeting in War I. On 3 June he recorded in his note- http://www.aps.org/meet/APR05, and the Tampa and look forward to seeing as many book:... one plate I measured gave a result material on these meetings contained in of you as possible there. Another new agreeing with Einstein. As a conscientious this Newsletter. A new development is development is sponsorship of Contributed continued on page 10 2 History of Physics Newsletter • Volume IX, No. 4 • Spring 2005 FORUM ON HISTORY OF PHYSICS SPECIAL PROGRAM FUND Purpose known, the solicitor, of the gift’s arrival. shall “negotiate” with the donor about FHP using the gift for another program. The purpose of the Special Program Fund Selection and Approval of If a donation, solicited or unsolicited, is is to enlarge or enhance FHP’s activities Programs for the Special Fund received with an unacceptable restrictions beyond what is possible with the resources attached, the most appropriate person and restrictions of the regular operating The FHP Executive Committee will, at its (normally the person who solicited the budget. Source Moneys for this Fund will annual meeting, establish a priority list of gift or, if the gift is unsolicited, the Chair be solicited and accepted from individual activities for which donations to the Spe- or the Secretary-Treasurer) shall attempt donors, educational institutions, profes- cial Fund are to be sought.