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ASTROPHYSICS Newsletter ASTROPHYSICS newsletter 1998 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICS DAP at the Cenntennial and Millennium Josh Grindlay, Chair, DAP CHAIR (1998) Josh Grindlay Harvard-Smithsonian Center for The upcoming Centennial meeting in Atlanta (see recognized this trend, with a new astrophysics Astrophysics separate summary) promises a rich assortment of initiative within the physics division. 60 Garden St. talks from many of our members and of course Cambridge, MA 02138 the chance to interact with our colleagues from So why, then, is the DAP not expanding significantly? phone: (617) 495-7204 fax: (617) 495-7356 other branches of physics. In this year of There has been modest growth, yes, but not [email protected] millennium preparations, it also offers us a chance commensurate with the current trends mentioned. Are to pause and consider what new directions we we competing too much with our AAS and CHAIR-ELECT (1998) might chart for the Division over the coming few High-Energy Astrophysics Division commitments Trevor Weekes Harvard-Smithsonian Whipple years at least (as astrophysicists, with our penchant (many of are joint members)? How can we make DAP Observatory for orders of magnitude, we are again planning a sessions, and APS meetings generally, more attractive Ctr. Astrophysics, PO Box 97 decade but surely not the next two orders!). Many to our astronomical (and HEAD) colleagues? The Amado, AZ 85645 might agree that astrophysics is increasingly contact with other physics disciplines at an APS meeting phone: (602) 670-5726 becoming not only relevant to and interactive with can expand our astrophysics horizons. At the DAP fax: (602) 670-5713 [email protected] most other disciplines in physics but also where Business Meeting last year, I began a discussion of how much of the most exciting physics is to be found. we might design our future meetings since the APS VICE-CHAIR (1998) Our increasingly powerful observational and was then urging us to consider moving the Fall. This Virginia Trimble theoretical tools more than compensate for our move has since (at least for now) been abandoned by University of California Physics Department physics having to be done from afar; in just the the APS but we are free to still consider meeting Irvine, CA 92697-4575 past year key advances have been made in topics options. At the DAP Executive Committee meeting in phone: (714) 824-6948 as fundamental as accretion onto and relativistic Atlanta we shall consider several options for possible fax: (714) 824-2174 effects near black holes, and the matter-energy change, such as coordinating DAP with HEAD meetings [email protected] content of the universe. Not suprisingly, physics every 3 years. We need your input and ideas. Please PAST-CHAIR (1998) colleagues from other disciplines email or call any of us, and PLEASE come to the Business Rich Lingenfelter keep coming in and further stimulating our field; Meeting (more exciting than most, we promise!) to Center for Astrophysics and Space the influx of particle physicists into gamma-ray share your thoughts. It’s time to launch DAP (along Sciences, 0111 astronomy is a recent example. Even the NSF has with Chandra!) into a new era. University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0111 phone: (619) 534-2464 Fellows Nominations Letters prior to unit deadline (May 1) as a complete packet to: fax: (619) 534-2294 Executive Officer [email protected] The American Physical Society It’s time, once again, to consider that desrving DAPer One Physics Ellipse SECRETARY-TREASURER Feollow ro recognition by the APS! The DAP is able to College Park, MD 20740-3844 Neil Gehrels put forth nomination for 8 new Fellows (if our membership ATTN: Fellowship Program NASA/GSFC were larger we could do more!) each year. The Divions Although there is no required number of supporting letters Code 661 vice chair, Vriginia Trimble, heads the fellowshipc Building 2, Room 250 for each nomination, typically 2 - 3 letters from individuals Greenbelt, MD 20771 committee. Nomination forms are available from http:// outside the nominee’s institution who are familiar with phone: (301) 286-6546 aps.org/felloship/nomination_form.html and should be the nominee’s work are submitted. fax: (301) 286-1684 submitted to APS by the deadline of May 1, 1999. Please More information and forms can be obtained at http:// [email protected] consult with colleagues and identify candidates (Fellows www.aps.org/fellowship/index.html Please consult with are identified in the APS Directory if you wish to check colleagues and identify candidates (Fellows are identified first) and submit (brief ) supporting materials. in the APS Directory if you wish to check first) and submit -Josh Grindlay (brief) supporting materials. Chai, DAP In This Issue The deadline for DAP nominations for APS Fellowships The Division of is May 1, 1999. Theprocedure for nominating a colleagues • New APS Fellows Astrophysics for Fellowship is as follows: • 1. Insure nominee is a member of the Society in good • Changes to the APS Council The American standing. • Invitation to support the 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference Physical Society 2. Obtain signatures of two sponsors who are members • DAP Sessions for the Cenntenial Meeting • of the Society ingood standing. • DAP Elections February 1999 3. Submit signed Nomination Form, Curriculum Vitae, and Supporting • NRC Survey New APS Fellows The following distinguished scientists are our Division’s new Lawrence M. Krauss Fellows of the American Physical Society. ✶ “For his original contributions at the interface of particle physics and astrophysics.” J. Richard Bond “For✶ fundamental contributions to astrophysics and cosmology; in particular for developing the understanding of fluctuations in the Stuart Louis Shapiro cosmic background radiation.” ✶ “ For his broad contributions to theoretical astrophysics and general relativity, including the physics of black holes, neutron starts, and large N-body dynamical systems, and his pioneering use of supercomputers to Jack O’Neal Burns explore these areas.” “For✶ fundamental contributions to the observation and numerical modeling of extragalactic jets and clusters of galaxies” ✶Friedrich K. Thielemann “ For his work at the interface of nuclear physics and astrophysics and the Joan Mary Centrella applications to stellar nucleosynthesis, Type Ia and Type II Supernovae, as “For✶ her original contributions to numerical relativity, cosmology, well as the r- and rp- process.” and astrophysics, in particu8lar for her studies of large-scale structure in the universe and sources of gravitational radiation.” ✶Claudia Megan Urry “For pioneering studies of the nature of Active Galactic Nuclei through multi-wavelength observational campaigns and the elucidation of unified W. Neil Johnson models.” “In✶ recognition of outstanding contributions to observational gamma-ray astrophysics development of the OSSE instrument, and the understanding of high-energy emission form the Galaxy and Active Galactic Nuclei.” Possible Changes to the APS Council Invitation to apply for support of local Steve Holt, Astrophysics Division Councilor expenses at the 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference in Salt Lake City. The APS Council has seventy-one members. Its meetings are held twice per year, with agenda that are largely devoted to the pro The local organizing committee of the 26th ICRC has applied to forma approval of decisions that are made elsewhere in smaller NASA for funds to support the local expenses (hotel, registration meetings. I am the sole formal representative of the Astrophysics etc.) for a number of young scientists who will serve as scientific Division, but other divisions can have as many as four councilors secretaries to the conference. These positions will be available to in acknowledgment of their larger memberships. In addition to scientists who are either American citizens or are employed by division councilors, the council meetings include general councilors, U.S. institutions. Selections will be made by a committee elected officers, APS staff, international guests, and representatives appointed by the national organizing committee on the basis of of geographical sections and topical fora. scientific merit in the field of cosmic ray physics with a preference to young scientists (e.g. graduate students and post-docs). The APS Executive Officer Judy Franz has chartered a small committee conference will be held August 17th to August 25th 1999 in Salt to study the subject of making council meetings more (potentially) Lake City, Utah. Note that individuals are responsible for their productive. I am a member of this committee, which is chaired by own transportation costs to and from Salt Lake City. Ernest Henley. Letters of application should be sent to: I have already contacted individuals familiar with the inner Professor Jordan A. Goodman workings of other societies like the AAS and AGU for information Department of Physics about their council structure, and the manner in which they share University of Maryland work with executive and standing committees. Any other ideas College Park, Maryland 20742-4111 would be welcome; please send them to me at Atten: ICRC 99 [email protected]. Applications must be received by April 1, 1999. Applications The almost certain result of this exercise will be a council that is should include: smaller and more dynamic. Having a single councilor in a smaller 1. A brief vita and list of relevant publications council will guarantee that the Astrophysics Division has a 2. Reasons for attendance and copies of abstracts submitted to somewhat larger proportional voice, and a more active agenda the conference should give that councilor an opportunity to be more proactive on 3. List of grant, contract and institutional support available to behalf of the division. applicant and an explanation of the reason this support is needed Awards will be announced in early May (contingent on the award by NASA). 2 DAP SESSIONS FOR THE ✶ C ENTENNIAL MEETING ✶ ✶ MARCH 20-26, 1999 Session BC16.
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