August-September 2009

Volume 18, No. 8 TM www.aps.org/publications/apsnews

PhysicsQuest APS NEWS Goes to Kenya A Publication of the American Physical Society • www.aps.org/publications/apsnews See page 5

APS Awards Three Hildred Blewett Scholarships Presidents Two This year APS has announced electrical properties. three women as recipients of the “It was amazing how many ses- M. Hildred Blewett scholarship. sions there were on graphene at the Chosen by the Committee on March Meeting,” Guikema said. the Status of Women in Physics, She plans to use funds from the three are Janice Guikema at the Blewett Scholarship to further Johns Hopkins University, Marija research the feasibility of using Nikolic-Jaric at the University of graphene as a sensitive magnetic Manitoba, and Klejda Bega at Co- detector. She said that graphene has lumbia University. a lot of potential for use as a Hall Each year the committee se- effect detector to detect nanoscale lects women who are returning to particles and map out magnetic their research careers that had been Janice Guikema structures. Currently she is continu- interrupted for family or other rea- ing to look for ways to make the sons. The scholarship is a one-year as a second-time recipient of the material as sensitive as possible. grant of up to $45,000 that can be Blewett Scholarship. She currently In addition she will use scanning used towards a wide range of ne- has a part-time research position at probe microscopy to further ex- cessities, including equipment pro- Johns Hopkins University, where plore the nature of graphene. curement, salary, travel, tuition, she is primarily studying graphene. Guikema first left her postdoc- On April 27, APS presented a plaque to Harvard University as part of its his- Graphene molecules are one- toric sites initiative. The plaque honored the Jefferson Physical Laboratory, and dependent care. This is the toral research at Cornell University which was built in 1884 and as such is the oldest surviving university building fifth year the scholarship has been atom-thick sheets of carbon atoms in 2005 when her husband received dedicated to physics in the country. Over the years it has been the site of awarded. organized in a hexagonal pattern an offer to join the faculty at Texas many important advances in physics, including the celebrated Pound-Rebka After taking time off to follow like a honeycomb. Since its first A&M and they relocated to Texas. experiment that confirmed one of the predictions of General Relativity. Sitting synthesis in 2004, it has quickly together in this photo are APS President Cherry Murray (left), who presented her husband and start a family, There she took a lecturing posi- the plaque on behalf of APS, and Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust, who Janice Wynn Guikema is continu- become one of the hottest fields in tion teaching introductory physics received it on behalf of Harvard. ing her return to the laboratory condensed matter physics because of its remarkable structural and AWARDS continued on page 6 US Team Ties for Second in International Physics Olympiad The traveling team representing cent, and silver went to students in bers for working so hard to make the US at the 2009 International the top 25 percent. this one of the best teams ever.” Physics Olympiad won four gold The gold medal winners on the China placed first overall, earn- medals and one silver, tying with United States team were Bowei ing five gold medals. In addition, India and Korea for second place Liu of Freemont, California; Mari- China’s Handuo Shi scored the overall. This high placement du- anna Mao of Freemont, California; highest individual score, the first plicates last year’s outcome, and is Anand Nataranjan of San Jose, time in the forty-two year history the US’s best standing to date. California; and Joshua Oreman of the Olympiad that a female won The Olympiad is an annual in- of Los Angeles, California. David the honor. ternational competition for high Field of Andover, Massachusetts The exams consisted of three school students. In the 2009 Olym- earned silver. theoretical problems and two lab piad, held in Merida, Mexico from “They all did very well,” said experiments. This year’s subjects July 11th to the 19th, 316 students Paul Stanley, the team’s academic ranged from calculating the tidal representing 70 nations competed director. “Much of the success of drag affecting the moon to measur- to solve complex physics prob- the traveling five can be attributed ing the wavelength of light using a lems. Gold medals are awarded to Photo courtesy of AAPT to the collegial, supportive atmo- razor and a pair of vernier calipers. students whose total scores from Left to Right: Anand Nataranjan, Coach Warren Turner, Bowei Liu, David Field, sphere of training camp; I thank All of the team coaches graded the the five tests were in the top 8 per- Coach Paul Stanley, Marianna Mao, and Joshua Oreman each of the nineteen team mem- US TEAM continued on page 4

Winning Videos Use Toys to Teach Physics Sorted Business A rocket propelled favorite toy. Other as dolphins blowing bubble rings racetrack illustrates Al- than asking for videos and a rising mushroom cloud. He bert Einstein’s equiva- around three minutes received a $1,000 reward and a lence principle. An or- in length, the rules for trophy made of toys. ange teddy bear driving the contest were left “I thought it was important a dump truck into a cin- open-ended, to en- that I showed demonstrations that derblock demonstrates courage as much cre- were easy to do so that the audi- Newton’s law of inertia. ativity in the submis- ence could try it on their own,” A mushroom cloud rises sions as possible. Lincoln said, “I thought I would over the desert with John- The grand prize be able to reach a larger audience ny Cash playing in the winner, chosen by a if I kept my video equation-free background. These are panel of outreach ex- and jargon-free.” just a few of the scenes perts, was James Lin- Lincoln has been teaching from the finalists in the coln’s “Smoke Rings, high school physics for six years Toy Box Physics video Mushroom Clouds and is currently working on his contest. and Vortexes,” which master’s degree in physics at The APS outreach explained the phys- UCLA. He said that putting to- website PhysicsCentral ics of a vortex air gether a successful video takes hosted the contest which cannon. In the video, a lot of work and planning, and Photo by Ken Cole invited participants across Lincoln creatively sometimes ideas don’t pan out. On July 23, 25 sorters for the fall meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics the country to create demonstrated how Despite his sparse YouTube page, met at APS headquarters in College Park to arrange 1,629 abstracts into ap- their own short YouTube his toy air cannon Lincoln is no newcomer to mak- propriate sessions. Here, DPP Chair-elect Tom Antonsen (left) of the Universi- videos to explain phys- used the same fluid ing these kinds of short science ty of Maryland confers with Eric Fredrickson of the Princeton Plasma Physics Toy Box Physics Lab. The DPP meeting will take place November 2-6 in Atlanta. ics incorporating their video contest trophy dynamics principles VIDEOS continued on page 6 2 • August-September 2009 APS NEWS

This Month in Physics History

“If ITER is built on money hav- tion of a dark matter detector in an September, 1911–The Sackur-Tetrode Equation: ing to do with energy or oil, that is abandoned mine in South Dakota, How Entropy Met Quantum Mechanics perfectly good...But if it is taken The Associated Press, June 22, 2009. Editor’s note: This month’s column has been con- experimental values in tabulations of best values of from the public support of research “There’s so much neat science in physics or biology then I would tributed by guest author Richard Williams. thermodynamic data, such as the CRC Handbook of in NASCAR…It’s a great way to Early in the twentieth century, leading physicists Chemistry and Physics. be very upset,” educate people. NASCAR fans were struggling to get a deeper understanding of After his work on this problem, Tetrode wrote Sebastien Balibar, École Nor- are fervent and will wade through the concept of entropy. Entropy is at the heart of the some other theoretical papers, but none achieved male Supérieure, BBC News, June net force and molecules if it helps all-encompassing Second Law of Thermodynamics comparable recognition. He lapsed into scientific ob- 17, 2009. them understand why something and can be used to establish the absolute tempera- scurity, little remembered even among the commu- “Certainly the worst way to play happens to their driver.” ture scale, so it needs to nity of Dutch physicists. better golf is to study physics.” Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Uni- be fully understood. But In 1932, his compatriot, Robert Adair, The Wall Street versity of Texas at Dallas, USA To- a troubling question re- The Sackur-Tetrode Equation the physicist H.G.B. Ca- Journal, June 18, 2009. day, July 1, 2009. mained unanswered. S = N k{ ln M3/2 T5/2 / P simir, spent a year as an Could its absolute value 2 3/2 5/2 assistant to Wolfgang “We would grow some crystals “I’ve always been interested in + ln [ (2 π / NAv h ) k ] + 5/2 } and we would come back to him how art and science shed light on be determined, or would Pauli at the Technische and he would measure them again one another… The relationship of it always involve an unknown additive constant? Hochschule in Zurich. Once, Pauli goaded him, “You Attention began to focus increasingly on Ludwig Dutch people are strange birds. You have the exam- and say ‘Oh, you’ve gone too far’ art and science is something I think Boltzmann’s ideas. His long work on the problem is ple of Tetrode. He has done outstanding work, but no or ‘You haven’t gone far enough’ about a lot.” summarized in the terse epitaph, S = k lnW , that is one knows about him, and it seems that no one wants and then we would try again.” Peter Galison, Harvard Univer- carved on his tombstone in Vienna. The equation ex- to know.” Casimir realized that he, too, knew little Jim Analytis, Stanford Uni- sity, The Wall Street Journal, July presses entropy, S, as the logarithm of W, the number about Tetrode’s life, and he began to learn more about versity, on the difficulties growing 10, 2009. of possible states of motion available to the atoms in it. In 1984 he wrote an article summarizing Tetrode’s crystals of bismuth telluride to be “It has been known for several a system, consistent with their energy, and multiplied life, entitled, “A Forgotten Genius.” Tetrode’s higher used in spintronics research, ABC decades that this unknown star was by the constant, k, named for Boltzmann. However, education was brief, obviously at 17 years of age, 7 News, June 17, 2009. actually the planet Neptune…Nep- according to classical theory, there was no limit to when he wrote his article for Annalen, but also, later, “The cuts will absolutely impact tune would have looked just like a how close to one another, in momentum and space, his education was irregular for a scientist. He spent academics…Everyone has said it’s faint star almost exactly where Gal- the neighboring states of motion could be, and, there- 1912 at the University in Leipzig, but apparently at- not going to affect the core mission ileo observed it.” fore, no limit to the number of states that could exist. tended few lectures and did not take the usual exams. of the institution–which is teach- David Jamieson, University of How then could W be enumerated to give a unique He corresponded with the major Dutch physicists at ing–but indirectly, it will. ” Melbourne, on how Galileo may result? Thus, the question about the arbitrary additive times, but did not form lasting scientific relationships. Eric Mazur, Harvard, The Bos- have been the first to discover the constant. Nor did he cultivate those who might advance his sci- ton Globe, June 17, 2009. planet Neptune, MSNBC.com, July The answer would come in two separate articles entific career. At one point, Albert Einstein and Paul in the premier German physics journal, Annalen Ehrenfest called at his home, but the maid told them “It has been said that major cur- 10, 2009. der Physik, one published in September, 1911, and that he could not receive them. He died of tuberculo- riculum change is a sacred under- “In the near- and medium-term, the other a few months later. One author was Otto sis in 1931. taking not unlike moving a cem- it’s going to be extremely difficult Sackur, 31 years old, a rising young physical chemist Sackur’s career advanced more along the normal etery: Lots of things in it are dead, for graphene to displace silicon at the University of Breslau. The other was Hugo Tet- course for a scientist. After his doctorate from the but they have many friends who as the main material in computer rode, 17 years old, the precocious son of the president University of Breslau, he worked there with Rudolph aren’t.” electronics…Silicon is a multibil- of the Dutch National Bank. Both focused on how to Ladenburg, then in London with William Ramsay, George Campbell Jr., Cooper lion-dollar industry that has been count the number of possible distinguishable states of and finally in Germany with Walther Nernst, whose Union for the Advancement of Sci- perfecting silicon processing for 40 motion of the atoms of a monatomic gas. In similar, heat theorem was at the center of efforts to resolve ence and Art, on the challenge of years.” but not identical, analyses, they argued that the num- the concept of absolute entropy, leading eventually, breaking down barriers between Tomas Palacios, Massachusetts ber of allowed states in a given energy range depend- with some help from the work of Sackur and Tetrode, academic disciplines, The Philadel- Institute of Technology, Kansas ed on how close the states of motion could get to one to the Third Law of Thermodynamics. Sackur wrote phia Inquirer, June 28, 2009. City Star, July 12, 2009. another–in position and momentum, for example. well-received books on thermodynamics, and in 1914 “My concerns regarding the “I think scientists need to talk to They considered pairs of coordinates that define the he joined Fritz Haber’s prestigious Institute in Berlin. potentially damaging economic people more. After all, we work for motion of atoms, either momentum and position, or Haber’s reputation at the time was golden, after his impacts on Michigan were not ad- the people, all people, the taxpay- energy and time. If a lower limit existed for the pos- stunning achievement of the fixation of nitrogen from dressed.” ers. We should do our bit to explain sible size of the elements of the space representing the air to form ammonia. It would bring him the No- Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI), on where your money is going and the pair of coordinates, this would give an upper limit bel Prize. His reputation began to suffer when he led why he voted against the climate why our work is interesting, impor- to the magnitude of W, and allow a definite count to Germany’s project to use poison gas as a weapon in bill in the House, Detroit News, tant, and what it means to you and be made. World War I. He focused the Institute’s work on this June 27, 2009. your future.” Tetrode started with an equation from the classi- project, bringing in Sackur, James Franck, and oth- cal statistical mechanics of J. Willard Gibbs. He re- ers. In late 1914, Sackur was killed in a lab explosion, “There’s an old tradition, that Michael Tuts, Columbia Uni- versity, on his conversations with quired the product of the elements, momentum–posi- prematurely ending a promising career. But this was which is partly true and partly not tion, to be not smaller than Planck’s constant. Sackur not all. Haber’s wife, Clara Immerwahr, was a close so true, that journalism and the me- people while flying, The New York Times, July 13, 2009. adhered more to the style of Max Planck’s school of personal friend of Sackur. She opposed Haber’s poi- dia never represent science right; thermodynamics. By similar reasoning, he limited son gas work on moral grounds and had long protest- and a lot of scientists do get uptight “Your honor, I am nearly 72 the spacing of the allowed states for the elements, en- ed bitterly. When she learned of Sackur’s death, from about that.” years old, and this is the first time ergy–time. This, together with Boltzmann’s Equation, what she saw as coerced work on an immoral project, Sidney Perkowitz, Emory Uni- I have stood accused in a court of gave them an expression for the absolute entropy, the she was inconsolable. Finally, distraught, she com- versity, National Public Radio, law,” Sackur-Tetrode Equation. mitted suicide, using her husband’s service pistol, June 26, 2009. J. Reece Roth, University of Ten- Their equation can be used today without modi- completing a tragedy of Shakespearean dimensions. “The fact that we’re going to be nessee, after being sentenced to four fication to calculate the standard entropy for ideal Otto Sackur and Hugo Tetrode died too young, in the Davis Cavern just tickles us years in jail for improperly sharing monatomic gases. Knowing only the temperature, victims of the scourges of their time, tuberculosis and pink,” United States military secrets with pressure, and atomic weight of the atoms, an ex- war. Despite their disparate backgrounds, they, like Tom Shutt, Case Western Re- foreign nationals, The Knoxville tremely simple calculation gives the entropy value Boltzmann, left an equation as an epitaph, one that serve University, starting construc- News Sentinel, July 2, 2009. so accurately that the calculated value is preferred to endures and joins them together. MEMBERS continued on page 4

Series II, Vol. 18, No. 8 For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Treasurer Society), Steven Rolston (Laser Science), Ted Einstein August-September 2009 American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Joseph W.Serene*, Georgetown University (Materials), Akif Balantekin* (Nuclear), Janet Conrad Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least (Particles & Fields), Ronald Ruth (Physics of Beams), APS NEWS © 2009 The American Physical Society Editor-in-Chief 6 weeks advance notice. For address changes, please Gene Sprouse*, Stony Brook University (on leave) David Hammer* (Plasma), TBD (Polymer Physics), send both the old and new addresses, and, if possible, (Ohio Section), Heather Galloway* (Texas Section), TBD Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 include a mailing label from a recent issue. Requests Past-President (4 Corners Section) from subscribers for missing issues will be honored Arthur Bienenstock*, Stanford University Editor•...... Alan Chodos without charge only if received within 6 months of the ADVISORS Art Director and Special Publications Manager...... Kerry G. Johnson General Councillors issue’s actual date of publication. Periodical Postage Paid Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Robert Austin, Christina Back*, Marcela Carena, Eliza- Representatives from Other Societies at College Park, MD and at additional mailing offices. beth Beise*, Katherine Freese, Wendell Hill*, Nergis Fred Dylla, AIP; Alexander Dickison, AAPT Proofreader...... Edward Lee Postmaster: Send address changes to APS News, Mem- Staff Science Writer ...... Michael Lucibella Mavalvala, Jorge Pullin bership Department, American Physical Society, One International Advisors Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. International Councillor Sabayasachi Bhattacharya Louis Felipe Rodriguez Jorge, Mexican Physical Society; Robert Mann, Canadian Association of Physicists APS COUNCIL 2009 Chair, Nominating Committee APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X yearly, Editor, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Angela Olinto Staff Representatives monthly, except the August/September issue, by the MD 20740-3844, E-mail: [email protected]. President Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Cherry Murray*, Lawrence Livermore National Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership publi- Laboratory Duncan Moore of Education and Diversity; Michael Lubell, Director, news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Groups, cation delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing Division, Forum and Section Councillors Public Affairs; Dan Kulp, Editorial Director; Christine Sections, and Forums; advance information on meetings abroad may receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. President-Elect Charles Dermer (Astrophysics), P. Julienne (Atomic, Mo- Giaccone, Director, Journal Operations; Michael of the Society; and reports to the Society by its commit- Nonmembers: Subscription rates are available at http:// Curtis G. Callan, Jr.*, Princeton University lecular & Optical Physics), Mark Reeves (Biological), Stephens, Controller and Assistant Treasurer tees and task forces, as well as opinions. librarians.aps.org/institutional.html. Nancy Levinger (Chemical), Arthur Epstein (Condensed Vice-President Matter Physics), David Landau (Computational), James Administrator for Governing Committees Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Subscription orders, renewals and address changes Barry C. Barish*, Caltech Brasseur* (Fluid Dynamics), Gay Stewart (Forum Ken Cole ship. Letters must be signed and should include an ad- should be addressed as follows: For APS Members– on Education), Amber Stuver, (Forum on Graduate dress and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves Membership Department, American Physical Society, Executive Officer Student Affairs), Roger Stuewer (Forum on History the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All cor- One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844, of Physics), Stefan Zollner (Forum on Industrial and Kate P. Kirby*, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics * Members of the APS Executive Board respondence regarding APS News should be directed to: [email protected]. (on leave) Applied Physics), David Ernst* (Forum on International Physics), Philip “Bo” Hammer (Forum on Physics and APS NEWS August-September 2009 • 3

Missile Man: Raytheon President influenced by Physics, Feynman, and Senators in Geeky Glasses

By Alaina G. Levine Raytheon Missile Systems and he said sure…” recalls Law- way to measure something that He was attracted to the defense (RMS) is the world’s leading rence. “He was so open.” led to improving my ability to industry because of its intersec- producer of weapon systems for Feynman explained to Law- [take measurements] by several tion between national service and the United States military and rence that “it’s not about the orders of magnitude,” he says. He high technology, he says. “I was the allied forces of more than 50 math, it’s about the result,” he was measuring optical properties drawn to applying technology to countries, according to compa- says. “He said the math is just a during the superconducting phase national security applications… ny communications. It employs tool that allows you to compute transition. Inside the vacuum [and] to protecting our country 12,500 people and had sales of something and if it’s telling you chamber where he was perform- and protecting the men and wom- $5 billion in 2007. It is led by Dr. the wrong thing, then it’s the ing the experiment, “there was a en who serve our country.” Taylor Lawrence, a physicist who math that’s wrong, not the phys- noise source coming from the im- Lawrence says this attitude is a likes big problems, has shared a ics… It sort of flipped my uni- purities of the material itself and fundamental calling. “That [is] a classroom and a stage with Rich- verse over.” I found a way of basically using very important part of who I am ard Feynman, and once inspired Lawrence’s interaction with heterodyne techniques [to] divide as a physicist,” he says. He con- a roomful of US senators to don Feynman extended beyond the out that noise source and measure cedes that “sometimes my col- pocket protectors and “geeky realm of physics. They both audi- [the optical properties more pre- leagues in physics don’t necessar- looking glasses” in recognition of tioned and won parts in the play cisely by] a couple more orders of ily see the same calling.” How- Lawrence’s vocation. “The Madwoman of Chaillot”, magnitude.” ever, Lawrence feels a certain His intersections with Feyn- presented by the Theatre Arts technology company that served “I will never forget that feel- responsibility to apply knowledge man occurred while he was study- Department of Caltech. Feynman the defense industry. His work ing that I discovered a new way and discovery in “physics to what ing physics as an undergraduate played the Sewer Man and Law- there exposed him to the role to do something,” says Lawrence. I consider to be very important at the California Institute of Tech- rence was a street urchin. “There physics plays in the industry, and “You rarely get it now at my level problems…[in support of] key nology. As a junior, Lawrence was a kind of buzz when he set him on his current career path, in management because you’re missions for our country,” he took a course on the quantum came to try out,” says Lawrence. he says. not so close to the problems…” says. “It’s part of national ser- limits of computing with Feyn- They shared only one scene to- While in San Diego, Lawrence It became one of the cornerstones vice.” man. “What was so amazing gether “but just to be in a play learned of a program at LLNL of his thesis and although “it’s Lawrence has held many posi- about him–and this kind of gets with Richard Feynman was very that would fund his PhD while he not like discovering a cure for tions in the defense industry. He your juices going about physics,” cool…He was a good actor. He worked there. He applied for and cancer,” he says, he explains that has served as the deputy program says Lawrence, was that “he had had fun with it. He’d ham it up.” was accepted into the program, “the pride that this is (my) prod- leader of the Advanced Imag- such an amazing understanding While he was in college, Law- and enrolled at Stanford Univer- uct and it has a meaning and a re- ing, Imaging & Detection Pro- of the physical world and he was rence “didn’t know exactly where sity for his doctorate. His thesis sult,…was pretty profound.” He gram of the Lasers Directorate of the first one who convinced me my path was going to go,” he re- advisor was Robert Laughlin, jokes that his discovery is prob- LLNL, as deputy director of the it wasn’t about the math, it was calls. “I knew I wanted to get a “probably the most brilliant man ably “an ancient technology” to- Information Systems Office of about the physics.” PhD–that was one of my life’s I had ever worked with closely,” day, “but at the time it was pretty DARPA, and in various manage- Lawrence was taking rela- goals. But I didn’t know if I want- says Lawrence. His research fo- cool.” ment positions at Northrop Grum- tivistic quantum mechanics and ed to do that right out of college.” cused on high temperature super- By the time he finished his man, including as the sector vice had difficulty understanding the He did know for certain that he conductivity. PhD and left LLNL in 1992, “I president and general manager concept of renormalization. He “wanted to go out and make some Although Lawrence runs a had figured out that I was on the of the Systems Development & fortuitously ran into Feynman money,” he says. global enterprise today, he con- path of doing really big research,” Technology division. He joined in the hallway and requested his So upon graduation, he moved siders one of his most profound he says. “I saw myself on larger Raytheon in 2006 as vice presi- help, even though he wasn’t tak- to San Diego where he took a job professional experiences to have and larger projects and eventu- dent of Engineering, Technology ing a course from him at the time. as a senior staff scientist in the occurred while he was working ally going into management and and Mission Assurance, and was “Here I am ‘Joe Undergraduate’ Research and Development divi- on his PhD. “There was a mo- didn’t see myself as going the promoted to his current position and I asked if I could come by… sion of Trex Enterprises, a high ment where I discovered a new path of a tenured professor.” MISSILE MAN continued on page 7

Physics Vital to Kerr’s Intelligence Career APS Fills New Career Program Manager Slot By Calla Cofield in charge of defense programs and that one can think of to different later energy technology. He re- parts of the intelligence problem. By Gabriel Popkin frequented by potential physics In 1966, Donald Kerr began majors, such as university sci- his physics career at Los Ala- turned to Los Alamos and directed It’s woven in,” says Kerr. “You Fresh from completing her need a strong science and technol- ence buildings. “We’re trying to mos National Laboratory, young the lab from 1979 through 1985. PhD in nuclear physics at Indi- ogy input, and at the same time, make these shows highly informa- and eager to apply his training to Kerr’s career quickly advanced ana University, Crystal Bailey as- you need people who have field tive and visually striking, so they solving some of the biggest chal- to leadership positions not often sumed the position of Education experience who know what kinds will excite undergraduates about lenges facing the nation. Now, filled by scientists so young. For and Careers Pro- of things you can do in different careers and oppor- more than forty years later, he’s his next challenge, he left the gov- gram Manager at places. You’ve got to build the tunities in physics,” looking forward to the chance to ernment sector to work in private APS in early July. whole team.” says Bailey. read the newspaper in the morn- industry, where he would hold top She will be lead- In 2007 Kerr was given his first “Crystal will be ing. With the end of the last presi- positions at three corporations, ing a number of ef- Senate-confirmed position as Prin- a great addition to dential administration, Kerr is including the defense contractor forts to promote and cipal Deputy Director of National our team as we ex- taking a break from a decade of SAIC. market physics edu- Intelligence, placing him at the pand our efforts to high-profile jobs in the national Kerr’s résumé continued to cation. She is help- crossroads of all incoming intelli- double the number intelligence community, culmi- become a patchwork of posts and ing to create a new gence information. Kerr was privy of physics majors nating in his appointment as the appointments, all focusing on is- website that will to information about terrorist ac- and recruit more second highest intelligence offi- sues of security and national intel- provide information Photo by Ken Cole tivities and the state of military on physics careers to women and under- cer in the Bush administration. As ligence. He re-entered government Crystal Bailey affairs. He had become skilled at undergraduate, high represented minori- the Obama administration rolls in, work in 1997, beginning with a assessing this kind of information school, and middle school stu- ties into physics,” says Ted Ho- and with it a new flock of physi- position with the Federal Bureau and communicating his assess- dents, as well as to their parents dapp, Director of Education and cists ready to get their feet wet in of Investigation, followed by a job ments to policy makers. “It’s a and teachers. “We want to high- Diversity for APS. “Lack of infor- government, Kerr shares a few as Deputy Director of Science and long way from the laboratory or light the ‘hidden physicists’—all mation about physics careers is a words of experience and advice. Technology for the Central Intel- the classroom. The consequences those people with a physics back- major barrier to increasing under- A dedication to serving his ligence Agency, and in 2005 Kerr of getting it wrong are so differ- ground whose job title doesn’t in- graduate enrollments.” country is clear from the very became Director of the National ent,” he says. “If you make a mis- clude the word ‘physicist,’” says “I am looking forward to help- start of Kerr’s career, beginning at Reconnaissance Office. By over- take in a laboratory experiment, Bailey. Most people with bach- ing get the word out about the Los Alamos, where he focused on seeing and advising researchers you’re not putting lives at risk.” elor’s degrees in physics do not many uses of a physics educa- ionospheric physics and its appli- working on cutting edge technol- Looking back, Kerr says he work as research physicists in aca- tion,” says Bailey. “I am espe- cations in high altitude weapons ogy and scientific analysis related never expected to stay in the in- demic or industrial settings. cially excited about reaching out effects. Ten years later, he began to national security, Kerr kept his telligence community as long as In addition, Bailey is work- to those students who have never working with the Department of physics knowledge sharp. he did. These days he works as a ing on a multimedia presentation given physics a thought, and here Energy during its formation, tes- “Physics is one part of apply- research professor at George Ma- designed to be shown in venues at APS I’m in a great position to tifying before congress while first ing all of the tools and techniques KERR continued on page 5 do that.” 4 • August-September 2009 APS NEWS Letters Creation Argument Begs the Question In the June 2009 issue, Jeffery cal world controlled by warring, Good Science Bad Science Winkler treats us to a cute refu- whimsical gods and spirits with 1. Apple falls on Newton’s head. 1. Apple falls on Newton’s head. tation of the dominant view that that of a rationally comprehensible 2. Newton discovers Law of Universal 2. Newton publishes the following paper: the universe was created. He first world of order, purpose, laws and equates the word “magic” with beauty created by a single omni- Gravitation. “impossible.” This is an example scient and omnipotent God. With- On the Impact of a 0.12 kg Apple with the Head of begging the question, since out this shift in perspective, we Isaac Newton Webster makes no such associa- would never have reached the point tion. He next asserts that Christians where modern science could take Abstract. We have carried out an experimental study to determine quantitatively the risks faced by people standing believe the universe was produced root. under an apple tree. The Collision Induced Pain (CIP) produced by a 0.12 kg apple on the head was measured. by an act of “magic.” I’ve never It should also be pointed out Introduction. Since the early Table 1. Recorded events. falling on the ex- heard it put that way and doubt any that “the Christians” are not alone days of Creation, Man has been in- perimenter’s head Christian would agree with this in believing in creation's Creation; terested in apples [1]. Its nutritive Day Δt (hours) Apples fallen from a distance formulation of his belief. Neverthe- they share this conviction with re- properties [2] as well as its poten- 1 1.3 0 of 1.8 metres was less, it provides a convenient straw ligious Jews and Muslims, and tial toxicity have been thoroughly found to produce man which Winkler has set himself several other religions as well. Fo- discussed [3]. More recently, apples 2 0.6 0 a CIP of 2.3±0.1 up to vanquish. One assumes he cusing on the former group may have found important technological 3 2.1 1(*) arbitrary units. was writing with tongue in cheek. be perceived as discriminatory and applications [4]. However, little at- 4 1.4 0 A future devel- Indeed, Christianity has always cause the others to feel left out. tention has been given to the criti- 5 1.8 1 opment of this opposed magic, or sorcery, and cal issue of the risks faced by the work includes the (*) This apple missed the target. deserves credit for replacing the Christopher Nantista eventual fruit picker who approach- measurement of pagan view of a chaotic, magi- Redwood City, CA es the branches of an apple tree. he rubbed his hand against the Ap- the CIP induced ple Impact Area (AIA). On a scale by apples of different mass and in- Foundation Could Help Demystify Indirect Costs of 0 to 10, the Collision Induced vestigating the collision with pears. These studies will be carried out as The July Back Page, by Arthur vices like budget administration Pain (CIP) was rated as 2.3±0.1 soon as the author finds a PhD stu- Bienenstock, points out how ad- would be done by the foundation. (Fig. 2) and it decreased down dent as he is not very keen on re- ministrative costs associated with So, for example, if a researcher to negligible values after a time peating the experience himself. federal funding are burdening both needs office space, the founda- τ=14.6±0.5 seconds. Some authors Acknowledgments. The author universities and those carrying tion would rent space with defined suggest that a more vigorous rub- thanks the University of Cambridge out the research. Many faculty are amenities (HVAC, lighting, park- bing on the AIA would reduce sub- (UK) for providing the apple tree. troubled by the opaque nature of ing, etc.). For lab space, there are stantially the Pain Relaxation Time (PRT) [5], although this theory has [1] Adam et al., Eden J. Nat. Hist. 1, 1 indirect cost: how the rate is cal- definitions by GSA of different (8000 BC). culated, what expenses go into it, types of space, and there are types been highly disputed. No structural [2] Granny Smith, “1000 recipes with what use is made of it. This would (like light industrial) that could ap- apples”, Orchard Publishers, Appleville, 1964. be greatly helped if all Universi- ply. The Foundation would be a FIG 1. Experimental setup. [3] S. White and Seven Coauthors, J. ties were to establish a Foundation tenant of the University, but if good Experimental procedure and Appl. Witchcraft A: Poisons 7, 2345 (1532). (research and training) to receive space could be found more cheaply [4] Macintosh et al., J. Hort. Comput. results. An experiment was car- and administer all awards (maybe or with better maintenance, then 52, 2167 (1973). ried out to determine the effect of [5] Mrs. Newton, private communica- restricted to federal awards, and going outside the University would an apple falling on the head. The tion. maybe to those agencies that allow be a possibility. Getting services experimental setup is sketched in Ed. Note: This Zero Gravity indirect cost). like internet access could also be Fig. 1. The experimenter sat under was contributed by Ricardo Tor- The Foundation would have outsourced. Clearly there are areas an apple tree for five consecutive res of Imperial College. Since it its own budget process, separate of overlap that have to be negoti- days and different intervals of time is, essentially, a work of fiction, from the rest of the University. It ated. ∆t (Table 1). On the fifth day an ap- FIG 2. Plot of the CIP as a function of we hope our readers will indulge would ‘rent’ space and adminis- The general policies of the ple fell on the experimenter’s head apple mass (solid square, d=1.8 metres). the author and forgive certain trative services as needed or ap- Foundation, and an annual income/ from a distance d=1.8±0.1 metres. anachronisms and historical inac- propriate (outsourcing could be an expenses statement should be damage was observed in the experi- The mass of the apple was found to curacies (e.g., the metric system alternative). If the University were available to all PIs. menter’s skull. be M=0.12±0.01 kg. Immediately had not been invented in New- the supplier, the Foundation would Conclusion. A quantitative de- after the collision the experimenter ton’s time, and the apple tree was be charged the local going rate for Kenneth W. McFarlane termination of the effect of an apple reported a mild discomfort that de- in Newton’s home town of Wool- space of the quality provided. Ser- Yorktown, VA falling on the head was carried out creased exponentially with time as for the first time. A 0.12 kg apple sthorpe, not Cambridge).

US TEAM continued from page 1 PRL Reaffirms Stringent Selection Criteria exams, so to maintain secrecy the 1967 in Warsaw, Poland for the na- The editors of Physics Review manuscript important, or of broad we find that we need to be more students spent most of their time tions of Eastern Europe. During the Letters announced in an edito- interest.” rigorous in the application of these with host guides. 1970s the competition expanded to rial in their July 1st issue that the This reaffirmation was prompt- standards.” The closing ceremony was held the rest of Europe and later the rest journal will apply more scrutiny ed by some concern over the fu- According to the published edi- at the grand Peon Contreras The- of the world. In 1986 the United to submitted manuscripts, and be ture growth of PRL. The compet- torial, referees will be required to ater where several officials spoke States sent its first team to the com- more selective in those that it pub- ing journal Nature recently began report compelling reasons why a and a local mariachi band per- petition in London and returned lishes. The announcement said that printing the offshoot publications paper recommended for PRL is formed. On the days the students with three bronze medals, the best PRL was not adopting any new Nature Physics and Nature Nano- appropriate for the publication and were not competing, the Olympiad any team had done on its first out- guidelines for papers per se, but technology which could start si- wouldn’t be better suited for one committee sponsored excursions ing. would be applying previously es- phoning away some manuscripts of the more specialized Physical to some of the nearby Mayan ruins The American Association of tablished policies more stringently. from PRL. In addition, the grow- Review journals. In addition it asks throughout the Yucatan Peninsula Physics Teachers and the Universi- This update will likely mean ing number of papers published researchers to carefully consider including Uxmal, Dzibichaltun and ty of Maryland have organized and a decrease in the number of pub- annually in PRL has prompted their findings and submit only pa- Chichen-Itza. They also featured a trained each U.S. team since the lished papers in PRL and a short criticism from some subscribers pers that “substantially advance a series of three science lectures in beginning. More than a dozen other term drop in the acceptance rate who have found the large volume particular field, open a significant the evenings, including one by No- organizations, including the APS for papers. The editors hope that of papers difficult to sort though. new area of research, or solve a bel laureate Joseph Taylor. and the American Institute of Phys- over the long run, submitters The editors hope that by reaffirm- critical outstanding problem.” The Olympiad was first held in ics, also help to sponsor the team. themselves will be more self-se- ing PRL’s core principles to pub- An additional aim of this reaf- MEMBERS continued from page 2 lective about which papers have a lish the most important physics pa- firmation of standards is to speed “Whatever targets you thought structure them in a way they don’t broad enough appeal for publica- pers of broad interest the journal’s the publication of accepted Letters you were going to make… it will have as much fat.’’ tion in PRL. vitality will be refeshed. and the transfer of other papers to be undermined by the fact that you David Weitz, Harvard Universi- “It is not fundamentally dif- “I would characterize the PRL a more appropriate, specialized have…additional emissions that ty, on using nanotechnology to en- ferent from past practice, but the publishing policy as aiming to journal. The criteria were officially you hadn’t planned on.” gineer healthier food, The Boston emphasis on PRL’s criteria, and publish the most important and adopted as of July 1st , but editors David Fahey, National Oceanic Globe, July 27, 2009. what those criteria mean, has interesting results in all (or almost expect that it will take some time and Atmospheric Administration, “I love to do research that is increased,” said Reinhardt B. all) fields of physics,” said Jack for all referees and authors to fully describing how the chemicals used both high-risk and high-value... I Schuhmann, one of PRL’s editors, Sandweiss, another of PRL’s edi- adjust. to replace ozone-depleting CFCs also like the idea of doing some- “A Letter still must be valid, im- tors and chairman of the PRL Edi- Since its inception in 1958, are potent greenhouse gases, The thing that could impact US industry portant, and of broad interest, but torial Board. “This has been our Physical Review Letters has con- Washington Post, July 20, 2009. and really have a long-term poten- we hope to encourage the physics policy since PRL’s inception but tinually sought to bring the most “You could imagine using mul- tial payoff for society.” community to think in more detail unavoidably as physics has devel- important and groundbreaking tiple emulsions: take the fats that Ian Spielman, NIST, Washing- about the attributes that make a oped and the journal has grown, physics research to its subscribers. add flavor to the milkshake, and ton Post, July 27, 2009. APS NEWS August-September 2009 • 5

Washington Dispatch Reaching Out – Wa-a-ay Out A bimonthly update from the APS Office of Public Affairs

ISSUE: Science Research Budgets

DOE/SC Funding On July 17th, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3183, the FY2010 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill, which- includes funding for the Department of Energy. The Senate passed H.R. 3183 on July 29th. In the House, the bill includes a total of $4.94B for the Office of Science (DOE/SC) and represents an increase of 3.58% over FY2009 funding. Nearly all of the DOE/SC accounts, including High Energy Physics (HEP), Nuclear Physics (NP), and Basic Energy Sci- ences (BES) received increases over FY09 levels. The only two ex- ceptions were a modest reduction in the Biological and Environmen- tal Research (BER) account due to a reduction in earmarks, and an 8% reduction in funding for Science Laboratory Infrastructure (SLI) because of the additional funding that account received in the Ameri- can Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA-the “Stimulus” bill). Without earmarks, BER received a 30.44% increase over FY09 lev- els. Moreover, when coupled with the additional funding provided in the ARRA for DOE/SC, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Photo courtesy of NCAR the National Institutes of Standards & Technology (NIST), FY2010 in- creases in funding for science puts these agencies on track to meet APS's public outreach specialist, Chris Discenza, traveled to Kenya in July, performing physics demonstrations and the ten-year doubling track set out in the America COMPETES Act delivering materials to the ten rural schools near the equatorial town of Nanyuki. The trip was sponsored by the Na- tional Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, in conjunction with the Kenyan Meteorological strongly supported by the Obama Administration. It is unclear, how- Department, to teach students about the physics of weather and climate. APS supplied PhysicsQuest kits for the ever, if such increases will continue in successive fiscal years, partic- students at the schools. Here Discenza, along with colleague Christina Pease (2nd in from right), just finished pre- ularly in light of the expected Administration push for deficit reduction senting the materials to Mrs. Teresia Wahome's (far left) eighth grade science class at the P.C.E.A. Girls’ Boarding measures. Primary School. The Senate numbers for the same accounts are fairly close, but with more modest increases over FY09 levels. For example, the topline number for DOE/SC represents a 2.64% increase totaling $4.89B, lower than the House number. Fusion received nearly 4% less in the Senate bill than in the House, with an increase of 3.34% instead of the 9.55% in the House.

NSF and NIST Funding The House passed H.R. 2847, the FY 2010 Commerce, Justice, The heirs of Nawojka: Women’s Section of the Polish Physical Society Science (CJS) bill, which funds NSF and NIST, on June 18th. NSF received a 6.87% increase over FY2009 funding, with Research By Lidia Smentek and Related Activities adding 8.85% to its account over last fiscal year. These increases are in addition to the $3 billion NSF received There is a grain of truth in through the ARRA. The Senate has not yet considered the CJS bill. every legend. One of those leg- ends is the story of Nawojka, For a complete listing of changes in key DOE/SC, NSF and NIST ac- counts see http://www.aps.org/policy/issues/research-funding/index. who is a good example to fol- cfm low for young girls with aca- demic inclinations. Nawojka is ISSUE: POPA Activities considered to be the first female The National Security Subcommittee held a second workshop June student and teacher in Poland. It 30-July 1 for work on their Study, which examines technical steps was about 1407 when she, dis- that support nuclear arsenal downsizing. Writing has now begun on guised in boy’s clothing, entered a draft report. the Kraków Academy1 in viola- The Energy & Environment Subcommittee has two studies in prog- tion of all rules, laws, customs ress. The first, a Carbon Capture Study examining non-biological and tradition; defying every- thing that was expected of wom- Founding members of the Women’s Section of the PPS (from left): Aleksandra CO2 capture, will convene committee members for a second work- Leliwa-Kopystyńska, Elżbieta Czerwosz, Małgorzata Suchańska and Teresa shop August 4-5 on the west coast. Work continues on producing a en at that time. This fact was re- Grycuk (from the first meeting of the newly established Executive Committee, final report. corded about 1429 by Martin of Warsaw, November 15, 2008). The second, a Grid Study that will examine the technical challenges Leibitz, an elderly abbot of the swered: out of love for learning. that was almost destroyed. The and priorities for increasing the amount of renewable electricity deliv- Benedictine order in Vienna. Because of this honest answer drama developed to the point ered by the grid to high-demand centers, is in the process of shaping Nawojka was very talented, the bishop mellowed and, out that the question “… can she their committee. Their first meeting is planned for September. hard-working and serious, but of mercy, she was spared from still remain a professor at the If you have suggestions for a POPA study, please visit http://www. nobody knew why this student burning. Instead, per her re- Sorbonne?” was published in a aps.org/policy/reports/popa-reports/suggestions/index.cfm and send remained rather distant. After quest, she was allowed to spend serious newspaper. It culminated in your ideas. two years at the Academy, he/ the rest of her life in a convent when, after learning of her No- she graduated with a degree in where, as a good and educated bel Prize in Chemistry, she re- teaching. There are several ac- Log on to the APS Public Affairs Web site (http:// scholar, she taught the other ceived a letter from Svante Ar- counts of how it was discovered nuns how to read and write. rhenius, a member of the Nobel www.aps.org/public_affairs) for more information. that in fact this student was a Although the beginning of Prize Committee in Stockholm. girl. According to one, when she academic careers for women in He asked her to send a cable became ill, during an examina- Poland goes back to medieval that, in light of the turmoil, she tion a physician discovered the KERR continued from page 3 times, the development of equal would not attend the ceremony, truth. Other sources say that she opportunities for both genders and not accept the award until son University, is on a few boards two wars…you don’t get to choose was offered a position as a ser- was rather slow over the ages. the accusations were cleared up and advisory committees, and is the problem. It’s not like laying out vant in a professor’s home and Women have been admitted and proven to be untrue. Instead, otherwise enjoying having more your research agenda and saying his/her duty was to go with the to the Jagiellonian University standing up to defend herself, discretion over his own time. He is ‘I’m going to focus on that prob- master to a public bath... Re- only since 1897 and allowed she replied “I believe that there gardless of which one is true, in contact with some of the physi- lem.’ So I think it’s important that to hold an academic position is no connection between my cists who have entered positions when the crime was disclosed people can adapt to the situation.” since 1906. The first dormitory scientific work and the facts of with the new administration, most (at that time it was forbidden for for female students, obviously private life... I cannot accept the His only other piece of advice is of whom are in the energy or na- girls to attend the university) she named Nawojka, was opened in idea in principle that the appre- a humble one, giving credit to the tional security sectors. Even after was brought for judgment to the Kraków ...three decades later. ciation of the values of scientific forty years of experience, Kerr mentors he’s had along the way. bishop’s court. It was assumed It was in 1911, not the 15th work should be influenced by says there isn’t a skill set or type “It’s trite to say, but make sure that as punishment for the vio- century, when a scandal broke in libel and slander concerning a of experience that can guarantee a you have the right bosses, because lation of the moral and ethical the French press about the rela- researcher’s private life”. She physicist will be ready for a job in they’re the ones that give you the rules she would be burned at the tionship between Madame Curie accepted the prize in person, the government. right opportunities, and enough stake. However when the bishop and Paul Langevin. Although second Nobel Prize of her ca- asked her why she had commit- “It seems to me that what you rope to go hang yourself,” he says Madame Curie at that time was reer. do is wish them luck,” he says sin- ted such a deadly sin, she an- with a laugh. “Over the years I was single (widowed since 1906) These and other stories pro- cerely. “And the reason you can’t and Langevin was married (in vide a historical background for very fortunate. I worked for very 1 do better than that is they’re work- The Kraków Academy, now known as Ja- fact with serious, long-standing recent activity in Poland to im- good people. They were confident giellonian University, was established in 1364 ing with a different set of people after many years of negotiations by the king of marital problems), it was her prove the plight of women sci- in a different context. Who could enough in me to see whether I Poland, Casimir the Great, with the pope; it is reputation that was ruined and entists. Unfortunately statistics the second oldest university in Central Europe, have predicted the combination of could really take it on, and it seems in addition, her scientific career after Charles University in Prague, established NAWOJKA continued on page 7 the economy being where it is, the to have worked out so far.” in 1348. 6 • August-September 2009 APS NEWS

AWARDS continued from page1 classes while pregnant with her first ric already had a lot on her plate; One possible application of her she worked as a management con- son. trying to pull together her credits work will be in the creation of a sultant. There, Bega found that her “I really like teaching and would from multiple universities while at molecular clock. Today’s atomic scientific background helped in her like to see it in my future some time the same time caring for her four- clocks operate by measuring the new consulting job. from now,” Guikema said. month-old son. Her husband’s ill- fundamental resonance frequency “My physics education came Her son David was born in the ness was just too much, and com- of an atom, most commonly cesium in very handy,” Bega said, “One summer of 2006 after she con- pleting her degree would have to be or rubidium. Molecular clocks op- could use the same analytical skills cluded her first semester. Guikema put off for a while. After his death erate by measuring resonance mo- to first define and then solve a com- returned to the university that fall, the following year, she moved back lecular vibrational frequencies, and plicated business problem, and just balancing teaching part-time with to Canada to be closer to her par- Bega hopes to accurately measure like in physics, of course nothing is “finding time to learn how to be a ents. these vibrations. In addition to im- straightforward.” mom.” During her time away from the proving the standard for super-ac- She said also that this time away In January of 2008, the family lab she volunteered at her son’s el- from research helped her realize Marija Nikolic-Jaric pulled up stakes again and moved ementary school, helping to teach she was eager to return to it. Canada. She is investigating the to Maryland after her husband was math to the students through games. “It made me realize how much I properties of shear-induced rotation offered a position at Johns Hopkins Though the work at the school was actually like physics.” on aspherical particles in non-uni- University. She saw this as a good rewarding, she knew she wanted to Last year, Bega married and form electric fields. Studying these opportunity to return to research. return to conducting research. moved to New York and joined properties will allow researchers to Though Guikema enjoyed teaching, “The challenge of research was Prof. Tanya Zelevinsky’s lab at Co- better identify a particle’s structure she missed the hands-on aspect of definitely missing there,” Jaric said, lumbia University. With the help based on its behavior in these elec- running her own experiments. “I knew I had to just go back to of the Blewett Scholarship, Bega tric fields. “I wanted to get back to learn- what I loved to do the most.” hopes to complete her postdoctoral “From these rotating particles, ing something new,” Guikema said, Her step-father’s death in 2007 work and obtain a permanent re- we will be able to deduce more “my interest was more in finding put off her defense an additional search position. about the particle’s electrical sig- out new things about the world.” semester. But in January of 2008 Bega is also expecting a baby in nals,” Jaric said, “It will allow us The scholarship will allow her Jaric was finally able to defend her Klejda Bega September. She joked that with the to know what the limitations are to further her experiments on gra- thesis at Simon Fraser University in curate clocks, Bega said that results scholarship, “even if it crossed my on performing measurements on phene and continue working with Vancouver, finishing the PhD she from her experiment will be used to mind, there is no way I am taking spherical particles.” an undergraduate research assistant. started years before. She said the further define fundamental physical another break now.” She hopes to use these meth- She also said that the Scholarship Blewett scholarship has given her constants. M. Hildred Blewett was a par- ods to help identify a living cell’s will give her time to line up fund- a solid financial and psychological “These molecular vibrations are ticle physicist who left much of characteristics in order to improve ing through regular channels. Ad- boost, and she is now awaiting pub- very sensitive to the variation of the her estate to APS when she died in medical diagnostic and therapeutic ditionally, switching from teach- lication of her first paper. proton/electron mass ratio,” Bega 2004, at age 93. She wanted to es- technologies. With more work these ing to research has given her more “It’s just amazing,” Jaric said, said, “and will provide the only tablish a scholarship to help women methods could be used in medical flexibility to care for her newest son “This hand extended to me is just model-independent measurement in physics overcome the obstacles instruments to detect defects in liv- Matthew, born in June. wonderful.” of these variations to date.” they often face in the field. Blewett ing cells remotely. Identifying the “The continued funding will Klejda Bega is excited to return It had always been Bega’s started her career in Schenectady, electronic signatures of diseased help me more firmly establish my to research after four years working dream to study physics after she New York in the 1940s working cells would mean that doctors could research career and maintain mo- as a management consultant. first read the biography of Marie for General Electric, where she analyze large numbers of cells at a mentum after having the [second] Now back in the lab, she plans Curie when she was nine. She first developed a method to control the time without needing microscopes. baby,” Guikema said “It’s really en- to develop new approaches for cre- came to the United States after the pollution emitted by smokestacks. “We work on making these de- couraging…to have the committee ating ultracold diatomic molecules old communist regime in her na- In 1947, she and her husband John tectors very sensitive and do these decide what you’re doing is worth- in optical lattice traps at microKel- tive Albania collapsed, making were among the original team detections via electronic means,” while.” vin temperatures. Once they are studying in the West possible. She members at Brookhaven National Jaric said, “If you can do the whole Though family tragedy post- cooled, she will conduct precise earned both her BS and PhD at Laboratory. Later she worked at thing electronically you can minia- poned Marija Nikolic-Jaric’s PhD, measurements of these molecules, Caltech, and did her graduate work Argonne National Labs and finally turize it and put it on a chip” she never doubted she would ulti- including determining their reso- at SLAC. CERN until her retirement in 1977. In August of 1996, everything mately complete it and return to the nance frequencies. Her first order Unfortunately Bega soon had A recollection of Blewett appeared had to be put on hold. Just weeks lab. of business will be to construct and to put her research ambitions on as the Back Page in APS News in before Jaric was due to defend She is currently doing her post- operate the laser systems, which hold. In order to support aging fam- February, 2005 (see www.aps.org/ her thesis, her husband was diag- doctoral research on biomicrofluid- will be used for creating, cooling ily members still living in Albania publications/apsnews/200502/back- nosed with a rare brain tumor. Ja- ics at the University of Manitoba, and probing the molecules. and cover their medical expenses, page.cfm ).

Proposal to Amend the APS Bylaws To Establish a VIDEOS continued from page 1 Standing Committee on Informing the Public (CIP) films. toy theme this year was inspired FIRST VOTE APPROVED BY COUNCIL–MAY 1, 2009 “I used to make a lot of vid- by the many physics toys and In 2006, the Executive Board es- tion of Public Outreach Specialist was the Franklin anniversary of 2006. eos when I was in high school. demonstrations around the out- tablished an ad-hoc Committee on added, and a new ongoing project for The committee has been operating I had a lot more free time then, reach offices. Like last year, the Informing the Public (CIP), in recog- middle schools, Physics Quest, was under this charge for more than two and was also the Science Club contest was open to anyone who nition of the fact that Public Outreach carried over from the World Year. years. They have held two meetings a president,” Lincoln said, “I had wanted to submit an entry. and Media Relations had become sig- Because of this increased activity, year in 2007 and 2008, with Philip W. nificant programs of the Society, and at its meeting in June of 2006, the Ex- “Bo” Hammer as Chair. In 2009, Dan an audience that was willing to “We wanted all ages to par- were the only such programs to oper- ecutive Board decided to establish an Dahlberg succeeded him as Chair. watch science-related videos and ticipate,” Rebecca Thompson- ate without an oversight committee. ad hoc Committee on Informing the The committee has drafted the follow- I learned how to mix in a lot of Flagg, head of outreach for APS, In establishing the committee, the Public. ing mission statement, on the basis of comedy.” said, “and we got all ages to par- Board approved the following pream- Charge to the Committee which it is petitioning the Board to be The Viewer’s Choice win- ticipate.” ble and charge: The committee should begin by changed from an ad-hoc committee to Preamble reviewing and assessing the current a standing committee of the Society. ner was James Tangredi for his The submitters were as di- A public well-informed about phys- portfolio of APS activities in the area The mission statement can also serve video “The Physics of the Ollie.” verse as the toys featured in ics and related sciences is essential of informing the public, using the Feb- as the text to be added to the bylaws Tangredi breaks down the me- the videos. Kids as young as for the well-being both of the physics ruary, 2000 report of the task force as to establish the CIP as a standing chanics of one of the most com- elementary school and adults profession and of society at large. A a guide. The committee should offer committee. mon skateboard tricks into the who’ve graduated from college scientifically well-informed and appre- advice on which activities to expand or Mission Statement & Proposed ciative public reflects itself in policy contract, and suggest new directions APS Bylaws Amendment fundamental forces involved. He submitted entries to the compe- choices in Washington, and in a clear as appropriate. The committee will ARTICLE III Standing Committees; received an assortment of phys- tition. Even Argonne National understanding of what should and draft a mission statement to express Section B Public Affairs/Outreach ics-themed toys and APS mer- Labs put together an official should not be taught in the science the goals of APS in its efforts to in- Committees; Paragraph 8 Committee chandise. entry about how electricity can classroom. Better motivated and bet- form the public. Based on this mission on Informing the Public “It feels great, I’m glad the conduct through a dozen el- ter educated students will also go on statement, outside experts, such as The membership of the Committee to contribute significantly to the eco- public relations professionals or prac- on Informing the Public shall consist of viewers got the chance to see my ementary school students hold- nomic health and security of the na- ticing journalists, may be brought in as nine members appointed by the Pres- video and recognize the work ing hands, powering a light-up tion. advisors to the committee. ident-Elect to staggered three-year me and my buddy put into cre- noisemaker. The aim is to try and With the help of recommendations On an ongoing basis, the commit- terms. The President-Elect shall ap- ating it. It’s always nice to have keep explanations at around a from a task force that submitted its fi- tee will provide oversight of APS pub- point the Chair from among the mem- your efforts rewarded,” Tangredi middle school level, so the con- nal report in February, 2000, APS be- lic outreach and media relations, and bers. The committee will provide over- gan a number of activities in the area will continue to generate ideas on pos- sight of the Society’s public outreach said, “Skateboarding appeals to test can be accessible to every- of informing the public. The position sible new activities and approaches. and media relations activities while so many different people, even one. of Head of Media Relations was cre- The committee may be of particular also seeking mechanisms to encour- more so to the younger genera- The two winners can be seen ated, as was a second position, now use in finding external resources, in age or facilitate public outreach by tions, that using a trick as a tool on the PhysicsCentral website. called the Head of Public Outreach, encouraging APS member support APS members. Committee members to teach physics makes perfect The entire collection of submis- designed to bring the excitement of and involvement, and in dealing with will also suggest future activities, ap- physics to the general public. The such issues as how APS outreach proaches, and outreach opportunities, sense.” sions received can be found on APS website for the public, Physics activities can be meaningfully evalu- as well as possible external funding This year’s contest followed YouTube under the Toy Box Central, made its debut in November ated. In addition, the collective knowl- sources. The committee will recom- up on last year’s successful Physics playlist. Because of the of 2000. edge of the committee can be helpful mend to the APS Board the allocation NanoBowl, which invited partic- success of this year’s contest, As a result of the World Year of in calling attention, in a timely manner, of financial resources among mem- ipants to create videos that com- plans for another one in the near Physics in 2005, APS outreach activi- to new outreach opportunities similar bership and APS initiated activities at ties received another boost. The posi- to the Einstein anniversary of 2005 or least once a year. bined physics and football. The future are already in the works. APS NEWS August-September 2009 • 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Now Appearing in RMP: Professional Skills Recently Posted Reviews and Colloquia Development for You will find the following in the online edition of Women Physicists Reviews of Modern Physics at http://rmp.aps.org

Physics of laser-driven plasma-based Improve your negotiation skills and electron accelerators . E. Esarey, learn to communicate your great C.B. Schroeder ideas to your colleagues. and W.P. Leemans When In the past decade, Friday, February 12, 2010, Washington, DC high intensity laser-driven Sunday, March 14, 2010, Portland, Oregon particle accelerators have made significant prog- Who may apply ress. Recent results have Women postdoctoral associates and women faculty in shown relatively monoen- physics. Each workshop will have one session aimed at ergetic electron beams post docs and one session aimed at women faculty. (~4% energy spread) with energies of ~1 GeV. This Deadlines to apply article reviews the state November 9, 2009 (for February 12) December 7, 2009 (for March 14) of the art of laser-driven electron accelerators. First consideration will be given to applications received by the deadlines. Workshops will be limited in size for optimal benefit. Women of color are warmly encouraged to apply.

Participants are eligible to receive a stipend to help cover the cost of travel and up to two nights lodging. Let the APS/DPP Job Fair do the work for you!

Details at http://www.aps.org/programs/women/ workshops/skills/index.cfm APS Division of Plasma Physics These workshops are funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. JOB FAIR

MISSILE MAN continued from page 3 in July 2008. the senators.” Looking for a job? November 2-3, 2009 While Lawrence was at DAR- Today, Lawrence is excited Hyatt Regency Hotel PA, he was invited by Senator about innovation in defense tech- Looking for the ideal Atlanta, GA Richard Shelby (of his home nology. “The defense industry state of Alabama) to serve as is always changing,” says Law- candidate? staff director for the Select Com- rence, “because the nature of mittee on Intelligence for the the products we produce must Register today at: http://www.aps.org/careers/employment/jobfairs.cfm U.S. Senate. During his two and change to meet the changing re- For more information contact Alix Brice at 301-209-3187 or at [email protected] a half year tenure, Lawrence quirements of our customers.” was charged with explaining the Security needs of RMS custom- complicated physics of the in- ers range from counter-insurgen- telligence projects on which the cy in remote areas like Afghani- NAWOJKA continued from page 5 committee voted. “I think some stan, to protection of shipping still demonstrate the challenges which are inconsistently inter- Unfortunately in spite of all these of the best times I had there or vital assets like oil fields, to and barriers that are faced by preted and applied only in the years that have passed since the was when we had closed ses- looking for capabilities to secure women physicists (in particu- case of women. Unfortunately beginning of this activity, still sions, and the senators could urban environment entities, he lar) on the professional path to we still have a long way to go to equity is an issue in the scien- ask questions about the way says. And in the next ten years, promotion. And the idea is not reach a situation in which scien- tific world. The AAUW is now a things work,” recalls Lawrence. he says, we can expect to see in- to have a better chance or be tific merit, not gender, counts in powerful network of more than “I loved just explaining, kind of novation in greater sensitivity in more easily promoted because all professional evaluations for 100,000 members, with 1,300 like how Feynman would ex- detectors, higher throughput in of other roles in life that are as- promotion. branches and 500 college and plain, [for example,] here’s how electronics, better processing of signed to women by Mother Na- Although the Section was university partners. “The or- a satellite in space takes pictures information, better communica- ture. The main issue is to have born as a result of discussions of ganizations are to allow ordi- with this kind of resolution, [or] tions, and more and smarter net- expected and required the same its charter members Elżbieta Cz- nary people to do extraordinary here’s how a satellite in space lis- worked weapons systems. standards, results, and quality of erwosz and Aleksandra Leliwa- things” was said by one of the tens in on communications.” His physics background has performance of the scientists no Kopystyńska with Professor founders of this women’s origi- His senate colleagues ap- matter what their gender. There Barbara Sandow, the chair of the nal movement; we hope that the helped him to lead the busi- preciated his technical expertise are still too many examples of Women’s Section of the German Women's Section of the Polish ness to success and growth, he and his understanding of large women scientists who have been Physical Society, it is not formal- Physical Society will soon be- says. “…Physics is an incredible defense projects. They referred mistreated, under-evaluated, and ly connected with any other orga- come one of such organizations foundation [to have for this busi- to him as “our physicist”. When blocked in their promotion, while nization. However, the first result that provide a strong advocacy ness] because it draws on all the Lawrence decided to leave the at the same time male scientists of cooperation with the section for equity in academia. tools of mathematics, [and] it committee and go to work for (quite often from the same insti- of the German Physical Society Lidia Smentek is a member-at- Northrop Grumman in 1999, teaches you analytical and criti- tution) with poorer achievements was the invitation (financially large, FIP APS Executive Com- they threw him a surprise fare- cal thinking.” Furthermore, phys- are rewarded and promoted. supported) of charter members mittee well party. “When I walked in [to ics guides you to “think about Women in science are still be- to take part in the third Interna- Postscript the party], they said they were your own concept of the world ing judged not on their merit tional Conference on Women in On April 20, 1995 the bodies really sorry to see ‘their physi- and then challenge it, measure but their gender, as in the drastic Physics organized by IUPAP in of Madame Curie and her hus- cist’ leave the committee;…then it and see if it connects,” says case of Madame Curie. Seoul in September 2008. band were moved from a cem- I noticed they all had pocket Lawrence. “That’s another thing In the early spring of 2008, The statement “Because eq- etery outside Paris to the Pan- protectors on and geeky look- I learned from [Feynman]: some- a new idea was born to create a uity is still an issue” served in théon. Madame Curie is the first ing glasses,” describes Lawrence times your physical intuition may separate section of the Polish 1881 as a strong motivation for woman, who due to her own with a laugh. “It was very funny not be exactly right…It teaches Physical Society (PPS), which 17 enthusiasts joined by the com- merit, is laid to rest in this fa- to see all these senators express- you to think beyond ‘the normal’ would be devoted to all gender mon experience of a university mous place; “in order to finally ing appreciation for…their phys- …and ask what does the physics issues in science. The mission of education to establish The As- respect the equality of women icist. Even Senator Bob Kerrey tell you?” the section is to monitor and de- sociation of Collegiate Alumnae, and men before the law and in said it was always amazing for Copyright, 2009, Alaina G. fend victims of the violation of forebear of the American As- reality”, as said by President [me] to try to explain physics to Levine. equal opportunity and of rules, sociation of University Women. François Mitterrand. 8 • August-September 2009 APS NEWS The Back Page

ill Gates, arguably the world’s most famous Science, of course, provides the common lan- Btechnocrat, gave a remarkable speech during Science Diplomacy in the 21st Century guage to build bridges between cultures. Educa- the 2008 Davos World Economic Forum, calling tion is a stumbling block. The US has educated for a new form of capitalism to go beyond tradi- Nina V. Fedoroff talented students from around the world for many tional philanthropy and government aid. Citing ex- years. Today virtually every developed country amples ranging from the development of software realizes the value to the economy of such tal- for people who cannot read to developing vaccines at a price ent–and actively seeks to recruit it. But herein lies a paradox: that Africans can afford to pay, Gates said such projects “… sending its best students to be educated in more developed provide a hint of what we can accomplish if people who are countries exacerbates a poor country’s problems because the experts on needs in the developing world meet with scientists education itself–whether it is a teacher’s certificate, a nursing who understand what the breakthroughs are, whether it’s in degree, or a PhD–makes it easier to find employment and a software or drugs” (http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/ more stable life in a developed country. Such “brain drain” exec/billg/speeches/2008/01-24WEFDavos.mspx). He sug- has robbed–and is continuing to rob–many poor countries of gested that we need to develop a new business model that their educated people. These are the people who design, de- would allow a combination of the motivation to help human- velop, and maintain society’s infrastructure–its agriculture, ity and the profit motive to drive development. He called it its schools, its clinics, its power, and telecommunications net- “creative capitalism,” capitalism leavened by a pinch of ide- works. As well, they are the professors and researchers who alism and altruistic desire to better the lot of others. generate and propagate the knowledge–the science and tech- Scientists and engineers have an important role to play nology–that are essential in every aspect of life and that are in creating what New York Times columnist Tom Friedman increasingly recognized as the driving forces of successful calls a “flat world,” a world of economic opportunity made for the State Department for an additional 5 years after re- economies. I believe that we need a deep paradigm shift in equal through electronic communication technologies (http:// turning to their home institutions. our interactions with the less developed world: from distant www.thomaslfriedman.com/bookshelf/the-world-is-flat). This Jefferson Science Fellows are often individuals who al- aid recipients to partners in building a global future. We need transformation has not yet penetrated into the poorest parts ready have a keen awareness of the importance of interna- to bring the science, the engineering, and technology and the of the world and needs much more scientific and technical tional collaborations and use their association with the State educational systems of developed countries to bear directly investment. But today, most scientists look to foreign institu- Department to broaden their influence and involvement in and in new ways to create a world in which all people have tions for top-notch graduate students and postdocs to popu- foreign relations and development efforts. For example, the educational and economic opportunities now available al- late their laboratories. The notion of becoming a science dip- Osama Awadelkarim, a Sudanese-born Professor of Materi- most exclusively in the developed world. I believe this para- lomat, of taking time out from a busy and competitive career als Science at the Pennsylvania State University, served as a digm shift is getting underway–among governments, in foun- to teach, develop research collaborations, or start a business Jefferson Science Fellow in 2006. His passionate devotion to dations, in the business world, and in the academic world. It in the least advanced countries is just not on the radar screen enhancing scientific and engineering expertise in Africa took is driven in some measure by necessity and perhaps in some for most scientists and engineers. Yet there are such oppor- him to several African countries to teach and to establish col- measure by the fact that modern communications media tunities, both in the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. laborations, as well as to talk with government officials and make the disparities among the nations of the world harshly Agency for International Development (USAID), as well champion the importance of international scientific interac- and constantly apparent to everyone. as in non-governmental organizations, such as the National tions. But there is much, much more to be done and not all of Academy of Sciences, for scientists and engineers to use There remains a profound gap between the citizens of af- it can be done by governments. In April of 2008, Secretary their scientific and technical skills in the service of interna- fluent nations, who have access to abundant food, up-to-date of State Rice, Secretary of Education Spellings, and USAID tional diplomacy. technology, and excellent educational opportunities, and Administrator Fore convened a global conference of col- I took one such opportunity last year when, as a geneticist citizens of the poorest countries of every continent, many of lege and university presidents, companies, and foundations and molecular biologist at the Pennsylvania State University, whom lack adequate food, often have no electricity, and have (Higher Education Summit for Global Development, April I was invited to serve as the Science and Technology Adviser little access to either the Internet or higher education. The 29–30, 2008). Its purpose was to explore new ways of con- to the U.S. Secretary of State. My position is not a political technological aspect of this gap has been called the “digital necting the institutions of higher education in the developed one: I served both Condoleeza Rice and current Secretary divide” and much has been written about it. Some believe and developing worlds across the entire spectrum of what of State Hillary Clinton. I accepted the position because my that the problems of the poorest countries are simply solved contemporary universities do, from teaching and research, involvement in scientific interactions between US scientists by cell phones and inexpensive computers that can be used to supporting technology transfer and entrepreneurship. The and scientists in the former Soviet Union through the 1990s even in places that lack electricity. Certainly these technolo- means of connecting educational resources and people be- convinced me of the profound stabilizing influence that sci- gies are important and make the job possible, if not easy. tween continents have never been richer, more varied, or entific interactions can exert between countries with deeply But the problems are deep and stubborn. Perhaps the most easier. From MIT OpenCourseWare to digital videoconfer- discordant ideologies and political systems. Not long after poignant disparities exist between the countries of the de- encing and collaborative software, we can teach and work I joined the State Department, I received an invitation from veloped world and much of Africa, where climate, disease, between countries and continents–and in real time. The In- USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore to be her Science and soil exhaustion, and a host of other problems contribute. In ternet and broadband connections are critical; availability is Technology Adviser, as well. The mission she gave me was his book titled The Bottom Billion, economist Paul Collier increasing and cost is decreasing but in places remains pro- to assist her in restoring the scientific and technical strength (http://users.ox.ac. uk/~econpco/) offers an insightful analy- hibitive. This is where governments, companies, and foun- of the agency to enable the better use of science and technol- sis of the many factors that contribute to trapping the poorest dations can help. Yet the challenge of connecting people ogy for international development. nations in continuing cycles of poverty and unrest. and resources remains, of making global service–what I’ve My primary task at both the U.S. Department of State, Progress will depend on a high level of education, par- called science diplomacy–a part of what we do as scientists the home base of our international diplomatic corps, and ticularly in science and engineering. All will be impacted by and engineers, whether we work in a government agency, USAID is to increase scientific input into the many activi- climate change and politics–everywhere. Climate change is a a university, a research institute, or a company. The tradi- ties of the Department and the Agency. The Office of the wake-up call to the awareness that we live in a world without tional approach of educating students in our institutions and Science Adviser to the Secretary of State was established borders. Airplanes can make SARS and multidrug-resistant laboratories is increasingly unacceptable. President Paul in 2000 in response to a National Research Council study, TB everyone’s problem in a heartbeat. Trade barriers be- Kagame of Rwanda, arguably the African leader most sup- titled “The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and tween nations and farm subsidies in developed nations stifle portive of science and technology in developing and mod- Health in Foreign Policy” (http://books.nap.edu/openbook. agricultural growth in developing countries. The rush toward ernizing his country, gave an articulate and moving talk at php?isbn=0309067855), that highlighted the attrition of sci- renewable energy from biofuels accelerates deforestation the recent Higher Education Summit for Global Develop- entists from State Department ranks at a time when the im- in the Amazon, however indirectly, and with each acre lost, ment. Bluntly paraphrased, his most salient points are these: portance of science and technology was expanding in every another multitude of species goes extinct. Wall Street’s prob- “We provide you with foreign aid in the form of trained aspect of foreign policy. Under the leadership of the first Sci- lems echo around the world. and educated people. You send us expensive consultants ence Adviser to the Secretary of State, Norman Neureiter, the And all of these seemingly separate problems turn out to tell us what we already know” (President Kagame’s number of active scientists in the department began to grow to be interconnected. Food and energy are now viewed as full speech is available at http:// www.gov.rw/government/ again as he promoted the expansion of the AAAS Science fungible. Growing the food–and feed and fiber and fuel–de- president/speeches/2008/29_04_08_education_usa.html). Diplomacy Fellows program (http://fellowships.aaas.org/02_ manded by a still expanding and increasingly affluent hu- We need our scientists and engineers, our experts of all Areas/02_index.shtml) within the State Department. Today man population requires innovations not just in agricultural kinds, whether in the lab or in the diplomatic corps, to help we have roughly 30 new AAAS Fellows joining us every productivity but also in water and land management, food us jump the digital divide, both technically and personally. year for 1–2 years of service. processing, and transportation. Decimating what remains of We need scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to coach Many stay on to make careers in the State Department, the tropic’s forests will as surely exacerbate climate change and teach until the world is truly flat, to call on Friedman’s becoming science diplomats serving either in Washington as it will reduce biodiversity. It’s one big thorny tangle: peo- metaphor again; that is, until all peoples have the educa- DC or as Foreign Service Officers. My predecessor as Sci- ple, money, food, energy, health, water, land, climate, biodi- tional and economic opportunities to build and live in sus- ence Adviser, George Atkinson, created the Jefferson Science versity. How do we as scientists begin to think–and act–on a tainable knowledge societies. That’s 21st century science Fellowship program (http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/ global scale to address such complicated problems? It seems diplomacy. jefferson/index.htm), which provides an opportunity for ten- to me that we must first become citizens not just of our own Nina V. Fedoroff is Science and Technology Adviser to ured academic scientists and engineers farther along in their nations, but of this world without borders. We need to see, the Secretary of State and to the Administrator of the U.S. careers than the typical AAAS fellow to work in the State experience, and identify with the peoples and the problems of Agency for International Development. She received the Department. Jefferson Science Fellows come to the State De- other nations and to recognize the complexity and intercon- National Medal of Science in 2006 in the field of Biologi- partment for a year, funded by their own university as they nections among the challenges facing 21st century humanity. cal Sciences. This commentary by Dr. Fedoroff, first pub- would be on a sabbatical leave. The State Department covers And perhaps most importantly of all, we need to understand, lished in Cell 136, 9-11(2009), is reproduced with permis- their local living and travel expenses. Fellows then consult at a deep gut level, that all our fates are truly intertwined. sion. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Inc.

APS News welcomes and encourages letters and submissions from its members responding to these and other issues. Responses may be sent to: [email protected]