STEP UP Preparing for Careers Leroy Apker Back Page: Openness and 02│ for Change 03│ with PIPELINE 05│ Award Finalists 08│ Security in Research

Aug./Sept. 2019 • Vol. 28, No. 8 aps.org/apsnews

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

HONORS JOURNALS 2020 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Physical Review Research Research Awarded to Myriam P. Sarachik Publishes its First Papers BY DAVID VOSS o launch its inaugural issue, Physical Review Research has hysicist Myriam P. Sarachik electron systems. I am very pleased has been selected to receive that she will receive the APS Medal T published its first content the 2020 APS Medal for for Exceptional Achievement in less than two months since opening P for submissions in June. Exceptional Achievement in Research. I’m especially pleased Research for her “fundamental that this honor goes to someone Demonstrating the journal’s contributions to the physics of who has also been so active in broad, multidisciplinary scope electronic transport in solids and promoting the core values of APS. covering all of physics and related molecular magnetism.” Not only is Myriam a past President fields of interest to the physics An APS Fellow, Sarachik is of the Society; she is also well- community, the first release of Distinguished Professor of Physics known for her efforts to defend peer-reviewed research articles at City College of New York. She human rights and the principles of includes advances in the areas of was President of APS in 2003 and diversity and inclusion in physics.” materials science, quantum infor- received the APS Oliver E. Buckley The Medal for Exceptional mation, soft matter, plasma science, support staff who manage the Condensed Matter Physics Prize Achievement in Research is the optics, and condensed matter peer review for all of the Physical in 2005. largest APS prize to recognize physics. Other papers accepted into Review journals,” notes Juan-José “Myriam Sarachik has been one researchers from all fields of the first issue of the journal were Liétor-Santos, Managing Editor. Myriam P. Sarachik of the world’s leading experimental physics and is funded by a donation authored by researchers working “This ensures submissions from condensed matter physicists for from entrepreneur Jay Jones. in chemical physics, topological all subject areas receive the edito- densed matter physics and her life over a half-century,” said APS Previous recipients were Edward physics, complex systems, astro- rial expertise necessary to provide of service to the physics commu- President-Elect Philip Bucksbaum, Witten (2016), Daniel Kleppner physics, particles and fields, atomic authors with an efficient and effec- nity is an example for physicists chair of the selection committee. (2017), Eugene Parker (2018), and and molecular physics, and other tive peer review experience.” everywhere.” “Her outstanding contributions Bertrand Halperin (2019). subject areas. In addition to peer-reviewed Sarachik earned her B.A. degree helped to shape our modern view “I’m so pleased that Myriam has “When you submit a manuscript research content, the first issue (cum laude) from Barnard College of many collective effects in solids, been selected for the APS Medal, to Physical Review Research it is also contains two opening edi- in 1954, and her M.S. and Ph.D. including the Kondo effect, heavy which is our highest honor,” said handled by a collaborative effort torials. In the first, APS Editor fermion physics, disordered 2-D Kate Kirby, APS CEO. “Her research across the entire APS editorial team systems, and strongly-correlated has been at the frontiers of con- APS MEDAL CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 of Ph.D. scientists and professional PRR CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

MEMBERSHIP UNIT PROFILE STRATEGIC PLAN APS Membership Unit Profile: APS Innovation Fund: Inaugural Winners Selected The Division of Soft Matter BY DAVID VOSS

BY ABIGAIL DOVE he APS Innovation Fund (IF) with a fifth proposal still under was launched in early 2019 consideration. he APS Division of Soft to encourage APS members “It was surprising that we Matter (DSOFT) is concerned T to develop fresh approaches to received over a hundred proposals with dense, many-body T serving the physics community in a six-week time period,” said if systems in which quantum effects (APS News, March 2019) in line APS President David Gross, co-chair do not play a primary role. This with the Society’s new Strategic of the selection committee. “I take encompasses a staggering variety Plan. Applicants were encouraged that as an indication of the enthu- of materials from the everyday to

to think big, from advancing global siasm of APS members and staff TM the exotic, including polymers such engagement to fostering equity for this initiative. I’m also very as plastics, rubbers, textiles, and and inclusion in physics. pleased that APS has been able to Innovation Fund biological materials like nucleic More than a hundred pre-pro- respond and launch the project tive,” explains APS Director of acids and proteins; colloids, a sus- posals were received by mid-March, so quickly.” Project Development Theodore pension of solid particles such as of which 10 full proposals were Funded projects need to align Hodapp, co-chair of the selection fogs, smokes, foams, gels, and considered by the selection with the APS Strategic Plan that committee. “It is inspired by the emulsions; liquid crystals like those Doug Durian committee. Four of these were was rolled out earlier this year APS Strategic Plan and will capture found in electronic displays; sur- dered at the molecular scale and ultimately selected for funding and funds will not be used to thoughtful and forward-looking factant systems, which involve homogeneous at the macroscopic at levels between $50,000 and support existing projects. “The networks of amphiphilic particles scale, whereas the mesoscopic $100,000 per year for two years, Innovation Fund is a new initia- FUND CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 with distinct hydrophobic and scale shows unexpected order and hydrophilic domains; and granular dynamics. It is the physics of these materials. systems that occupies the minds of

Perhaps counterintuitively, the approximately two thousand TM 2019 GENERAL ELECTION many forms of soft matter like researchers in DSOFT. window glass and “oobleck” (a According to DSOFT chair non-Newtonian fluid like water Doug Durian (University of The results are in! Congratulations to these newly elected members of APS leadership: and cornstarch) can be surprisingly Pennsylvania), the field of soft INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CHAIR-ELECT, hard. What makes soft materials matter is an ecosystem where VICE PRESIDENT COUNCILOR COUNCILOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE “soft” is their ultra-responsiveness each researcher establishes their to external fields and therefore own unique niche of research high susceptibility to deformation problems—in contrast to some and falling out of equilibrium. These materials tend to be disor- DSOFT CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Frances Hellman Ursula Keller Robert McKeown Maria Spiropulu University of California, ETH Zurich Jefferson Laboratory; California Institute Berkeley College of William & Mary of Technology Thank you to all who voted, and special thanks to our election candidates. More info: aps.org/about/governance/election/

Rev. 09/06/2019 2 • August/September 2019

EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY NEWS The STEP UP Movement is THIS MONTH IN Changing the Face of Physics BY ANNELISE ROTI ROTI Physics History

hysics is missing out. Women enter college intending to major in are still a minority of our physics are women, and only 20% September 15, 1910: Theodor Wulf Publishes P undergraduates, graduate of those who ultimately graduate students, and professionals. And with an undergraduate or graduate First Evidence of Cosmic Radiation yet, I’m sure you know a young physics degree are women. Clearly woman who would be a great physi- the place and time to act is in high he official discovery of cosmic rays is cist. What barriers might she face school (see chart). High school attributed to Austrian physicist Victor on her journey? What would it teachers are critically important in T Hess, who won the 1936 Nobel Prize in take to keep her on that path? We inspiring young women to pursue Physics for his work. But as is often the case in believe the STEP UP project, a recent physics careers, so the project also science, Hess had plenty of contemporaries who effort by APS and its partners, can made sure that teachers were part made significant contributions to the discovery, ensure the success of many women of every step of the curriculum including a German Jesuit priest and physicist in physics, and our initial results development process. named Theodor Wulf. agree. “I used to abhor physics, but The piloting and experimental Born in July 1868, Wulf was ordained as a Jesuit then I saw how physics was so great phase of our classroom strategies priest by the age of 20 and then began studying and so amazing and it completely and lesson plans was critical to physics at the University of Göttingen. He taught changed my mind,” said Laura, a creating the robust intervention we the subject at a Jesuit university for several years young woman from a Miami area have now. Researchers and teachers in addition to his experimental work. He soon school who experienced the STEP worked together to draft, pilot, and became intrigued by the ongoing scientific debate UP curriculum. This is why the revise the STEP UP materials: 2 about the origin of ionizing radiation measured STEP UP movement needs your lesson plans, a guide to ‘everyday in Earth’s atmosphere, specifically over whether Theodor Wulf help to get a specially designed actions’ that teachers can take to it was terrestrial in origin, or came from space. Wulf obtained permission to conduct radiation physics curriculum into the hands of shift classroom culture, and sug- Many scientists had been using gold leaf measurements from the Eiffel Tower and spent thousands of high school teachers. gested guidelines for classroom electrometers to measure radiation intensity in four days over Easter weekend in 1910 doing so. If you know a high school teacher, discussions. These were inten- a variety of experiments. But the instruments, He compared those results against radiation talk with them. Ask them to join tionally designed to help teachers no matter how well insulated, invariably lost measurements at the foot of the tower and at his our movement by registering for motivate students to continue their charge because of the constant bombardment home in Valkenburg. He published his findings STEP UP and encourage them to studies in physics and illustrate the of external radiation. Wulf thought the existing on September 15, 1910, in the journal Physikalische use the lessons in their classrooms. power of a physics degree. A series devices simply weren’t accurate enough to measure Zeitschrift. While the radiation intensity was slightly In 2017, the National Science of in-person development meetings radiation intensity outside the lab given how lower at the top of the Eiffel Tower, this could be Foundation recognized the inno- and pilot testing in classrooms easy it was to damage the gold leaves simply attributed to the fact that the intensity had been vative nature of this project and from 2017-2018 led to these initial by moving the device. So he designed his own shown to drop by 50 percent traveling through granted $3 million to APS and its conclusions: electrometer, which used a pair of conducting 80 meters of air. The Eiffel Tower is 200 meters, partners Florida International • STEP UP’s lessons inspire, on quartz threads coated with platinum in place so if the radiation were terrestrial in origin, the University (FIU), Texas A&M average, 2.2 young women per of the gold leaves. Wulf also housed the wires intensity should have been much lower at the top. University-Commerce (TAMUC), classroom to shift their interest within a vertical cylinder to rule out charge losses As Wulf himself concluded, “the attempts made so and the American Association of towards pursuing undergrad- due to, say, ionized gas around the instrument. far therefore require either excluding the earth’s Physics Teachers (AAPT). The proj- uate physics. One way to determine whether the radioactivity crust, another source of gamma rays in the higher ect’s leaders then spent two years • The lessons enable young was coming from Earth would be to measure layers of air, or a much weaker absorption in the developing and testing research- women to see themselves as whether it decreased with height. So Wulf used air than [was] previously thought.” based classroom strategies and physicists. his improved electrometer to make measurements We now recognize this as the first concrete demonstrated that our materials of radioactivity in several locations—at the foot • After participating in this evidence for the existence of cosmic rays. But can impact the lives of thousands of the Matterhorn, for instance, as well as in intervention, students in the at the time, Wulf’s scientific colleagues largely of women. High school classrooms chalk mines near Valkenburg and inside Belgian class are positively influenced dismissed his efforts. In fairness, there were some are vital: although young women caves. There was a fair amount of variability issues with Wulf’s choice of the Eiffel Tower for make up half of high school physics in those measurements, but the radioactivity his experiments. He himself acknowledged that students, only 20% of those who STEP UP CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 did seem to be terrestrial in origin. Still, one of Wulf’s experiments, involving an electrometer the metallic structure could actually be attracting submerged in water, showed a slight decrease radioactive particles, which might be an additional in ionization. From this, Wulf suspected that source of radiation, confounding his results. Nor some kind of radiation from above must also could he entirely rule out unknown phenomena be contributing. resulting in ground radiation not being absorbed Further evidence was provided by two inde- by air quite as much as prior experiments with pendent measurements made at high altitudes radium had indicated. from a hot air balloon in 1909. One might expect Shortly after Wulf published his findings, Victor a decrease in radiation intensity at such heights Hess made a series of high-altitude radiation if it was truly only terrestrial in origin. But Albert measurements from a hot air balloon during both Gockel observed a smaller decrease than expected, day and night, over the course of three years. Other and like Wulf, saw this as a clue that space-sourced scientists mounted their instruments on balloons to radiation might be involved. However, another record ionization at higher levels, but their results scientist, Karl Bergwitz, measured the expected were inconclusive due to instrumentation defects. large decrease. To resolve the issue, Wulf decided Hess designed improved instruments that could to take his electrometer to the Eiffel Tower and withstand the temperature and pressure changes at make measurements from there. This would higher altitudes. He determined that the intensity remove the confounding effects of the balloon’s motion on the radiation measurements. WULF CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Series II, Vol. 28, No. 8 August/September 2019 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2019 General Councilors Materials Physics), Baha Balantekin* (Division of © 2019 American Physical Society Bonnie Fleming, Andrea J. Liu*, Nuclear Physics), Elizabeth Simmons (Division of President Vivian F. Incera*, Robin L. B. Selinger Particles and Fields), Stuart Henderson (Division David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical of Physics of Beams), Amitava Bhattacharjee (Di- Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara International Councilors vision of Plasma Physics), Murugappan Muthu- Editor...... David Voss Johanna Stachel, Marta Losada*, kumar (Division of Polymer Physics), Charles H. Staff Science Writer...... Leah Poffenberger President-Elect Ahmadou Wagué*, Enge Wang Bennett (Division of Quantum Information), Noah Philip H. Bucksbaum*, Stanford University and Finkelstein (Forum on Education), Julia Gon- Contributing Correspondent ...... Alaina G. Levine SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Chair, Nominating Committee ski (Forum on Graduate Student Affairs), Virginia Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Larry D. Gladney, Yale University Trimble (Forum on the History of Physics), John Vice President Rumble, Jr.*(Forum on Industrial and Applied Sylvester J. Gates*, Brown Theoretical Physics Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Physics), Emanuela Barzi (Forum on International APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD Center, Brown University James D. Wells, University of Michigan Physics), Pushpa Bhat* (Forum on Physics and So- monthly, except for a combined August-Sep- 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. ciety), Philip R. Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), tember issue, 11 times per year, by the Ameri- Past President Editor in Chief Nora Berrah (New England Section) can Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Col- Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership Roger W. Falcone*, University of California, Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University lege Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It publication delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Berkeley (on leave) Senior Management Team contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mail- Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer; Topical Groups, Sections, and Forums; advance ing offices. Chief Executive Officer Division, Forum, and Section Councilors Jane Hopkins Gould, Chief Financial Officer information on meetings of the Society; and re- Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) Michael Coleman Miller Division of Astrophys- Kate P. Kirby, Chief Executive Officer;Matthew ports to the Society by its committees and task For address changes, please send both the old ( ics), David Schultz (Division of Atomic, Molecular, M. Salter, Publisher; Francis Slakey, Chief forces, as well as opinions. and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Speaker of the Council and Optical Physics), William Bialek (Division of Government Affairs Officer; James W. Taylor, mailing label from a recent issue. Changes can be John Rumble, Jr.*, R&R Data Services Biological Physics), Robert Continetti (Division of Deputy Executive Officer and Chief Operating Letters to the editor are welcomed from the emailed to [email protected]. Postmaster: Chemical Physics), John Bradley Marston* (Di- Officer; Michael Thoennessen, Editor in Chief membership. Letters must be signed and should Send address changes to APS News, Membership Treasurer vision of Condensed Matter Physics), Giulia Galli include an address and daytime telephone num- Department, American Physical Society, One James Hollenhorst* Agilent Technologies (Division of Computational Physics), Howard Stone * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors ber. APS reserves the right to select and to edit Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. , (Division of Fluid Dynamics), Beverly Berger* (Di- for length and clarity. All correspondence re- Corporate Secretary vision of Gravitational Physics), John Fourkas (Di- garding APS News should be directed to: Editor, Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Jeanette Russo, American Physical Society vision of Laser Science), Samuel Bader (Division of August/September 2019 • 3

CAREERS OUTREACH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT New Approaches to Physics APS Awards Seven Outreach Mini Grants Education Flow from PIPELINE BY LISSIE CONNORS BY LEAH POFFENBERGER his past April, seven insti- tutions were awarded APS hree years ago, seven educa- for students entering the modern Outreach Mini Grants of up tional institutions embarked workforce. T to $10,000, which will fund public on a project to create new “The workshop, publishing cur- T outreach programs in communi- approaches to teaching physics to riculum and launching webinars is ties around the world. This year’s instill practical skills in under- a culmination of efforts at seven awardees come from institutions graduate physics students. This universities to give students skills large and small and include col- project, known as the PIPELINE for the workforce and help them laborations both domestic and Network, is now bearing fruit with a develop entrepreneurial mindsets,” international. published curriculum, the launch of says Crystal Bailey, Head of Careers Many physics outreach programs a webinar, and a kickoff workshop Programs at APS. focus on public lectures and demos, in Provo, Utah on July 21. Different methods of improving The PIPELINE Network was physics innovation and entrepre- but applicants for the APS Outreach assembled to address a need to neurship (PIE) education were Mini Grants are encouraged to think improve student preparedness for investigated at the seven institu- outside the box and try something at a physics competition. Lastly, indigenous language and culture. careers in industry. A joint task tions in the network: University of new. While traditional programs are the program will conclude with a Lastly, faculty and students at force between APS and the American Colorado Denver, George Washington funded through the Mini Grants, community-wide event to discuss the University of Illinois Urbana- Association of Physics Teachers University, Loyola University of creative or experimental ideas are popular physics topics with the Champaign received a mini-grant (AAPT) highlighted this deficit in Maryland, Rochester Institute of especially encouraged. For those people of Flint. to expand an outreach program undergraduate physics education in Technology, College of William and looking to design new outreach In Colorado, the University called Opening the Cosmos to a their 2016 report Phys 21: Preparing Mary, Wright State University, and activities, these awards can provide of Denver will be visiting native Closed World, where they will lead Students for 21st-Century Careers. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. vital start-up funding to create communities across the Denver astronomy workshops at a local The Phys 21 report identified four Representatives from three other long-term, sustainable programs. metropolitan area to lead correctional facility. Educational major areas where students could institutions with strong PIE educa- When selecting awardees, APS looks “Indigilogix Pods”—physics labs programs in prisons have been benefit from additional training: tion programs—Carthage College, for projects that make physics integrated with indigenous culture. found to benefit the quality of connecting fundamental physics to Case Western Reserve University, accessible to historically under- Indigenous science education life, build valuable skills that real world applications; developing and Kettering University—served represented groups. Projects funded research indicates that, “everyday increase employment prospects, technological skills; improving as advisors for the Network. this year will include programs for community practices and their and reduce the chances of recidi- communication; and acquiring “I’ve learned from years of students from kindergarten to high connections with Native ways of vism. Participants in the program workplace skills such as project working with students that there’s school, indigenous communities, knowing must be the foundation will study the principles behind management. These areas have a barrier to the idea of connecting and incarcerated populations. of a community-based science cur- astronomical phenomena, interpret since been used as a guide for the The Cameroon Physical Society riculum.” With that in mind, these real astronomy datasets, and build PIPELINE Network’s development and Cameroon Academy of Sciences outreach programs are designed their own code in Python. of new educational approaches PIPELINE CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 will be working together to create to provide native communities in To see how these projects an informational campaign the Denver area with an enriching progress, attend the 2020 APS showing the impact of physics in opportunity to learn science outside March Meeting in Denver, where Cameroonian society. They will of a traditional classroom setting awardees will be speaking about design free booklets that showcase while celebrating their history. their outreach activities in a special the history of physics, its impor- Physicists at Caltech will also session. APS has awarded grants tance in modern technologies, and be working to reach indigenous for outreach programs since 2005, how it relates to other fields of communities in Montana and and this year marks the ninth year science. This will supplement a California, building on an already of the APS Mini Grant program. lecture tour, taking Cameroonian established outreach program to The next application cycle opens physicists to high schools across bring the excitement of science in October. To learn more, please the country, with talks aimed to small, rural communities. The visit aps.org/programs/outreach/ at students, journalists, and the project also involves working with grants/. broader public. They will also share language specialists to translate their lectures on radio programs LIGO’s gravitational wave dis- The author is the Science and social media. coveries into Navajo to celebrate Communications Intern at APS. At the Texas Southmost College, faculty members will be building a science-based outreach network called “Fostering the Ultimate Science-based Integrated Outreach Work on Network” (FUSION), which will help TM train college students with project- Participants in the PIPELINE workshop at the AAPT meeting in Provo, based courses in both physics and Capitol Hill Utah, learned new ways to connect physics teaching with innovation and teacher education. Students will entrepreneurship. also be working to expand physics for a Year literacy in southern Texas by orga- nizing community STEM events and Apply for the APS 2020-2021 Correction—Owing to an editorial error, an incorrect caption was social media campaigns. Congressional Science Fellowship included with the figure accompanying the article “Sorting out the In the neighborhood around Neutron Lifetime” (APS News, July 2019). The caption should read “NIST Fellows serve one year on the staff of a senator, Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, proton trap for measuring neutron lifetime. A free neutron entering the representative or congressional committee beginning faculty and students will be trap as part of a beam will decay into a proton, an electron, and an anti- September 2020. Learn about the legislative process and lend neutrino. The number of protons detected can be used to calculate the expanding an existing outreach scientific and technical expertise to public policy issues. neutron lifetime.” The online and downloadable PDF versions have been program to include lessons on Qualifications: corrected. We apologize for the error. astronomy and optics. Elementary • Ph.D. or equivalent in physics or a closely related field school students in the area will learn how light interacts with matter and • A strong interest in science and technology policy WULF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 have the chance to see how lenses, • Some experience in applying scientific knowledge toward microscopes, cameras, lasers, and the solution of societal problems increased significantly with height, the Bay of Livorno. He found that telescopes work; ultimately they • Must be an APS member and his radiation measurements the radiation was significantly less will learn how these technologies during a solar eclipse effectively intense at the bottom of the bay help us look at the stars. At the ruled out the sun as the source of than at the surface, so the Earth’s end of the program, the students Applications Open: September 15 these cosmic rays. Hess shared the crust could not be the source of and their parents will gather for a Application Deadline: December 15 go.aps.org/apscsf 1936 physics Nobel Prize with Carl cosmic rays. Unfortunately, Pacini springtime astronomy night, just Anderson for the latter’s discovery died in 1934, and the Nobel Prize in time to see Mars, Saturn, and of the positron. Wulf was shut out cannot be awarded posthumously. Jupiter together in the night sky. The University of Michigan is of the honor entirely. Further Reading: But at least he’s not alone in de Angelis, A. (2010) “Domenico Pacini, launching “Physics and Astronomy losing out on a Nobel for cosmic uncredited pioneer of the discovery for Community Engagement” rays. Another scientist, Domenico of cosmic rays,” Rivista del Nuovo (PACE), a multi-phase outreach Pacini, made a similar discovery Cimento 33: 713-756. program to reach residents of Flint, right around the same time as Gbur, Greg. “Paris: City of Lights and Michigan. They plan to work with Cosmic Rays,” Skulls in the Stars, Hess. Pacini didn’t use a balloon to high school students on lab activi- October 9, 2014. measure changing radiation levels ties covering topics from renewable Wulf, Theodor. (1910) “Observations of Read online in the atmosphere. Instead, he went energy to radio astronomy. The the radiation of high-penetration aps.org/apsnews underwater, placing his instrument capacity on the Eiffel Tower,” Physi- students will then have a chance in a copper box and sinking it in kalische Zeitschrift 11: 811-813. to put these lessons into practice 4 • August/September 2019

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LETTERS APS Advocacy Helps House Pass “Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act” Members may submit letters to [email protected]. APS reserves the BY TAWANDA W. JOHNSON right to select letters and edit for length and clarity. he majority of legislation Sexual Harassment in Physics introduced into Congress T never reaches a committee hearing. But that wasn’t the case I was very impressed by your men’s opinions are worth more than with H.R. 36—the Combating Sexual decision to publish the April 2019 women’s is one of the biases that Harassment in Science Act of 2019. Back Page feature on harassment feeds the very issues APS News was Within seven months, the bill went and troubling encounters at a DNP trying to draw attention to with from being introduced in the House meeting as well as the May 2019 these recent articles. To see this to passing the full chamber in July. article “Yes, Sexual Harassment Still troubling idea reinforced a mere Drives Women out of Physics.” This is The APS Forum on Graduate Student month after these eye-opening an important issue that I am glad to Affairs (FGSA) and staff in the APS articles, by the same news outlet see APS is willing to draw attention Office of Government Affairs (OGA) that published them, is depressing to and encourage discussion about. contributed to that terrific outcome to say the least. I was less impressed, however, by by partnering with APS members If you have received feedback the responses to these articles pub- across the country to contact con- to worry about sexual harassment had been contacted by APS lished in the “Letters to the Editor” from women about your recent gressional representatives about in the workplace.” members. section of the June 2019 issue. Most articles on harassment, please the legislation. Callie Pruett, APS Grassroots • APS members held in-state troubling to me is that, although consider publishing them. And if “The passage of the House bill Advocacy Associate, said she, too, meetings with staffers repre- these articles speak largely to the you haven’t received such feedback, is a success on a path that requires was thrilled about the bill’s success senting House members and experience of women in physics, the please consider soliciting it. continued attention and measures in the House. senators in multiple states. three letters that were published on to reach a level of zero percent “APS OGA is proud of this For example, in Tennessee, the topic were all written by men. Emma Oxford of individuals being harassed. By success, and it was wonderful two physics professors from The deep-seated, sexist notion that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania creating a working group within working with FGSA on our first the University of Tennessee the National Science Foundation sustained grassroots advocacy at Knoxville, along with a ••••••••••••• to collect the data and develop a campaign,” she added. “It went graduate student from the mechanism for combating sexual on for 12 weeks, and it gave us time school, led the effort during The June issue of APS News choose to publish three letters from harassment, the bill will provide to target our message. It will serve meetings with staffers from featured three letters discussing men, and no letters from women foundational work that is needed as a model for future campaigns.” the offices of U.S. Senators previous issues’ treatment of sexual commenting on this issue. to achieve the zero-percent harass- Key highlights of the campaign Lamar Alexander and Marsha harassment in physics. I was disap- ment goal,” said FGSA Chair Tiffany include the following: Blackburn. Alexander is Adam Iaizzi pointed to see that all three letters Nichols (Harvard University). • APS members wrote more than chair of the Senate Health, Taipei, Taiwan were from men, two of them making She added, “The bill also creates 550 letters in support of the Education, Labor & Pensions all-too-common remarks to the a similar mechanism in the National Combating Sexual Harassment Committee, which now has effect of “well how do we know Science and Technology Council Act of 2019. jurisdiction over the bill, and that sexual harassment is a real Editor’s note: I sincerely thank the that will focus on governmental • The letters were sent to 111 Blackburn is a supporter of authors of these letters for the feed- issue in physics?” The clear and science agencies. I believe all this House offices and 70 Senate anti-sexual harassment issues. back. As the June 2019 issue of APS persistent gender gap in our field is a step in a positive direction offices. • APS members supported the should make it obvious that there News went to press, we had received exactly three letters about the articles toward creating safe, diverse, and • Nearly 40% of the House co- bill through its hearing in are barriers to women’s success cited and these are the letters that equitable environments where sponsors who joined the bill in physics, and we should trust were published. We encourage read- everyone can thrive and not have after the campaign began ADVOCACY CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 our female colleagues when they ers to send letters about any matters tell us what those barriers are. It related to articles in APS News to let- worries me that APS News would [email protected].

Signal Boost is a monthly email video newsletter alerting APS members to policy issues and identifying opportunities to get STEP UP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 involved. Past issues are available at go.aps.org/2nr298D. Join Our Mailing List: visit the sign-up page at go.aps.org/2nqGtJP. to pursue physics careers project, through an in-person (“Examining physics identity summit in Provo, UT in July 2019. development through two high Each ambassador will be recruiting school interventions,” Cheng and supporting 25–35 new teachers FYI: SCIENCE POLICY NEWS FROM AIP et.al, 2018 PERC Proceedings, through workshops in their local doi: 10.1119/perc.2018.pr.Cheng). area. A map of the Ambassadors’ This also led to polished content locations is available on our website that was ready for a quasi-experi- (STEPUPphysics.org). In addition Budget Deal Paves Way for Science Spending Boosts mental study, which was conducted to the summit this summer, we BY MITCH AMBROSE in the 2018-2019 academic year. presented at the AAPT Conference Detailed results are forthcoming and the Physics Education Research resident Trump signed leg- Whereas that agreement resulted and will be made available on the Conference (PERC). We continued to islation on August 2 that in a windfall for several science STEP UP website, but initial results spread the word by reaching out to P suspends the federal debt agencies, the new one enables are in alignment with previous supporters, partner organizations, ceiling and raises caps on discre- Congress to sustain the current findings. As the STEP UP program and engaging on social media. tionary spending for the next two funding levels with room for some continues to be introduced to more These efforts are all aimed to put fiscal years. Called the Bipartisan additional increases. classrooms, we will be watching STEP UP materials in the hands of Budget Act of 2019, the law will However, Congress and the for an increase in women entering as many of the 26,000 U.S. physics enable Congress to continue its president still must agree on how college with a declared physics teachers as possible. recent run of funding increases for to apportion the budget among the use one or more stopgap funding major, with critical time points of This push will help to change the science agencies. In setting spending 12 annual appropriations bills that measures to buy time for crafting fall 2019 and fall 2020. A nationwide face of physics, but we can use your levels for the final two years covered fund the federal government. final spending legislation. However, increase in the number of women support. Please talk with a high school by the Budget Control Act of 2011, The House approved most of the budget agreement decreases the pursuing physics is expected based physics teacher and ask them to join the law also marks a conclusion to its bills this summer, employing possibility of another government on our positive research results; our movement. APS has the materials the use of statutory spending caps the assumption that non-defense shutdown. however, this is highly dependent to support your outreach—please and automatic budget sequestration spending would increase 6%. In a set of principles released on the curriculum being broadly visit STEPUPphysics.org to find as tools for reining in spending. Meanwhile, the Senate opted to upon announcing the budget deal, implemented by teachers. talking points, promotional mate- Most of the increase provided wait until a budget agreement was congressional leaders and the Over the last two years, the rials, and email templates to use in by the agreement will come in reached before advancing its own Trump administration conveyed project has grown from a plan to a recruiting teachers. Let’s give more fiscal year 2020, with the cap on proposals, which it is now plans to a desire for a smooth appropriations nationwide movement. What started young women the chance to see non-defense spending rising 4% to release soon after Congress returns process, committing to “minimize as a group of about 10 researchers the power of physics. Ultimately, $622 billion and the cap on defense from recess in September. procedural delays” and refrain and around 20 teachers is now we will all reap the rewards of a spending rising 3% to $667 billion. Although House appropriators from adding controversial policy a network of more than 1,000 physics community that is more For the following fiscal year, the will likely have to rein in at least demands to their spending bills. community members. STEP UP diverse and striving towards its cap for each category will increase some of their proposed spending representatives have given talks at about 1%. Most science agencies increases for science programs, their full potential. The author is Acting Director of FYI. meetings, conferences and work- are funded out of the non-defense finished bills represent a starting shops attracting 450 teachers, as portion of the budget. point for negotiations with the FYI has been a trusted source well as faculty, students, and other The author was Project Development These increases are not as large Senate, conveying their prioritiza- of science policy and funding news Intern for STEP UP and is now supporters who are all ready to as those provided through the last tion of areas such as climate change since 1989, and is read by members PhysTEC Program Coordinator. spread the word about STEP UP. budget agreement, reached in 2017, research. This article was co-written by of Congress and their staff, federal We also kicked off the STEP UP Anne Kornahrens (STEP UP Project which raised the cap on non-defense Given that the start of fiscal agency heads, journalists, and US Ambassador program, with 48 Manager, [email protected]) and spending by 12% for fiscal year year 2020 on October 1 is fast scientific leaders. Sign up for free teachers chosen to represent the Raina Khatri (FIU Project Manager). 2018 and 3% the following year. approaching, Congress may well FYI emails at aip.org/fyi. August/September 2019 • 5

HONORS APS PROGRAMS Seven Apker Award Finalists Show Off their Research Matthew Blackman Named 2019 Skills PhysTEC Teacher of the Year BY LEAH POFFENBERGER BY LEAH POFFENBERGER

n August 9, APS hosted seven he Physics Teacher Education of the nation’s brightest Coalition (PhysTEC) O young physicists for the addresses a shortage of annual Leroy Apker Award Selection T qualified physics teachers in Meeting. All of the Apker Award the United States. Each year, the applicants boast an impressive coalition selects a graduate from resume of physics research at an a physics teacher preparedness undergraduate level, which they program as Teacher of the Year presented to a committee of dis- to recognize outstanding physics tinguished physicists. educators. This year’s recipient of Previous Apker Selection the national PhysTEC Teacher of the Meetings have featured six finalists, Year Award is Matthew Blackman, three from PhD granting insti- a physics and robotics teacher at Matthew Blackman tutions and three from non-PhD Ridge High School in New Jersey. granting institutions, but this year PhysTEC is a joint project of program and also runs a summer Leroy Apker Award finalists (front row): Tali Khain, Wenzer Qin, Dolev Bluvstein, the committee made room for a workshop for physics teachers, Emily Churchman, Katelyn Cook, Kai-Isaak Ellers, Lauren Zundel; and selection APS and the American Association seventh finalist—a testament to the committee (back row, L-R): Roger Falcone, Geoffrey Lovelace, Eun-Ah Kim, Sujit of Physics Teachers that aims to bringing in 20 teachers per year to talent of this year’s field. Research Datta, Laura Greene, Nima Arkani-Hamed, Talat Rahman, James Eckert, Shelly transform physics departments learn new ways to interest students topics ranged from the physics Lesher, Paul Miller. and support successful models for in physics. of the cosmos to the behavior of physics teacher education programs. As PhysTEC Teacher of the Year, nanostructures. The finalists each had thirty as part of the National Science The Teacher of the Year award, Blackman will receive a certificate The 2019 Apker Award final- minutes to present their under- Foundation Research Experiences which has one national winner of recognition, funding to attend ists are: Tali Khain (University graduate research, display their for Undergraduates program. She and several local winners, is open two professional physics confer- of Michigan), Dolev Bluvstein expertise in the field, and clarify also discussed her contributions to alumni from the 330 PhysTEC ences focused on education and (University of California, Santa their direct contributions to the to physics at her home institution institutions to highlight the impact teacher preparedness, and a grant Barbara), Wenzer Qin (Johns research. The selection committee which include building a muon and value of physics teacher prepa- for classroom materials of $1,000. Hopkins University), Lauren then had fifteen minutes to question detector for the physics department ration programs. The local PhysTEC Teachers of Zundel (University of New Mexico), the presenters. and participating in outreach activi- Blackman completed the Five- the Year will receive a certificate Emily Churchman (Texas Lutheran Bluvstein kicked off the selec- ties. Cook, who also does nuclear Year Physics Education Program at of recognition as well as an official College), Katelyn Cook (Houghton tion meeting with a showcase of physics research, came next to Rutgers, a PhysTEC institution, in acknowledgment to their school College), and Kai-Isaak Ellers his work on quantum coherence in present her experimental work 2009, earning a joint master’s in administrators and local press. (Amherst College). solid-state spin systems for appli- aimed at measuring low energy education and a teaching certifi- These winners are: The finalists each received a cations in quantum sensing. Khain nuclear cross sections using internal cation. Since then, Blackman has • Aaron Curry, Dr. Henry A. $2000 honorarium, a $1,000 award then discussed her contributions to confinement fusion, which involved inspired both high school physics Wise, Jr. High School, Salisbury for their undergraduate physics plotting the orbit of objects within building her own target chamber students and other teachers through University institutions to support future the Kuiper belt at the edge of the for testing the behavior of gas. innovative educational ideas. • David Doty, Cattaraugus-Little undergraduate research, travel solar system and her investigations Ellers wrapped up the presenta- At Ridge High School, Blackman Valley High School, Buffalo reimbursement, and a certificate. of evidence for a ninth planet. tions with his work on enhancing has been instrumental in a dramatic State College The two winners, selected by the Continuing in astrophysics, Qin coherence times in a molecular increase in Advanced Placement (AP) • Julia Grimes, Westlake High committee, will receive an addi- presented a new formalism for char- nanomagnet, Cr7Mn. His experi- Physics enrollment and improved School, Brigham Young tional $5,000 award and $5,000 acterizing gravitational waves using ments point to the potential use of AP test scores. Much of the increase University for their undergraduate physics pulsar timing arrays and astrom- molecular nanomagnets as qubits in student enrollment came from • Chad Hobby, Timber Creek departments. The winners will also etry, allowing the measurement of for quantum computing. Blackman’s efforts to improve par- High School, University of receive funds to travel to an APS properties beyond the capabilities The two winners, which were ticipation among female students. Central Florida meeting to give their own invited of interferometers like LIGO. Zundel selected by a ten-member com- Since he began teaching, female • Kristin Kellar, Talkington talks. rounded out the finalists from PhD mittee of physicists from a variety student enrollment is now over School for Young Women “Each of the finalists is already granting institutions with a presen- of fields, will be announced in 50%—up from just 20%. Leaders, Abilene Christian a winner,” Laura Greene (National tation on her research of periodic September. Blackman has also been working University High Magnetic Field Laboratory and arrays of nanostructures that has to inspire interest in physics Florida State University), chair of many practical applications, such • Donald Soper, David H. Hickman For more on the APS LeRoy Apker outside of his own classroom: He the selection committee, empha- as ultrasensitive biosensing. High School, University of Award, which is made possible taught himself to code and has Missouri-Columbia sizes. “They’ve all done incredible After a break for lunch, through an endowment donated by designed five free-to-play edu- • Heather Stirewalt, Whittier work and should be proud to reach Churchman was first up to share Jean Dickey Apker, visit aps.org/pro- cational physics games. Teachers High School, California State this stage.” her journey in nuclear physics grams/honors/prizes/apker.cfm. in classrooms across the country University at Long Beach and around the world—in nearly 60 countries—have used Blackman’s • Jamie Vargas, Edison High games to help students explore School, California State physics concepts like kinematics, University, Fresno John Robert Schrieffer 1931-2019 waves, and electrostatics. At Rutgers, Blackman teaches To learn more about PhysTEC and its BY DANIEL GARISTO courses in the graduate education member institutions, visit phystec.org.

ohn Robert “Bob” Schrieffer, “every theory of superconductivity the condensed matter can be disproved.” Schrieffer’s work J theorist who explained the on BCS theory not only solved this Conferences for quantum rationale underpinning supposedly intractable problem superconductivity, died July 27 at in condensed matter physics, but Undergraduate the age of 88. opened the way to a host of appli- Schrieffer was responsible for a cations in other areas of physics. Women in critical component of the theory: “The BCS theory of supercon- Physics defining the BCS wavefunction. ductivity may well be the most For his work, Schrieffer—the “S” important piece of theoretical con- Regional Sites in BCS theory—shared the 1972 densed matter physics ever,” said Black Hills State University Nobel Prize in Physics with John Steven Kivelson, a condensed matter Carnegie Mellon University Bardeen and Leon Cooper, and was theorist at Stanford University, Temple University John Robert Schrieffer later awarded the National Medal of and formerly one of Schrieffer’s Texas A&M University, College Station Science. Schrieffer was a fellow of postdocs. Champaign where he studied under University of California, Irvine the APS and its president in 1996. John Robert Schrieffer was John Bardeen. He was only a third University of Chicago University of Maryland, College Park/NIST “He was the real discoverer of born in Oak Park, Illinois to year graduate student when he University of Minnesota BCS,” said fellow Nobel laureate Louise (Anderson) and John Henry completed his Nobel-winning work. University of Oklahoma Philip Anderson (Princeton Schrieffer. As a teenager, Schrieffer According to legend, he was University of South Florida University). “He took Cooper’s pairs built radio transmitters and read inspired while taking the subway University of Toronto (Canada) and made a real theory out of it.” about physics to supplement a to a conference in New York City. Washington State University Yale University For decades after supercon- subpar high school curriculum. In Schrieffer’s understated own ductivity was discovered by Heike He began attending MIT in the telling, the crucial discovery was Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, a mecha- fall of 1949 and spent two years less momentous. Join us for APS CUWiP January 17-19, 2020! nism remained elusive. Felix Bloch studying electrical engineering “So I guess it was on the subway, Applications open September 3 - October 4, 2019 proposed an explanation, but after before switching to physics. I scribbled down the wave function Financial Assistance is available his first theorem failed, he proposed Schrieffer graduated and went to aps.org/cuwip #apsCUWiP his now-famous second theorem: the University of Illinois, Urbana- SCHRIEFFER CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 6 • August/September 2019

DSOFT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ADVOCACY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 other branches of physics where the so-called “extreme mechanics” the House, helping it to pass pursue STEM studies if they end The successful partnership only a few outstanding questions of very slender objects, to the use unanimously in the House up in a research environment that between FGSA and OGA serves as dominate the discourse. This of machine learning to study dis- Committee on Science, Space drives them away,” she said. an excellent example of how OGA breadth is a compelling aspect of ordered, far-from-equilibrium and Technology Nichols said FGSA members strives to ensure that APS members the soft matter community but systems, to the liquid crystal During the House Science enjoyed their experience working have their voices heard in science also makes it more challenging properties of biological materials. Committee hearing, U.S. Rep. with OGA on the campaign. policy arena. for researchers to pose the right Particular excitement surrounds Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30th), “OGA has extensive experience “We understand that the best questions. The result is a unique the topic of active matter, complex committee chair, touted the bill’s in influencing national policy that campaigns involve our helping APS and “unusually close” interplay particulate systems in which the importance. physics, and more generally, STEM members make contact with their between theory and experiment constituent parts have their own “This is a moral issue—one that fields can benefit from. Additionally, congressional members, so they can in soft matter physics, in Durian’s source of energy (such as a flock demands action to ensure women OGA is attentive to the pulse of its influence policy decisions that are words. “As an experimentalist I have of birds, a swarm of bacteria, or have equal access to their career constituents—APS members, the important to advancing not only the opportunity to do theory, and self-assembling biopolymers). Soft of choice. It is also an issue of our physics community, and the larger physics but the entire scientific I have theorist friends who have matter encompasses even the physics economic and national security. STEM field, so it is in a position to enterprise,” said Francis Slakey, APS started labs. This is the sign of a of knitting—a fascinating example The public investment in research organize effective grassroots cam- Chief Government Affairs Officer. vibrant young field.” of emergent properties given that a needs to draw on all of our nation’s paigns that yield positive results,” The work toward getting H.R. As a sign of growth, what started one-dimensional strand of yarn can talent to return the best possible she said. 36 enacted into law is unfinished, as a Topical Group (GSOFT) is now a give rise to an extremely intricate, science for the benefit of society. To Nichols added, “FGSA looks and APS OGA will continue to aim Division. This comes only five years three-dimensional object, and that reach this goal, we must do more forward to working with OGA on for the goal. after the group’s original establish- combinations of just two simple knit to ensure that all researchers have future campaigns when they fall ment in 2014—an unprecedented stitches can produce fabrics with access to a safe work environment. It within the purview of enhancing pace for achieving Division status. vastly different elastic properties. does no good to invest in programs the experience of graduate students The author is APS Senior Press According to APS conventions, a As these topics suggest, DSOFT to encourage more young girls to in physics and related fields.” Secretary. Topical Group is eligible to become is a natural home for interdisci- a Division once its membership plinary scientists. In fact, Durian exceeds 3% of total APS membership underscored that DSOFT intention- for two consecutive years. GSOFT ally calls itself the Division of Soft petitioned for Division status as Matter (as opposed to “Soft Matter soon as its numbers reached this Physics”) to signal inclusivity to APS MEDAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 threshold (approximately 1,600); researchers from physics-adjacent advancing to division status has specialties such as engineering, degrees in 1957 and 1960 from in solids, strongly interacting elec- policy for the society and traveling been the goal since the group’s chemistry, geoscience, and biology. Columbia University. Following trons in two dimensions, and spin throughout the world to represent inception. Accordingly, approximately one- research associate positions at IBM tunneling in nanomagnets. American physics, or that I would With Division status, DSOFT third of DSOFT’s members have an Watson Laboratories at Columbia She received the 1995 New York win this incredibly prestigious prize is now entitled to a dedicated academic home outside of physics. University (1961-1962) and at Bell City Mayor’s Award for Excellence in now. The message to my young Division Councilor to represent Noted Durian, “of all disciplines Laboratories (1962-1964), she joined Science and Technology and a 2004 colleagues is that, with strong com- the unit’s views at APS council within physics, soft matter connects the faculty of City College of the Sloan Public Service Award from mitment and hard work, they too meetings. Nominations for the to the most departments across a City University of New York as an the Fund for the City of New York. can exceed their own expectations.” position are currently being solicited research university.” Assistant Professor of Physics, and She is a member of the National The formal award will be made ahead of elections in the fall. The DSOFT boasts a diverse mem- was promoted through the ranks Academy of Sciences, and a fellow at a ceremony in Washington, DC, GSOFT to DSOFT transition will bership to complement its diverse to Distinguished Professor in 1995. of the American Academy of Arts on January 30, 2020. In addition, also usher in leadership posts for subject matter. Vice chair Karen In addition to her research, and Sciences, the New York Academy Sarachik is invited to give a presen- two graduate student representa- Daniels (North Carolina State Sarachik has served as a member of Sciences, and the American tation on her work at the 2020 APS tives. Daria Atkinson (University of University) explained that DSOFT’s (and chair) of the Solid State Association for the Advancement March Meeting in Denver (March Massachusetts) has already been operating procedures emphasize Sciences Committee of the National of Science. She was awarded an 2-6). The Medal is accompanied appointed to fill the first position. inclusivity in division leader- Research Council, the Human Rights honorary Doctor of Science degree by a prize of $50,000. On a symbolic level, DSOFT’s ship, working group sessions, and Committee of the New York Academy by Amherst College in 2006. new status comes as an important APS sessions to allow a voice for of Sciences, and the Board of the “I am absolutely elated to recognition of soft matter as a bona researchers from underrepresented Committee of Concerned Scientists. receive this award from APS,” For more on the award visit the APS fide subfield of physics. This is minorities, smaller institutions, An experimentalist in low- said Sarachik. “As one of the very Medal page. For more about Myriam Sarachik's life and work, see “Pushing long-awaited for the soft matter and abroad. As for gender equality, temperature research, Sarachik few women physicists when I was Boundaries: My Personal and Scientific community, which has historically DSOFT ranks among the top APS has investigated superconduc- young, I fought hard to enter and to Journey,” Annual Reviews of been decentralized due to the youth units in terms of female member- tors, disordered metallic alloys, stay in the field. Little did I dream Condensed Matter Physics, vol. 9, p. of the field and the breadth of its ship (greater than 20%). metal-insulator transitions in doped that I would become President of the 1 (March 2018), doi: 10.1146/annurev- interests. Empowering graduate students semiconductors, hopping transport APS (in 2003) leading and shaping conmatphys-033117-054029. Notably, soft matter coalesced and early-career researchers is into a unified discipline only in also a top priority for DSOFT. Dogic the 1990s. The term “soft matter” explained that with DSOFT’s new was first popularized by Pierre Division status the organization Gilles de Gennes as the title of hopes to dedicate more resources his 1991 Nobel acceptance speech. to career development for young SCHRIEFFER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Now considered the father of the scientists—from grants that support field, de Gennes revealed that the conference travel to mentorship to and calculated the beginning of that Kivelson. Schrieffer’s work on Schrieffer’s approach to physics—a methods for studying ordering in hosting workshops on the various expectation value, and I realized solitons was among the first efforts visual, concrete way of under- simple systems can also be applied career paths in soft matter physics. that the algebra was very simple,” to investigate fractionalized charge standing that didn’t skimp on to more complex ones like liquid In terms of exposing undergradu- he said in a 1974 oral history. and how topology affects electronic mathematical formalism. crystals and polymers. His work ates to the science of soft matter, BCS theory proposed that at properties in matter. “He explained complicated ideas inspired physicists to apply the Durian noted that many liberal sufficiently low temperatures, In the early 1990s, Schrieffer in a very lucid and transparent tools of statistical mechanics and arts colleges are hiring soft matter electrons would pair up with one became interested in high-temper- fashion full of physical intuitions,” thermodynamics to less conven- experimentalists because the field another, behaving not like fermionic ature superconductivity, and moved said Wu-Pei Su, a physicist now tional materials at the interface enables cutting-edge research using matter, but like bosons. The energy to Florida to head the National at the University of Houston and of physics, chemistry, and biology. relatively inexpensive table-top required to break the pairing being High Magnetic Field Laboratory. former student of Schrieffer. Less than three decades later, apparatus. Added Daniels, “young greater than the thermal energy, According to friends and colleagues, Sometimes, he taught through according to DSOFT chair-elect people are the ones who will be electrical resistance was predicted Schrieffer, who was bipolar, began experience. The night before Doug Zvonimir Dogic (UC Santa Barbara), doing soft matter research for the to disappear—a key feature of to behave manically around this Scalapino’s first speech at a confer- almost every university has at least longest in the future; they’re our superconductivity. time. He refused to take medica- ence, Schrieffer coaxed him to say one soft matter expert in physics best investment.” For the first few years, many tion for his condition and acted just a few words into the micro- and in engineering. However, Overall, DSOFT stands out as other theoretical physicists doubted erratically at conferences. phone. Scalapino, then Schrieffer’s despite this impressive explosion a long-awaited home for physi- this solution. But by 1961, when Schrieffer’s health continued graduate student, reluctantly in breadth and impact, soft matter cists studying the mysteries of the Bascom Deaver and William to worsen. In 2004, he fell asleep assented to the strange request. researchers have been dispersed everyday. “The beauty of this field Fairbanks discovered that a super- while driving and crashed, killing As soon as he spoke, a deafening throughout other APS units centered lies in its ability to reinvigorate the conductor quantized the magnetic one and injuring seven others. He echo came back due to the audito- on the related areas of biological intrinsic curiosity about the world field—a prediction of BCS—there spent two years in prison and never rium’s bad acoustics. The next day, physics (DBIO), polymer physics known to every child,” remarked was no doubt as to the validity of returned to physics. Scalapino was prepared. Schrieffer (DPOLY), fluid dynamics (DFD), and DSOFT member-at-large Elisabetta the theory. Students and colleagues, though, didn’t need to say a thing. statistical and non-linear physics Matsumoto (Georgia Institute of Although Schrieffer’s seminal remembered him fondly. In leader- “He was a remarkable man,” said (GSNP), leaving less visibility for Technology). “To the soft matter work was done at a young age, ship roles, notably as director of Scalapino. “He certainly knew what soft matter as a whole. The hope physicist a mystery lies hidden in he continued to make important the then-Institute for Theoretical he had done and what he could do. is that DSOFT will be an umbrella every coffee stain, uncombed head contributions to physics. Notably, Physics in Santa Barbara, he became Perhaps, for those reasons, he was organization for soft matter of hair, and wrinkled shirt.” Schrieffer also worked on solitons well-known as a mentor. very careful with how he interacted researchers in all their diversity, More information on this unit can in materials like plastic polymers. “Bob was the best mentor you with people, and was just a mar- while still maintaining synergy be found here: aps.org/units/gsoft “This was the beginning of two could possibly imagine. Kind, sup- velous human being.” with other APS divisions. important prongs in condensed portive, encouraging, and critical Notable avenues of research in The author is a freelance writer in matter physics that we’ve seen when necessary,” said Kivelson. The author is a science writer based in soft matter include everything from Helsinki, Finland. blossom into major fields,” said Many physicists also admired Bellport, New York. August/September 2019 • 7

PRR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 FUND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

in Chief Michael Thoennessen Physical Review Materials. “Our goal ideas from our members. Our intent promote diversity, and establish the field of electronic structure describes the rationale behind the is to establish a publication that is to promote innovative ideas that an inclusive profession. Project calculations. The first workshop structure of the editorial leadership offers the same experience and engage the community and improve Leads: Edmund Bertschinger (MIT), will take place in Africa, followed for the new journal. quality that we value and trust, the discipline.” Geoff Potvin (Florida International by a second workshop in the U.S., “To effectively cover the topical while increasing authors’ choice The four funded proposals are: University), and Monica Plisch (APS after which African researchers breadth and geographic range of within the Physical Review port- More Humane APS Meetings Programs Director). will visit a U.S.-based research this multidisciplinary, international folio,” note D’Souza, Pan, Spaldin, through Machine Learning: With Informing and Activating the group to give seminars and collabo- peer-reviewed journal, we have and Liétor-Santos in their editorial. multiple tracks and thousands U.S. Physics Community in Nuclear rate on a research project. Project committed to appointing a diverse “As such, we welcome authors of of talks, the large annual APS Threat Reduction: Today, the global Leads: Omololu Akin-Ojo (East and global team of esteemed active quality manuscripts not accepted by meetings can be overwhelming. threat from nuclear weapons African Institute for Fundamental researchers to serve as Lead Editors Physical Review X or Physical Review This project would test whether remains grave and is worsening. In Research, Rwanda), Richard Martin and Editorial Board members,” Letters to seamlessly transfer their machine learning and natural addition to concerns about existing (University of Illinois), and Renata explains Thoennessen. “I am work to be considered for publica- language processing could help nuclear arsenals, international Wentzcovitch (Columbia University). extremely pleased to announce tion in Physical Review Research.” improve the member experience tensions continue to rise over the APS expects to put out a call for that Professors Raissa D’Souza, As the fourth fully open access, at APS gatherings. The goal would threat of nuclear weapons prolif- another round of IF proposals next Jian-Wei Pan, and Nicola Spaldin online-only journal published by be to accurately identify talks on eration. This project will educate year. “It was a selective process have agreed to serve as the founding APS, all Physical Review Research similar subjects and help attendees and reengage the powerful voice of and a lot of work, but I look at co-Lead Editors of Physical Review content is immediately free to read plan their schedules more effec- the physics community and the APS this kind of activity as an experi- Research and represent the journal upon publication and allows reuse tively. Meeting organizers could membership on this pressing and ment,” said Gross. “I think it’s within their respective regions and by readers world-wide under a also use these algorithms to better globally important issue. A team of really important for APS to do what research communities.” CC-BY 4.0 International license. sort abstracts to reduce overlap and experts will visit physics institu- scientists do all the time: experi- To allow all authors an opportunity The second editorial is co- streamline the conference experi- tions, present overviews, conduct ment and see what happens. I have to experience this exciting new authored by D’Souza, Pan, Spaldin, ence. Project Lead: Tim Atherton discussions, and build a coalition of a lot of respect for physicists and, offering, APS is waiving article and Liétor-Santos, and lays out the (Tufts University). volunteers to advocate for nuclear when given resources, they are publication charges (APCs) for all editors’ shared vision for Physical APS Inclusion, Diversity, and threat reduction measures. Project very imaginative.” manuscripts submitted in 2019 and Review Research. “In addition to Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA): Leads: Stewart Prager, Alex Glaser, The Innovation Fund Committee: subsequently published in Physical maximizing reach and readership Physicists have been increasingly Zia Mian, and Frank von Hippel David Gross (co-chair, APS President), Review Research. through open access, by covering concerned with matters of equity, (Princeton University); Steve Fetter Ted Hodapp (co-chair, APS Director “All of us at APS who are involved the full scope of activities in physics diversity, and inclusion within (University of Maryland). of Project Development), Andrea Liu with the Physical Review journals and associated disciplines, we will the field. This project will bring U.S.–Africa Initiative in (APS Council Speaker-Elect), John care deeply about their ongoing provide an integrated and cohesive together representatives from about Electronic Structure: Strengthening Rumble (APS Speaker of the Council), significance to science, are excited view of the forefront of modern 30 physics departments to form relationships throughout the inter- Francis Slakey (APS Chief Government about this new endeavor, and are a national leadership network to national physics community is a Affairs Officer). physics for our readers and create dedicated to delivering the excel- exchange ideas, explore effective core part of the APS mission. This an outlet for research that addresses lence our communities expect from practices, and develop strategic project will create a platform for the interdisciplinary challenges us via this new member of the plans. By leveraging existing collaborations between African that we face in modern society.” journal family,” states Thoennessen initiatives of APS and other organi- and U.S. physicists in the form of The editors also define the rela- in the closing lines of his edito- For more details on the Innovation tionship between the new journal rial. “We hope that Physical Review zations, the goal is to transform the workshops for participants to meet Fund, visit aps.org/programs/ and the other titles in the Physical Research will initiate conversations culture of physics to advance equity, and identify common interests in innovation/fund/ Review family, noting that the across traditional boundaries, reveal editorial standards and accep- new opportunities for collaboration, BACK PAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 tance criteria of Physical Review and facilitate future discoveries, and Research are similar to those of thus directly support the aim of the Conclusion which relies upon international David Gross is Chancellor’s Chair Physical Review A-E, Physical Review APS to advance scientific discovery In its briefing to us, the FBI participation in research. Every Professor of Theoretical Physics Applied, Physical Review Fluids, and and research dissemination.” compared the danger posed by country must evaluate the policies and former Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at Chinese scientists working in U.S. necessary for being internationally UCSB. Roger Falcone is Professor of research groups to cancer, which collaborative and globally competi- Physics at the University of California, remains invisible only to manifest tive. For its part, APS will continue Berkeley. Philip H. Bucksbaum holds itself many years after the initial the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Chair in PIPELINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 to engage vigorously in discus- DNA damage occurs. We note that sion with policymakers to help Natural Science at Stanford University, an overactive immune response to ensure a healthy balance between with appointments in Physics, Applied physics with innovation, which is incorporate real world physics Physics, and in Photon Science at cancer leads to autoimmune disease, security concerns, openness, and [a lack of] knowledge and confi- applications into a regular introduc- SLAC. S. James Gates, Jr. is Ford which is potentially even more the essential contribution interna- dence that physics students have tory physics class. Tagg, assisted by Foundation Physics Professor and deadly. An over-reaction to security tional scientists make to the U.S. Affiliate Mathematics Professor at when turning physics into some- University of Colorado lab managers risks can endanger U.S. physics, research enterprise. Brown University. thing practical,” says Randy Tagg, Devin Pace and Kristopher Bunker, Principle Investigator (PI) for the brought the apparatus they designed University of Colorado Denver’s to teach students technical compe- PIPELINE projects. “As part of the tencies and discussed the challenges PIPELINE grant I’ve been trying to with helping students grasp this figure out a way to actually incor- knowledge. porate practical knowledge into Wouter Deconick from the regular physics curriculum.” College of William and Mary gave As part of the PIPELINE Network, a shortened version of his three- Tagg has implemented a two- week workshop on techniques for semester sequence at the University project management. His course will of Colorado to give students a be available as a webinar through chance to learn practical skills like the PIPELINE network. Doug Arion, building circuits and assembling the PIPELINE advisor from Carthage optics. The curriculum for these College, finished out the workshop courses will be available through with a section on how to teach the PIPELINE Network, along with students oral and written com- resources produced through the munication skills. other institutions. Now that the PIPELINE’s original Throughout the three years of three-year mission is up, the goal work on the PIPELINE Network, now is to disseminate what the contributors at each university Network has learned and created kept in contact, sharing notes and to other physics institutions. experiences through regular check “My aspiration is that we see a ins, monthly video conferences, and widening impact, with many more one-on-one visits to collaborating institutions. institutions thinking about how APS Travel Grants Get You There Tagg was a contributor to the to build a curriculum that gives Utah workshop, which took place at students learning opportunities, APS offers a variety of grants to support travel to and child care during APS meetings and AAPT’s 2019 Summer Meeting. Like both formal and informal, around workshops, and support for long-term international research collaborations. the larger efforts of the PIPELINE physics education,” says Tagg. “I Network, the workshop focused hope that we’ll eventually develop Grants are available for: on how to help students learn the a community of people who are · Undergraduate students four skill sets outlined by the Phys really seeing this bear fruit.” · Graduate students 21 report. · Postdoctoral students Bahram Roughani and Randall For more on the PIPELINE project visit · Early career scientists Jones, co-PIs for PIPELINE at Loyola aps.org/programs/education/innova- University gave the first session tion/pipeline/. Additional APS Careers at the workshop, focusing on a in Physics information is available at Learn more at go.aps.org/travelgrants framework they’ve developed to aps.org/careers/. 8 • August/September 2019 THE BACK PAGE

Openness, Security, and APS Activities to Help Maintain the Balance BY THE APS PRESIDENTIAL LINE: DAVID GROSS (PRESIDENT), ROGER FALCONE (PAST-PRESIDENT), PHILIP H. BUCKSBAUM (PRESIDENT-ELECT), S. JAMES GATES JR. (VICE PRESIDENT)

he success of the scientific enterprise of any nation the establishment of the aforementioned NAS Roundtable. requires maintaining a balance between being openly In late June, SASTA was included as an amendment in the T collaborative and securely competitive. Recently, in House version of the fiscal year 2020 National Defense the United States, the current balance has been questioned Authorization Act. by policymakers and by law enforcement and intelligence Engagement with Chinese physicists officials who are concerned about espionage and intellectual As a means to maintain and advance a common property loss impacting universities, companies, and gov- understanding of the balance between collabora- ernment agencies. Many APS members, particularly those tion and security, we believe it is valuable for the U. on visas studying or working in the United States, are likely S. physics community to sustain a dialogue with physi- concerned about various actions of US government agencies cists in China. And so, we are exploring ways to convene that can affect the openness of the scientific enterprise. a representative body of our respective leadership and APS stands for the principle that the scientific enterprise members to engage in conversation. thrives when openness and the free flow of long-term David Gross Roger Falcone research results are the norm. Of course, we understand President Past-President The APS Response: Scientific Mobility that in some areas of research it is essential to have appro- Amid the discussion of espionage and IP theft and the priate controls in place. Many APS members are employed policy responses directed at China, we have grown increas- by national labs that work on highly sensitive issues that ingly concerned about the declining number of applications require the utmost attention to security and necessitate a from international students to U.S. Ph.D. programs. A 2018 classified environment. Other APS members work in indus- APS survey of 49 of the largest physics Ph.D. programs at tries or academic settings where they must be protective U.S. institutions revealed an average decline of nearly 12 of intellectual property (IP). The urgent question we face percent in international applications between 2017 and 2018 is whether the actions taken or being proposed by the U.S. (see APS News story at go.aps.org/2OCNXGU). The concerns of Government are an appropriate response to risks or are espionage, and the current atmosphere around discussions instead tilting away from a healthy balance. of immigration, may only exacerbate that decline. We outline below our vigorous efforts to maintain the A top priority for APS is ensuring that the U.S. research appropriate balance and support our members. enterprise remains world leading. One measure of that is Clarifying the Problem ensuring that domestic students pursue careers in physics— In February, the APS Presidential line, working with Philip H. Bucksbaum Sylvester James Gates, Jr. and APS has established education programs to directly the APS Office of Government Affairs (OGA) and the APS President-Elect Vice President address that challenge. In addition, we also want to be sure Physics Policy Committee, received unclassified briefings that U.S. universities continue to attract the best students from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of in the world, regardless of their country of origin. So, to the Director of National Intelligence. outside the US, misuse of information technology, failure track and respond to the decline in applications, APS has In addition, we have met with relevant leadership at to uphold host responsibilities, and recruitment activities. responded in several ways: the U.S. State Department, the Commerce Department, the DOE’s response thus far has focused on responding to Senate Legislation Department of Defense, the White House National Security recruitment activities. The agency has issued a new policy To help counter the decline in international applications Council, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. We that employees of the national labs cannot participate in a to U.S. Ph.D. programs, APS has advocated for policies have also discussed the issue and potential responses with foreign “talent program” (go.aps.org/2ZdMefP). This policy, that allow international students to remain in the United science agencies including the National Science Foundation as described by the Undersecretary for Science Paul Dabbar, States after graduation, and build a STEM career that and Department of Energy. “…has nothing to do with ethnicity or passport; it’s simply contributes to the U.S. science enterprise. To advance What did we learn? that you can’t work for our country and another country at that policy in Congress, APS worked with its members While we have not been presented with any hard data the same time, no matter who you are.” in target states and enabled in-state meetings for APS regarding the breadth or impact of possible espionage, In addition to that policy, the DOE is developing a “risk members and congressional staff. That effort led directly in our view the discussions offered compelling anecdotal matrix”—emerging technologies vs. countries of concern— to the introduction of legislation that would enact the evidence of cases that have impacted industry, classified with policy responses to follow. The emerging technologies policy, the “Keep STEM Talent Act” (go.aps.org/31GjQVk). include: AI, battery chemistry, biotechnology, quantum research, and applied research. The U.S. Federal Bureau of House Resolution information science, accelerator science, and high perfor- Investigation (FBI) has documented some of the cases in It became clear in our conversations with staff in the mance computing. The countries of concern include: China, a publicly accessible document titled “China: The Risk to Administration and numerous congressional offices, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Academia” (go.aps.org/30gFCyL). that there was a lack of awareness of the role that inter- DOE has stated that any policy changes will be initiated However, that FBI document does not provide cases of national scientists play in the U.S. scientific enterprise. at the national labs. Only after evaluation, and consultation threats relating to unclassified basic research in academia. With concerns over espionage and IP theft, some staff with universities, would the agency apply those policies to Further, the “annual cost to the U.S. economy” it identi- simply thought that banning foreign students from grantees in academia. fies as “$225 - $600 Billion” turns out to be primarily entering the U.S. could “solve the problem.” To counter based on a generic GDP multiplier that would apply to any The APS Response: Espionage that misperception in a format that government staff are country at any time—it has no specific bearing on current We will continue to have meetings with government familiar with, APS is working with congressional staff circumstances with China or academia, as the title of the officials to discuss any proposed policy responses and we’ll to develop a Congressional Resolution that clarifies and document unfortunately suggests. continue to make the case that security concerns must be quantifies the essential contribution of international The Response of Federal Science Agencies balanced against the value of keeping the scientific enter- students and scientists. prise open and collaborative. In addition, we and APS OGA, Independent reviews of the risks by the U.S. science Survey of International Students and the APS Office of International Affairs, have also been agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the To explore additional ways to resolve and address the carrying out numerous additional activities in response to National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the decline in applications, APS deployed a second survey the concerns about espionage and IP theft: National Science Foundation, have uncovered issues that need (go.aps.org/2z9F164). Circulated to members of the NAS Roundtable to be addressed. These include intentional non-disclosure APS Forum on Graduate Affairs (FGSA), the survey asks It is essential for the Administration and the science by principal investigators of financial ties, theft of experi- students about their experiences with U.S. visa and immi- agencies to develop informed policies, using adequate mental designs, unauthorized distribution of papers that gration processes.This is the first time a wide-spread, data that appropriately characterize the threat, identify have been provided for peer review, and establishment of systematic approach has been taken to understand visa the benefits of any response, and assess the impact of “shadow labs” without full declaration by the researchers issues encountered by physics students who wish to any response to a potential threat. To that end, last to their host institution. These cases have been primarily study in the US. associated with China, suggesting a deliberate focus by—or November, we began meeting with leadership of the Monitoring of Travel Visas on—China. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to establish a round- APS will continue to provide visa application guidance and The NSF has not yet imposed new or revised external table of experts to assess risks, identify benefits, and information through its Office of International Affairs - policies. Instead, their first step is to ask all principal examine potential policy responses. Visa webpage (go.aps.org/2z9GysA), to enable scientists investigators for more detailed information to uncover any SASTA to engage in international meetings and collaborations. conflicts of interest. The next step the agency is taking is to APS contributed to the work of congressional staff on Here, visitors can learn about the visa application process, contract with an independent group of security experts (the the House Science Committee to develop the bipartisan estimate wait times for visa interviews and processing, JASONs) to assess the risks of espionage and IP theft and Securing American Science and Technology Act of 2019 (go. and find out how to report delays. Likewise, meeting orga- the benefits of international collaboration. That information aps.org/31Mn9dx). It establishes an interagency working nizers can learn how to register international meetings will help inform any future policy change. group to coordinate activities to protect federally funded with the U.S. Department of State, along with the crucial For its part, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has research and development from foreign interference information to provide to international meeting attendees. identified seven “activities of concern” including: theft of such as espionage while “accounting for the importance proprietary or patented information, unauthorized access of the open exchange of ideas and international talent to export-controlled technology, misuse of lab resources required for scientific progress and American leadership for foreign projects, unauthorized transfer of information in science and technology.” It also formally authorizes BACK PAGE CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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