Gerald Holton Wins Pais Prize by Daniel M

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History Physics NEWSLETTER A F o r u m o f T h e A m e r i c a n P h y s i cof a l S o c i e t y • V o l u m e X • N o . 4 • s P r i n G 2 0 0 8 Gerald Holton Wins Pais Prize By Daniel M. Siegel, Chair, Pais Prize Selection Committee, and David C. Cassidy

he American Physical Society and the American an NSF-sponsored national curriculum-development project Institute of Physics have chosen Gerald Holton to co-directed by Holton. With its textbook, films, laboratory Treceive the 2008 Abraham Pais Prize for the History of exercises, and other materials, the Course brought physics, Physics “for his pioneering work in the history of physics, as seen through its history, to some 200,000 high school especially on Einstein and relativity. students a year. The book still exists His writing, lecturing, and leader- in a revised edition titled Under- ship of major educational projects standing Physics (Springer, 2002), introduced history of physics to a coauthored with David Cassidy and mass audience.” Holton joins previ- James Rutherford. This project not ous winners Martin J. Klein, John only influenced an entire generation L. Heilbron, and Max Jammer in of physics students and educators, receiving this distinguished prize, but it also inspired recent initiatives which will be awarded to him dur- by the NSF, the National Research ing the April 2008 APS meeting in Council, and the American Associa- St. Louis. tion for the Advancement of Science After receiving a certificate of to improve U.S. science education. electrical engineering from the Holton’s most widely admired School of Technology, City of Oxford, study in the history of modern phys- Holton earned his B.A. degree at ics is his seminal work, Thematic Ori- Wesleyan University in 1941 and gins of Scientific Thought: From Kepler his doctorate in experimental high- to Einstein (Harvard, 1973; revised pressure physics at Harvard in 1948, in 1988). The innovative concept of as a student of Percy W. Bridgman. thematic analysis he presented there During World War II, he was an has provided a new tool of thought, instructor at Wesleyan, Brown, and Harvard; he also served in wartime Pais Prize Winner Gerald Holton Continued on page 5 laboratories and taught naval officers about radar. In 1947 Holton joined the Harvard faculty, where he has remained ever since. He has also served as a Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- In s i d e Th i s Is s u e ogy (1976–1994), where he was a founding faculty member of its Program on Science, Technology and Society. He is Letter from the Chair 2 currently the Mallinckrodt Research Professor of Physics and Research Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University. March and April Meetings 3 While continuing his research on high-pressure physics at Harvard, Holton pioneered the introduction of physics Forum Affairs 4 history into the teaching of physics with the 1952 publication of his now-classic textbook, Introduction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Science. This book was followed in Forum Elections 6 1958 by Foundations of Modern Physical Science, written with Duane H. D. Roller. The first book is still alive and well in a revised edition (with Stephen G. Brush) titled Physics, the Edmund Stoner Remembered 9 Human Adventure: From Copernicus to Einstein and Beyond (Rutgers, 2001). These texts served as the framework for the New Books of Note 10 well-known Project Physics Course, which began in 1964 as Letter from the Chair: Science is Not Simply a Matter of Faith By Bill Evenson, Forum Chair

few days after Thanksgiving, producing and evaluating evidence contributed sessions at both meetings. Paul Davies, physicist and that provides firm grounds for sci- I hope you can attend one or both of A writer on science and religion, entific beliefs. Finally, science works; these meetings. published an opinion piece in the New it produces reliable knowledge with Quick Reminders: Please consider York Times entitled, “Taking Science on demonstrable effects. making a donation in honor of a sig- Faith.” His thesis was that, at its base, History of physics works to clarify nificant colleague who has passed on. “science has its own faith-based belief all these issues: the grounds for our Such donations can either support system.” Davies argues that science is scientific beliefs, the strategies that students presenting contributed history built on “an unexplained set of physi- produce reliable (even though not talks or sponsor an invited lecture at cal laws” and draws a parallel to reli- certain) knowledge, and the extent of one of the APS meetings. The donors gion’s faith in “an unexplained God.” the reliable knowledge produced by can choose who (among deceased The central issue here is that all science. The insights of historians of physicists) is to be honored, and the human knowledge is uncertain and physics have illuminated the methods, Forum Program Committee will select incomplete. Without certainty, some foundations, and products of science. the speaker. Contact me or any other would say, every enterprise is founded They have shown where the great- Forum officer if you wish to make such on faith of some kind. However, I est uncertainties remain, and how a donation. have three caveats relevant to history interesting and complex questions The Forum Executive Commit- of physics. First, not all uncertainty have been resolved. While I recognize tee is currently seeking an Associ- is created equal; there are degrees of both the power and comfort religious ate Editor for the History of Phys- certainty, depending on the strength faith brings to humanity, I reject the ics Newsletter, to be appointed in of reasonable grounds for our beliefs. parallels between religious faith and time to work with the current Edi- (Rational degrees of certainty or belief scientific beliefs in the context of uncer- tor, Michael Riordan, and take over were starting points for the probability tainty—parallels that are espoused by as Editor for the Fall issue 2009. theories of Laplace, R. T. Cox, E. T. Davies and many hopeful believers. Please contact me at [email protected] Jaynes, and others.) Second, science Both the nature and degree of the if you are interested in this possibility has widely accepted strategies for “faith” that lies at the foundation of or wish to suggest a colleague. these approaches to understanding Remember to send a short record of the world are qualitatively different the work of retiring scientists (yourself for religion and science. Anyone who or colleagues) to the Center for History takes comfort in characterizing science of Physics, as explained by Virginia as “only” a matter of faith should read The Forum on History of Physics Trimble in the February 2007 issue of physics history more deeply, and the of the American Physical Society this newsletter. Likewise, continue to perspective provided by this history publishes this Newsletter semian- send department histories to the Center should be an essential part of science nually. Nonmembers who wish for History of Physics and JDJackson@ education. to receive the Newsletter should lbl.gov. The Forum supports a strong role make a donation to the Forum of Finally, please nominate your for the history of physics in the phys- $5 per year (+ $3 additional for deserving colleagues with accomplish- ics community. It will continue to airmail). Each 3-year volume con- ments in history of physics for APS encourage physics historians, provide sists of six issues. Fellowship (more details on p. 4). a venue for discussing their work, and Editor involve practicing physicists in that Final Remarks: My greatest plea- Michael Riordan discussion. sure during my term as Forum Chair Institute of Particle Physics I wish to congratulate the Forum has been working with physicists and University of California Program Committee on plans for his- historians to put together the history Santa Cruz, CA 95064 tory programs at the March (New symposia that have come to play such [email protected] Orleans) and April (St. Louis) APS an important role at the national APS (831) 459-5687 Meetings. Chair-Elect David Cassidy meetings. Working to organize the and Vice Chair Gloria Lubkin and their large and non-standard-format session Associate Editor committees have organized these fine that commemorated the 20th anniver- Robert H. Romer programs. Elsewhere in this newslet- sary of the discovery of high-temper- Physics Department ter (on p. 3), you will find specifics of ature superconductivity at the 2007 Amherst College the excellent sessions planned for these March Meeting was both challenging Amherst, MA 01002 meetings. In addition to the invited and satisfying. [email protected] symposia organized by the Forum, we continue to have stimulating Continued on page 4

2 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter Forum Sessions at the 2008 APS Meetings By David C. Cassidy, Chair, Program Committee he Forum Program Committee In addition to these invited ses- Chair of both sessions: Ramanath is conducting an experiment sions, Gerald Holton, winner of the Cowsik, Washington University this year. At the suggestion T 2008 Abraham Pais Prize for the His- I. Observatories and Telescopes. of Forum Chair Bill Evenson, we tory of Physics (see p. 1), will speak Joseph Miller, Lick Observatory, divided the program committee on April 14 in a joint award session UC Santa Cruz, “Lick Observatory into two subcommittees under the co-sponsored with the Forum on Phys- and the Shift of Astronomical Power overall direction of the Program ics and Society. Sessions for contrib- to California” Chair: an April committee chaired uted papers are also scheduled in by Cassidy, and a March committee both March and April meetings; travel Mario Livio, Space Telescope Science co-chaired by Vice Chair Gloria Lub- grants are available for students pre- Institute, “Hubble Space Telescope: kin and George Zimmerman. So far senting contributed papers in these ses- Images that Go Around the World” the experiment has succeeded quite sions. Some of the titles of the papers Elizabeth Barton, University of nicely. Since each committee can given below are still tentative. California, Irvine, “Data by the now devote full attention to its spe- Terabyte: Large, Versatile Telescopes cific meeting, the result has been a March 10–14, 2008 and Upcoming Technology” New Orleans, Louisiana more carefully selected and broadly II. We Master the Stars. based program of invited sessions at 50th Anniversary of Physical Review Matthew Stanley, Michigan State each of the two meetings. Letters, March 11. University, “How We Learned the An overview of the March and Saad Hebboul, Physical Review Letters, Stars Run on Nuclear Energy” April invited sessions is given below. “PRL at 50: A History of Physics Stirling A. Colgate, Los Alamos Nation- Among the many highlights of these Moving Forward” al Laboratory, “Stars at the Highest two meetings is the celebration of H. Eugene Stanley, Boston University, Energy” the 50th anniversary of Physical “Phase Transitions and Critical Mark McCaughrean, University of Review Letters. A session on PRL is Phenomena” planned at each of the two meet- Exeter, “Star Formation as Seen in Marvin L. Cohen, University of ings with a series of outstanding the Early Years of the Overwhelm- California, Berkeley, “Condensed speakers who will explore the past, ingly Large Telescopes” (The Ken- Matter Theory: From Models to First present, and the important issue neth Greisen Lecture) Principles” of the future of research publica- Charles P. Slichter, University of Los Alamos and the Manhattan tion in the electronic age. Another Project: 65th Anniversary, April 13, highlight will be a unique session Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, “NMR and the BCS Theory” co-sponsored with FPS. at the April meeting celebrating the Chair: Benjamin Bederson, New York Jack Sandweiss, Yale University, “The 65th anniversary of the beginning University of the Manhattan Project and the Future of Scientific Publishing” Cynthia C. Kelly, Atomic Heritage work at Los Alamos. Ben Bederson, Industrial Physics History, March 13. who worked on the Manhattan Foundation, “The Manhattan Project: Paul Horn, IBM Watson Research Project and organized the session, A History Worth Preserving” Center, “Industrial Research at IBM” has invited all physics alumni of the Val L. Fitch, Princeton University, project to attend the meeting and James Hollenhorst, Agilent Labs, “Life on and off the Mesa” participate in an extended panel “Reflections on Three Corporate David C. Cassidy, Hofstra University, discussion following the presenta- Research Labs: Bell Labs, HP Labs, Moderator, “Panel Discussion with tion by Val Fitch, also an alumnus and Agilent Labs” Physicist Alumni of the Manhattan of the project. In addition, the April Robert A. Frosch, Harvard University, Project” “Application Oriented R&D: Apho- meeting will have two back-to-back 80 Years of Quantum Mechanics: A sessions on the “Triumphs of 20th risms & Anecdotes” (The John Bardeen Lecture) New International Project, April 14. Century Astrophysics,” one focusing Chair: Clayton A. Gearhart, St. John’s David J. Bishop, Bell Labs, “The His- on instrumentation and the other on University, Minnesota discoveries. There will also be an tory of Science and Technology at Michel Janssen, University of Min- April invited session in recognition Bell Labs” nesota, “Van Vleck and Slater: Two of 80 years of quantum mechan- Robert Doering, Texas Instruments, Americans on the Road to Matrix ics, in which members of a new “50 Years of ‘Scaling’ Jack Kilby’s Mechanics” international project on the history Invention” of quantum mechanics will present Christoph Lehner, Max Planck Institute their latest work. And during the April 12-15, 2008 for History of Science, Berlin, March meeting, a session on the his- St. Louis, Missouri “Creative Confusion: Quantum The- ory on the Way to Wave Mechanics” tory of physics in industrial settings Triumphs of 20th Century Astrophys- will occur. ics, April 12, co-sponsored with DAP. Continued on page 5

Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter 3 Crease and Howard Named APS Fellows By David C. Cassidy

pon the recommendation of the listed in the citation are: The Prism and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Forum on History of Physics, the Pendulum: The Ten Most Beautiful Boston University, where he wrote Uthe APS Council has named Experiments in Science; and The Play of his dissertation under Abner Shimony. Robert P. Crease and Don Howard Fel- Nature: Experimentation as Performance. He has written extensively on Bohr lows of the American Physical Society. He helped Robert Serber complete his and the origins of quantum mechan- Robert P. Crease is professor and memoir, Peace and War: Reflections on ics; on Einstein and the foundations chair of the Department of Philosophy a Life at the Frontiers of Science. And of relativity theory; and on the Bohr- in the State University of New York at following the death of Abraham Pais, Einstein dialogue on interpretations of Stony Brook. The fellowship citation Crease completed his unfinished biog- quantum mechanics. Among his many reads: “For his extensive historical raphy, J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life. He published studies are: “Reduction and writings on physics, including The has been a contributing correspondent Emergence in the Physical Sciences: Second Creation; Making Physics: A Biog- for Science and a contributing edi- Some Lessons from the Particle Phys- raphy of Brookhaven National Laboratory, tor for The Scientist. He also writes ics and Condensed Matter Debate”; and his completion of Robert Serber’s the long-running, popular monthly “Point Coincidences and Pointer Coinci- memoirs and Abraham Pais’ biography column “Critical Point” for Physics dences: Einstein on Invariant Structure of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” World, and he translates Dutch works in Spacetime Theories”; and “Revisit- Crease received his bachelor’s into English. ing the Einstein-Bohr Dialogue.” As degree at Amherst College and his Don Howard is a professor in the a co-founder of the group History doctorate at Columbia University, both Department of Philosophy at the Uni- of the Philosophy of Science and a in philosophy. In addition to his work versity of Notre Dame and director of member of the International Advisory in philosophy, he has made major its Program in History and Philosophy Committee for the series of History scholarly contributions to the his- of Science. The fellowship citation of General Relativity conferences, he tory of physics and has been active in reads: “For his ground-breaking stud- has been instrumental in bringing physics journalism. He is the historian ies of the interplay between physics together physicists, philosophers and of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and philosophy of science in the 20th historians. He has also been a contribu- which led to his acclaimed “biogra- century, especially in connection with tor to and co-editor of the two series phy” of the laboratory and his lengthy the work of Einstein and Bohr, and for Einstein Studies and History of Science histories of its ISABELLE project and organizing conference series and edit- and Philosophy of Science, as well as a the National Synchrotron Light Source. ing book series fostering the dialogue contributing editor and translation He has also written many additional among physicists, philosophers, and consultant for The Collected Papers of accounts of specific episodes in the historians of science.” Albert Einstein. n history of 20th century physics as Howard received his bachelor’s well as incisive articles on historical degree in physics from Michigan methodology. Among his books not State University, and his master’s and

Call for Fellowship Nominations The Fellowship Committee calls for may be confirmed through the above For further information, please con- the nomination of suitable candidates website. A sponsor (nominator) and a tact the chair of the Forum Fellowship for APS Fellow through the Forum on co-sponsor, both of whom must be APS Committee, Gloria Lubkin at glubkin@ the History of Physics. These nomina- members, are required. Up to two sup- aip.org, or the APS fellowship officer tions should be based at least in part porting letters from other individuals, at [email protected] or by telephone at upon achievements related to the his- who do not have to be APS members, (301) 209-3268. n tory of physics. The Forum deadline may be also submitted by uploading to for the receipt of all materials at APS is the site. Please visit the above web site 15 May 2008. Procedures for nomina- for further information and to obtain a tion have recently changed. The new list of the required documentation. Letter from the Chair procedures are now available at: Nominations will be forwarded to Continued from page 2 the Forum Fellowship Committee for http://www.aps.org/programs/honors/index. review. This committee will make its I am proud of having helped cfm (scroll down to Fellowship). recommendation to the Forum Execu- improve the structure of our future According to these procedures, all tive Committee, and after that all nom- Program Committees, which should nominations are to be submitted to inations will go to the APS Council for further strengthen the history sym- the APS via the online nomination approval. Fellowship nominations may posia offered each year. The physics package provided at the indicated be submitted at any time, but must be community, including physics history, web site. The nominees must be APS received by 15 May 2008 for the next is like no other for me, giving both members in good standing, which review. social and intellectual satisfactions. n 4 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter Gerald Holton Wins Pais Award Preserving Continued from page 1 Departmental used not only in his own work but raise a substantial endowment for the also in that of many other scholars. Society. Histories Holton’s treatment of Einstein’s rela- Holton remains active today with By J. David Jackson tivity theory in this book established speaking engagements and a new book his standing as a major interpreter of underway on the history of twentieth- he APS Forum on History of Einstein’s work and its background; it century physics. His recent research Physics renews the call (from has shaped scholarly discourse in this has also led to publications on the TAPS News, January 2007) to every critical area of the history of physics career problems of women scientists, physics department to help preserve for more than a generation. Thematic on science policy, and on the fate of the its history and accomplishments by Origins also presents other often-cited children who came to the United States updating an existing history or prepar- studies, such as on the philosophi- as refugees before World War II, with ing a new one. The histories should cal roots of Bohr’s complementarity special attention to those who became be deposited with the AIP Niels Bohr principle. This book displays one of scientists. Library and entered in the Forum’s Holton’s major strengths: his attention Among his many other honors and new Register of Departmental Histo- to the humanistic and societal context awards Gerald Holton was selected ries and Records (see below). of scientific research. to deliver the Herbert Spencer Lec- A coherent historical narrative Among Holton’s other books are tures at Oxford University. He was may be supplemented by specialized The Advancement of Science and Its the first historian of science to deliver records and documents, such as annu- Burdens; Einstein, History, and other the annual Jefferson Lecture of the al faculty lists and course descriptions Passions; and Science and Anti-Science. National Endowment for the Humani- from university catalogs. Examples of In these works, he provides techni- ties. He has been awarded the Sarton the diversity of materials already on cal as well as humanistic analyses of Medal of the History of Science Society, hand at the AIP are the informal and the work of Poincaré, Millikan, Fer- the Oersted Medal, the Joseph Priest- probably incomplete listings found mi, Heisenberg, and other physicists, ley Award, and the AIP’s Andrew W. in the Niels Bohr Library catalog for reaching back even to the science of Gemant Award, plus eight honorary Cornell University and the Univer- Thomas Young and Thomas Jefferson, degrees. n sity of Michigan, as given below. Note, and he gives an often-needed defense however, that the most recent of these of the scientific enterprise against anti- items are over 20 years old, and most scientific movements. Editor’s Note: I am personally delight- are much older. ed by this selection, for I have used Throughout his career, Holton has Cornell University: been active in building and improving Holton’s Thematic Origins as a text in all the course I’ve taught in the history “Seventy years of physics at Cornell,” a variety of projects and institutions by Harley Earl Howe, 1958. beneficial to the history of physics of 20th century physics at Stanford “The Cornell Physics Department— and related sciences. Working with and the University of California, Santa recollections and a history of sorts,” Edward Purcell in the early 1960s, he Cruz. by Paul Hartman, 1984. was instrumental in initiating and supporting the jointly sponsored APS Forum Sessions at the 2008 Pages from faculty listing of the Cor- project, Sources for History of Quan- APS March Meeting nell University Department of Phys- tum Physics. The project results have ics, 1910–1940, by Cornell University. Continued from page 3 served ever since as a major repository University of Michigan: of primary archival sources for the his- “The University of Michigan Depart- University of tory of quantum mechanics and atomic Alexei Kojevnikov, ment of Physics, 1843–1944,” by British Columbia, physics. Similarly, Holton played a key “‘Knabenphysik’: Charles F. Meyer, 1944. The Birth of Quantum Mechanics role in preserving the Einstein Archive “Physics and the Department of from a Postdoctoral Viewpoint” and in launching the Einstein Papers Physics since 1900—Definitions and Project at Princeton University Press. 50th Anniversary of Physical Review Reflections,” by David Mathias Den- He helped establish the APS Divi- nison, 1967. Letters, April 14, co-sponsored with sion (now Forum) on the History of “On the history of physics at Michi- Physics, serving as one of its founding DPF. Chair: R. Sekhar Chivukula, Michi- gan: Nuclear physics,” by W. C. chairs and as a frequent member of Parkinson, 1986. the Executive Committee. During the gan State University “The Michigan Symposium on Theo- early 1960s, he also chaired the AIP Robert J. Garisto, Brookhaven National retical Physics,” by Samuel A. Goud- committee that initiated the Center for Laboratory, “Half a Century of PRL” smidt, ca. 1961. History of Physics. As president of the Michael S. Turner, University of Chi- History of Science Society during the cago, “title to be announced” Pages from catalogs listing faculty of the physics department, 1910–1940, early 1980s, Holton established over a Michael E. Peskin, Stanford Linear dozen new programs, made possible Accelerator Center “PRL and Experi- by University of Michigan Depart- ment of Physics. by a funding drive that he initiated to mental Particle Physics” n Continued on page 6 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter 5 Preserving Departmental Histories Forum Elections: Continued from page 5 Candidate Biographies & Statements Catalogs listing of courses in physics and staff of the University of he Nominating Committee of his research centered on condensed Michigan Department of Phys- the Forum on History of Physics matter theory, particularly on the ics, 1925–1941, by University of Thas chosen a slate of candidates theory of magnetism, phase transitions, Michigan. for the 2008 elections. You will soon be neutron scattering, and synchrotron Copies of physics and chemistry asked to vote for Forum Vice-Chair and radiation. He held many research and examinations, 1896–1901, by Univer- two at-large members of the Executive management positions at Brookhaven, sity of Michigan. Committee. The person elected to be including head of condensed matter A directory of research in the Phys- Vice-Chair normally becomes the new theory, Deputy Chair of the Physics ics Department of the University Chair-Elect in 2009 and Chair of the Department, Chair of the National of Michigan, 1962, by University of Forum in 2010. Synchrotron Light Source Department, Michigan Department of Physics. If you have an email address regis- and Deputy Director of the Labora- tered with APS, you will receive a mes- tory. In addition he was Professor of To the extent that an up-to-date sage inviting you to vote electronically. Physics at Stony Brook University historical record is not on file at the If you do not have such an address, from 1972-1980. In 1996 Blume took Niels Bohr Library, the Forum urges you should have received a paper bal- a leave of absence from Brookhaven a physics department to prepare or lot by mail. If you want a paper ballot to become Editor-in-Chief of the APS, update a history of its department and but have not yet received one, please with responsibility for all of the Soci- any research laboratories, and to send either email your request to the Secre- ety’s journals. He served two five a copy (in whatever form) to the Niels tary-Treasurer Thomas Miller (thomas. year terms as Editor-in-Chief, retiring Bohr Library, in care of Dr. Spencer [email protected]), or contact him in March of 2007. During his service Weart, AIP Center for History of Phys- postally (Boston College Institute for as EIC he oversaw the transition of ics, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Scientific Research, Air Force Research the Physical Reviews to electronic dis- MD 20740-3843 (email: [email protected]). Laboratory/VSBXT, Hanscom AFB, MA tribution, including putting all of the Placing historical documents on the 01731) or by telephone (781-377-5031). journals on-line, back to the origins of departmental web site would also give The closing date of the election for Physical Review in 1893, and reworking increased access to all. online voting is 16 March 2008; the the operation of the editorial process Separately the Forum has estab- final date for receipt of paper ballots to completely electronic form, with a lished a Register of Departmental is March 21. virtually paperless office. Histories and Records, to be published Biographical information and state- Blume received the 1981 E. O. periodically in the Forum newsletter ments by the candidates appear below. Lawrence Award in Physics of the and on its web site. Entries should Similar materials can be found online Department of Energy for his research be standard bibliographic citations at: http://www.aps.org/units/fhp/elections/ on Neutron Scattering and Synchrotron with indications of availability in candidates08.cfm. Radiation, and the Argonne National institutional or departmental libraries, Laboratory Advanced Photon Source Please vote! through web links, and (we hope) at A. H. Compton Award for his theoreti- the Bohr Library. This Register will Candidates for cal research on resonant X-ray scatter- provide another tool for finding infor- ing in 2003. In 2005 he received from mation about past activities in phys- Vice Chair the Council of Science Editors their ics research and education, to serve highest award for his innovations and as a starting point for more focused Martin Blume accomplishments in scientific publica- searches. Please send Register entries American Physical Society and tion. He has served on many commit- for existing histories, other materials Brookhaven National Laboratory tees of the APS, including election to and new entries as they are produced Email: [email protected] the Council and Executive Board as to J. D. Jackson, 50A-5104 Lawrence Biographical Information: Mar- well as Chair of the Nominating Com- Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley tin Blume is Editor-in-Chief Emeri- mittee. He has served also on commit- CA 94720 (email: [email protected]). tus of the American Physical Soci- tees of the National Research Council, The materials themselves should be ety and Senior Physicist Emeritus the National Science Foundation, the sent to the Niels Bohr Library (address at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Department of Energy, the Institute above). He received his A.B. degree from of Pure and Applied Physics, and on The APS Forum on History of Phys- Princeton in 1954 and a Ph.D. from many visiting committees of institu- ics congratulates those departments Harvard in physics in 1959. He was a tions around the world. He is a Fel- with an up-to-date history on file in its Fulbright Fellow at Tokyo University low of the American Academy of Arts library and at the Niels Bohr Library. in 1959-1960, and Research Associate and Sciences, the American Physical If it does not exist, please prepare one! at the Atomic Energy Research Estab- Society, the American Association for Forum members are encouraged to lishment at Harwell, UK in 1960-1962. the Advancement of Science, and the take the initiative in preparing them.n He came to Brookhaven in 1962 where British Institute of Physics.

6 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter Continued from page 6 Candidates for At- Statement: My interest and involve- Biographical Information: Daniel Large Member of the ment in the history of physics goes Kleppner received the B.Sc. degree Executive Committee back to my administrative positions from Williams College, B.A. Degree at Brookhaven, which required justi- from Cambridge University and Ph.D. Robert G. Arns fication for locating research efforts at degree from Harvard University. He national laboratories, and the history joined the physics faculty at MIT in University of Vermont of the national laboratories provided 1966 and in 2003 became Lester Wolfe Email: [email protected] such justification. My interest intensi- Professor of Physics Emeritus. His Biographical Informaton: Bob Arns fied during my terms as Editor-in- research has been in atomic physics is an experimental physicist with a Chief: The on line availability of all including high precision measure- background in nuclear and particle of the content of the APS journals is ments, quantum optics, and ultracold physics whose professional interests a treasure trove of historical informa- atoms. He helped to found the MIT- have turned in the last few years to tion both about the Society and about Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms the history of physics and the history the physics of the 20th (and now 21st) where he is currently Co-Director. of technologies based in physics. A century. During the 2005 celebration His awards include the Davisson B.S. graduate of Canisius College, he of the World Year of Physics I gave a Germer Prize, Lilienfeld Prize and received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in well attended invited talk on Scientific Leo Szilard Lectureship Award of the Nuclear Physics from the University of Publication Since Einstein at the Ger- APS, the Meggers Award and Freder- Michigan. He has served as a physics man Physical Society meeting in Berlin, ick Ives Medal of the Optical Society faculty member at the State University where Einstein’s involvement with the of American, the Oersted Medal of of New York at Buffalo, Ohio State Physical Review was highlighted. The the American Association of Physics University, and the University of Ver- often “Standing Room Only” status of Teachers, the Wolf Foundation Prize mont, where he is currently Physics invited sessions of Forum shows the and the National Medal of Science. He Professor Emeritus. At Vermont he also great interest in the history of our sci- is a member of the National Academy served as a Dean and as Provost. He is ence, and we should take advantage of Sciences, the American Academy a member of The American Physical of this, first to increase membership in of Arts and Sciences, the Academies Society, the American Association of the Forum, and then to arrange more of Science (Paris), and the American Physics Teachers, the History of Sci- such sessions at the smaller meetings Philosophical Society. ence Society, the Society for the History of the Society, focusing on historical In the APS Kleppner served as of Technology, Phi Beta Kappa, and developments relevant to the location Counselor (1986-89) and member of Sigma Xi. In 1998 he was awarded the and topics of the meetings. Also of the Executive Committee (1986-1988), Institute of Electrical and Electronics importance is the relationship between Panel on Public Affairs (1989-1992) Engineers Life Members’ Prize for the the history of physics and the policy, and the Physics Planning Committee “best research reported in any journal international, and educational pro- (1989-96, chair 1992-96). He was Chair in 1997 on any aspect of the history of grams of the Society, so joint sessions of the Division of Atomic, Molecular electrical/electronic technologies.” with the other forums in those areas and Optical Physics (1983-84), and Statement: My current research has should be promoted, and an aggressive member of the Editorial Boards of involved the painfully slow rate at campaign to obtain more nominations Physical Review A (1982–88) and Reviews which special relativity and other mod- for APS Fellowship through the Forum, of Modern Physics (2004–). He was co- ern physics concepts have made their separately and with other Society divi- chair of the APS Study on Boost-Phase way into the teaching of introductory sions, is in order. Finally, 2008 will be Intercept for National Missile Defense and intermediate physics; and the life the 50th anniversary of the start, by (2002-04). His AIP activities include and scientific legacy of Ettore Majo- then Editor-in-Chief Sam Goudsmit, the Development Committee for the rana, who was born in 1906 and dis- of Physical Review Letters, the first— Center for History of Physics, which appeared mysteriously in 1938. Recent and widely imitated—“Letters” jour- he has chaired since 2004. He is the publications include studies of the role nal. Both Goudsmit and many of the co-author of two textbooks and writes of resonant cavities in acoustics; of J. articles published in PRL have been of occasional essays for Physics Today. E. Lilienfeld and the development of considerable importance in the history Statement: The history of physics high-vacuum x-ray tubes; of the history of physics in the 20th century and, is invaluable for teaching physics at of the field-effect transistor; and of the in addition to invited talks (already every level and for communicating early history of neutrino detection. As planned) at the APS March Meeting, the process and values of physics to a might be inferred from the foregoing, an electronic collection of those articles society that increasingly depends on my interests include not only physicists could be promoted. science but appears to be increasingly and their accomplishments, but also mistrustful. The Forum has a unique the evolution of scientific thought, and opportunity to stimulate the creation factors affecting the processes and rate of histories, disseminate historical of acceptance of new concepts. These Daniel Kleppner information on physics, and assist the efforts in the history of physics have Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics community in transmitting its provided an historical perspective that Email: [email protected] values to the public. Continued on page 8

Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter 7 Continued from page 7 such as the Divisions of Particles and cast individual research projects in the Fields, Condensed Matter Physics, and broader context of physics as a coher- has enriched both my physics teaching the Forum on Physics and Society, I ent discipline, and provide examples of and my own awareness of the com- plan to stimulate such investigations. “physics in action” that make the intel- plexity of scientific change. If elected I lectual processes of scientific research will endeavor to bring these qualities Michael Demkowicz accessible to non-scientists. As a mem- to my work on the Forum Executive Los Alamos National Laboratory ber of the executive committee of the Committee. Email: [email protected] APS Forum on History of Physics, one of my goals would be to encourage Biographical Information: Michael ideas on how the study of the history Ramanath Cowsik Demkowicz received B.S. degrees in of physics could enhance the typical Washington University Physics and in Aerospace Engineer- course of a physicist’s education by Email: [email protected] ing from the University of Texas at filling the gaps described above. Since Biographical Information: Ramanath Austin in 2000. He also received a B.A. my own undergraduate and graduate Cowsik is a Professor of Physics and in Liberal Arts through UT’s Plan II studies are still fresh in my memory, I Director, McDonnell Center for the Honors program, where he was first stand to bring to this question a per- Space Sciences at Washington Univer- introduced to the history of science.His spective that bridges that of a student sity in St. Louis, MO. He received his undergraduate senior thesis entitled and a professional researcher. By the Ph.D. in Physics from the University of “An undergraduate’s research experi- end of my term, I would like to make Bombay in Mumbai, India. His current ence in physics”—supervised by M. P. available a document presenting the research interests include astroparticle Marder—contrasted experimental work gathered suggestions, examples of physics, experimental gravitation, cos- as it is taught in undergraduate labora- their implementation, reflections on mology, high-energy astrophysics and tories with how it is practiced by pro- their impact, and recommendations seismology. Professor Cowsik was fessional physicists. It received a Plan for future action. Furthermore, as a formerly the Distinguished Professor II model thesis award in 2000. Demko- researcher in the solid state/materials at the Tata Institute of Fundamental wicz joined the Mechanics of Materials science side of physics, I plan to lobby Research (1996–2001) and the Director group at the Massachusetts Institute of for increased interest in the Forum on of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics Technology in 2000 as a National Sci- History of Physics among the tradition- (July 1992–December 2003). He has ence Foundation fellow and MIT Presi- al attendees of the APS March Meeting received the Vikram Sarabhai Award dential Fellow. He received his M.S. in by organizing Forum sessions at the for Space Sciences (Hari Om Prerit) 2004 and Ph.D. in 2005 for his research March Meeting and encouraging par- in 1981, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar on plasticity of amorphous silicon, ticipation in ongoing projects such as Award in Physical Sciences in1984, done with A. S. Argon. He is currently the Niels Bohr Library and Archives. the National Aeronautics and Space a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow at Los Administration Public Service Group Alamos National Laboratory working C.W. Francis Everitt Achievement Award in 1986, the Third with R. G. Hoagland on radiation dam- Stanford University World Academy of Sciences Award age in solids. Email: [email protected] in Basic Sciences (Physics) in 1995, Statement: I believe there is currently Biographical Information: Francis and the Padma Shri Award by the an important gap in the typical cur- Everitt did his undergraduate and Government of India in 2002. Profes- riculum of undergraduate and gradu- graduate work at Imperial College, sor Cowsik is a member of the U.S. ate education in physics: although London (Ph. D., 1959, with P. M. S. National Academy of Sciences (as a students are given extensive technical Blackett and J. A. Clegg). His the- foreign associate), a Fellow of the Indi- training in experimental and theoretical sis was on paleomagnetism of the an Academy of Sciences, and the Third methods, they do not study the intel- Carboniferous period (~ 300 million World Academy of Sciences and a Life lectual processes by which observa- years ago), establishing among other Member of the American Physical Soci- tions were interpreted to form theories. things with J. C. Belshé that during ety. He also served on the International As a result, in addition to being poorly that period Britain was 10 degrees Union of Pure and Applied Physics in prepared to critically evaluate equally south of the equator, a key result in 1999–2002. plausible alternative interpretations of the emerging field of continental drift Statement: Research activities in Phys- their own work, they also lack the “big and plate tectonics. Changing fields in ics, as in all other intellectual endeav- picture” perspective on the develop- 1960 to cryogenics, he transferred to ors, are influenced by the nature of ment of science that would help them the University of Pennsylvania where, society and the historic conditions that to plan their careers. Furthermore, with K. R. Atkins and A. Denenstein, are prevalent at the time major advanc- a physicist educated in the current he was responsible for the discovery of es are made in the field. Though this curricula finds it difficult to defend third sound in superfluid helium. Since interconnection is extensively explored scientific perspectives to skeptical non- 1962 at Stanford, he has maintained in other fields such as art, music, or scientists. I propose that the history of two separate, sometimes overlap- technology, there exist only a few stud- science—and of physics in particular— ping, interests, fundamental physics in ies that bear on this in the context of can play a decisive role in filling this space, and the history and philosophy the progress in fundamental physics. educational gap: situations drawn of physics. He is Principal Investigator Through the Forum on the History of from the history of physics illustrate Physics in association with other units the processes of theory formation, Continued on page 9

8 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter Edmund C. Stoner and the Discovery of the Maximum Mass of White Dwarfs By Michael Nauenberg, University of California, Santa Cruz he existence of a mass limit for to Stoner, he claimed that “they had white dwarfs is usually attributed never examined the ramifications” of Tsolely to Subramanyan Chan- the relativistic equation of state. With drasekhar, and this limit is now named regard to Stoner, however, this claim after him. But as is often the case, is incorrect. In his 1983 Nobel prize the history of this discovery is more lecture, Chandrasekhar gave a histori- nuanced. Actually, the existence of a cal review of his work on white dwarfs maximum mass was first established but did not cite Stoner’s prior work. by Edmund C. Stoner, who a few years This universal neglect of Stoner’s earlier had played an important role seminal work on white dwarfs explains in Pauli’s formulation of the exclusion why, with a few notable exceptions, his principle in quantum physics. Stoner’s contributions to the discovery of the interest in dense stars was aroused by maximum mass of white dwarfs have Ralph Fowler’s application of this prin- been forgotten until now. n ciple to solve the puzzle of the origin Editor’s Note: Nauenberg’s complete of the extremely high density of white dwarfs, which could not be explained article on Stoner will appear in the by classical physics. Stoner subse- May issue of the Journal of the History of Astronomy. quently applied the minimum-energy Edmund C. Stoner principle to obtain the equilibrium properties of dense stars in a constant- at the critical mass. At about the same Candidates density approximation, substituting for time, Lev Landau, who was a visitor Continued from page 8 the internal energy Fowler’s non-rela- in Zurich collaborating with Pauli’s tivistic equation of state for a degen- assistant, Rudolf Peierls, also evaluated of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Gravity Probe B and erate electron gas. In particular, he the critical mass. Satellite Test of the Equivalence Prin- found that the density increases with Stoner was encouraged by Arthur ciple programs. His historical writings the square of the mass of the star. But S. Eddington to pursue further the have included a biography of James alerted by Wilhem Anderson that for implication of his relativistic equa- Clerk Maxwell and studies from vari- white dwarfs with masses comparable tion of state for stellar structure, and ous viewpoints of Fritz and Heinz Lon- to the Sun’s this result implied that the he communicated Stoner’s last two don, Leonard Schiff, William Fairbank, electrons become relativistic, Stoner papers on this subject to the Monthly obtained the fully relativistic equation Notices of the Royal Astronomical Soci- and, most recently, the complex transition from classical to modern physics of state for a degenerate electron gas. ety. His correspondence with Stoner in the thinking of Kelvin, Maxwell and Based on solid theoretical foun- deepens the mystery why several years Einstein. dations, Stoner then calculated the later, in a devastating public attack properties of white dwarfs for arbi- on Chandrasekhar’s similar work Statement: One of the strengths, but trary densities, and obtained the criti- on white dwarfs, Eddington rejected also one of the problems, of the evolu- cal mass in the limit that the den- Stoner’s relativistic equation of state, tion in studies of the history of science sity approaches infinity. His paper, and its profound implication for the over the last few decades and, in par- “The Equilibrium of White Dwarfs,” existence of a white dwarf mass limit. ticular, the history of physics, is that appeared in 1930—a year before pub- Eddington’s criticisms were entirely the field has become a profession in lication of Chandrasekhar’s first short unfounded, but his enormous prestige its own right. Historians address their paper on his calculation of the critical led to the acceptance of his views by discourse to each other rather than to mass. Chandrasekhar acknowledged a majority of the astronomical com- us physicists, and to us that discourse that his result was in “agreement” with munity, and to the initial rejection of often seems remote. It is a loss to both Stoner’s, but he also claimed, without Chandrasekhar’s work. sides. History matters, and the collec- giving a valid proof, that the critical In Kameshwar Wali’s excellent tion of myths that we physicists too mass was a maximum. But this result biography of Chandrasekhar, Stoner is often suppose to be the history of our had already been demonstrated by never mentioned. More recently, in his field is profoundly misleading. My Stoner, who had shown that the mass book The Empire of Stars, Arthur Miller hope, as a Forum member, would be to is a monotonically increasing function remarked, “It was indeed extraordi- aid in constructing bridges across this of the density, while it took Chan- nary that a nineteen-year-old Indian divide and to enable APS members to drasekhar several additional months youth had managed to make a discov- realize how enlightening a truer his- before he found a valid argument for ery that had eluded the great minds tory of physics can be, culturally and this conclusion and he was able to of European astrophysics.” Although in the actual contemporary practice of show that the density becomes infinite Miller refers briefly to Anderson and our field. n

Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter 9 New Books of Note Thinking with Objects: The Transformation of Mechanics in the Seventeenth Century By Domenico Bertoloni Meli Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007, illustrated, 389 pages

Reviewed by Michael Nauenberg Another important contributor, Chris- tiaan Huygens, also experimented with Thinking with Objects is a compre- the conical pendulum, and developed hensive book that describes some sophisticated mathematical methods the outstanding developments in including the use of infinitesimal mechanics that occurred during the quantities, predating the invention of seventeenth century. The “objects” in the calculus by Newton and Leibniz. the title are the familiar ones found This work led Huygens to discover in undergraduate physics labs—the that the centripetal acceleration of a lever, the spring, the pendulum, rolling body revolving uniformly around a balls on inclined planes, etc.—that are circle is proportional to the square of employed to illustrate the principles of its velocity and inversely proportional mechanics. Until the seventeenth cen- to the radius of the circle. Thus Huy- tury, however, most of these principles gens—and independently Newton— were not yet known, and experiments was able to explain, for the first time, with these mundane objects were car- why a body on the surface of our ried out to find possible mathematical rotating earth does not fly off, and in regularities that would describe their the process resolved one of the major observed properties. Any rules found objections to Copernican astronomy. were then applied to understand the Thinking with Objects is however properties of a much wider variety of marred by a lack of clarity and some objects, including the motion of celes- serious errors in explaining the phys- tial bodies. ics and mathematics underlying the In recent years, valuable schol- this transformation of mechanics, and historical experiments. For example, arly work has contributed to a deeper Meli discusses their work, too. For in footnote 56 on p. 348, Meli claims understanding of various aspects of example, in the seventeenth, Robert that “a correct way to prove isochro- the development of mechanics. A pro- Hooke was undoubtedly the most pro- nism [of a mass oscillating at the fessor in the Department of History lific practitioner in the arts of experi- end of a spring] would be to use the and Philosophy of Science at Indiana mentation. In his investigations he average speed, which is proportional University, Domenico Bertoloni Meli employed not only mundane objects, to AC [the maximum displacement], has incorporated the newly found but also elaborate devices, including therefore time [the period] is indeed insights in his book, but on some still the air pump, the microscope and the constant.” In addition, he indicates controversial matters he expresses his telescope, which Meli distinguishes that this manifestly incorrect argument own, often strongly held, views. The here as “philosophical” instruments. is to be found in Newton’s proof of book contains an excellent and up-to- In fact, the book cover shows Hooke’s Proposition 10 in the Principia, given date list of bibliographic references, drawing of the spring balance (not in corollary 2. and the text is often supplemented by identified until it appears in Figure 8.8 Describing Leibniz’s calculus, Meli reproductions of original diagrams; on p. 245), which he used to illustrate explains that “the differential of an there are lengthy explanatory captions his famous law, Ut tensio, sic vis [As incomparably small distance ds gives and informative notes at the end of the extension, so the force]. a distance dds that is twice incompa- the book. Recent historical research has also rably smaller than a finite magnitude” In general, physics students learn shown that Hooke’s experiments with (p. 291). This explanation, however, is that the development of mechanics in a conical pendulum and with a rolling meaningless mathematically. In fact, at the seventeenth century began with ball in an inverted cone led him to that time, Newton already had given Galileo and culminated with New- fundamental insights on the general in the Principia a precise mathematical ton’s magisterial Principia Mathematica, principles of orbital motion. In a very definition to such first- and second- where the principles discovered in fruitful correspondence, Hooke com- order differentials by considering the experiments with the pendulum and municated his physical ideas to New- ratios of these quantities, and obtain- colliding balls were successfully formu- ton, who then combined them with his ing the limiting value of these ratios lated into precise mathematical laws own insights into a precise mathemati- when the differentials vanish, which of motion. But there were also other cal formalism of mechanics—without, important figures who contributed to however, giving Hooke any credit. Continued on page 11

10 Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter Thinking With Objects Continued from page 11 conforms with modern calculus. in the Principia into the differential objects and systems to illustrate the In his introduction, Meli observes language of the calculus, first intro- main thesis of his book. But this map- that the “choice of endpoints of a his- duced into the continent by Leibniz. ping does not convey any useful infor- torical narrative is crucially important.” But Varignon did not make any origi- mation, nor can I make sense, while For the period under consideration, nal contributions to mechanics, and referring to these objects, of remarks he bestows the honor for these two therefore it cannot be argued that he like “I find their amphibious and nodal points to Guidobaldo dal Monte, had any special role as an endpoint ambiguous nature helpful . . . because who was a patron and collaborator to the century-long transformation of it reflects the status of mechanics as a of Galileo, and to Pierre Varignon. this subject. mixed mathematical discipline.” Meli describes dal Monte’ s work in Some mathematical descriptions On the whole, however, Thinking considerable detail (the book’s index in the book are unnecessarily difficult with Objects is an excellent historical has about the same number of page to follow, because Meli often avoids account that I highly recommend. n references to dal Monte and to New- using modern equations. He properly ton), and he makes a good case for regards such equations as an anachro- Michael Nauenberg is Professor attributing to dal Monte a pivotal role nism that obscures the difficulties of of Physics, Emeritus, at the Univer- at the start of the transformation of using the mathematics of proportions sity of California, Santa Cruz, and a mechanics in the seventeenth century. that was available in the seventeenth well-regarded scholar on Hooke and But naming Varignon as an end point century. But why impose these difficul- Newton. of this transformation is not justified. ties on modern readers? Together with Jakob Hermann and the In the last chapter of his book, Meli Bernoulli brothers, Varignon contrib- goes a bit overboard by introducing uted to the translation of Newton’s an elaborate “mapping” scheme— geometrical formulation of mechanics drawing lines and arrows connecting

Correspondence

I have several objections regarding At an AAPT meeting a few years ago, Mielczarek replies: the Fall 2007 review of Out of the Shad- a young woman described her ongo- ows, edited by Nina Byers and Gary ing project in cosmic rays. She first Frieda Stahl disagrees with my Williams. Reviewer Eugenie Mielczarek summarized the historical background, assessment that this book is an impor- appears to have had preconceived detailing the work of Victor Hess. In tant history of discrimination rather ideas regarding the book and details a comment afterward I advised her than of physics. But nearly half the her disparate expectations extensively. to include the contributions of Mari- sketches in it are about women work- Through most of her discussion, she etta Blau, too. She reacted with visible ing in nuclear science in academic misses the book’s emphasis on physics shock: “I never heard of her!” That is settings. Where are the women who and imposes her own desiderata. exactly why this book is needed—to advanced materials science, plasma As a contributing author to that inform physicists of history that has physics, biological and chemical phys- volume, I can knowledgably say that been omitted from their customary ics, or atomic, molecular and optical it’s indeed a resource for “working studies. physics? For example, materials science women scientists”—and men scientists, Mielczarek gratuitously urges Byers is represented by only three women; too—notwithstanding Mielczarek’s and Williams to adapt their work “for women in industry are also vastly “reluctant conclusion” in finally real- high-school level readers.” But the under-represented. And although Stahl izing this. The book is foremost an information provided in the book is is offended by my autobiographical anthology of twentieth-century physics a trove of reference material for any comments, she offers her own personal developments, and necessarily “pre- author moved to write a book appro- anecdote. supposes a fair knowledge of physics.” priate for young readers. After my review appeared, I In addition, it quite literally brings Finally, Mielczarek should recog- received several emails from other out of the shadows the women who nize that an invitation to review a scientists commenting favorably on my accomplished these scientific advances. book is not a solicitation for an auto- review. There is no magic solution; it’s Contrary to Mielczarek’s perceptions, biographical sketch. impossible to please all authors and the book’s strength is not “as a histori- readers. n cal record of . . . discrimination.” It is Frieda A. Stahl simply a history of some physics that is Professor Emeritus of Physics not as widely known as it should be. California State University, Eugenie Vorburger Mielczarek The need for such a volume can be Los Angeles Emeritus Professor of Physics illustrated by an all-too recent incident. [email protected] George Mason University

Volume X, No. 4 • Spring 2008 • History of Physics Newsletter 11 Presorted First Class US Postage PAID Forum on History of Physics Bowie, MD American Physical Society Permit No. 4434 One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740

OFFICERS & COMMITTEES 2007-2008

Chair: William Evenson Chair-Elect: David Cassidy Vice Chair: Gloria Lubkin Secretary-Treasurer: Thomas Miller

Forum Councilor Roger Stuewer

Other Executive Committee Members Paul Halpern, J. David Jackson, Gordon Kane, Peter Pesic, Virginia Trimble, Catherine Westfall, George Zimmerman, Michael Riordan (non-voting), Spencer Weart (non-voting)

Program Committee Chair: David Cassidy, Gloria Lubkin Benjamin Bederson, Jeffrey Dunham, Clayton Gearhart, Michel Janssen, Virginia Trimble, George Zimmerman

Nominating Committee Chair: Virginia Trimble Danian Hu, Harry Lustig, Ronald Mickens, Peter Pesic, George Zimmerman

Fellowship Committee Chair: Gloria Lubkin David Cassidy, Gordon Kane, Noemie Benczer Koller

Editorial Board/Publications Committee Chair: Michael Riordan Benjamin Bederson, William Evenson, John Rigden, Robert Romer, Spencer Weart

Membership Committee Chair: Thomas Miller

Pais Prize Selection Committee Chair: Daniel Siegel Vice Chair: Paul Halpern Max Jammer, Spencer Weart, Catherine Westfall, Laurie Brown (alternate)

Historic Sites Committee Chair: John Rigden Gordon Baym, Katharine Gebbie, Gerald Holton, Spencer Weart, Steven Weinberg