December 2005 NEWS Volume 14, No. 11 A Publication of The American Physical Society http://www.aps.org/apsnews

Baltimore to Host 2006 APS March Meeting Three Undergraduates Receive ore than 6000 physicists mechanics; thermoelectric from around the world energy conversion; solid state APS Apker Awards Mwill descend on the implementations of cavity QED; Baltimore Convention Center spallation neutron sources; fore- for the 2006 APS March Meeting, front methods and limits of lithog- to be held March 13-19 in raphy; and polymeric templating. Baltimore, Maryland. It is the There will also be a special work- largest annual gathering of profes- shop, sponsored by the APS sional physicists in the country. Forum on Education, on teach- This year, the scientific pro- annual prize and award session, ing with gram will feature more than 90 a one-day workshop on profes- interactive computer-based tuto- invited sessions and 550 con- sional skills development for rials. The workshop is free to all Nathaniel Craig Matthew Paoletti David Miller tributed sessions, on topics rang- women physicists, a panel registrants. Photo credit: Shelly Johnston ing from condensed matter discussion with AIP and APS On Saturday, March 11, the The LeRoy Apker Award is given for outstanding research accom- , materials physics, high journal editors, and a High School APS Division of Polymer Physics plishments in physics by an undergraduate. Two categories are recog- polymer physics, chemical and Teachers' Day on Tuesday, will host a special short course on nized, one for an undergraduate at an institution that grants the PhD, biological physics, fluid dynam- March 14. polymers in existing and emerg- and the other for an undergraduate at an institution that does not ics, science, computational In addition to the regular tech- ing patterning technologies, with grant the PhD. Normally, there is one award each year in each cate- physics, industrial and applied nical program, there will be eight a specific focus on the materials gory. This year, however, in an unusual but not unprecedented move, physics, and atomic, molecular half-day tutorials offered on requirements. The ability to cre- the selection committee recommended, and the APS Executive Board and optical physics, as well as Sunday, March 12, on spintronics; ate high-resolution, periodic pat- approved, three recipients: one in the non-PhD category, and two in numerous other subfields. Special molecular magnetics; current terns within a polymer thin-film the PhD category. scheduled events include the interpretations of quantum is the basis of photolithography in The non-PhD recipient is Matthew Paoletti of Bucknell University, microelectronics processing, and who, working under the supervision of Tom Solomon, did his research Conference Addresses Problems of polymers are among the best can- on "Experimental Studies of the Effects of Chaotic Mixing on Advection- didates for next-generation lithog- Reaction-Diffusion Systems." At Bucknell, Paoletti won the Lowry Sustainable Development Worldwide raphy technologies. Prize for most outstanding physics major, the Phi Beta Kappa Award By Ernie Tretkoff Physics (SAIP) and the United From a science policy stand- for most outstanding research, and the Miller Prize for the best honor's thesis. He is now pursuing graduate studies at the University of About 350 people from over 70 Nations Educational, Scientific, and point, Baltimore is a particularly Maryland. nations attended the World Cultural Organization (UNESCO). advantageous location for one of One of the PhD recipients is Nathanial J. Craig of Harvard, who Conference on Physics and At the conference, four main the largest physics meetings of Sustainable Development from did his award-winning work in the laboratory of Charles Marcus, on themes were discussed: Physics and the year. In addition to the usual "Tunable Non-local Spin Control in a Coupled Quantum Dot System". October 31 to November 2 in Health, Physics and Economic “Contact Congress” booths at the In a display of versatility, he intends to work on string theory in Durban, South Africa. Development, Physics Education, meeting, the APS Office of graduate school at Stanford. The purpose of the conference and Energy and Environment. These Public Affairs (OPA) is organiz- The other PhD recipient is David Miller of the . was to bring the international themes were chosen because these ing Congressional visits for His research project, titled "Search for high energy axions with the CAST physics community together to are areas where physics has made Wednesday and Thursday, March calorimeter" was carried out at CERN and was done under the super- develop plans for addressing some major contributions in the past and Baltimore continued on page 6 vision of Juan Collar. Like Craig, Miller will pursue his graduate work of the problems of sustainable devel- where physics can make significant at Stanford, after completing his experimental work at CERN. opment. The conference also served contributions in the future, said Judy 2006 Policy for as a final international event for the Franz, APS Executive Officer and Printed Bulletin World Year of Physics. Secretary-General of IUPAP. Registrants for the 2006 APS The conference was sponsored After a day of opening plenary March Meeting will receive a free Fire When Ready, Gridley! by the International sessions introducing the four CD-ROM of the March Meeting Center for Theoretical Physics themes, participants divided into Bulletin. Those who pre-register and (ICTP), the International Union of the four groups, and each group wish to have the two-volume printed Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), came up with three or four Bulletin should add $50 to the and the South African Institute of WCPSD continued on page 5 registration fee at the time of registra- tion. Individuals who register on-site at the meeting will have the option of Plasma Turbulence, ELM Insights purchasing the printed version for $50, based on availability. Prior to the Highlight 2005 DPP Meeting meeting, the entire program and Using the solar wind to study the dynamics of magnetic flux tubes in each individual day of the program will flow patterns of plasma, new insights space and laboratory plasmas. Two be available for downloading as pdfs. Computer terminals will be into plasma instabilities, and the special poster sessions focused on available at the meeting so that development of novel approaches physics research at the high school attendees can look up abstracts. Free to designing effective containment and undergraduate levels, featuring wi-fi will be available in the main walls for fusion reactors were among presentations from summer and the- lobbies of the convention center. the technical highlights of the 47th sis research by participating students. Further details about the 2006 policy Annual Meeting of the APS Division The DPP also scheduled a series are available online at http:// of Plasma Physics (DPP), held 2005 DPP Meeting continued on page 7 www.aps.org/meet/MAR06. October 24-28, 2005, in Denver, Colorado. More than 1500 attendees Photo credit: Vinaya Sathyasheelappa presented 1600 papers covering the Demonstrations As a capstone event of the World Year of Physics, APS is latest advances in plasma-based of plasma, its commissioning a work of art representing the WYP theme "Einstein research and technology. mystery, beauty, in the 21st Century". The work is being executed by the Washington In addition to the regular techni- and power, were Glass Studio, and, in addition to being installed in a suitable venue, cal program, the meeting featured available at the will be the subject of a poster that wll be distributed early in 2006. four mini-conferences throughout DPP-sponsored In the photo, Kendra Rand of the APS WYP team (left) watches as the week, on astrophysical explo- Plasma Sciences Michael Janis (center) of the Washington Glass Studio prepares a sions; reconnection and turbulence Expo. glass plate for firing in the kiln. His colleague Tim Tate (right) keeps in fluids and plasmas; status and a close eye on the proceedings. progress of the fast ignition concept for compressed fuel; and the 2 December 2005 NEWS

This Month in Physics History Einstein’s Quest for a Unified Theory

fter having become scientists, did work on the problem "It's such a very complicated build a dirty bomb. It's not simply famous for several bril- of unification. In 1918, Hermann thing that's hard to explain. That's a matter of tying a rod of cesium to Aliant breakthroughs in Weyl proposed a unification scheme what everybody kind of laughs at. a couple of sticks of dynamite and physics, including Brownian based on a generalization of They're all impressed it's such a running away." motion, the , Riemannian geometry. Inspired by complicated thing and then they –Benn Tannenbaum, on dirty and the special and general Weyl’s work, Theodor Kaluza ask, 'What do you need it for?' " bombs, Associated Press, theories of relativity, Albert showed that by extending space- –Richard Steiner, NIST, on the November 1, 2005 Einstein spent the last thirty years time to five dimensions, one could electronic kilogram, The New York of his life on a fruitless quest for produce the Einstein equations in Times, October 16, 2005 "It's a disaster looming – a time a way to combine gravity and four dimensions, plus an extra set of bomb, say. The scientific commu- electromagnetism into a single equations that is equivalent to "Even those of us who are doing nity knows very little about it. It elegant theory. Maxwell’s equations for electromag- of the physics community. these experiments usually just 'shut scares me a lot." Einstein was motivated by an netism. The fifth dimension would up and calculate.' But in our off- – Gert Harigel, CERN, on chem- He also became more and more intellectual need to unify the forces be compact, curled up so small that absorbed in formal mathematical hours we do think about what it ical weapons dumped into the of nature. He felt very strongly we can’t detect it. Oskar Klein later means." ocean, The Daily Press, (Newport arguments, rather than following that all of nature must be described refined this idea. the physical intuition that had guid- –Paul Kwiat, University of News, Va.) November 2, 2005 by a single theory. “The intellect Einstein liked the five-dimen- Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, on ed him in his youth to his great seeking after an integrated theory sional approach. In 1919, he wrote discoveries. quantum entanglement, The Wall ''Is this a significant result? Is cannot rest content with the to Kaluza, "The idea of achieving Street Journal, October 14, 2005 there an industry just waiting with Many people say that Einstein assumption that there exist two unification by means of a five-dimen- failed because he was simply ahead bated breath out there for this? The distinct fields totally independent sional cylinder world would never "I hope the next three or four answer is absolutely not." of his time. The knowledge and of each other by their nature,” have dawned on me...At first glance tools needed to complete a unified years will be our golden age. There –George Whitesides, on a study Einstein said in his Nobel lecture I like your idea enormously." Kaluza are lots of young [physicists] los- of “microoxen,” microscopic algae theory simply hadn’t been devel- in 1923. published his paper in 1921, and oped before Einstein died in 1955. ing sleep looking for the next great which can be induced to carry In addition, he believed there Einstein published his first paper on thing." loads, Boston Globe, October 31, Today, many physicists are tak- was a link between the need to unified field theory, with Jacob ing up his quest. The most prom- –Chris Quigg, on future discov- 2005 resolve apparent paradoxes of Grommer, following a similar eries at Fermilab, Chicago - ising approach appears to be string quantum mechanics and the need approach, in 1922. theory, which requires 10 or more Times, October 21, 2005 "In my view, this was a singu- to unify electromagnetism and Another approach Einstein lar event in the history of nanotech- dimensions and describes all ele- gravity. Einstein always insisted tried involved extending general rel- mentary particles as vibrating "Many science professors aim nology. It not only created a whole that quantum mechanics could be ativity to include the equations of only to produce more scientists new field of 'fullerene ,' strings, with different modes of derived from some more complete electromagnetism by generalizing vibration producing different when they teach. They teach to one- it immediately made feasible the theory. For Einstein, who was the metric tensor while keeping the tenth of 1 percent of the students. notion of making things from the particles. never satisfied with the weirdness 4-dimensional geometry. String theory has not yet made That's not good for society. It's pro- bottom up, just as physicist Richard and randomness inherent in quan- Einstein worked on these two ducing a citizenry that thinks of Feynman had predicted 50 years any testable predictions, and some tum theory, any acceptable uni- basic approaches persistently for the scientists worry that string theorists science as having no connection to earlier." fied field theory had to have quan- last thirty years of his life, but their lives." –Neal Lane, Rice University, on have, like Einstein in his later years, tum mechanics as a consequence. neither method ever produced the strayed too far from physical real- –Carl Wieman, University of the discovery of buckyballs, In the 1920s, when Einstein complete unified theory he was Colorado, on science education, Associated Press, October 30, 2005 ity in their obsession with beauti- began his work on a unified field looking for. ful mathematics. But many others , November 1, theory, electromagnetism and He pursued and then soon reject- 2005 "The existence of these mole- believe string theory does indeed gravity were the only known ed idea after idea. “Most of my hold the key to completing cules in interstellar space was con- forces, and the and the intellectual offspring end up very "The land is really flat and there sidered impossible 20 years ago. Einstein’s quest, and researchers proton were the only known young in the graveyard of disap- are hoping to find ways to test some is a good network of roads. The Now, we know better.... As a class, subatomic particles. Most physi- pointed hopes,” Einstein wrote in a night sky is dark and clear." they are more abundant than all of the predictions of string theory. cists at the time were excited about letter in 1938. Though his own work never – Pablo Bauleo, Colorado State other known interstellar polyatom- the newly discovered quantum But he never gave up on his quest University, on the Colorado site ic molecules combined." produced a useful physical theory, theory, and spent their time for a unified theory. Even while lying Einstein established unification as for the proposed Pierre Auger –Louis Allamandola, NASA absorbed with exploring its bizarre on his deathbed, he continued Observatory, Lamar Daily News Ames Research Center, on the dis- an important goal of physics. Indeed and interesting consequences. his work. The day before he died, he a theory of everything is common- (Lamar, Colorado), October 25, covery of nitrogen-carrying aro- They didn’t see any great need for asked to have his latest notes 2005 matic hydrocarbons throughout the ly called the “holy grail” of mod- a theory uniting electromagnet- brought to him. ern physics. Einstein would prob- universe, Christian Science ism and gravity. One reason for Einstein’s failure “I think they still may be ahead Monitor, October 26, 2005 ably be pleased that so many physi- But Einstein, and several other to discover a unified theory may be cists are enthusiastically devoting of physicists. I was amazed, going his rejection of quantum mechan- th their careers to pursuing his dream. back to the 15 century, to see the "The reason foreign govern- ics, which caused him to ignore new appeals not just to a metaphorical ments would like this technology is Ed. Note: As the World Year of developments in physics and dis- Physics draws to a close, we are spiritual world but to an extra- if they reverse-engineer it, they can tance himself from the rest of the dimensional spiritual world. apply this to their fighter aircraft. ending our series of history physics community. Einstein was columns concentrating on Einstein. –Lawrence Krauss, Case If you do that, our air-to-air missiles aware of his position, and comment- Western Reserve University, on the don't work very well. They can't We are also changing authors. ed in 1954 that "I must seem like an For five years, "This Month in fact that artists and writers thought find the target." ostrich who forever buries its head of extra dimensions ahead of physi- –Dean Wilkening, Stanford Physics History" has been written in the relativistic sand in order not by associate editor Jennifer cists, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, University, on stealth technology to face the evil quanta." But the more October 21, 2005 that hides US warplanes from Photo credit: Alan Richards Ouellette; upcoming columns (as Einstein's last blackboard, Institute he worked on unification, the farther enemy missiles, Honolulu well as this one) will be the work of for Advanced Study (1955). away Einstein drifted from the rest "It's not a trivial thing to do, Advertiser, October 28, 2005 science writer Ernie Tretkoff.

Series II, Vol. 14, No. 11 December 2005 Department, American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, Treasurer (Nuclear), John Jaros (Particles & Fields), Stephen Holmes ©2005 The American Physical Society College Park, MD 20740-3844, [email protected]. Thomas McIlrath*, University of Maryland (emeritus) (Physics of Beams), James Drake* (Plasma), Timothy NEWS Editor-in-Chief Lodge, (Polymer Physics), Gianfranco Vidali, (New York For Nonmembers–Circulation and Fulfillment Division, Martin Blume*, Brookhaven National Laboratory Section), Paul Wolf (Ohio Section) American Institute of Physics, Suite 1NO1, 2 Huntington Past-President Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Quadrangle, Melville, NY 11747-4502. Allow at least 6 Helen R. Quinn*, Stanford University (SLAC) ADVISORS Editor ...... Alan Chodos weeks advance notice. For address changes, please send both General Councillors Representatives from Other Societies Associate Editor ...... Jennifer Ouellette the old and new addresses, and, if possible, include a mail- Janet Conrad, Frances Houle*, Evelyn Hu, Gerald Mahan*, Richard Peterson, AAPT; Marc Brodsky, AIP Special Publications Manager ...... Kerry G. Johnson ing label from a recent issue. Requests from subscribers for Ann Orel, Arthur Ramirez, Richart Slusher, Laura Smoliar* International Advisors Design and Production ...... Amera Jones missing issues will be honored without charge only if received International Councillor María Esther Ortiz, Mexican Physical Society, Forefronts Editor ...... Craig Davis within 6 months of the issue’s actual date of publication. Sukekatsu Ushioda Walter Davidson, Canadian Association of Physicists Proofreader ...... Edward Lee Periodical Postage Paid at College Park, MD and at addition- Chair, Nominating Committee al mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to APS Philip Bucksbaum Staff Representatives APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published 11X the right to select and to edit for length or clarity. All corre- News, Membership Department, American Physical Society, Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Alan Chodos, Associate Executive Officer; Amy Flatten, yearly, monthly, except the August/September issue, by spondence regarding APS News should be directed to: Editor, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. Frank Von Hippel Director of International Affairs; Ted Hodapp, Director of the American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740- Division, Forum and Section Councillors Education and Outreach; Robert L. Park, Director, Public College Park, MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It 3844, E-mail: [email protected]. APS COUNCIL 2005 Edward “Rocky” Kolb (), Kate Kirby* (Atomic, Information; Michael Lubell, Director, Public Affairs; contains news of the Society and of its Divisions, President Molecular & Optical Physics), Robert Eisenberg (Biological), Stanley Brown, Editorial Director; Charles Muller, Director, Topical Groups, Sections and Forums; advance Subscriptions:APS News is an on-membership publication Marvin L. Cohen*, University of , Berkeley Charles S. Parmenter (Chemical), Moses H. Chan (Condensed Journal Operations; Michael Stephens, Controller and information on meetings of the Society; and reports to delivered by Periodical Mail. Members residing abroad may President-Elect Matter Physics), Richard M. Martin (Computational), Harry Assistant Treasurer the Society by its committees and task forces, as well receive airfreight delivery for a fee of $15. Nonmembers: John J. Hopfield*, Swinney* (Fluid Dynamics), Peter Zimmerman (Forum on as opinions. Subscription rates are available at http://librarians.aps.org/ Vice-President Education), Gloria Lubkin (Forum on History of Physics), Administrator for Governing Committees institutional.html. Leo P. Kadanoff*, University of Chicago Patricia Mooney (Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics), Ken Cole Letters to the editor are welcomed from the member- Executive Officer James Vary* (Forum on International Physics), Philip “Bo” * Members of the APS Executive Board ship. Letters must be signed and should include an Subscription orders, renewals and address changes should Judy R. Franz*, University of Alabama, Huntsville Hammer (Forum on Physics and Society), J. H. Eberly (Laser address and daytime telephone number. The APS reserves be addressed as follows: For APS Members–Membership (on leave) Science), Leonard Feldman (Materials), Bunny C. Clark* NEWS December 2005 3

Achim Richter Replaces George Bertsch as Editor of Reviews of Modern Physics Physics will be Achim Richter, several different areas, including Professor at the Technische nuclear reactions, nuclear struc- Universität, Darmstadt. He will ture, atomic physics, accelerator Living with the Clout of Religious Conservatives succeed George Bertsch of the physics, and non-linear dynamics. University of Washington. He has been a professor at by Michael S. Lubell, APS Director withering criticism by the conser- Commenting on this move, Darmstadt since 1974. As editor, of Public Affairs vative right, President Bush even- APS Editor-in-Chief Martin he will be responsible for edito- “Fringe politics” used be a dis- tually capitulated and asked Miers Blume said, "We are very pleased rial standards, policies, and direc- ease that mostly afflicted to withdraw her name. She to have attracted Professor tion of the journal, and leadership Democrats and left Republicans became only the seventh Supreme Richter, a physicist of great of a board of associate editors. untouched. No more. Court nominee in the history of the accomplishment, to the position. Bertsch is retiring after 10 For science especially, the country to do so, and the first since Now that our editorial processes years as editor of RMP. "George GOP’s loss of that immunity has Douglas Ginsburg, a Reagan nom- are completely electronic it is Bertsch has served with distinc- immense implications. Like it or inee, withdrew in 1987 after possible and efficient to have edi- tion, wisdom and great energy," not, scientists will have to learn to admitting that he had smoked mar- Achim Richter tors in any part of the world, and said Blume, "and he leaves RMP engage the religious right with a ijuana as a member of the Harvard Editors in charge of APS jour- it is very appropriate for our high- in a secure and enviable posi- positive message. Here’s why. Law School faculty. nals have, until now, always been ly international journals to have tion. We were fortunate to have During the last forty years, The way most political ana- based at institutions in the United a senior editor based in Germany. a number of excellent candidates Republicans have generally been lysts read the Miers debacle, it States. With authorship and read- We look forward to the continu- for his replacement, and are able to campaign and govern was evidence of a gross miscalcu- ership of these journals becom- ation, under Professor Richter’s grateful to the RMP search com- nationally from the center, while lation by the President, a lack of ing increasingly international, leadership, of the outstanding mittee for undertaking the diffi- Democrats, more often than not, focus on the selection process by APS has appointed the first edi- journal that is Reviews of Modern cult task of making a final rec- have been held hostage by the lib- the President’s principal domestic tor of one of its journals who is Physics." ommendation." eral left. This has left Democrats policy advisor, Karl Rove – who based abroad. The 65-year-old Richter is a The chair of the RMP search with a pretty shoddy record in was distracted by his own legal Taking over in January as the Fellow of APS. He has a distin- committee was Robert Siemann presidential elections and problems–and Miers’ own inat- new editor of Reviews of Modern guished record of research in of SLAC. Republicans with a fairly reliable tentiveness to the details of her White House address. nomination. But recent events prove that From my perspective, though, Physicist Does Star Turn in TV Reality Show the GOP’s resistance to “fringe there is something more funda- politics” is largely history. Harriet mental at work. The numbers tell Miers’failed Supreme Court can- the story. Timothy Gay of the University molecule might be the didacy and the President’s choice According to recent polls, 20 of Nebraska often engages in what mirror image of a left- of Samuel Alito as the replace- percent of Americans are hard he calls “physics propaganda.” handed one, they don’t ment nominee should put to rest core social liberals, and they vote He says, “As working scientists, always behave in per- any lingering doubts. Alito–whom consistently Democratic; 33 per- we need to explain to the public fect mirror image liberal critics have given the cent are hard core social conser- why what we’re doing is cool and ways. Gay is working moniker Scalito after Antonin vatives, and they vote Republican; interesting.” In fact, this fall Gay to measure some of Scalia, arguably the most reliable 47 percent , a clear plurality, are has promoted physics while these slight differ- conservative among the nine sit- moderates, and they are the swing- appearing on a primetime reality ences, such as in the ting Supreme Court justices–has voters who ultimately determine TV show with rocker Tommy Lee way chiral molecules a fifteen-year appellate court track the outcome of any election. (though Gay says “reality is over- scatter polarized elec- record of judicial conservatism However, within the political par- stating the case”). trons. One motivation Timothy Gay (right) with Tommy Lee that makes moderates and liberals ties, the moderates have less clout In the show, “Tommy Lee goes for this research, squirm. than their national plurality status to College” (NBC), middle-aged explains Gay, is that all DNA hap- hired Gay to do a series of five- Miers was no darling of the might suggest, in part because rocker Tommy Lee attends the pens to be right-handed, and sci- minute television segments on the left either, but when President they tend to be less passionately University of Nebraska as a stu- entists don’t understand why, physics of football. He has even Bush tapped his legal counsel to involved, but in the case of the dent, in order to capture the col- though there are some written a popular book called fill Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat GOP, additionally because of sim- lege experience he skipped in theories. Gay hopes his research Football Physics. as Associate Justice of the United ple math. order to start the rock band Motley may help shed some on the Gay grew up in a small town in States Supreme court, it wasn’t In the last four presidential Crue when he was 19. Some problem. western Ohio, where the only the left that first hauled out the elections, Republican and University of Nebraska faculty Gay’s group is also working on school had grades k-12 all in one howitzers. It was Kansas Senator Democratic candidates split the and administrators were initially several other research projects, building. In kindergarten, he would Sam Brownback, a leader of popular vote almost evenly. That nervous about the show, and about including experiments to measure peer through the window of the socially conservative Republicans, means that while only about 40 having the notorious Tommy Lee the details of how angular momen- chemistry lab across the hall, and who began firing away. His Senate percent of the Democratic vote on campus, says Gay, but “the rest tum gets divided up among the col- was fascinated by what he saw. He colleague, Minority Leader Harry came from liberals, a whopping 67 of us were like, ‘Rock on, dude!’” lision fragments when or was also inspired by Marie Curie, Reid, a Nevada Democrat, by con- percent of the Republican vote So Gay agreed to have Tommy charged particles hit an atomic or and read several biographies of trast had cautious praise for the came from conservatives. Lee attend his class, and to play molecular target. These fundamen- her. Though initially intrigued by President’s selection. So although conservatives, like the role of Tommy Lee’s academ- tal studies will help give physi- chemistry, Gay soon became even Miers’lack of experience with liberals, still lie in the wings or ic advisor. cists a better basic understanding more interested in physics, because, constitutional law didn’t help her “fringes” of the American politi- Gay says he got along well with of the scattering process, says Gay. he says, “physics seemed like it cause, but she wouldn’t have been cal spectrum, their numbers, Lee, who actually did seem inter- When he’s not hanging out had cooler toys.” By age 8 he felt the first associate justice to have which have grown substantially ested in Gay’s physics lab. “He with rock stars, teaching classes, or quite certain that he wanted to be had a thin résumé in that arena. in the last two decades, now allow was intrigued by all the apparatus. doing physics research, Gay a physicist, and he never changed Since 1941, ten nominees who them to control the GOP agenda. I talked to him about how a might be found out rooting for his mind. He majored in physics at had no prior judicial experience They demonstrated it by forcing research group actually works,” his favorite football team, Caltech, and then completed his received Senate confirmation. President Bush to substitute a says Gay. On the show’s first the University of Nebraska PhD at the University of Chicago, They include Chief Justices proven conservative, such as Alito, episode, Gay shows Tommy Lee Cornhuskers, or explaining the before becoming a professor of William Rehnquist and Earl for Miers who remained suspect, his lab, and explains some of the physics of the game to other foot- physics. Gay agrees it is very Warren, and well respected jurists despite her religious conversion equipment. “We got in about five ball fans. unusual for someone to have found Lewis Powell, Tom Clark, Byron two decades ago. minutes of physics, and I’m “The basic problem that we his passion for physics at such a White and Arthur Goldberg. For science advocates, the dom- actually describing to him my lab. have as physicists is that people young age. He points out that many But for social conservatives, inance of social conservatives in Real physics got put on TV for don’t want to do the work to under- of the undergraduates he teaches especially religious fundamental- the Republican ranks poses a signif- three or four minutes. I was stand physics,” says Gay. People still have no idea what they want ists, Miers didn’t have the right icant challenge. Relying solely on describing polarized .” might be more interested in physics to do with their lives. stuff. Yes, almost two decades ago the influence of industry to pro- Polarized electrons, which if they see how it relates to some- Some fellow physicists might she had joined the growing mote federal support of science with Gay’s lab studies, are basically thing they care about, says Gay, worry that he spends too much numbers of Americans who self- the new GOP is not a winning strat- electrons that are all spinning and “In Nebraska, what people care time promoting physics, or that identify as “Born Again egy. Nor is pitting science against along one direction. One of Gay’s about is football.” he promotes physics in a less Christians.” Yes, she had cam- religion, as some prominent mem- research projects involves inves- So he has put together a series than serious a way, says Gay, but paigned for a Dallas City Council bers of the science community have tigating polarized electron scat- of short lessons that Cornhuskers he doesn’t see it that way. seat in 1989 as a staunch pro-life done repeatedly, to the delight of the tering by chiral molecules. Like a fans watch on large television “The point is that you can be a candidate. But as a high-level cor- major media. Instead, scientists right and left hand, chiral mole- screens during breaks in the action. serious scientist, and still try to porate attorney, she had never must learn to engage conservatives cules cannot be superimposed on The lessons explore topics such as make it available to the public,” he appeared before the court on the by emphasizing the benefits sci- their mirror images, no matter how Newton’s laws, energy and says. “You can do both.” key issues social conservatives ence brings to all Americans, regard- you rotate them. A DNA spiral is momentum, air resistance, and hold dear. In the end, that proved less of social or religious prefer- an example of a chiral molecule. atoms and photons, as they relate -Courtesy of Physics to be her undoing. ence. For the next three years, at Although a right-handed to football. In 2001, NFL Films Central.com Faced with unrelenting, least, it’s the only winning strategy. 4 December 2005 NEWS Letters Chemists are to Moles as Physicists are to.....? Today I was treated to free cup- but that seems to be more appropri- International and US Efforts to Regulate Civil Society Participation cakes to celebrate "National Mole ate for mathematicians. By Irving A. Lerch the Kyoto Protocol. operating arm similar to the role Day" as part of National Chemistry Has the APS has ever asked the cience is the most universal The UN family has recognized played by the National Research Week. Mole Day is celebrated every physics community which constant of intellectual enterprises science and engineering as impor- Council for the National Academy October 23 in recognition of we would consider to be the most with a common lexicon and tant cultural enterprises with pro- complex, has begun to take on a Avogadro's number (the connection noteworthy for physics? In what S universal standards. Yet the social found impact on economic devel- more active role by publishing is obvious if you think chemical units should it be expressed? structure of science is complex opment and security. Two agencies studies for delivery to governments constant and not small tunneling (Planck's constant could be a prob- with overlapping entities, mis- serve to illustrate the importance and the UN. animal), and there is even a National lem in MKS units, even if you ignore sions, authorities, alliances, con- of the UN to such issues as envi- In the early 1990s, the interna- Mole Day Foundation. the negative sign in the exponent.) nections to government and insti- ronment, education, energy and tional physics community began to I was asked by a chemist (the Do we need a National Speed of tutions, interests, areas of expert- national security: the United look to UNESCO as an instrument one who makes such excellent cup- Light Day? Or maybe a National ise, governance, agreements and Nations Educational, Scientific to unify and coordinate the inter- cakes) why physicists don't have a Fine Structure Constant Day? On outreach. It consists of non-gov- and Cultural Organization national outreach of the global similar celebration, and if we did which day would our constant be ernmental organizations, the pri- (UNESCO) and the International physics enterprise (even though what constant we would celebrate. celebrated? How would we find a vate sector, governments, inter- Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). the US and the UK had withdrawn Not having an immediate answer, I name that competes with "Mole governmental agencies such as the The international face of the sci- from UNESCO in 1984). The checked the back of an introducto- Day?" UN system (to include specialized entific community is the Physics Action Council (PAC) ry physics text for possibilities. Fred DeAngelis agencies, the World Bank and International Council for Science convened an organizing meeting in There I found quite a number of Spartanburg, SC World Monetary Fund and region- (ICSU). April, 1994. The PAC remained constants (beginning with al development banks), OAS and In recent years, a consortium of an active component of the Avogadro's number, but that's taken). Ed. Note: Another reason to cele- OECD, large regional science national science academies has Organization’s programs through- My chemist friend suggested per- brate Pi day on 3/14 is that it also hap- organizations such as the formed the Inter-Academy Panel out the period of 1994-1999. haps celebrating Pi on March 14, pens to be 's birthday. high-energy research center to coordinate efforts to influence Almost immediately, the coun- Hurricane Prediction Misses by 2 Orders of Magnitude CERN, regulatory organizations science-based policy for develop- cil’s working groups began an such as ITO, international com- ment and other cross-cutting aggressive program of internation- Let me get this straight - in the only slightly more than 1,000 peo- missions such as the International international issues. The subse- al outreach, organizing meetings October "Inside the Beltway" col- ple actually died and the majority Oceanographic Commission, and quent organization of the Inter- and workshops on telecommuni- umn, scientific studies dealing with of New Orleans residents were multilateral agreements such as Academy Council to serve as an cations, access to large interna- a major hurricane hitting New evacuated, shouldn't we be applaud- tional research facilities and new Orleans "predicts more than ing the government for the much Many Scientists are Religious, Too approaches to invigorate physics 100,000 people could die" and better result than the revered scien- education. In all cases these efforts "extensive evacuations would be tists predicted? Hail Nagin, Blanco Regarding the comment by Times in the same year reported were directed to complementing impossible" and these studies are and Bush! Perhaps the author's Steven Weinberg in the "Members that "many scientists see God's and strengthening the programs celebrated as predicting "just the viewpoint is a little skewed. in the Media" section of the October hand" in evolution and cosmology. of the Science Sector and ICTP. sort of outcome southern Louisiana Mark Campbell 2005 APS News: while his anecdot- As a religious person and a scien- Today, the afterglow of the would suffer." Hail science! Since Annapolis, MD al experience of scientists not being tist myself, I will add my own anec- council’s activities may be seen ***** religiously inclined may not be dis- dotal experience of being acquaint- in the UNESCO-supported putable, several studies have shown ed with many scientists of a reli- SESAME project, the programs I feel compelled to write you con- rescue effort that resulted in far fewer that it is not necessarily accurate on gious persuasion, including an of the telecommunications and cerning Michael Lubell's article "The deaths than anticipated? A fair cri- the large scale. Larson and Witham entire organization, the American informatics sectors of the Avoidable Tragedy of New Orleans" tique should consider the good as well reported in Nature in 1997 that 39% Scientific Affiliation. Organization, and in the aware- in the October, 2005 issue of APS as the bad. of scientists believe in a personal Brian Thomas ness that science education plays News. Lubell misses a crucial point in As an aside, towards the end of his God. An article in the Washington Topeka, KS a crucial role in developing the his criticism of the Bush administra- article, Lubell ponders whether intellectual capacity of nations. At tion. He refers to scientific studies "Perhaps scientists and engineers are Scientists: "Smarter Than Thou"? no time did the governments of that predicted tens (if not hundreds) too arrogant." He then writes, "Perhaps any participating expert intervene of thousands of people could be killed science is too complicated for policy Marshall Berman’s back page required public education. or demand prior notice. if a big storm caused the levies to fail. makers to understand." I'd say the lat- article raises three important ques- Controlling biological texts is However, over the past few If the government deserves scorn for ter sentiment proves the former. tions. (1) Why are Americans so coercion. Evolution has been years, a troubling pattern of US failing to prepare for such an event, Robert Hueckstaedt anti-science? (2) Why is the furor deliberately used to ridicule government interference with the does it not also deserve praise for a Los Alamos, NM focused upon the theory of evolu- certain religious ideas, and vice tion? And (3) what, if anything, versa. None of this helps anyone. traditional lines connecting UN ***** should members of APS do about Scientists are perceived as hav- intergovernmental programs with Michael Lubell’s article in the Preliminary reports from the any of this? Here are my opinions. ing “smarter than thou” attitudes, civil society has arisen in the guise October APS News was not very engineering teams sponsored by People resent being coerced or which invokes either a “so who of demands that government offi- helpful. His main thesis is that the the National Science Foundation ridiculed. Evolution is a required elected you God” or a “don’t cials be consulted and informed Corps of Engineers was not given and the American Society of Civil topic in a required subject in a Smarter Than Thou continued on page 7 in advance of contacts between agency secretariats and US citi- all the money it requested for flood Engineers tell a different story. Religious Bathwater May Contain Scientific Baby control work. And, oh yes, scien- There were dozens of levee breaks zens and residents. This now tific studies and computer model- that resulted from poor design and The October 2005 Back Page magnetism. Newton wrote exten- threatens to transfer authority for ing had been forecasting what was construction where the failure could article by Marshall Berman on sively about his scientific findings expert appointments to UN com- going to happen and were ignored. not have been associated with opposing the Intelligent Design (ID) glorifying the Great Designer, so mittees, conferences and commis- The obligatory blame is placed on over-topping the levees. This was movement–which threatens to calculus and mechanics and gravi- sions from the learned and pro- fessional communities to officials the Bush administration. Letter continued on page 6 destroy science, secular democracy tation have to go. Even Einstein and public science literacy – prompt- talked a lot about the “old one.” Just in the US government. The threat Students Asked to Take Science on Faith ed me to write this letter. I wish to to be careful, in case he was a arising from such a transforma- aid Berman’s holy cause by critical- closet ID guy, we’ll expunge his tion is that appointments will no It is a mistake to identify the yield useful results in the long run. ly examining and expunging the so- contributions to physics, too. One longer be based on merit but on motivation to do science with the Because science solves difficult called contributions to physics of must also worry about Galileo and bureaucratic and political consid- science itself. After all, Newton pro- problems which religion cannot, it ID-quacks, since believing in a Kepler, but I’m running out of space. erations. The independence and ceeded from a deeply religious point is easy to see science as a compet- designer obviously invalidates all of After getting rid of ID-tainted integrity of such fora, committees of view, and would likely assert a ing, and more effective, religion. one’s scientific ideas. ideas, our remaining physics will be and commissions will thus be belief in intelligent design. Such an (See "Philosophy, Rhetoric, and the Faraday and Maxwell were ideologically pure, democracy will compromised. assertion is not science, but may be End of Knowledge" by Steve devout Christians who believed in a be safe for our time, and In analyzing these trends, the Fuller.) the inspiration to do science. Creator, so remove electricity and Scientific Baby continued on page 7 operative word is “consult.” What Religion can motivate both art The physics community con- constitutes consultation? During and science, but only the arts have tributes to this image when it puts No One Person Invented the Laser the Cold War, the Soviet made religion the subject of the dis- forward the Bernoulli explanation government closely controlled The matter of "inventorship" of studies in the Physical and cipline. Science has had very little of the picture on page 1 of the interactions between UN secre- something as important as the laser Biological Sciences 34, 115 (2003)] to say about religion in any con- October issue of APS News. If the tariats and Soviet citizens. It was is rarely suited for a short summa- provides a more detailed account structive sense. However religion student blowing on the ping pong not uncommon for the organizing ry such as found in "This Month in for readers who want to look at the cannot ignore science the way sci- balls walks away with the idea that committee for an expert meeting Physics History", APS News, primary sources. ence ignores religion. high velocity causes low pressure, to proffer invitations to a known August/September, 2005 or in Paul It is generally understood that Religion cannot ignore the fact she is infected with a magical view scientist only to find his or her Zweifel's letter ["Invention of the "inventorship" is determined by that science continues to make state- of the world. With such a view, she place taken by an unknown Maser and Laser Clarified"] in the patent priority and the matter of ments about the world which turn cannot understand; she can only Soviet government official. By October APS News. Our paper, Gould v. Townes et al. was exten- out to be true. Intelligent design has hope to ask authority. contrast, US government officials "Who invented the laser: An analy- sively litigated. To the extent that nothing to say about global warm- John W. Dooley when asked to approve such sis of the early patents", [Historical Laser continued on page 7 ing, but science is fully expected to Millersville, PA Viewpoint continued on page 5 NEWS December 2005 5

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materials and resources available was a lot of energy. The online, and a network on conversations were nanoscience for economic devel- dynamic. There was a opment, focusing on air, water, and real sense of moving energy. forward,” said Flatten. The Energy and Environment Osman Benchikh, session recommended investigat- co-chair of the Energy ing ways to enhance efficiency and and Environment reduce pollution in transportation, theme, echoed those including studying new battery and thoughts. “There was a internal combustion technology, lot of enthusiasm promoting the use of solar energy, from the developing Photo credit: Roy Reed and developing biomass energy for countries,” he said. small communities. Energy and Participants from Amy Flatten, APS Director of International Affairs, welcomes delegates at the Energy & Environment Environment co-chair Osman developing countries break-out session. Benchikh, of the Division of Basic seemed to think the and Engineering Sciences of conference was helpful, and they ence was useful and noted that Photo credit: Roy Reed UNESCO pointed out that 77 believed they would be able to economic development, energy, South Africa Minister of Science & Technology Mosibudi Mangena percent of people in the developing carry out the recommendations. health, and education are all officially opens the conference world do not have electricity, so For instance, Phuc Xuan Nguyen, important areas where there are energy is an extremely important a condensed matter physicist problems to be solved in the recommendations. for teacher-trainers in Latin area for development. Aglobal pro- from Vietnam said the confer- developing world. In Physics and Education, rec- America, Asia, and Africa; and sup- gram on renewable energy is need- ommendations include: making porting mobile physics projects. ed, he said. physics teaching resources and Out of the Physics and Economic The fourth theme, Physics and Hopfield Receives Albert Einstein materials available through a web- Development theme came a pro- Health, produced recommendations site and equipment resource cen- posal for a facility that would train that included developing a collec- World Award of Science ter; developing instructional mate- physicists in business skills to help tion of web resources for educa- APS President-elect John rials that highlight the relationships them apply physics for economic tion, development of guidelines for Hopfield of Princeton received between physics and sustainable development, a network on physics medical physics education pro- the Albert Einstein World Award development; presenting workshops and agriculture that would make grams, development of regional of Science at a ceremony in training centers for radiation physi- , on November Case Contest Seeks 27 Great cists, and increased recognition of 12. The award is administered physicists in and collab- by the , 20th-Century Physicists oration with other physicists. and has been given since 1984 APS President Marvin Cohen across all fields of science, "as an To celebrate the World Year of of the contest is to vote for great said he felt there had been many incentive to scientific and tech- th Physics, the physics department at 20 -century physicists from a list good discussions at the conference. nological research and develop- Case Western Reserve University of over 100 candidates prepared He emphasized that the proposals ment. It takes into special con- in Cleveland is organizing the "27 by the Case faculty. Participants should be viewed as preliminary, sideration those researches, Physicists Contest," open to partic- in each of the three categories men- and they will probably evolve as which have brought true benefit John J. Hopfield ipants in 3 categories: high school tioned above can vote for up to 20 conference participants move for- and well being to mankind." combined the insights of physics students, high school teachers, and candidates. Three prizes will be ward with implementing them. Previous physical science recip- and to shape our under- college undergraduates. awarded in each category to the Participants will follow up by ients have included , standing of how the neural cir- The World Year of Physics, participants whose lists most continuing to meet with each other, , , and cuits of the brain perform com- commemorating Einstein’s miracle closely match the final list of 27 forming task forces, finalizing pro- . plex calculations." year of 1905, also coincides with names. The deadline to participate posals, and seeking funding. Each In making the award to The Council added "Professor the centennial of the physics build- is December 31st. of the four themes will have an Hopfield, the Council cited "his John J. Hopfield today is consid- ing at Case. In 1905, the names of The Case campus, the location online bulletin board for partici- valuable contributions to all ered the leading theoretician of 34 great pre-1905 physicists were of the famous 1887 Michelson- pants to meet and discuss follow-up three of the major disciplines of biology, both in terms of accom- engraved on the Case physics Morley ether-drift experiment, has issues. modern science: physics, chem- plishment and influence. His building. The names include the been designated an Historical Amy Flatten, APS director of istry and biology, and his abili- ability to think broadly as well well-known, such as Archimedes Physics Site by the APS (see APS International Affairs, said that the ty to cross the interdisciplinary as deeply about science is a char- and Newton to Ben Franklin and News, May 2005). conference went extremely boundaries to discover new acteristic shared by very few sci- Maxwell, and also others not so To learn more about the con- smoothly. Participants were questions and propose answers entists in modern times." widely familiar. test, and to participate in it, visit the pleased that everyone was able to that uncover the conceptual The award consists of a There is room on the building website http://www.phys.cwru.edu/ come together and produce structure behind the experimen- Diploma, a Commemorative for 27 more names. The challenge events/WYOP/contest.php. concrete recommendations. “There tal facts. He has, in recent years, medal, and $10,000.

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appointments and invitations usu- General demanding a series of impossible. The last bullet is espe- participate in the work of intend the association of scientists ally demurred pointing out that steps that included the following: cially troubling since the State UNESCO and the subsequent and their professional and learned the US did not interfere in the pro- •Any correspondence from out- Department considers the US withdrawal of appointments and societies within the UN agencies fessional work ofits citizens. side the Commission or Resident National Commission as consulta- invitations. in an effort to control scientific input In these cases, consultation was representative's (RR) office is to be tive only–to act at the volition and This is unprecedented inter- to programs that have influence taken to mean “informed.” In the copied and circulated to her office. direction of Commission staff. As ference over the participation of over policy debates. While inter- case of invitations to government •Invitations to scientists and for fundraising, most expert con- civil society in the scientific and governmental discussions in con- delegations for treaty discussions, engineers must be cleared in sultants who have worked with technological work of the UN sys- vention negotiations require the par- consultation meant both informed advance. the UN agencies are well-aware tem and is unworthy of a democ- ticipation of certified government and government approval as is •Contracts are subject to US that their ability to function racy. It abridges the right of US cit- representatives, scientific advice always the case when policy and oversight and consultation. depends on their ability to raise izens to develop and maintain has traditionally been the province intergovernmental deliberation is •Planning of events require funds to supplement the inade- associations with whomever they of the science and engineering civil contemplated. advance consultation. quate budgets of the UN system. choose. It concentrates the author- sector. The intrusion of government In any event, all correspon- •Fundraising is not to be under- In a similar vein, the ity for such associations within a into access to scientific and techno- dence to UN secretariats is copied taken without consultation with Department of Health and Human bureaucracy unable to deal with logical expertise constitutes an and distributed to relevant pro- the RR. Services demanded that WHO not the substance of the issues before abridgement of scientific freedom gram managers and the resident •Private citizens and organiza- invite US scientists to participate it. It confuses the difference and self-governance of the scientif- representatives of the nations tions calling upon UNESCO must in meetings or projects. They between experts and government ic community and threatens the whose interests are at stake or be told to contact the national com- insisted that the nature of the prob- representatives, between knowl- integrity of international science whose citizens are being contact- mission first. lem be conveyed to NIH and NIH edge and policy. It undermines organs. ed. This is the parochial meaning Of these bullets, the first is rou- would assign scientists. Happily community self-governance and Irving Lerch is chair-elect of the of “consult.” tine procedure and I doubt that the WHO refused to accede to this community standards and under- APS Forum on International Physics On May 5 of this year, the US UNESCO secretariat has failed to stipulation. mines the integrity of mechanisms and a member of the Board of Resident Representative to do this simple administrative task. Equally troubling was the deci- designed to express scientific and Trustees of Americans for UNESCO. UNESCO, Ambassador Louis The other bullets are astounding sion last year by the State engineering consensus. The opinions expressed are person- Oliver, sent a remarkable memo- and would make interactions with Department to object to the recruit- In short, there is evidence that the al and do not represent the official randum to the UNESCO Director- civil society difficult and, perhaps, ment of US Social Scientists to US government is moving to super- views of either organization. 6 December 2005 NEWS

Featured PhysTEC University: Arkansas Ramps Up Teacher Preparation

By Ernie Tretkoff ductory courses to be more inquiry- TAs to run the new inquiry-based In the ten years before the based, and having a “teacher-in- labs. University of Arkansas PhysTEC residence” from the local school Tests show that the students in program got started, only one system, who mentors students and the revised courses are indeed teacher in the entire state had provides advice to the faculty. learning more, says Stewart. Some become certified to teach physics. The University of Arkansas students initially feel uncomfort- That is changing, in part thanks to PhysTEC program turns out two or able with inquiry-based learning the PhysTEC program at the three new physics teachers a year, because they are used to being fed University of Arkansas. says Gay Stewart, a physics profes- information, rather than discover- PhysTEC, an APS/AAPT/AIP sor and director of the University ing things for themselves. Stewart –led project, encourages physics of Arkansas PhysTEC program. said that one unhappy student and education departments at par- These new teachers are better pre- wrote in a course evaluation, “Of ticipating institutions to work pared and more enthusiastic about course I learned more in this course together to improve the education teaching physics. than in others–I had to figure every- of physics teachers. Schools that Stewart has long been interest- thing out myself.” participate in PhysTEC commit to ed in education, but teacher prepa- The revised introductory class- implementing several reforms to ration hadn’t been as much of a es have also led more students to improve teacher preparation, priority for some members the consider teaching as a career, even PhysTEC future teacher Matthew Jones, a student in the Master of Arts in including increasing collaboration Arkansas physics department. if they had not previously thought Teaching program at the University of Arkansas, works with a middle school between the physics and educa- “When we first heard about about teaching. These students see student on an inquiry-based science project. tion departments, revising intro- PhysTEC, we were very excited, a model of good teaching, they see because I’ve always felt that that teaching is important, and they Coalition Provides physics departments are responsi- begin to think about becoming MEETING BRIEFS Latest Information On ble for education,” said Stewart. teachers themselves. “We’ve had “Before PhysTEC, I was the one several cases where people had Teacher Education • The APS Ohio Section held dynamics in disordered materi- interested in education, so if some- never considered being a teacher, its annual fall meeting October als; and the prospect for techni- The PhysTEC project at thing came in, it was handed to and they said the class was a lot of 14-15, at Cleveland State cal careers after academia. Arkansas is using many results me. I was the person for all fun, and they came and asked ‘how University in Cleveland, Ohio. Friday evening’s banquet fea- from physics education worrying about education,” she could I get involved in teaching'?" This year, the meeting was organ- tured a lecture by Allan Franklin research and sharing them says. Now, the whole department said Stewart. Some students who ized around the theme of the of UC-Boulder on Lisa Meitner through the coalition of is more interested and aware of the plan to teach other subjects, includ- World Year of Physics: “From and the early history of beta schools brought together by importance of teacher preparation, ing chemistry and math, have said Brownian Motion to the Physics decay. His talk was followed by the PhysTEC grant. This she says. “Having this APS-spon- they were motivated to go into of Complexity.” Plenary talks a planetarium show. coalition, the Physics Teacher sored program that focuses on teaching by the introductory covered such topics as cell motil- • The APS Texas Section held Education Coalition (www. better teaching and learning has physics class, said Stewart. ity, fluctuations in flowing foam, its annual fall meeting October ptec.org), provides a central really raised the awareness,” said Future teachers of all subjects Brownian motion as a probe of 20-22 at the University of clearinghouse for information, Stewart. have become more comfortable polymer dynamics, 37 years of Houston in Texas. The meeting ideas and innovations in devel- One of the key components of with physics as a result of the new the Flying Circus of Physics, and kicked off Thursday evening with oping and maintaining teacher PhysTEC is revising introductory courses, said Stewart. “Before we a special Einstein Centennial ses- a special Society of Physics preparation programs. physics courses to be more inquiry- revised courses, when teachers who sion. High school teachers also Students BBQ, featuring a talk by Institutions, departments or based. The University of Arkansas were not trained in physics would had the opportunity to partici- Mario Diaz of the University of individuals who would like to has revised physics courses and get leaned on to teach physics, they pate in a free optics workshop Texas, Brownsville, on “Beyond hear about some of the most created many new materials to sup- were uncomfortable, but now the during the meeting. Einstein: One Hundred Years successful innovations port the new courses, with a spe- ones we've trained are more enthu- • The APS Northeastern Later.” Friday and Saturday fea- throughout the country should cial focus on making laboratories siastic about it. Before we revised Section also held its annual fall tured both invited and con- contact Ted Hodapp (hodapp@ more exploratory. One of the most the courses, no one was happy when meeting October 14-15 at the tributed sessions. The former aps.org), APS’s lead in this important changes, says Stewart, they got asked to teach physics. University of Vermont in covered such topics as develop- project as well as the Director has been a new teaching assistant Now they’re happy,” said Stewart. Burlington, Vermont. The tech- ments in nanotechnology (with a of Education and Outreach. preparation program, which trains In addition to the other reforms, nical program focused on the regional focus on research con- PhysTEC has brought physics and areas of soft condensed matter ducted in Texas), including a new education faculty together. For and nanoscience and featured lithography approach for nano- instance, says Stewart, they have a both invited/plenary sessions and magnetic system manufacturing; “teacher of teachers luncheon,” contributed sessions, as well as industrial applications of physics; which gets physics and education numerous workshops and the and ultracold physics. Friday professors together to discus ways to chance to visit the university evening’s banquet speaker was betters serve students who may be Little Known Conversion Factors, Explained physics museum. Lecture topics Rice University’s Neal Lane, interested in teaching. included exploring how polymer who shared his experiences as a 1: the ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = This year, the University of chains organize into crystals; former presidential science advi- Eskimo Pi Arkansas’ PhysTEC Teacher-in- organic semiconductors and sor and views on the future of 2: 2,000 lbs. of chinese soup = won ton Residence is an elementary school devices; the physics of DNA; a science policy in Washington. 3: 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope teacher, unlike previous years when century of physics teaching; • The APS California Section 4: the time between slipping on a peel and smacking the a high school teacher has filled the microfluidics; molecular fluids; held its annual meeting October pavement = 1 bananosecond position, said Stewart. Consultations and solid particles, liquid droplets 21-22 at California State 5: the weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram with the education department made and new materials. University, Sacramento, which 6: the time it takes to sail 220 yards, at 1 nautical mile it clear that they needed to work on • The APS Four Corners featured numerous general ses- per hour = knotferlong elementary education as well, she Section also held its annual fall sions on a broad range of topics. 7: 365.25 days of drinking low calorie beer = 1 lite year said. Future elementary school teach- meeting October 14-15 at the Friday evening’s banquet speak- 8: 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling ers are now learning some physics University of Colorado, Boulder. er was Albert Haldemann, deputy 9: half a large intestine = 1 semicolon for elementary school, and the Invited talks covered such sub- project scientist of the Mars 10: 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz Teacher-in-Residence is working jects as climate change; local- Exploration Rover Mission Jet 11: basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower with the education department on ization of electrons in amorphous Propulsion Laboratory at 12: shortest distance between two jokes = a straight line ways to use science to address mul- silicon; entanglement and quan- Caltech, who gave an overview 13: 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake tiple standards. Elementary school is tum computation; nanothermal- of the mission project to date. 14: 1 million microphones = 1 megaphone an especially good time for kids to 15: 1 million bicycles = 1 megacycle learn science, says Stewart, “All kids 16: 365.25 days = 1 unicycle like science until we teach them 17: 2,000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds that it’s hard.” LETTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 18: 10 cards = 1 decacard 19: 52 cards = 1 deckacard BALTIMORE CONTINUED apparently the case for the 17th asking for money to undertake 20: 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 fig Newton FROM PAGE 1 Street and London Avenue canals, large construction projects to 21: 1,000 grams of wet socks = 1 literhosen 15-16, so that attendees from dis- which led to most of the flooding protect against water surges 22: 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche tricts and states all over the US in central and western New produced by hurricanes stronger 23: 1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin will have the opportunity to meet Orleans. than Category 3. 24: 10 rations = 1 decaration with their Congressional repre- The Corps of Engineers did not It’s difficult to see how 25: 100 rations = 1 C-ration sentatives. Those interested in ask for money to rebuild those restoring the office of science 26: 2 monograms = 1 diagram participating may contact levees, which would have advisor to Cabinet rank, as 27: 8 nickels = 2 paradigms Kimberly Regan, science policy required recognition that they proposed by Lubell, is the way to 28: 2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale fellow, OPA, [email protected], were not designed and built prop- fix problems of this sort. University Hospital = 1 I.V. league or sign up online at http://ultron. erly in the first place. Furthermore, Joseph Sternberg aps.org/forms/aps.cgi?ID=3000. the Corps of Engineers were not Woodbury, Connecticut NEWS December 2005 7

Science and Engineering Are Hidden Stars in Stealth 2006 APS Journal M. Hildred Blewett Hollywood actors take a back camera angle, Cohen had to worry a map of Arizona and "EDI" could Policy Change Scholarship for Women seat to science and engineering used about how the planes would look fly- appear to be flying over the Grand Physicists in the movie Stealth, which opened ing over the landscape. So, he turned Canyon. Starting in 2006, Physical This scholarship has been in theaters nationwide in August. In to the computer scientists and tech- "I think it will be a long time Review A-E will no longer be established to enable women to the movie, the science of artificial nical experts at Digital Domain to before a movie of this magnitude available to members in a return to physics research careers comes along again where they’ll be print version. Online only intelligence is taken to new heights try out their brand new technology after having had to interrupt those able to use this type of technology," subscriptions will be avail- as three U. S. Navy pilots face their call Tergen (terrain generator) which careers for family reasons. The says John Frazier, Stealth’s special toughest fight yet when an creates virtual backgrounds using able for these five titles. There scholarship consists of an award Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle actual topographic maps of that area. effects expert. are exceptions to the new of up to $45,000. The applicant named Extreme Deep Invader (EDI) For example, Tergen could pull up –Inside Science News Service policy, and current sub- must currently be a legal resident becomes too smart for its own good. scribers will be contacted or resident alien of the US or In artificial intelligence, a LASER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 with more information. Canada. She must be currently machine imitates traits seen in Subscription options for in Canada or the US and must human behavior, such as making a litigation settles anything, that case concluded that there is no single Letters, have an affiliation with a research- decision, but artificial intelligence resolved Gould's claim to the inven- inventor of the laser. There is no Reviews of Modern Physics, active educational institution or expert James Hendler at the torship of the laser. He didn't. He did, argument that Townes is the inven- Physical Review Online national lab. She must have University of Maryland says that however, receive some valuable tor of the maser, and Townes and Archive (PROLA), and/or completed work toward a PhD. artificial intelligence will always patents, of which the patent for the Schawlow certainly deserve much Physical Review Index will Applications are due need a human touch. "No matter Brewster angle window is perhaps of the credit for the invention of the remain unchanged for 2006. June 1, 2006. Announcement of how 'smart' the machine is, you still the most brilliant [Gordon Gould, laser, but–perhaps surprisingly–a If you have any questions, the award is expected to be made have to tell it what to do," says US patent 4,746,201], and he died good deal of the credit should also please contact a membership by August 1, 2006. Hendler. a relatively wealthy man from his go to Bloembergen. representative at member- Details and online application While artificial intelligence is royalties. The first reference we Richard W. Dixon and Robert [email protected] or 301-209- can be found at http:// the science featured in the plot of the found to the parallel mirror config- A. Myers 3280. www.aps.org/educ/cswp/ movie, it’s the science and engineer- uration, in fact, was in a patent of Bernardsville, NJ blewett/index.cfm Contact: Sue Otwell in the ing hidden behind the scenes in the Robert Dicke's [R. H. Dicke, US APS office at blewett@ movie’s production that is truly patent 2,851,652, filed May 21, Ed. Note: Dicke's patent is the Elsevier Books Discount 1956, issued Sept. 9, 1958]. subject of a letter in the November aps.org impressive. Savings of 30% - 40% for After extensive investigation, we APS News by . Stealth director Ron Cohen APS Members: Order now worked with industrial designers using your 30% APS member APS March Job Fair drawing from the latest naval jet SMARTER THAN THOU CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 discount and receive an addi- March 13 - 15, 2006 patterns to create the three talon question authority” response. The accordingly. Evolution is the only tional 10% discount on select- Baltimore, MD planes and "EDI." Then, the talons result is a mean-spirited public theory being defended as not sub- ed titles. For more information or were tweaked to look "beautiful as exchange between those who insist ject to change. I think that is why For more information: to register, contact Career well as powerful," while “EDI” was evolution is bunk and those who it has attracted the furor. http://www.aps.org/memb/ Network at (301) 209-3187 designed to be "cool yet terrifying," insist evolution is fact. Unless we teach the public the bookdiscounts.cfm or [email protected]. explained Cohen. The hallmark of theological difference between a theory and a In order to capture all angles of statements is unchanging truth. By fact, and make it clear that even Now Appearing in RMP the planes and look realistic flying, definition, a fact does not change, the most accepted theory (includ- the planes had to be able to move in but theories are supposed to be sub- ing evolution) is subject to change Recently Posted Reviews and Colloquia all directions. So, engineers designed ject to change. When a scientific when new facts are discovered, You will find the following in the online edition of and built a one-of-a kind gimbal, theory is presented to the public as things will get worse. Reviews of Modern Physics at http://rmp.aps.org which allows the plane to incline at “fact,” the public hears this as a J.W. Lane Quantum cloning different angles. "The gimbal weighs theological statement and responds Tallahassee, Florida Valerio Scarani, Sofyan Iblisdir, Nicolas Gisin, and Antonio Acín 100 tons, has the ability to pull five Classical information can be copied as many times as one wants. G’s and can work on a very wide In the quantum world, however, some degradation is inevitable when one range of motion," said Cohen. "In SCIENTIFIC BABY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 tries to copy the quantum state of a system into another one. This terms of our mechanical technolo- public science literacy can only Galileo, Newton, Faraday and fundamental property of quantum physics is at the center of this article, gy, we designed a gimbal the likes improve by not being hampered Maxwell. which reviews copying methods from the point of view of minimizing of which had not been seen before." anymore with the crackpot ideas of Edward J. Garboczi the degradation. Possible applications might appear in quantum With the planes ready for any scientific imposters like Kepler, Gaithersburg, Maryland cryptography and light amplification.

2005 DPP MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of educational events to encourage the University of Wisconsin at California, and on the National X-ray sources in medical applica- teachers, students and the general Madison has provided new insights Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) tions or for gamma-ray radiogra- public to explore plasma. At the into the behavior of the magnetic at the Princeton Plasma Physics phy of tiny objects. Plasma Expo, offered without charge fields generated by Earth and other Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey, Up Against the Wall. to teachers and their students, rotating objects, including planets, have simulated the behavior of alpha Experiments at the scientists from around the world stars, and . The experiment particles and Alfvén waves expect- Institute of Technology and were on hand to engage participants uses a spherical vessel –a ed in the plasma of a fusion reactor. Princeton University have demon- in lively hands-on demonstrations dynamo–that holds a cubic meter Infrared image of liquid lithium in NSTX and DIII-D researchers can strated novel approaches to design- and explorations. Those attending of molten . Under experi- the tray that encircles the bottom of now address whether super Alfvénic ing effective containment walls for were able to create arcs of mental conditions, propellers drive the LTX device. The swirling pattern ions interacting with short-scale fusion reactors. The new methods, lightning, observe their fluctuating flows of the sodium and create con- that indicates the circulation of the Alfvén waves can lead to loss of coating wall materials with an ultra- body temperature on a special mon- ditions necessary to generate a mag- liquid lithium is clearly evident. The energetic particles in ITER and how thin layer of boron and using liquid itor, manipulate a glowing plasma netic field in a similar manner to electron beam hits the lithium imme- these Alfvén waves might affect metal lithium as a wall material, with magnets, and learn how to con- the the processes that generate fields diately to the left of the picture. thermal plasma particles. have important implications for the fine a plasma by playing a tokamak surrounding Earth and the Sun. The Accelerating Electrons with design of fusion reactors. video game. device's operating parameters can Additional images also provided Bright Sparks. A train of ultra- When subjected to heat loads Turbulence of the SolarWind. be manipulated to yield experimen- researchers with their first glimpse intense radiation spikes can be cre- greater than those expected in a Researchers at Los Alamos National tal data on a range of magnetic- of how particles and energy are ated for use as an advanced electron fusion reactor, the lithium liquefied Laboratory are using the solar wind field-generating systems–including transported during an ELM instabil- accelerator with potential medical and began to swirl rapidly, distribut- and Earth's magnetosphere as a entire galaxies, stars, and Earth and ity, which can hamper a Tokamak's and physics applications. Scientists ing the heat in much in the same planet-sized "wind tunnel" to study other planets–that previously could operation. The images captured by at the University of Texas have dis- way stirring makes all of the soup in the flow properties of plasma, much only be observed and modeled. researchers on the DIII-D Tokamak covered a new method to amplify a pot reach the same temperature. as engineers use wind tunnels to Ripples at the Edge of Hot at General Atomics in La Jolla, and compress laser power, which The "self-stirring" of the lithium study airflow when designing air- Plasma. Physicists have opened a California, have led to a much bet- uses a plasma of ions and electrons. observed in the Lithium Tokamak craft. Arecent study has shown that new window into the complex ter understanding of ELM instabil- The researchers directed two laser Experiment (LTX) at the U.S. turbulence in the solar wind affects behavior that occurs at the edge of ities, with several theoretical predic- beams, with slightly different fre- Department of Energy's Princeton the way the wind interacts with a 100 million-degree fusion plas- tions verified by these measure- quencies but traveling in the same Plasma Physics Laboratory suggests Earth's magnetosphere, just as tur- ma, of the type that will be pro- ments. direction, into a series of plasmas, a simple and efficient technique for bulence in the air affects airflow duced in Tokamak fusion reactors, Keeping the Fusion Fires eventually creating sparks that pro- heat dissipation without the use of around an aircraft. This research is revealing the mechanisms behind Burning. In research with impor- duce plasma wave "buckets." The expensive pumps and complex important if astronomers are to fusion plasma instabilities. Using tant implications for the develop- buckets grab and accelerate low- plumbing. It is a new concept understand the large-scale flows of advanced high-speed cameras, ment of the International energy electrons up to hundreds of that has potential to solve the heat plasma throughout the universe. physicists obtained very detailed, Thermonuclear Experimental millions of electron volts. If this load challenge in fusion reactors Where Do Magnetic Fields three-dimensional images of plasma Reactor (ITER), recent experiments method is proven in experiments, the and other high heat load environ- Come From? Research on the instabilities known as Edge on the DIII-D fusion facility at technique could lead to tabletop ments, such as "dumps" for high Madison Dynamo Experiment at Localized Modes (ELMs). General Atomics in La Jolla, electron accelerators for portable intensity beams. 8 December 2005 NEWS The Back Page Intrigues in Work Collectives: The Story of MentorNet By Brymer H. Chin

“Brymer, do you have intrigues etching titanium thin films, properties of silica suspen- My participation in MentorNet in work collectives?” That intrigu- problems at home, rheology sions, as well as the vampire- has helped me take more initiative ing question was posed to me by and colloidal physics, favorite staking properties of wood (I than I would have before; I did things Lara1, a physics grad student in music and poetry, death in the personally prefer birch). Seila that I would never have imagined Russia. How I came to be introduced family, the relationship between received her bachelor’s degree doing before. When I later trans- to Lara, as well as five other female spins in figure skating and rota- in May 2004, and has started ferred to another company, which students, is the subject of this story. tional dynamics–everything her PhD program. So stay flex- was not a sponsor, I decided to make This is the story of MentorNet. from second harmonic genera- ible in your matches. it become one. I approached the VP MentorNet is an organization that tion to sexual harassment to My first student, a grad stu- of HR, made an appointment, and matches female students2 majoring sledding down hills on dent in her fifth year, didn’t gave her a presentation. I never had Brymer H. Chin in science and engineering with men- cafeteria trays. like to write much. Suddenly I got a such confidence before. Life at many tors working in industry or govern- Although generic advice and Hungarian philosopher. Hmmm. desperate plea from her; she was hi-tech corporations these days is ment to provide them with a per- guidance may be helpful, the true German poet. Hmmm. Very impres- being sexually harassed by a pro- extremely stressful. Even senior engi- spective different from that viewed value of MentorNet lies in tailoring sive young lady.” But I also knew she fessor, and her department failed to neers and researchers such as I often in academics.3 The program is based the type and degree of assistance to expected me to write back, “OK, provide her with urgently needed feel powerless to resolve their own on the use of e-mail to make com- a student’s specific needs. For who the hell is Spike?” Instead, along support. Her situation was precari- problems. I function on a low layer munication more convenient, to prospective mentors, a major issue with passages from Schiller and ous since she had already invested of the corporate hierarchical architec- accommodate different locations, is the time required. That is ill- Wordsworth, I fired back the fol- five years in a PhD program. And as ture, but, relative to students, I func- schedules, and time zones. I am a defined. It can vary by orders of lowing: a foreigner on a student visa, she tion on a high layer, high enough to PhD physicist who joined MentorNet magnitude depending on the stu- “OK, OK, so you’re evil, do we could not simply walk away. I spent improve their situations. MentorNet in its first full year of operation dent, her particular circumstances, have to chat about it all day?” many anxious hours on the phone has helped me find satisfaction out- (1998–1999 academic year), while her receptiveness–and the extent of –Buffy with her. side the workplace. MentorNet has I was working for AT&T, a found- personal involvement and dedica- So here she was, a physics under- My second year with MentorNet, helped restore my sense of self-worth. ing sponsor. I have been matched tion by her mentor. Prospective men- grad who wanted to go to MIT for I was matched with Rosalie, who MentorNet has helped me become with six students now, and I would tors should not shy away from the grad school. So here I was, a physi- had just started her graduate pro- less self-absorbed. Over the course like to summarize my overall expe- program for concern that it may sap cist who had attended MIT. So here gram. After the initial round of intro- of the hi-tech crash, we have often riences. In discussions of mentor- up too much time. Successful, sat- we both were–fanatics of Buffy the ductions, she suddenly announced heard “I have survived working at … ing, sociological aspects often dom- isfying, effective relationships may Vampire Slayer. It was a match with that she had decided to quit. I had .” And we boast of our resilience. between a mentor and a student–is does not need to be a single block translate well across different lan- That was over 20 years ago. I had Wall Street speaks of red ink dripping often lost. In this article, you will not scheduled in advance; it may be guages or different cultures, some buried those memories, and I was like blood from corporate balance find a formal treatise on the mentor- broken into convenient chunks dis- instances are transparent. Lara, a scared–terrified, if I care to admit sheets. And we cry when our com- ing process. You will not find statis- tributed over the week. At the begin- competitive ping-pong player, had it–to unearth them. She was reluctant pany stock drops below a buck a tical distributions of the number of ning of the relationship, though, it’s applied for a PhD program in the at first to give me details. With a lit- share. Seila, however, was trapped in women and minorities in various especially important to write fre- States. One professor here called her tle nudging, though, she told me the Sarajevo during the horrific blood- technical fields. What you will find quently (for example, three brief to discuss his research projects; whole story. It was the same as my shed there. “Surviving” a layoff and is a personal story of the impact that exchanges a week for the first two unfortunately, he overlooked the story 20 years ago. Rosalie told me “blood” on stock portfolio summaries MentorNet has had on my life, and weeks) to quickly develop rapport. time-zone difference between the she wanted to get an industrial R&D are meaningless, maudlin metaphors on the lives of some of my students. This is not difficult because there US and Russia and woke her in the job in the US. After much discussion to me now. As for the “Intrigues in Not all matches will yield posi- are many introductory topics to middle of the night. After he had with her, I called up a number of my Work Collectives” that Lara had tive benefits, for either the students touch upon...career, major, family, talked for a while, he asked her friends and colleagues, circulated asked me about, whether we are in or the mentors. I can tell you what sports, music, books; these can be whether she had any questions. She her resume, and helped arrange a Russia, , Bosnia, or the States, has worked for me and my students. discussed in further detail later on. was still half-asleep; the first thing job tour for her in the US. She is whether we work in academics, My matches have represented a This critical phase creates the tone that popped into her mind was, “Do now working in a major R&D lab. industry, or government, we are all, broad international cross-section. for the rest of the relationship: you play ping-pong?” He laughed We have become good friends and unfortunately, subjected to intrigues Four were foreign students at univer- whether strict and formal or light because ping-pong was a popular stay in regular touch. Personal friend- in work collectives–corporate politics, sities in the US: a Polish grad student and breezy. sport in his department, and there ship is the ultimate culmination of a academic rivalries, internal compe- majoring in materials science, a I have volunteered considerably was intense rivalry among the labs. successful MentorNet relationship. tition, power struggles, personal Bosnian undergrad student major- more time because I did not want to Lara could very well have become It is easy to see how students may jealousies. A mentor cannot elimi- ing in physics, a Brazilian grad stu- miss the opportunities to develop the first student admitted to a PhD benefit from MentorNet, but the nate these but can at least strive to help dent majoring in physics, and a unique friendships. An hour of dis- physics program on a ping-pong question always arises, “How do a student deal with them better. Chinese grad student majoring in cussing R&D jobs in the US with scholarship. you as a mentor benefit from this pro- Lara once asked me whether aeronautical engineering. The other Rosalie, an hour of discussing the In forming a student-mentor rela- gram?” Some mentors will pause I’ve ever felt completely alone. two were students at foreign univer- pluses and minuses of a PhD with tionship, the critical step is the match- and then give some generic, imper- She then went on to tell me the sities: a German grad student major- Seila, an hour of discussing grad ing process. When students and men- sonal answers. But I don’t have to details of why she felt that way. Her ing in physics in Sweden and a schools in the US with Lara – all tors first sign up, they fill out profiles pause, again because of my close concluding sentence was, “As I Russian grad student majoring in these interactions were helpful. But with basic information such as (for personal ties with my students. They am finishing writing this letter, physics in Russia. planning and arranging job inter- students) major and year in school have taught me much. When the Brymer, I realize that I feel a lot For inexperienced mentors, views for Rosalie, collecting aca- and (for mentors) academic train- Berlin wall came crashing down, we better now.” As I was finishing MentorNet offers structured servic- demic and career statistics for Seila, ing and current career. A computer in the West saw images of people reading her letter, I realized that I es, such as on-line training. To fos- and reviewing applications and program produces the best matches dancing among the ruins, and we felt a lot better too. And that is the ter a smooth relationship, it period- essays for Lara produced far more from the available pool of students viewed the event positively; only story of MentorNet. ically sends out suggested topics and concrete results. and mentors. good could arise from it. But Lara At the time this article was writ- checks for any problems. Staff is Throughout, we have had lots of Initially I thought that a match was a young girl in Russia at the ten, Brymer Chin was a available for personal counselling. fun and laughs. Fun and laughs sus- with a grad student would be more time–and she has a far different story Distinguished Member of the My style is more spontaneous; in tain a relationship; fun and laughs are effective and satisfying for both of to tell. The Soviet system crashed so Technical Staff at Lucent my first e-mail, I tell my students that key elements in facing serious prob- us because she would already have abruptly that there was no other to Technologies. Ironically, as this they can discuss anything at all with lems. Mentor-student relationships focussed, well-defined, goals. Seila take over. Food was in short supply. article was going into press, me, professional or personal...what- develop like all other relationships. proved that my first instincts were People received ration coupons, but “intrigues in work collectives” ever they are comfortable with. Some falter from the start and never dead wrong; she was a sophomore the coupons were often useless; there overtook him, and he is currently Many of the suggested topics come recoup, some mature gradually over when we were first matched. Besides simply was no food to ration. Many unemployed. He may be reached at up as a matter of course: life in indus- the course of the year–others click vampire jokes, we discussed what went hungry for long spells. [email protected]. For more try vs. life in academics, significance instantly. technical fields would stay viable in Lara is a grad student in the US information about MentorNet, see of a PhD degree, balance of career Seila, in her introductory e-mail, the future. Over the last four years, now. I smile when she tells me that http://www.mentornet.net. and family life. If you simply check sent me some quotes; one from a we have covered course selection, her research is flourishing. I laugh 1Name has been changed from off a menu, though, you will gain lit- Hungarian philosopher, one from a undergrad thesis research, applica- when she tells me of the latest the real one. tle more than a perfunctory experi- German poet, and then the follow- tions for grad school, and–the most ping-pong tournament she has 2Although the primary focus of ence. The key to a successful rela- ing, agonizing–choosing a grad school. won. Her current e-mails to me are MentorNet is on female students, tionship is to develop a personal rap- “Because I’m evil, e-v-i-l, evil.” Since her interest lies in soft con- especially poignant since I know male students are eligible to par- port, implicit trust, with your stu- –Spike densed matter, and my concentra- the difficulties of her past. I’m ticipate. dents. We have discussed careers, I knew she was toying with me. tion had been solid-state physics, we lucky that MentorNet brought us 3MentorNet has since added an grad schools, favorite recipes for She expected me to think, “Hmmm. have discussed the physical together. academic mentoring program.

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