Recent Forum Activities
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Forum of The American Physical Society • Volume IX, No. 1 • Fall 2003 ofPhysics HISTORYNEWSLETTER Recent Forum Activities – Michael Riordan, Forum Chair The spring and summer of 2003 have been a period of intense Fisher had organized two other gatherings on Gibbs, one at activity for the Forum. Not only did we sponsor or cosponsor two Maryland and the other at Yale, thus enabling him to bring Danish slates of extremely well-received sessions on the history of physics physics historian Ole Knudsen to Austin to talk about “Gibbs in at the March and April meetings of the American Physical Society, Europe.” Featuring such world-renowned speakers as Phil Ander- but we have succeeded in establishing the Abraham Pais Award for son and Fred Seitz, Hoddeson’s session was absolutely jam-packed, the History of Physics to honor outstanding scholarly with standing room only and hopeful listeners crowded at the door- achievements in the field. In addition, we have initiated an ongoing ways. Perhaps one tenth of all the physicists present at the huge project in tandem with the APS staff to identify, recognize and March meeting were in the lecture hall – or at least trying to get in! publicize a series of historic physics sites in America, as part of the At the April meeting in Philadelphia, the Forum leveraged its Forum’s contributions to the World Year of Physics in 2005. These usual allotment of two invited sessions by cosponsoring four activities and accomplishments have benefited greatly from the sessions in all with other APS units. (See Reports, pp. 9-14.) untiring contributions of the Forum officers, Executive Committee Executive Committee member Dan Siegel of Wisconsin teamed with and members. his counterpart in the Forum on Education to organize a well- At the March APS meeting in Austin, hundreds of physicists received session on “Using History in Physics Education,” while attended the two FHP sessions – a Symposium on J. Willard Gibbs Per Dahl and Elizabeth Paris worked with the Division of Beam organized by Michael Fisher of the University of Maryland, and an Physics to pull together a smashing session on “The Development invited session on the Origins of Solid-State Physics convened by of Electron-Positron Colliders.” Next came a session titled Lillian Hoddeson of the University of Illinois. (See Reports, pp. 6 -9, “Benjamin Franklin, Civic Scientist” that I put together with Bo this issue.) With the aid of Steven Brush and Pierre Hohenberg, Hammer of the Forum on Physics and Society, followed on Tuesday INSIDE Editor’s Note 3 Reports 4 Forum News 16 APS and AIP News 18 Notes and Announcements 20 Book Reviews 26 Physics, the Human Adventure: From Copernicus to Einstein and Beyond Gerald Holton, and Stephen G. Brush, Minding the Heavens: the story of our discovery of the Milky Way Leila Belkora From Nuclear Transmutation to Nuclear Fission Per F. Dahl Splitting the Second Frederick Seitz, courtesy AIP Segre Photo Archives Tony Jones Fred Seitz in 1937, three years before the publication of The Modern Theory of Solids. Read below about his A History of Light and Colour Measurement: reminiscences (now age 92) at the March 2003 APS Mtg. Science in the Shadows Sean F. Johnston morning by “The History of Solar in the world given specifically for outstand- term. I will serve as an Associate Editor Neutrinos,” cosponsored with (and largely ing contributions to the history of physics. I during this time and step in when Ben organized by) the Division of Nuclear am heartened that it was our members who decides to retire; hopefully, this will set up a Physics. Although none of these four recognized the need for such an award and succession process that will make sure our sessions could claim the attendance of those put together the successful fundraising Newsletter is always in experienced hands. at Austin, the breadth and depth of our of- effort to make it happen. So far, we have built We are indeed fortunate in getting Ben, with ferings were clear to anyone. In addition, an endowment of more than $115,000, which his vast experience as APS Editor-in-Chief Nobel laureate and FHP member Dudley will enable the APS and AIP to begin and as editor of Physical Review A, to take Herschbach of Harvard presented the granting the Pais Award annually in 2005 with over from Bill – who deserves an Sunday evening APS Public Lecture, on “Ben a stipend of $5,000. It promises to become enthusiastic “Thank You!” from the Franklin’s Scientific Amusements,” at the the world’s premier award for scholarly membership for his efforts over the past six Franklin Institute. The Forum had a major contributions to the history of physics – and a half years. and obvious presence in Philadelphia. named after a great physicist and historian Prodded by APS Deputy Executive Another encouraging development was of physics who embodies the international Director Alan Chodos, who has been the Forum’s contributed papers session, spirit of the discipline. promoting the idea of setting up plaques to which is generally coupled with the annual Recognition for the success of this recognize U.S. sites where important FHP business meeting, open to all members. effort is due to many individuals, only a few advances occurred in physics, the FHP (See Reports, pp. 14-15.) Several of the six of whom can I mention in this brief column. Executive Committee recently decided to papers presented there on the history of Past Forum Chair Ben Bederson served as establish a new Committee on Historic physics were of high quality. At its Philadel- the indefatigable chair of the Award Physics Sites to advise the APS staff in this phia meeting, the Forum Executive Commit- Committee, guiding its workings over the effort. (See p. 18.) Accordingly, the commit- tee agreed that we should devote specific past two years and leading the sometimes tee will “examine policy issues and other attention to this session in the future and unruly conference calls. Former APS questions regarding the implementation of a attempt to upgrade it into a widely recog- Treasurer Harry Lustig revealed what I call proposed American Physical Society project nized gathering where physics historians the “asking gift,” obtaining several key to select, signify and publicize the most note- young and old are encouraged to deliver commitments of large contributions that worthy locations in the United States where talks on their research in progress. Recently enabled the fundraising effort to move major advances in physics occurred.” Execu- elected Executive Committee member Patrick forward in great leaps rather than a slow tive Committee member Gerald Holton has McCrea of the University of California, Santa crawl. The most significant among these were agreed to serve on this committee, which is Barbara, has agreed to spearhead this effort. a $30,000 outright contribution from John currently in formation. I seek highly Of all the Forum’s recent activities, Armstrong, former Chair of the AIP distinguished senior physicists with a good however, none compares with our great Governing Board, and his wife Elizabeth – sense of the history of physics to serve with success in establishing the Abraham Pais plus an equal matching grant, which him, and I solicit members’ recommendations. Award for the History of Physics in honor of attracted other large contributions that This service will be part of the Forum’s our dear departed colleague. (See p. 16.) As eventually carried us well over our original contributions to the World Year of Physics far as I know, this is the only award or prize fundraising goal. in 2005 (see p. 17), when we hope that the Under Roger Stuewer’s able leadership, first few of these sites can be recognized. a subgroup of the Award Committee has been The program of invited sessions for the of Physics working out the details of the award- 2004 APS meetings is in good hands, with HISTORY NEWSLETTER granting process. The results of his persis- Forum Chair-Elect Nina Byers and her tence are now available on the FHP web site Program Committee putting together two full The History of Physics Newsletter is under Pais Award; I encourage Forum slates of invited sessions for Montreal and published twice each year by the Forum members to glance at the pages describing Denver. (See p. 15.) This is perhaps the most on History of Physics of the American the award and the guidelines for nomina- important Forum activity – and probably the Physical Society. It is distributed free to tions. Roger will chair a distinguished most time-consuming one, too. A subcom- all members of the Forum. Others who selection committee that includes Allan mittee of this Committee, consisting of Laurie wish to receive it should make a Franklin, Lillian Hoddeson, Anne Kox and Brown, Holton and Vice Chair Robert Romer, donation to the Forum of $5 per year (+$5 Spencer Weart representing the AIP. is already at work planning sessions about additional for air mail). Each volume Nominations for the first Pais Award, to be Albert Einstein for the 2005 APS meetings, consists of six issues. presented at the 2005 APS April meeting, are to celebrate the centennial of his annus due no later than 1 May 2004. mirabilis. Editor: Over the summer the Newsletter Finally, I would be remiss indeed if I did William E. Evenson Editorial Board, spearheaded by chair Bill not recognize the untiring efforts of Forum Department of Physics Evenson, found a very able person to Secretary/Treasurer Ken Ford in enabling all Brigham Young University replace him as Editor. Coming off his great these activities. He has been my steady Provo, UT 84602 success in leading the Pais Award effort, Ben consultant, confidant and partner during the e-mail: [email protected] Bederson will officially assume these reins past several months when many of these tel: (801) 422-6078 at the beginning of next year for a three-year activities and accomplishments occurred, 2 History of Physics Newsletter • Volume IX, No.