October 1998 the American Physical Society Volume 7, No
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Centennial Meeting A P S N E W S Alert OCTOBER 1998 THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 7, NO. 9 APS News[Try the enhanced APS News-online: [http://www.aps.org/apsnews] APS Centennial 55 March 20-26, 1999 Months to Go www.aps.org/centennial Once Every Hundred Years t’s a birthday party! In 1999, we will celebrate the I100th anniversary of the founding of the American Physical Society. Physicists worldwide and especially APS members are invited to Atlanta next 20-26 March to celebrate the accomplishments of physics in the 20th century and to look ahead to the challenges and accelerating change that will greet us in the next 100 years and beyond. Now is the time to begin preparing your abstract and make plans for Atlanta. You won’t want to miss it, and we hope you will consider bringing your spouse, companion or children along to enjoy the broad range of activities that will make up the APS Centennial celebration. This special issue of APS News will give an overview of the Centennial events in Atlanta and cover related projects and activities that will take place throughout 1999. All the information you need right now is in this issue and in the enclosed APS Meeting Announcements. Keep an eye on http://www.aps.org/centennial/ in the coming months for further details and See you in Atlanta! developments. Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau; Kevin C. Rose Inside Special Centennial Events CENTENNIAL n addition to the plethora of The purpose of the exhibit is to en- Unit Exhibits ................................................ 2 Almost all of the APS units, as well as three I distinguished special invited guests, in- gage and inspire young people, to excite Nobel Discoveries Exhibit standing committees, are developing topical cluding President Bill Clinton and Vice them about physics and to surprise them Exploring Nature, Saving Lives, exhibits for the APS Centennial Meeting. President Al Gore (pending confirmation) with the ways it has impact on daily life. Driving Technology The Historical BAPS ................................... 3 and assorted Nobel Laureates in physics, The Nobel exhibit is being designed to Gala Reception at Fernbank Some surprising facts gleaned from the last the APS Centennial Meeting will feature travel to science centers and science mu- century of the BAPS archives. Museum of Natural History numerous special events, many aimed at seums across the country after the A Century of Physics Timeline A Century of Physics ................................. 3 1955-1965: Connections drawing the general public as well as APS Centennial Meeting. The exhibit will illus- Wallchart and Historical Exhibits members in attendance. trate how Nobel discoveries have probed Plenary Speakers ........................................ 3 (page 3) the fundamental mysteries of our world Special Publications................................... 3 Alumni Reunions for more than Physics in the 20th Century, Special Edition of Nobel Laureate Luncheon/ and, through the use of interactive com- Forty University and Laboratory Reviews of Modern Physics, A Century of Phys- Exhibit ponents, allow visitors to see in a hands-on, Departments ics, the APS timeline wall chart. A special invited Nobel Laureate Lun- contemporary way exactly how these dis- International Reception and Banquet cheon (Saturday, March 20, 1999) will coveries have improved our lives. (page 5) NEWS include over 50 Nobel laureates as well as Presidential Science Advisors Panel World’s Top Science Students Gathered in Dallas for 1998 ISEF .................................... 6 outstanding high school teachers from Alumni Reunions DiscussionPast and Present More than $2 million in scholarships and across the country and students from More than 40 physics departments Physics Festival Unit Exhibits prizes were awarded to some of the world’s throughout the state of Georgia. The stu- from educational institutions and laborato- Physics Demonstrations Public brightest high school science and engineering dents and teachers will have an opportunity ries throughout the U.S. will be organizing students at the 1998 Intel International Sci- Lectures and Star Appearances ence and Engineering Fair (ISEF), some of to interact with the Nobel laureates in alumni receptions and reunions for Tues- Physics-related Photography which were sponsored by the APS and AAPT. physics and chemistry. Of particular inter- day evening, March 23, 1999, in Exhibits (page 5) APS Awards Scholarships to Minority est is an invitation to Vice President Gore conjunction with the centennial meeting. Special Invited Guests and Speakers Undergrads .................................................. 6 to give an address at the luncheon. The International Science Symposia The APS has awarded corporate-sponsored scholarships for the 1998-1999 academic year luncheon is designed to be the preamble Fernbank Museum Gala (page 5) to 30 minority students who are majoring, or to the public opening of the “Nobel Dis- International, U.S. and Atlanta dignitar- Centennial Plenary Sessions plan to major, in physics coveries Exhibit: Exploring Nature, Saving ies, including Nobel laureates and science (page 3) Bill Phillips To Be Honored at DLS’ Lives, Driving Technology” immediately teachers in attendance, will be special Centennial Unit Symposia (page 2) ILS-XIV ......................................................... 5 William D. Phillips of the National Institute of following the luncheon. Both of these guests at a gala event and reception to be Special Centennial Publications Standards and Technology (NIST) in events are expected to draw significant held on the evening of March 21, 1999 at (page 3) Gaithersburg, Maryland, has won the 1998 media attention. (continued on page 5) Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science. OPINION Combating “Science Anxiety in the Classroom .................................................... 4 CRITICAL CENTENNIAL MEETING DEADLINES Art Hobson shares six useful suggestions for helping students overcome their aversion to ABSTRACTS physics. Usual March Program Topics Early Registration Deadline 1/15/99 Letters .......................................................... 4 (Including CCP 99) 11/13/98 (To be eligible for the lowest registration fees) Zero Gravity ................................................. 5 Announcing the finalists in the contest to sug- Housing Deadline 2/20/99 gest physics slogans for tee-shirts, bumper Usual April Program Topics stickers and coffee mugs (Including Sherwood) 12/04/98 Announcements ......................................... 7 The Back Page ............................................ 8 See Enclosed APS Meeting Announcements for complete Gerald Wheeler shares the adventures of a Centennial Meeting Abstract and Registration Information scientist in TV Land. APS News October 1998 APS Units Sponsor Centennial Exhibits lmost all of the APS units, as well as Gallery of Fluid Motion: pictorial displays American Physical Society A three standing committees, are obtained from physical or numerical ex- developing topical exhibits on subjects periments which are intriguing, novel or of concern to their respective charters revealing of intricate physical mecha- for the upcoming APS Centennial nisms. Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. A listing of the displays planned at this time, with a Division of High Polymer Physics brief description, is below. The exhibit will combine a poster- board backdrop highlighting the historical Division of Astrophysics use of physics in the field of polymer One strongly visual display will link science with interactive computers to the contributions of astrophysics to other educate users about a variety of poly- disciplines. A second exhibit will include mer characteristics and uses. interactive displays of astronomical im- ages via computer terminals. Division of Laser Science The exhibit will include demonstra- Division of Biological Physics tions highlighting laser history and Slide shows will feature the varied ap- applications at the forefront of science, plications of nonlinear dynamics, with the medicine, fiber optic communications, main focus on biological applications. and education. Computers will be available for interac- tive participation. Division of Nuclear Physics The theme of the exhibit is the role Division of Chemical Physics of the nucleus as the center of the atom One display will feature magnetic reso- and the heart of all matter around us. The nance imaging (MRI) accompanied by a exhibit will focus on the current major user-friendly Web site. A second display scientific thrusts, selected applications will explore combustion chemistry. and education. Division of Condensed Matter Division of Physics of Beams Physics The exhibit will feature joint displays Photos courtesy of (from left to right): Contemporary Physics Education Project, ISIS, Epping Australia; Observatory, Anglo-Australian of Pittsburg; University National Laboratory; Brookhaven Townes; Charles Appleton Laboratory; Rutherford of Edinburgh. University Tuffy, and P. AIP Niels Bohr Library; The display will consist of a series of with laboratories active in the use and Cover of the Centennial Meeting Program sent to all APS members in September. posters describing the history of the construction of accelerator systems for many different sub-areas of condensed nuclear and high energy physics, and for matter physics. synchrotron radiation. be interactive with active plasmas and Forum on Physics and Society interactive computer kiosks, with