First Radio APS Extends Participation DNP Conference Experience Back Page: 02│ Message 03│ in SCOAP3 04│ for Undergraduates 08│ The Growth Mindset December 2019 • Vol. 28, No. 11 aps.org/apsnews A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP UNIT PROFILE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS The APS Division of Quantum Information The African Physics Newsletter BY ABIGAIL DOVE Celebrates Its First Anniversary he APS Division of Quantum (GQI) in 2005. After a decade of BY J. E. GUBERNATIS Information (DQI) is a home work growing its membership T for those interested in the and increasing the visibility of ith its December issue, the cutting edge of quantum informa- quantum information, this group African Physics Newsletter tion: its foundations, its physical achieved full division status in W (bit.ly/africanphysic- manifestations, and the useful- 2017, becoming DQI. sarchive) concludes its first year ness of, feasibility of, and progress Now 2,400 members strong, DQI of publication. It has been a for- toward quantum computing. ranks among the largest divisions mative year for the newsletter Specifically, this spans quantum at APS. DQI secretary/treasurer during which it saw a doubling entanglement, quantum commu- Emily Pritchett, a research scientist in subscribers, an expansion of nication, quantum cryptography, at IBM, said that the vibrancy of its Editorial Board, and a refine- quantum algorithms and simula- the division today represents an ment of its format and content. The tions, physical implementation of important symbolic victory for the newsletter steps into its second year Emily Pritchett primed to continue its de facto role qubits (the basic unit of quantum field in general. The launch of the newsletter information), the conceptual and “A decade ago, typical for a new as the voice of physics in Africa. and engineers, making DQI an was timely; a lot is happening in mathematical foundations of subfield of physics, there was doubt APS agreed to support the news- important entry-point to APS for the African physics community. quantum theory, and more. as to whether quantum information letter in response to a survey of researchers with an academic home Several successful schools, such as Quantum information is one was a credible field that belonged African physicists, summarized outside of physics. Furthermore, the African School on Electronic of the newest fields in physics. in academic physics departments” in the December 2017 issue of within physics, the many proposals Structure Methods and Applications It was born in the 1980s when she explained, “Of course, one only APS News, that revealed a need for and prototypes of quantum and the School on Fundamental physicists began considering how has to compare the job opportu- for a Pan-African communica- computers build on research from Physics and Applications are having to apply the unusual behavior of nities now to those a decade ago tion vehicle. The newsletter has several other areas of the field. In their tenth anniversaries. There is quantum systems to computation. to see that this [field] has been a novel publication model, and it particular, many DQI members now an African Materials Research DQI got its start in 2002 when APS enormously successful.” is noteworthy that the news items also have a home in the Divisions Society. In the past three years, members formed the Topical Group A large part of DQI’s success are being gathered, selected, and of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical the number of African national on Quantum Information, Concepts, lies in its interdisciplinary nature. composed by a volunteer editorial Physics (DAMOP) and Condensed physical societies has increased and Computation (or “Quicc”). This Quantum information engages not board of African physicists. APS is eventually evolved into the Topical only physicists but also math- providing the final copyediting, Group on Quantum Information ematicians, computer scientists, DQI CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 formatting, and distribution. AFRICA CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 EDUCATION GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS The 2019 IGEN National Meeting: Connecting the The United States is Losing the Threads of Graduate Education and Inclusion Ability to Attract International BY BRIÁN CLASH Students Due to Visa Obstacles he sweeping campus of the BY TAWANDA W. JOHNSON University of Central Florida (UCF) provided the backdrop significant portion of APS in applications from physics PhD T international student students to American universities for the first national meeting of the Inclusive Graduate Education Amembers say they have represents an advanced warning experienced delays in processing Network (IGEN), which took place of rising economic risk to the US. their visas to study in the United from October 25 to October 27 in Of those students who are trying States, according to a recent survey Orlando, Florida. IGEN is a partner- to come to the US to study, nearly (go.aps.org/2D6hIf9) carried out by ship between scientific societies, 30% report having challenges the Society in conjunction with the including APS, and institutions of obtaining a student visa, and of Forum on Graduate Student Affairs higher education with the goal of those reporting challenges: (FGSA) and the Forum for Early increasing the number of physics • 85% experience delays in pro- Career Scientists (FECS). PhDs earned by underrepresented cessing their visas; and Conducted in the summer of • 20% have trouble proving minority students. The 2019 IGEN 2019, the survey covered inter- Participants in the 2019 IGEN Conference. “intent to leave” after getting National Meeting focused on national students who came to a degree. bringing together professional sci- the US to earn advanced degrees Of those students who choose entists, underrepresented minority silent as Gates, a theoretical physi- urged listeners to acknowledge the and international students who not to come to the US: students, and scholars of equity and cist, walked the audience through sacrifices of their family members chose not to come to the US. More • 32% believe the US is “unwel- inclusion in graduate education. the story of his life and accom- that came before them and the than 700 international members coming to foreigners;” Over 160 attendees joined for plishments. From his accidental effects of those sacrifices on what were surveyed. APS also con- • 21% believe they have better the weekend’s events, which offi- completion of two bachelor’s they have achieved. tinued its survey of more than educational opportunities cially began on Friday evening. degrees in physics and math to On Saturday morning, attendees 60 department chairs graduating outside the US; and IGEN Project Director Theodore his National Medal of Science, filled the Fairwinds Alumni 10 or more PhDs per year. That Hodapp gave a brief overview of awarded by President Obama in Center at UCF for breakfast and survey revealed that American • 20% believe they have better IGEN and welcomed attendees to 2013, Gates’ life has been one of the opening plenary. Geraldine universities outside of the top tier long-term employment oppor- the meeting before introducing determination and courage to try Cochran, Assistant Professor of experienced a two-year decline of tunities outside the US. the speaker of the hour, APS Vice new things. He concluded his talk Professional Practice at Rutgers 22% in international applications to “I find the current situation President Sylvester James Gates, Jr. with a message he hoped each University, centered her talk on physics PhD programs at US insti- to be very disappointing,” said A room that had been abuzz person would remember as they defining the terms diversity, equity, tutions. That is a serious problem Tiffany Nichols, FGSA chair. with conversation quickly became continued on their own journey: He and inclusion and emphasized because universities outside the top “Science does not function when the need for IGEN affiliates to 15 generate more than 70% of the there are geographic hindrances. create a shared language. Her nation’s PhDs in physics. Professors Matthew Stanley and discussion of diversity, equity, According to the surveys, Daniel Kennefick have written and inclusion, which can often be international students are expe- works analyzing similar policies riencing numerous challenges in seen as an uncomfortable topic, put in place during World War II, coming to the US and are noticing tackled implicit bias, microaggres- which prevented [wider knowledge] growing opportunities elsewhere. sions, and historical and present of general relativity. I urge law- Attracting the best students in the injustices. Cochran’s talk asked makers and community members world provides a critical competi- individuals to take stock of their to read these works, as borders tive advantage that is essential to innovation and the STEM work- IGEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 force. However, the recent decline VISA CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 Revised 12/16/19 2 • December 2019 DIVERSITY Travel Support, Skills Seminar, THIS MONTH IN STEP UP, and NMC Conference Physics History he Braslau Family Travel problem-solving skills. Donations Grant program provides can be made at go.aps.org/31md7z6. T support for degree-seeking National Mentoring Community students and early career physicists Conference to attend an APS March or April We are excited to invite you to December 17, 1902: First Radio Message to Meeting. Grant amounts are based the 2020 APS National Mentoring Cross the Atlantic from North America on the availability of resources, Community Conference (go.aps. with special consideration given org/nmc2020), which will be held oday we take our ability to transmit and lightning. After building the storm detector, to students who lack personal or February 6-8 at the University of receive radio signals wirelessly across long Marconi devised a way to generate radio waves at institutional financial support. Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. distances for granted. Many scientists in the push of a button. He claimed to have invented Awards typically range from $500 T Registered NMC Mentees and the late 19th century contributed to the develop- his “black box”—essentially a spark transmitter to $1,000.