2008 Presidential Citations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Universities Honored with a Special Presidential Citation at 2nd Annual Symposium on Physics Education

College Park, Maryland, United States, January 21, 2008


The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced that a special honor will be presented to both Towson University, Towson, Maryland, and University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. The special AAPT Presidential Citation award will be presented to these higher places of learning, Towson University in recognition of exemplary efforts in teacher preparation, with special knowledge of its successful programs for preparing elementary teachers, and its work on the PhysTEC Project; and University of Maryland in recognition of its exemplary efforts in teacher education research at the College of Education, in physics and across the University. The awards will be presented to Towson University and University of Maryland, by Harvey Leff, AAPT President.

“It is such an honor for AAPT to recognize leading institutions in Maryland that have made a difference in teacher education” said Leff, “Strengthening teacher education, and particularly in the science, may be the single most important area of concern when it comes to building and sustaining long-term high-tech leadership and supporting a high-tech savvy citizenry, not to mention solving the problems and tapping the opportunities that humanity faces. AAPT is ready to support and drive any effort that leads to increased interest in physics.”

The Presidential Citations are being issued to institutions within the state of Maryland (where AAPT’s 2008 Winter Meeting is being held) which have done outstanding work within the theme of the Association’s Symposium. The awards session is a featured part of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Physics Education titled “The Many-Body Challenge: The Full-Community Solution for Strengthening Teacher Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention in Physics.”

The Presidential Citations Awards will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 1:45 p.m., Grand Ballroom VI, at the 2008 AAPT Winter Meeting being held at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland.

For more information about the AAPT Winter Meeting in Baltimore go to:
http://www.aapt.org/events/wm2008/

ABOUT AAPT
AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators -- with more than 11,500 members worldwide. Its mission is to enhance the understanding and appreciation of physics through
teaching. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

ABOUT AIP
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a not-for-profit organization chartered in 1931 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its application to human welfare. It is the mission of the Institute to serve physics, astronomy, and related fields of science and technology by serving its ten Member Societies and their associates, individual scientists, educators, R&D leaders, and the general public with programs, services and publications.

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