AAPT.org - American Association of Physics Teachers

Announcements 
Here are the AAPT announcements from July, August, and September of this year.


September 2007
Electronic Balloting
Job Opening: Online Publications Editor-in-Chief

August 2007
Summary of Executive Board Actions SM07
Job Opening: Chief Academic Officer

July 2007
U.S. Physics Team Blogs from Iran
Summer Meeting Onsite Program Guide

Electronic Balloting
At its July meeting the Board approved moving toward an electronic balloting platform for board elections. Ballots will be mailed in early October and all members will be given the option to cast their votes electronically. Ballots are due November 9 and the winners will be announced in early November. The balloting will be managed by Survey & Ballot Systems.

Back to top.
Job Opening: Online Publications Editor-in-Chief

AAPT is seeking an Online Publications Editor in Chief (OPEIC) who will oversee the production, review, evaluation, and content management of online publications for AAPT. The content of the publications will be based on workshops, conferences, meetings, symposia and other activities sponsored by AAPT, as well as software and publications of interest to physics educators. The Editor will work with individuals directly connected with the events to assure a consistently high-quality product developed in a timely fashion and of value to AAPT members.

The Editor shall be appointed for a three-year term. AAPT publications are reviewed every five years. The initial workload will be 25% of full time and is expected to rise to 50% within the next year. The Online Publications Editor shall receive a negotiated honorarium, based on experience, qualifications, and current salary. Travel support to attend the two AAPT national meetings will be provided. The amount of the honorarium shall be reviewed periodically to determine if adjustments are needed.

Qualifications
Candidates should possess a minimum of five years of relevant job experience and be able to demonstrate the following: the ability to multi-task with strong organizational skills, the ability to work with others on a team to complete a project, experience developing and evaluating online physics-related publications. An interest in and experience with physics education is strongly preferred. The successful candidate should have the ability to travel as needed. A masters degree or its equivalent in physics or an allied science is preferred, and a PhD is strongly preferred.

Applications
(1) Send a cover letter explaining your experiences with online publications, experiences with physics education, views on how online publications could expand the relationship of AAPT with physics educators, and relevant administrative and leadership experience. (2) A curriculum vitae; along with a letter of recommendation from the department chair (or equivalent), indicating, among other things, the willingness of the department and institution to support the activities of the AAPT Online Publications Editor. (3) Two additional letters of recommendation.

Send applications and nominations to:
American Association of Physics Teachers
c/o AIP, Human Resources
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740
or e-mail aiphr@aip.org

AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators—with more than 11,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to enhance the understanding of physics through teaching by strengthening physics education and supporting physics educators. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, MD.

Back to top.
Summary of Executive Board Actions SM07
During the regular Board meetings in Greensboro, the Executive Board acted to:
  • Congratulate the US Physics Olympics team for their performance at the International Physics Olympiad in Iran. AAPT President Harvey Leff also complimented Toufic Hakim, Marie Elena Khoury, and her staff for the exceptional job they did in hosting the team in College Park, coordinating a congressional visitation with the help of AIP’s Media and Government Relations Group, and producing a wonderful closing ceremony highlighting past Physics Olympians. Academic Director Bob Shurtz and senior coach Paul Stanley were also complimented for their work with the team.
  • Approve a job description and selection procedure for one or more part-time Senior Fellows for Pre-College Programming (1-FTE). These fellows would contract to lead AAPT’s efforts in addressing important issues such as professional development opportunities, outreach materials development, and coordination with other associations involving pre-college teachers.  
  • Endorse the mission statement regarding a Doubling Initiative and encourage the development of action plans involving AAPT, APS, and AIP in doubling the number of physics majors.
  • Approve the report of the auditors indicating their unqualified review of the financial statements and accounting procedures (financial statements will be posted in the annual overview and on the web).
  • Approve the transition from paper balloting for elections to the use of more electronic balloting. The company selected to conduct the election is the same one that APS uses for its elections.
  • Approve $7,600 to support up to four graduate students and two international participants to participate in the 2008 Gordon Conference on Computational Physics.
  • Encourage the Area Chairs-Section Representatives Planning Group to examine and develop models that increase the effectiveness of the groups to respond to issues affecting physics education, increase involvement of local physics educators, expand membership options, and increase communication with the Executive Office. There was also a collection of specific questions that the Board seeks answers to that relate to committee size, structure, and responsibilities. The Board encourages the Planning Group to involve the Area Committee members and Section Representatives in electronic discussion regarding developed models.
  • Approve of the following to the AJP Editorial Board: Christian Brosseau (University of Brest), Gerardo Munoz (California State-Fresno), Beatte Schmittmann (Virginia Tech). These board members will replace David Griffiths, Elaine Oran, and Sidney Redner.
  • Approve of the following to the Resource Letters Editorial Board: Kimball A. Milton (University of Oklahoma), Rosemary Wyse (The Johns Hopkins University). These will replace Suzanne Amador Kane and Michael Nauenberg. The motion passed.
  • Endorse the effort to bundle The Physics Teacher and Physics Today (including electronic access) for 7,500 high school libraries.
  • Allocate no more than four percent of the current Dodge Fund to support new teacher workshops for pre-college teachers presented by PTRAs.
  • Approve funding for a study to determine how different audiences respond to the AAPT name.

Submitted by Steve Iona, Secretary


Back to top.

Job Opening: Chief Academic Officer

undefined

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATION ARE INVITED

Position Title: Acting Chief Academic Officer (ACAO)
Reports To: Executive Officer
Position Classification: Regular Full-Time

This vacancy is created due to a two-year professional leave of absence by the Chief Academic Officer. While this is a short-term assignment, renewable for one year after the first year, it could lead to a permanent position. Physics faculty members currently on (or contemplating) sabbatical leaves, newly retired faculty, and others interested in serving the world's major physics teaching association are invited to apply. Nominations are encouraged.

Position Summary
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills, to serve as Acting Chief Academic Officer (ACAO). A good knowledge of physics education, physics content, management, budgeting, and funding issues are essential. The ACAO will work with association staff, officers, committees, members, along with leaders of other physics and science education societies, to promote the main goal of the association: strengthening physics education. The ACAO will oversee academic grants, interface with the AAPT committees and sections, and advise the Executive Officer on academic issues. AAPT is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing physics education at all levels. Its members include educators from the pre-college through graduate level physics. AAPT is at an important juncture in its development; the ACAO will participate in implementing the new dynamic outlook and bold vision for growth of the association. AAPT Programs and Conferences Department staff report to the ACAO, who directly oversees the financial and budgeting interactions of these departments.

Background and Experience
Strong background in physics or a related discipline (PhD preferred); management/budgeting experience at an academic institution; high energy and creativity; excellent oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; experience in writing proposals and managing grants/contracts; and a demonstrated interest and active involvement in physics education and physics education issues.

 
The successful candidate will:

â??   Work at the AAPT office in College Park, MD.
â??   Advise the Executive Officer on academic issues, and lead special projects as necessary.
â??   Serve as acting Executive Officer for the Association as needed.
â??   Serve as a member of the staff's senior officers’ team, which leads the processes of planning, budgeting, personnel review, and organizational goal implementation.
â??   Serve as co-principal investigator and organizational representative on a number of current federal grants, as designated by the Executive Officer, and authorize   payments of all grant-related expenditures.
â??   Lead and oversee, in collaboration with the Executive Officer, the development and implementation of new competitive grant proposals to the federal government.
â??   Track all grants submitted by the association, and monitor performance and compliance with all NSF reporting deadlines and guidelines.
â??   Serve as replacement for the Executive Officer, as needed, on committees of other science and education associations.
â??   Travel as needed to AAPT National Meetings, Board meetings, seminars and conferences, and for local networking.

Applications
Send (1) curriculum vita; (2) a statement on interests and accomplishments in physics teaching, management, budgeting, proposal writing, and grant management; and (3) the names of and contact information for three to five references.  

Send applications and nominations to:
American Association of Physics Teachers
c/o AIP, Human Resources
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740
or e-mail aiphr@aip.org. To be considered, nominations should be
received by September 30, 2007. Start Date: ASAP.

Back to top.

U.S. Physics Team Blogs from Iran
Follow the adventures of the U.S. team as they participate in the International Physics Olympiad. Winners will be announced July 23. More details on the team site.

Back to top.
Summer Meeting Onsite Program Guide
The program guide for the upcoming AAPT national meeting in Greensboro, NC, is now available in PDF format. For the most up-to-date information and to build your meeting itinerary, go here. For additional information visit our meeting page.

Back to top.






Return to Announcements start page.