eNNOUNCER March 2021
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AAPT News
Jan Landis Mader Steps into Role of AAPT President
At the close of the 2021 Virtual Winter Meeting the presidential gavel was presented to Jan Landis Mader. She will serve as President of the American Association of Physics Teachers for the coming year. Mader, physics instructor at Great Falls High School, Great Falls, Montana, has previously served on the AAPT Board of Directors as President-elect and Vice President.
One of Mader’s goals will be to continue the support of the AAPT/PTRA Program, the K – 12 resources, E Mentoring, the Summer Physics Camp, the YouTube Channel, Compadre/Physics Front, grants for workshops through sections and alliances with other educational providers. Read more
2021 AAPT Summer Meeting, July 31 - August 4
Location
Currently SM21 is scheduled in Washington, DC July 31 to August 4. However, AAPT is monitoring the COVID 19 situation and will make a decision soon if this meeting will be virtual or held in person.
SM21 Abstract Submissions
AAPT will begin accepting abstracts for speaking and poster engagements at the 2021 AAPT Summer Meeting. The priority deadline is April 16. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to present your research and share your teaching methods with other physics educators from around the globe. Click here to submit an abstract.
Shirley Jackson to Receive AAPT 2021 Oersted Medal
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson has been named as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Oersted Medal, presented by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). The Medal will be awarded at a Ceremonial Session of the 2021 AAPT Summer Meeting. The Oersted Medal recognizes her outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics through her pioneering national leadership in physics education, her exceptional service to AAPT, and her mentoring of students and in-service teachers.
Dr. Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is a theoretical physicist. She has had a distinguished career that includes senior leadership positions in academia, government, industry, and research. She holds an S.B. in Physics, and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics — both from MIT. She is the first African American woman to receive a doctorate from MIT — in any field — and has been a trailblazer throughout her career, including as the first African-American woman to lead a top-ranked research university. Read more
Ramón Barthelemy named as 2021 Recipient of The Doc Brown Futures Award
AAPT has announced that the recipient of the Doc Brown Futures Award is Dr. Ramón S. Barthelemy. The Doc Brown Futures Award recognizes early-career members who demonstrate excellence in their contributions to AAPT and physics education and exhibit the potential to serve in an AAPT leadership role. The award will be presented during the 2021 Summer Meeting. Read more
2021 Millikan Medal Awarded to Gregory E. Francis
AAPT has announced that Gregory E. Francis will receive the Robert A. Millikan Medal during the 2021 Summer Meeting. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and intellectually creative contributions to the teaching of physics. Francis is the Director of the Master of Science in Science Education Program at Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. This program offers a unique blend of online and field courses for K-12 educators. In its 23rd year, the program has produced over 1200 graduates. Read more
Join Us for the AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour and Remote Instruction Share-a-thon
AAPT is working to help our members communicate with one another to provide the best physics education possible. AAPT members bring questions about physics education (taken broadly) to discuss and share their experiences in a confidential setting.
Please join us for these events!
Check the calendar for next Virtual Coffee Hour. Check your in-box for an invitation. Please make sure you RSVP (marketing@aapt.org) to the event. Everyone who RSVPs will be sent log-in instructions a few hours prior to the call. We hope you can join us!
One Minute Survey - AAPT COMMUNITIES Coming Soon!
In the coming months, we will be launching AAPT Communities, a new platform where AAPT members can communicate online with one another, share lesson plans, labs, and other documents, communicate with other physics educators with similar interests, find an eMentor, participate in online events, and much more. We will be telling you more about this exciting member benefit in the near future. In the meantime, click here to let us know what interests you the most about AAPT Communities. Last month's survey results.
Help Support AAPT!
We are living in incredibly challenging times right now. Many physics educators have been impacted and had to change their classes mid-spring from in-person to remote learning. AAPT has been on the forefront providing resources to help with this transition. However, we need your support to continue AAPT's programs and resources. Gifts to the AAPT Annual Fund support the everyday operations of AAPT, from inspiring excellence through educational programming to recognizing award winning physics professionals, all critical pieces in supporting the advancement of physics education. Many of these programs run year round that need your support--donate today to the Annual Fund to make a difference!
Get a new perspective on your physics career at the AAPT Career Center
With the changing of the season, there are more opportunities than ever for your next physics job. Even if you don’t have much experience searching for yourself, we’re here to guide you to the finest listings. By visiting the AAPT Career Center, you’ll be able to search via keyword, location, sector, and more. You can also check out the Resource Center to learn more skills, find the latest industry data, and even brush up on your interviewing skills. We’re dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date jobs, so don’t delay!
New Book Companion, Statistical and Thermal Physics Programs
This freely available online collection includes all the programs used in the text "Statistical and Thermal Physics: With Computer Applications", 2nd ed., Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik, Princeton University Press (2021). These ready-to-run, interactive simulations are designed to help students gain a better understanding of statistical and thermal physics. Physical parameters in the simulations can be changed to explore the systems being modeled. The topics covered range from temperature and approaches to equilibrium, solid and gas models, spin systems, critical phenomena, and near-equilibrium time-dependent phenomena. All simulations are provided in HTML5-JavaScript and will run on most computers and mobile devices.
AAPT Books Program - Calling All Authors!
We are interested in hearing from authors who desire to publish books in the areas of physics content, the history and philosophy of physics, physics education research, and the application of pedagogical techniques in physics. Book topics must fit within the AAPT mission of “enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching.” Send questions about authoring an AAPT book to eo@aapt.org.
Partnering with AIP Publishing to Empower Physics Educators
AIP Publishing and AAPT have partnered to publish books that are dedicated to providing development and training resources for physics educators. Four titles have published on scitation.org and free chapters are now available to sample.
Discover the Teaching High School Physics books:
- The Nature of Physics Teaching
- Interacting with Physics Students
- Managing the Physics Classroom
- 1. Log in to www.aapt.org and sign in.
- 2. Click on MY ACCOUNT.
- 3. Click the EDIT button (pencil) under ADDRESSES.
- 4. Address preferences should be listed on the right side.
F=ma Contests: 2011-2019 Solutions Manual
Read the free chapter.
Teaching Geometric Optics: Student Edition
Read the free chapter.
Teaching Geometric Optics: Teacher’s Notes
Read the free chapter.
Access books available on scitation.org
Want to engage more with AAPT? Nominate yourself to become a member of an Area Committee!
AAPT needs the support of members like you. We are looking for members interested in engaging in AAPT and sharing their interests and expertise to help other physics educators. Consider nominating yourself for a position on an Area Committee. The Area Commitee Nomination Form also includes information about the appointment duration, expectations, benefits, risks, and selection process. If you have any questions about Area Committees, expectations of committee members, or the nomination process, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee:
Debbie Andres: dandres@paramusschools.org
Dimitri Dounas-Frazer: dounasd@wwu.edu
David Marasco: marascodavid@foothill.edu
AAPT Programs
Support the U.S. Physics Team - Donate Now
Each year AAPT sponsors a competition for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad. AAPT is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training teams each year to compete in the International Physics Olympiad Competition. Your contribution is needed to support these high school students as they prepare to represent the U.S. internationally. Donate now!
2021 F=ma Contest
The F=ma exam for 2021 was offered online on February 18, 2021 at 4 pm EST. Whether your students are physically and/or virtually attending school, we conducted the exam online for greater ease and convenience.
Registration has closed, and exam results should be available by mid March. Additional information can be found on the U.S. Physics Team homepage.
2021 AAPT PhysicsBowl Contest
The 2021 PhysicsBowl contest will be held March 24 - April 9, 2021. Due to the uncertainty of in person classes in 2021, we have decided to offer the PhysicsBowl exam in the online format with WebAssign only. Registration will open soon, updates will be posted on the PhysicsBowl webpage.
2021 New Faculty Workshop
Physics and astronomy faculty members in the first few years of their teaching appointments are invited to attend the online Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop, June 28 – July 1, 2021.
Registration is available at https://portal.aapt.org/Event. Please register before Friday, June 4, 2021. The registration fee is $45.
Tenure-track faculty, full-time lecturers (or equivalent), adjunct faculty and part-time faculty and post-docs are encouraged to register for the Workshop. The focus is on undergraduate physics and astronomy education. This Workshop series is sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Physical Society, and the American Astronomical Society and is funded by the National Science Foundation and Research Corporation for Science Advancement.
New Fellowship Opportunity for Underrepresented Minority Teachers of Physics
A joint project from the American Institute of Physics and the American Association of Physics Teachers is starting and we are looking for applicants. Eligible applicants should be Black, African American, African, Black LatinX, Black Caribbean, and those who identify within the African Diaspora and are either a current, recent, or pre-service physics Teacher. Read more.
Save the Date
The Partnership for Integrating Computation in Undergraduate Physics Online Capstone Conference will take place August 11-13, 2021. Please check the gopicup.org web site for further details. Learn more.
Nominate a PhysTEC Teacher of the Year
COVID-19 has impacted teachers in ways we could not have imagined. So the PhysTEC Teacher of the Year awards is opening its nominations to more teachers than ever before. Institutions can now nominate as many outstanding high school physics teachers who are alumni of PhysTEC member institutions for their exemplary work in the classroom during this unprecedented pandemic. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, April 9, 2021. Nominate on our website.
Announcing the STEP UP Advocates program!
STEP UP Advocates are physics teachers working directly in their classrooms to inspire young women to pursue physics in college. Eligible teachers will join a national community of faculty, students, and other allies, and will be supported by STEP UP Ambassador Leads as they learn about equity best practices and the STEP UP lessons. They will be on the front lines of shifting gender equity in physics and will provide critical feedback to STEP UP about the lessons and the impact in their classrooms. Applications are due April 2, so apply today!
Undergraduate Physics website launched
Effective Practices for Undergraduate Physics website launched. The joint AAPT/APS EP3 Guide project's website is now available at https://ep3guide.org/. The Guide has detailed recommendations and guidelines for enhancing all aspects of undergraduate physics programs.
AAPT Membership
AAPT Member Spotlight
Debbie S. Andres
Teacher of Physics and Engineering
Paramus High School - Paramus, NJ
Read More.
Delivery Options for Print Journals
Many of you receive the print editions of our journals at your workplace, which you may not have access to currently. We wanted to provide you with instructions on how to update your preferred mailing address in your member profile.
As always, if you need assistance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (membership@aapt.org, 301.209.3333).
Membership Renewal
We appreciate our community of members, and we are here to serve you. If you have any difficulties renewing your membership or have any membership-related questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in the Membership Department at 301.209.3333 or membership@aapt.org.
Member Discounts Now Available!
AAPT Members can now take advantage of major discounts at retailers such as Hertz, Office Depot/Office Max and HotelEngine.com. You save a percentage of your bill and a portion of the proceeds helps to support AAPT as well! Be sure to check the Member Discounts Program page for details.
What Do You Want Your Legacy to Be?
Teachers make a difference. Given the chance, most of us would like to leave a legacy to organizations we valued in our lifetime. You help shape the future. AAPT can help you determine what you want your legacy to be-to your family, to your fellow teachers, and to tomorrow's future teachers. Planned Giving creates opportunities for you to make a lasting difference to physics education and AAPT. Consider including AAPT in your estate and financial plans. Click here for more information or contact eo@aapt.org
New AAPT Member Benefit: Up to 25 Free Downloads of AIP Journals Every Year
AAPT has partnered with AIP Publishing on a valuable new benefit. AAPT members now have access to 25 free article downloads every year from any of the AIP Publishing journals
This is an exclusive AAPT member benefit. Access any one of the journals in this list, now by clicking the 'SIGN IN' link in the right hand corner, and logging in with your Scitation username and password. Access the full text of an article from the journal by going to the article page and clicking either the "PDF" download or the "FULL TEXT" menu buttons. You will then be given an option to use one of your AAPT member credits to access the article. If you do not have a Scitation username and password e-mail Scitation and let them know.
Articles you download will be saved in your Scitation profile. AAPT members receive 25 free downloads each year as long as their membership remains in good standing.
Thank you for supporting AAPT, and we hope you enjoy this new membership benefit.
Call for Award Nominations
The AAPT Awards Committee invites nominations for all of AAPT awards, citations, and medals. We are particularly interested in nominations for AAPT Fellows and for the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT.
Infusing Engineering into the Science Classroom
Join other teachers seeking to integrate engineering into their science classroom with this unique professional development opportunity. Headed by AAPT/AIP Master Teacher Policy fellows Matthew Peterie and Andrew Edmondson, you will learn from experienced and skillful teachers. The cost will be $385 for individual attendee which includes your registration for the year long program and meals for the two days at Olathe Northwest. If a group of teachers from a building or district would like to attend, reduced pricing is available. After registering your team by completing the form below, subsequent correspondence will make arrangements for payment. Sign up here.
OSTP/NSF working group on Quantum Information Education
The OSTP/NSF working group on Quantum Information Education finished its report and there was a NSF press release. Read more. Also click here for full report.
How to work with external evaluators white paper
Have you wondered how to work effectively with an external evaluator, or budget for their work appropriately? We’re pleased to announce a new white paper for the community, authored by experienced evaluators Stephanie Chasteen and Alexis Knaub, for the AAPT Professional Concerns committee. The paper is peppered with practical advice and quotes from experienced PIs and evaluators. Read more.
Science Education Editor contract opportunity
For an NSF-funded program to improve the STEM education of future elementary teachers, VisionLearning wants to hire science educators as contractors to serve as editors to manage the development of modules in the physical sciences, the earth sciences and the life sciences. Further details about the positions can be found here Compensation is $1000 per module. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. The application deadline is February 5, 2021.
Get the Facts Out
Do you need help with recruiting future teachers to your teacher preparation program? Check out these resources from Get the Facts Out. Our student and faculty presentations are designed to be easy to use as virtual presentations or for webinars that you can use to promote your programs. Here's an example you can watch. Have you seen the newly redesigned "Inspire Young Minds" GFO posters? Check them out here.
Texas Section AAPT Spring Meeting
This virtual meeting is hosted by Barbara Szczerbinska of TAMU-Corpus Christi during April 8-11, 2021. General meeting information can be found at: sci.tamucc.edu/news. You can register, submit an abstract, and find information about plenary and invited speakers. There are 9 workshops (all but one is free) being offered and you can register for them at: https://www.tsaapt.net.
In the News
The American Modeling Teachers Association
The American Modeling Teachers Association has been transforming STEM education since 2005 and provides professional development and support for science teachers across the globe. It is AMTA’s goal to promote the use of an instructional strategy, known as Modeling Instruction, which builds conceptual understanding, improves classroom discourse, and engages students in the learning process. AMTA is excited to announce our slate of virtual courses for 2021! Regional hosts are also beginning to schedule face-to-face workshops with safety as a top priority. Virtual courses are open for registration at bit.ly/amtasummer Face-to-face workshop details will be updated and registration will be open soon. You can see a full list with details as they become available at bit.ly/amtasummer.
Let U.S. K-12 Educators Know: Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Application is live!
The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle, and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration.
The Living Physics Portal is now seeking beta users!
The Living Physics Portal is a new online environment for physics faculty to share and discuss free curricular resources for teaching introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS). The objective of the Portal is to improve the education of the next generation of medical professionals and biologists by making physics classes more relevant for life sciences students. We are currently looking for beta users to contribute curricular materials to this early version of the site, browse our existing collection of high quality materials from our team, and give us feedback on the site. To learn more about what's available in the beta version of the site, and what will be available in the future, see what's available and what's coming and become a beta tester. To get involved in our upcoming in-person events, see our events page.
JavaScript Physlet Physics Now Available
The new JavaScript edition of Physlet Physics is now available from the Open Source Physics ComPADRE Collection. The original functionality and interactivity of Physlets is maintained and all 800+ Illustrations, Explorations, and Problems are mobile friendly and ready-to-use by students without installing any additional plug-in. Try them out on AAPT-ComPADRE at: www.compadre.org/physlets/
Career Toolbox for Undergraduates
The Careers Toolbox for Undergraduate Physics Students is a set of tools and exercises designed to help undergraduate physics students prepare to enter the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce. Tools range from exploring the common job titles of physics bachelor's to preparing for interviews, and are all geared specifically for physics students. This resource is brought to you by the American Institute of Physics and the Society of Physics Students. The 4th Edition is now ready for use.
Help students find the right grad program. Tell them about GradSchoolShopper.com
Advise your students to check out GradSchoolShopper.com, the most complete directory of graduate programs in the physical sciences. Students headed for graduate school can use this FREE service to search by degree programs, admission deadlines, research specialties, faculty profiles, GRE requirements, and more! New 2020 departmental data is now available. If your program isn't listed, contact us to find out how to have it included.
Physics Careers
Recruit STEM Interns from the Best Job Sites for FREE!
The AAPT Career Center offers no-cost postings to employers recruiting seasonal interns. Locate the best fit for your organization by reaching the future of the science community - the AAPT membership, as well as the members and student members of the American Physical Society (APS Physics), AVS Science and Technology, and the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma.
Get the word out! Your posting will also appear on the Physics Today Jobs site, which when combined with the job sites of the organizations mentioned above forms the ultimate online science, engineering, and computing career network, ensuring maximum relevant visibility for your internship. Visit https://jobs.aapt.org/employers/ to get posting!
Jobs Announcements from the Career Center
Physics Faculty
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Click here for job description.
Physics Teaching Jobs at K-12 Private Schools
ATOMS Placement Services
Click here for job description.
More Physics Resources
Social Media @ AAPT
AAPT wants to connect with you on social media! Stay abreast of the latest AAPT and physics-related news. We invite you to like us, follow us, connect with us, and pin us. You can find us here:
Section News
Please submit your Section Report for the AAPT Section News. To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mhall@aapt.org.
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© 2021, American Association of Physics Teachers
Table of Contents
Featured Journal Articles
American Journal of Physics
The sun diver: Combining solar sails with the Oberth effect
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The Physics Teacher
Surface Currents on the Plates of a Charging Capacitor
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