eNNOUNCER October 2026
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AAPT News
Suggesting a Session, Workshop or other Event for the 2027 Summer Meeting in Washington, DC
Let's make the 2027 Summer Meeting the best meeting ever. You can start by suggesting a session, workshop or other event for the meeting by using the links below. The form includes links to descriptions of session formats, including lots of new interactive options. Suggestions are due by November 6th, but please don't wait!
- 1. Proposals can be submitted at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwLJaro_2FX7ZkC1xAohEktdkLpet4fHkVWkyJZ3jZTxHPrg/viewform
- 2. Deadline is Nov. 6, 2026
- 3. There are many new, interactive session types possible
- 4. Detailed description of session types my be found in the speaker handbook at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KIuM1dq6SFZA7w8ezVk3WH5sYpHjSbuv/view
- So you have pre- and post- data: Now what?: In this session, learn about actions you can take based on assessment data, facilitated by Bryan Stanley and Abby Daane. Fri. Oct. 2nd, 3pm-4pm ET.
- The Energy Budget Activity: See this spreadsheet activity on world energy usage and efforts to curb climate change, facilitated by Greg Mulder. Sat. Oct 10, 1pm-3pm ET.
- Physics of the Arts: Learn about engaging non-STEM majors with arts-related activities and labs, facilitated by Renee Lathrop. Sat. Oct 31, 12pm-2pm ET.
- Exam-ical Advantage: Using the Lever of Exams to Amplify Student Learning . This workshop will showcase activities to help students recognize underlying concepts and patterns in practice problems, facilitated by Greg Crowther. Sat. Nov. 14, 12pm-2pm ET.
2026 AAPT Board of Directors Election
The election of officers for the AAPT Board of Directors will begin in September. All members are eligible to vote. Current members with a paid through date greater than or equal to 7/31/2026 will receive instructions in mid-September through email or, if no email is on file, through the mail to help you vote electronically. Be sure your email address and membership are current so you can participate. Click here to learn more about the candidates.
Introduction of the new Web Developer & Technical Lead - ComPADRE Digital Library
We are pleased to announce that the new Web Developer & Technical Lead - ComPADRE Digital Library has been hired. Yidan (pronounced like Eden) Xu is a full-stack developer with experience using a broad spectrum of database and coding tools to deliver database-driven web applications for a variety of research, nonprofit, and academic clients. Yidan specializes in building robust, database-driven web applications for research, civic, and academic clients - including high-profile work for Vanderbilt University and the Electoral Innovation Lab. Yidan holds a Master's degree in Computing & Information Science from Cornell University and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Computer Science from Tufts University. Yidan is excited to join the team at AAPT and help guide our digital resources into their next chapter.
Over the next month, Yidan will be onboarding and learning about the projects she will support. We will be introducing Yidan to the communities that have web development projects as well as other important groups. We are implementing a process for requesting web development support as the new Digital Resources Advisory Committee commences work this fall. Information about the process will be distributed soon. Requests for web development support should use this process exclusively.
AJP seeks guest editors for a special issue on the physics of sports
In July 2028, Los Angeles will host the summer olympics. The American Journal of Physics will publish a special issue connecting sports to classroom teaching. We are seeking guest editors who will recruit submitters, oversee the review process, and carefully edit papers to improve their presentation. The total time commitment will be about 50 hours, with much of it concentrated in April and May 2028. Guest editors may also submit manuscripts for the special issue. Questions or expressions of interest should be sent to the AJP editor, Beth Parks, meparks@colgate.edu.
Winter Meeting 2027, January 9-11, 2027
Join your colleagues at the 2027 AAPT Winter Meeting in New Orleans, LA! Surround yourself with Physics Educators from around the globe and develop and strengthen professional connections. Hear from internationally known plenary speakers, attend sessions, workshops and, special activities designed with you in mind. Don't miss this opportunity to share your expertise and learn from and network with leaders in the field.
Registration is Open for the 2027 AAPT Winter Meeting:
Registration is now open for the 2027 AAPT Winter Meeting, January 9-11 in New Orleans! Join your colleagues for three days of engaging sessions, workshops, networking, and opportunities to connect with the physics education community.
Register by October 23 to take advantage of early-bird registration rates!
There's Still Time to Submit Your Poster
There's still time to be part of the 2027 AAPT Winter Meeting! While the deadline for contributed oral presentations has passed, poster abstract submissions are still open. Share your research, innovative teaching ideas, and best practices with the physics education community.
Submit your poster presentation today!
Book Your Hotel
Make your plans for New Orleans and book your stay at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, the official hotel for the 2027 AAPT Winter Meeting. Staying at the conference hotel keeps you close to meeting activities and fellow attendees throughout the weekend.
2027 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT to be awarded to Daniel Borrero Echeverry
Daniel Borrero Echeverry will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT during their 2027 Winter Meeting. Borrero Echeverry is recognized for his long history of bringing others along with him in his participation in and service to AAPT communities, facilitating strong professional networks. He has played key roles in the AAPT communities dedicated to the improvement of the undergraduate physics curriculum, especially with regards to computation, advanced laboratories, and retention of underrepresented groups. He is an example of exceptional service, leadership, and mentorship within AAPT.
Borrero Echeverry is Associate Professor of Physics and Department Chair at Willamette University in Salem Oregon. He earned his BS (2005) from the University of Texas at Austin and his MS (2006) and PhD in Physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Read More.
2027 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT to be Awarded to Stamatis Vokos
AAPT has announced that Stamatis Vokos will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT during their 2027 Winter Meeting. Vokos is recognized with the Homer L. Dodge citation for his seminal physics education research ranging from student understanding of relativity, energy, momentum, electromagnetic waves, and other concepts, to his sustained work in support of teacher preparation and more inclusive approaches. His contributions to AAPT, our physics education research community, and the broader physics education community are immeasurable.
Vokos is Professor of Physics at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). Although his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and two postdoctoral appointments were in theoretical particle physics, his encounter with the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington led to his career in Physics Education Research. He has been investigating for more than thirty years how students learn physics, what resources they bring to classrooms, what social threats they experience in them, and how physics educators develop specialized, physics-specific knowledge to help students deepen their learning and strengthen their belonging in physics. He has been part of extensive national and international collaborations, including in Europe, Egypt, Qatar, and India.
Read More.
Joseph A. Giaime Recognized as 2027 Recipient of the Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that Joseph A. Giaime has been selected to receive the 2027 Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award. Giaime currently serves as Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA and Observatory Head, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in Livingston, Louisiana, which is operated by Caltech & MIT for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The award will be presented at a Ceremonial Session of the AAPT 2026 Winter Meeting.
Giaime is recognized "For his exceptional ability to communicate physics to broad and diverse audiences through public lectures, articles, and other media, for his tireless outreach efforts on behalf of the LIGO Science Education Center (LIGO SEC) Partnership, and for his leadership as Observatory Head, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in Livingston, Louisiana."
Read More.
2027 Lillian McDermott Medal Awarded to Jan Mader
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is pleased to announce Jan Mader as the 2027 recipient of the Lillian McDermott Medal, to be awarded at the 2027 Winter Meeting. This award recognizes those who are passionate and tenacious about improving the teaching and learning of physics and have made intellectually creative contributions in this area.
Mader is specifically recognized "as a master teacher, whose written materials have long proven to be enormously useful to teachers in theAAPT community and well beyond. A key AAPT leader over many years, she has, for example, worked tirelessly with PTRA, from her first PTRA Summer Institute at Montana State. She has travelled all over the US to share her expertise and has organized and conducted workshops in Alabama, Idaho, and Texas with the Partnership Grants, NASA, and PTRA Urban and Rural Grants. Through her current leadership as Director of PTRA she is shaping the program in a new direction and with an emphasis on Teachers Teaching Teachers and local workshops for PTRAs, helping to bring this flagship AAPT program into the arms of a new generation."
Read More.
Anonymous Reporting Tool!
AAPT has implemented an ethics and compliance hotline called "Red Flag Reporting." Red Flag Reporting is an independent company that is dedicated to protecting organizations plus their employees, assets, reputations, and in the case of AAPT, our members. This service allows people to report any concerns regarding activities at AAPT events in violation of our code of conduct. To file a report, provide client code AAPTEvent and simply do one of the following:
• Visit www.RedFlagReporting.com and click on "File a Report"
• Call 1-877-647-3335
• Text RFR to 234-231-9005
• You may also use the following (be sure to be detail oriented, provide our client code, and indicate if you wish to be anonymous or not): Fax to 330-572-8146, Email to redflag@redflagreporting.com, Mail to RFR, P.O. Box 4230, Akron, Ohio 44321
We would like everyone to take the time to watch the appropriate video(s) here: Event Attendee Training Videos.
For more information, see this information posted in COMMUNITIES. If you have questions about AAPT's policies regarding these types of matters, we encourage you to review the information contained in our Code of Conduct.
Support AAPT and Join the 1930 Society!
Your support goes above and beyond member dues, and we are so grateful to members like you who are investing in the future of physics education. That's why we decided to launch the 1930 Society. This special group of supporters, named after our founding year, honors contributions of $500 or more every year to our association so we can better serve physics educators and the physics education community.
Would you like to get involved with the 1930 Society? Donate today!
Help Support AAPT!
We are living in incredibly challenging times. AAPT has been on the forefront providing resources to help physics educators. However, we need your support to continue AAPT's programs and resources. Gifts to the AAPT Annual Fund support the short and long term goals of the Association, 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!
Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges
OPTYCs (The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges) is continuing virtual programming. All events will be free on Zoom, and everyone is welcome. Click the links to learn more and to register.
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!
2026 AAPT High School Physics Photo Contest
The 2026 High School Physics Photo Contest Top 100 entries were displayed and judged during the 2026 Summer Meeting in Pasadena, CA. You can find the Top 100 photos & Top Finishers here.
The Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment
The Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment provides grants to support special activities in the area of physics teaching. The deadline for applications to request funds is December 1, 2026.
2026 F=ma Contest
F=ma and USAPhO exam updates will be posted on the U.S. Physics Team homepage.
Nominate yourself or someone you know to participate in the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Editorial Board!
The EP3 Editorial Board is seeking nominations for two open seats serving a 4-year term starting January 1, 2027. For more information about the EP3 Editorial board please visit the EP3 Team Page. Please share this opportunity with others! Apply Today
AAPT AI Leadership Working Group
Join the AAPT AI Leadership Working Group to shape the future of AI in physics education—enjoy up to $1,800 in travel support and collaborate with peers starting this January in New Orleans (apply by October 12th)!
Learn more & apply today: https://www.aapt.org/Programs/AAPT_AI_Leadership_Working_Group/index.cfm
PhysTEC Now Offering Teacher Community Guide
Help physics educators build connections and find support throughout their teaching journey. The new Physics Teacher Community Guide, debuted at the PhysTEC workshop, connects in-service teachers with professional communities, teaching resources, learning opportunities, and a network of peers. Share the guide with a physics teacher in your network.
The 2026 CHESAPEAKE, CHICAGO, TWIN CITIES, and PITTSBURGH Area PICUP Workshops: Integrating Computation into High School and Undergraduate Physics
All you who dwell in these areas (and beyond, depending on your willingness to drive a little for a big gain!) are invited to participate in the inaugural Chesapeake Area, the 5th Annual Greater Chicagoland, the 4th Annual Twin Cities, and the inaugural Pittsburgh Area PICUP Workshops. Also referred to as Distributed Institutes for Computational Education in Physics (DICEs), these workshops are intended for those who desire to energize their physics courses at all levels, and the scope is appropriate for physics teachers from high schools, 2-year colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities. Registration is now open for all four events. Workshop details and registration information can be found here:
Chesapeake DICE - College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA - Sunday, October 11, 8:00am to 12:30pm. Read more
Greater Chicagoland DICE - Lewis University, Romeoville, IL - Saturday, October 17, 8:30am to 4:00pm. Read more
Twin Cities DICE - Augsburg University, Minneapolis, MN - Saturday, October 24, 8:30am to 4:00pm. Read more
Pittsburgh DICE - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA - Saturday, November 7, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Read more
Please note that these PICUP workshops are intended to be held annually in these regions, and we urge you to be involved. We are looking to develop a working, supportive community of like-minded instructors who teach computation in their physics classes, and to grow these efforts into thriving, self-sustaining communities that support computation in physics into the future and beyond. Please spread the word to other faculty you may know that could benefit from this experience, and do your best to join us this fall.
AAPT Membership
AAPT Member Spotlight
Craig Wiegert
Associate Professor and Senior Associate Head
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Read More.
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.
K12 Corner
Contribute to a needs survey: Chip industry-related PhET Interactive Simulations activities
Are you a 6th-12th grade or introductory college physical science teacher in the U.S.? Contribute to a needs survey to advance the development of PhET Interactive Simulations activities and redesigned versions of the Conductivity and Semiconductors sims, among others. Take the Survey by September 15 Survey.
Electricity and Magnetism with PhET: Coursera Certificate (& Optional Graduate Credit)
Thanks to PhET's selection as an American Institute of Physics Meggers Project awardee, high school and intro college/university teachers of conceptual and algebra-based physics to maximize their use of PhET's electricity and magnetism sims while building effective questioning and modeling skills. Teachers can earn a no-cost certificate verifying 32 professional learning hours. Optional graduate credits are also available. Learn more HERE.
Barbara Wolff-Reichert Travel Grants
This endowment fund was established in 2023, by Jonathan F. Reichert to honor Barbara Wolff-Reichert and to encourage both new and experienced high school teachers, who have never done so, to attend and participate in national meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Read more
In the News
New court ruling impacts F-1 and J-1 visas/APS shares toolkit for possible new Duration of Status rule
A U.S. federal court has temporarily paused changes affecting F-1 and J-1 visas. The new "APS/EP3 Toolkit for Departments, Faculty, and International Students in Response to F and J Visa Changes" offers guidance for a possible new Duration of Status rule impacting international students and scholars.
Arizona State University Master of Natural Science Degree in Physics for Teachers
Arizona State University has an interdisciplinary Master of Natural Science (MNS) degree in physics for high school and two-year college teachers. Courses are in summer, and the degree is founded on Modeling Instruction. Teachers in 15 western states can apply for discounted tuition; the deadline is APRIL 1. Partial tuition scholarships might be available.
More details: https://physics.asu.edu/admissions/mns-admissions
For information: Jane.Jackson@asu.edu.
ASU Modeling Workshops
The American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA) sponsors Modeling Workshops for teachers of physics and other sciences worldwide. Modeling Instruction is research-informed, model-centered professional learning that builds conceptual understanding, improves classroom discourse, and engages students in the learning process. Spring online and summer in-person and online Modeling Workshops are listed at https://www.modelinginstruction.org/pd-2/.
Find Resources for Teaching Physics for Life Sciences Students on the Living Physics Portal
The Living Physics Portal is an online environment for physics educators to find, share, and discuss free teaching materials for 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. The Portal is available for free to all verified educators.
Features available on the Portal are:
• Anyone can view and download over 200 resources in our Vetted Library.
• Registered users can also view and download over 100 resources in our Community Library, along with answer keys and other instructor supplements, and join discussions about resources.
• Registered users can contribute curricular resources and instructor resources to our Community Library and Vetted Library, including adaptations of others' resources, and join our discussions. We accept all kinds of resources at all grain sizes, from a single activity to materials for a whole course. We encourage you to start by submitting a small activity to our Community Library. Once you get the hang of that, we invite you to contribute your polished materials to our Vetted Library to be reviewed by our editors.
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://careers.aapt.org/employers/ to get posting!
Jobs Announcements from the Career Center
Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
University of Notre Dame, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Click here for job description.
Assistant Professor of Physics
Amherst College- Physics & Astronomy Department
Click here for job description.
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Theoretical or Computational Physics
The College of the Holy Cross
Click here for job description.
Professor in Plasma Physics
Plasma Physics Program, Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
Click here for job description.
Section News
Please submit your Section Report for the AAPT Section News. To list your section meeting information on the AAPT website, e-mail the information to mhall@aapt.org.
Social Media @ AAPT
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© 2026, American Association of Physics Teachers
Table of Contents
Featured Journal Articles
American Journal of Physics
Long-range systems, (non)extensivity, and the rescaling of energies
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The Physics Teacher
Demonstration that F = ma for an Extended Mass
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