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Tatsu Takeuchi Named as Recipient of the 2026 Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT

2026 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT to be Awarded to Tatsu Takeuchi

Tatsu Takeuchi

AAPT has announced that Tatsu Takeuchi will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT during their 2026 Winter Meeting. Takeuchi is recognized with the Homer L. Dodge citation for “exemplary work in greatly expanding the reach of the Chesapeake Section of AAPT by running extraordinarily successful section meetings and by modernizing the bylaws and administrative status of the section. His work in the Executive chain is a model for all sections of AAPT”.

Regarding his selection to receive this citation, Takeuchi said, “I thank the AAPT for this recognition and hope that it will bring attention to the huge potential that the AAPT sections have in serving the needs of the physics teaching community in each state, extending the work of the AAPT to the grass roots level. I invite the other sections to take a close look at what the Chesapeake Section was able to accomplish and adopt what may work for them to booster their respective activities.”

Takeuchi is Professor of Physics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. After earning his BS (1983) and MS (1985) in physics at the University of Tokyo, he went to Yale University where he earned an MS (1988) and Ph.D. (1989) in physics.

A member of AAPT since 2020. He has been a leader in the Chesapeake Section (CSAAPT), serving as Vice President (2021 – 2022) and President (2023 – 2024). Takeuchi works diligently and meticulously for CSAAPT, and for the advancement and convenience of the community.

He sent thousands of highly successful announcements and invitation emails to colleagues, created the web pages for the meetings, thoughtfully sent thank you messages to all participants at every meeting, emailed vendors, institutes and departments to solicit financial support and attendance. CSAAPT currently holds meetings with well-crafted programs that serve about 100 participants. and is consistently and successfully holding semi-annual meetings in the difficult-to-organize hybrid mode, to increase inclusion and participation.

Takeuchi is well-aware of the hardship physics teachers, especially high school teachers, go through. He genuinely strives to advocate for them through CSAAPT. He is consistently able to support the travel of high school teachers to CSAAPT meetings, an impressive achievement for an AAPT section. He not only serves the Chesapeake region but also is currently collaborating and helping neighboring sections. He had the vision to hold the Fall 2024 CSAAPT meeting jointly with the North Carolina section of AAPT at Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA.

In 2023, Takeuchi initiated the process of getting CSAAPT incorporated and tax-exempt. He achieved incorporation of CSAAPT, which he announced at the Spring 2024 meeting at Delaware State University, the first time since 1999 that CSAAPT has held one of its meetings in Delaware. He is now working towards updating the section by-laws and tax-exempt status application. He cares so much about CSAAPT that he makes time to visit AIP's Niels Bohr library in College Park, MD, to research the historical records of the section. The documentation he is compiling using that information is going to be a priceless contribution to our community.

About the Award

Established in 1953 and renamed in recognition of AAPT founder Homer L. Dodge in 2012, the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT is presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the association at the national, sectional, or local level.

About AAPT

AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists—with members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development, and reward excellence in physics education. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.