eNNOUNCER July 2018

AAPT News

Message from AAPT's President - Gordon Ramsey

Your Board of Directors is updating the strategic plan to incorporate present trends in physics education. We will be gathering ideas from the Board, AAPT Staff and additional input from the membership on how to move forward on issues in physics education. Part of this is to provide you with additional guidance and materials to enhance your effectiveness in the classroom. Read More ».

AAPT Privacy Statement Update

Privacy laws in the European Union changed on May 25, 2018. In an effort to strengthen your privacy rights, AAPT has updated its Privacy Statement. The update is part of AAPT’s ongoing commitment to provide transparency and safeguard your privacy. Changes include new information about how we process personal data. We encourage you to review the new privacy statement to familiarize yourself with the changes that have been made. These updates went into effect for all existing AAPT members and users of AAPT websites on May 25, 2018. Your continued use of AAPT’s Membership Services from that day on are subject to the updated privacy statement. Please review your member account preferences.

2018 Summer Meeting

Meeting Program
The 2018 AAPT Summer Meeting Program is now available on-line. Click here to view the date and time of all plenaries, sessions, committees meetings and special events.

Plenaries
AAPT has an amazing list of plenary speakers lined-up for SM18. Please click here to see who is on the program.
 

Registration
There is still time to register for the 2018 AAPT Summer meeting. Click here to secure your spot at the premier physics educators conference in the United States.

Dorm Alternative
The POD Hotel Washington, D.C. is located two blocks from the conference hotel (Renaissance WDC Hotel). A single room is available at a special discounted rate of $120 per night (plus applicable tax). All guest rooms must be booked by the cut-off date of July 7, 2018.

Workshops
Add a weekend workshop to your meeting registration. Please click here to view a list of workshop being offered.

Rooftop Reception
Join your colleagues on Tuesday, July 31 for a casual rooftop reception. Enjoy some great food, while taking in the breathtaking sites of the Nation’s Capitol. Taste local food favorites from Ben’s Chili Bowl, ramen noodles from Penn Quarter and crab cakes from the D.C. Wharf.

National Museum of African American History & Culture
AAPT has received a select number of tickets for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the only museum dedicated exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history, and culture. The African American History and Culture Museum is Washington, D.C's newest Smithsonian museum and tickets are in high demand and hard to come-by. All registrants will be entered for a chance to win. Winners will be notified prior to the meeting. The drawing is for a set of 2 tickets timed for a 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM entry on July 27.

Special Events
Please click here to register for a special event.

Tour of NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) during 2018 AAPT Summer Meeting
Tour the Weather Operations floor of NCWCP on Friday, July 27 and see satellite data being modeled into forecasting for ocean conditions, precipitation, tropical storms, climate and more! Learn more about the Science On a Sphere. You will see the input, analysis, and output model side of this National Weather Service operation. Registration required. Please click here to register.

2018 Summer Awardees

Frank Noschese to Receive 2018 Paul W. Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Teaching Award
AAPT has announced that the 2018 Paul Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching Award winner is Frank Noschese, a physics teacher at John Jay High School in Cross River, NY. Read More.

Bradley S. Ambrose to Receive the AAPT 2018 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching
Bradley S. Ambrose will receive the 2018 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching during the AAPT Summer Meeting in Washington, DC. Read More.

2018 Millikan Medal Awarded to Kyle Forinash
AAPT has announced that Kyle Forinash will receive the Robert A. Millikan Medal during the 2018 Summer Meeting in Washington, DC. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and intellectually creative contributions to the teaching of physics. Read More.

Clifford V. Johnson Named as Recipient of the 2018 Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award
College Park, Maryland, United States, March 8, 2018—The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that Clifford Victor Johnson, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, is the 2018 recipient of the Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award. The lecture and award will be presented during the AAPT Summer Meeting in Washington, DC.  Read More.

2018 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT Announced
AAPT has announced that Ximena C. Cid, Jose D'Arruda, Joy Elaine Gwinn, Warren W. Hein, and David P. Jackson will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT, during the 2018 Summer Meeting in Washington, DC.

AAPT/AIP 2018 Master Teacher Policy Fellows

AAPT has announced the Fellows selected for the 2018 Master Teacher Policy Fellowship, funded by the AIP Venture Partnership Fund. The fellowship opportunity will begin with a Leadership Workshop, July 21-28 in Washington, DC and conclude in July 2019. Read More.

eAlliances: Uniting Isolated Women Physicists and Astronomers

Everyone needs mentors, but how do you find other women physicists who understand your experience-- as the only Hispanic in the department, the only PER researcher, the only full-time physicist at your TYC, the only one who brings a newborn in a sling to department meetings? Join eAlliances, an NSF-sponsored faculty development project for women physics faculty, and become part of a peer-mentoring alliance with other women who share many of your same experiences.

Why me?

• Connect with other women physicists and astronomers
• Get and give advice and affirmation
• Gather a variety of insights to help you address professional issues
• Address work-life balance issues
• Receive encouragement and support in achieving your goals

This is professional development for your career stage: whether you are teaching your first or hundredth section of intro physics; mentoring your first or hundredth research associate, or leading your first or hundredth committee meeting. Someone else has a similar experience and can share insights, frustrations, and successes.

To join: Register at eAlliances.aapt.org

PTRA

The PTRA leadership institute will be held in conjunction with the PIRA/ALPHA conference at Loyola University in Baltimore July 25-28, 2018. Due to the nature of PTRA, there will be some sessions that are exclusive such as updates from the Perimeter Institute and discussion of implications of NGSS and future physics resources. PTRAs will host a one day workshop on July 24 for K-8 educators in Baltimore on behalf of the AAPT pre-HS committee. There will be no charge for this workshop, but spots will be limited.

Call for RiPE Sessions/Workshops for AAPT SM19

If you are planning to organize a session or a workshop at the Summer 2019 AAPT Meeting in Provo, Utah, AND are interested in having sponsorship (in full or in part) from the Committee on Research in Physics Education (RiPE), you must apply using the following online application form no later than Wednesday, July 18, 11.59 pm EST. This deadline will make it possible for the RiPE committee members to review the applications before the committee meeting, which takes place during the Summer AAPT meeting in Washington, DC this summer. The online application can be found here: Summer 2019 Application for RiPE Sponsored Sessions & Workshops Application. Read More ».

AAPT Programs

U.S. Physics Team Travelers Selected for the 2018 International Physics Olympiad

Five students have been selected to represent the U.S. Physics Team as the 2018 Traveling Team at the 49th International Physics Olympiad, a competition among high-school physics students, to be held July 21 –29, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. They will be accompanied by coaches JaiJai Dong, Mark Eichenlaub, and Paul Stanley. Read More.

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 US internationally. Donate now!

2018 AAPT PhysicsBowl Contest Results!

Results for the 2018 AAPT PhysicsBowl Contest have been posted. Check Results Here!.

PhysTEC Teacher of the Year - Nominations are Closed

The PhysTEC Teacher of the Year program aims to recognize outstanding high school physics teachers and to demonstrate the impact and value of physics teacher preparation programs at PhysTEC member institutions (PhysTEC membership is free!). Learn more.

AAPT Membership

AAPT Member Spotlight

Brianne Gutmann
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL
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.

Applications Now Being Accepted for Jossem Fund Grants

Applications are currently being accepted for the E. Leonard Jossem Fund. The E. Leonard (Len) Jossem International Education Fund provides grants to individuals in support of international programs dealing with teaching and learning of physics. The fund will be available for two different categories:

• Collaborations between U.S. and developing countries. Funding should facilitate interactions and exchanges of ideas between U.S. physics educators and/or students and those in developing countries.
• International meetings and conferences focused on physics education. Meetings and conferences should involve direct contact between physics educators and furnish the interactions that stimulate new ideas and lasting collaborations. Students and faculty with limited resources can apply for funding to attend international meetings and conferences.

The Jossem Fund invites applications from physics educators who are AAPT members at any academic stage or rank. Only AAPT members may apply. Awards will range from $200 to $2,000. Applications must be received by late spring or early summer (deadline is the same as the Special Projects Fund) for consideration during the 2018 fiscal year. Applications will be reviewed by the Special Projects and Philanthropy Committee. Click here for more information.

Public Policy and Advocacy Activities at the AAPT 2018 Summer Meeting

Are you interested in learning about and engaging in Policy and Advocacy work around science and science education? AAPT can support you! AAPT is offering workshops and sessions at the upcoming Summer Meeting and several pre-conference webinars on advocacy (including a webinar on June 18th focusing on engaging in advocacy). Take advantage of the opportunity to meet with your Members of Congress while in Washington, DC and educate them on the issues that are important to you. Congress must hear from you, their constituents, about the importance of science and education. Increasing the quality of science education is critical to helping the nation strengthen its global competitiveness by preparing a workforce for the 21st century. AAPT is working with Bethany Johns (American Institute of Physics) and Scott Franklin (Rochester Institute of Technology) to provide support for Summer 2018 AAPT meeting attendees who want to engage in congressional visits. Click here for more information.

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.

Concerned about the Future of Science?

Stay informed with FYI: Science Policy News from AIP. Your membership with AAPT makes it possible for AIP to provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive updates on science policy and funding.

FYI has been a trusted source of science policy news for more than two decades. Readers learn about legislative and executive branch policy developments, agency appointments, and funding important to the physical sciences community. By staying informed about policy developments, we can better shape the future of science. Sign up for free at: aip.org/fyi.

STEP UP 4 Women

The percentage of women earning bachelor's degrees in physics is declining and continues to lag behind the other sciences. The STEP UP 4 Women project is tackling the issue by designing research-based curriculum/classroom strategies for high school teachers to encourage women to study undergraduate physics. Check out the STEP UP activities at the AAPT 2018 Summer Meeting to get involved!

In the News

AIP Web Pages Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

AIP and its Member Societies are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the physical sciences. In honor of Pride Month, AIP has gathered some resources that support the LGBTQ+ community of scientists. Also highlighted are contributions from the LGBTQ+ community to science and humanity that are worthy of celebration. Read More.

Greater Chicagoland PICUP Computational Physics Workshop

Saturday September 29, 2018

The Partnership for Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics (PICUP), an informal group of physics faculty from around the country, is committed to building a community of STEM educators dedicated to integrating computation into the physics curriculum. Towards this end, PICUP invites high school and college physics faculty to attend the Greater Chicagoland PICUP Workshop to be held on the campus of Lewis University in Romeoville, IL, on Saturday, September 29, 2018. The purpose of this one day workshop is to introduce participants to PICUP's resources and to guide participants in formulating a plan for integrating computational educational materials into their courses or curricula. The workshop agenda includes guided computational activities, plenary talks, small group discussions/activities, and a working lunch, all for a registration fee of $12 ($10 until August 31).

Go to https://www.compadre.org/PICUP/events/ for more details on this workshop and other PICUP events.

Physics Students Create Musical Instruments

Introductory physics students create musical instruments to be donated to kids in need. Click here to read more.

Provide Your Input on a Literacy Project from the AAAS: Science in the Classroom

Science in the Classroom (SitC) is looking for high school STEM teachers to complete a a survey gathering data on their understanding and confidence of using primary source documents in the classroom. The SitC project is providing a library of annotated primary source research articles -- including physics. Through this survey, SitC will help to develop practical educator guides and professional development workshops designed to help high school teachers connect primary scientific literature articles to learning standards and school curricula.

The 15 minute survey can be found here.

Materials physicist Kathryn Moler named Stanford vice provost and dean of research

Professor Kathryn Ann “Kam” Moler, senior associate dean of natural sciences in the School of Humanities and Sciences, has been named vice provost and dean of research at Stanford effective Sept. 1, Provost Persis Drell announced today. Moler was the 2011 recipient of the Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award.

Moler, BS ’88, PhD ’95, a professor of physics and applied physics who focuses on nanotechology, will support Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory research programs.

2018 U.S.-India Travel Grant Program

The APS-IUSSTF Professorship Awards in Physics permit professors from the United States and India to deliver short courses or a lecture series in the other country, and our Physics Ph.D. Student & Postdoc Visitation Program helps students and postdocs pursue opportunities in physics at summer institutes or to work temporarily in a laboratory. Don’t miss out, apply today. Learn more.

Quantum Information at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST has just launched a big website on the history and future of quantum information at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. AAPT thought it might be of interest to physics teachers who want to share information about this exciting field with their students. Read More.

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.

Beamline for Schools

This initiative offers high-school students from around the world the opportunity to use a fully equipped beamline at the world's largest accelerator complex to run the students' proposed experiments. The new promotion video has just been released, which can be found on the Beamline website as well as in the following CERN channels:
Twitter link
Youtube link

STEMcoding project releases "Physics of Video Games" Hour of Code activity

Until recently, the world's most popular K12 computer science website, hourofcode.com, did not have any physics-focused coding activities. This has changed with the "Physics of Video Games" Hour of Code video tutorial from the STEMcoding project (u.osu.edu/stemcoding), which was just released on hourofcode.com/learn. The direct link to the video tutorial is at go.osu.edu/hourofcode. The "Physics of Video Games" coding activities are intended for absolute beginner programmers in grades 9-12 and they were designed with significant feedback from high school physics teachers. The STEMcoding project, which was recently selected for the AIP Meggers award, is led by Prof. Chris Orban from Ohio State University and Prof. Richelle Teeling-Smith from the University of Mt. Union. For more info contact Prof. Chris Orban at orban@physics.osu.edu.

Help students find the right grad program. Tell them about GradSchoolShopper.com

Advise your students in the new year 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! If your program isn’t listed, contact us to find out how to have it included.

Highly Trained STEM Teachers Needed to Boost America's Global Competitiveness, According to New Study

The United States' global competitiveness is at risk as the nation confronts persistent shortages of STEM teachers. More than half of all high school physics teachers lacked certification in the discipline in 2012, for example. As a result, students who are interested in STEM careers find themselves ill prepared to compete in an increasingly highly technical workforce.

A new study by the American Physical Society, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, Computing Research Association, and Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership, addresses the reasons why STEM students shy away from teaching as a career and offers ways to counter the trend. Download the full report at www.aps.org/policy/reports.

The International Conference on Physics Education (ICPE)

Johannesburg, South Africa. October 1-5, 2018

The International Conference on Physics Education (ICPE) will be held October 1-5, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of the conference is: “Physics Education for Development: a focus on context”. The main objective is to create a platform to facilitate the interaction of various stakeholders that includes physics educators, postgraduate students, teachers, researchers and policy makers working in physics education research and in physics education, from schools, colleges, universities and governments from all parts of the world.

The program will include a wide spectrum of presentations including keynote speakers, single and symposium oral presentations, posters and workshops. The conference will be held at the Misty Hills Hotel and Conference Centre, close to the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site and the famous Pilanesberg National Park. Click here for more information.

Workshop on Women and Minorities in the History of Physics, Role Models for Today

Dr. Greg Good, Director of the Center for the History of Physics, is eager to provide workshops at AAPT Section Meetings and elsewhere on Women and Minorities in the History of Physics. Teachers will be introduced to the teaching materials on the AIP website related to the history of women and minorities in the physical sciences. The purpose of these materials is to help students appreciate that not only white males have contributed to the development of physics, astronomy, and other physical sciences. On the flip side, there have been many more women than Marie Curie and many more African Americans than Benjamin Banneker and Jim Gates who have had successful careers in the physical sciences. We will explore several of the lesson plans in each group and explore games and other activities to bring these lessons to life. For more information, please contact Dr. Greg Good.

American Modeling Teachers Association

While several of the Modeling Workshops™ have already started last week, we have many more Modeling Workshops™ scheduled for the upcoming weeks and selected workshops still have openings. Please share the information in your community:

•Alabama: Mechanics; July 9-20
• Arizona: Thermodynamics; July 9-20
• California: Mechanics and Chemistry ; July 9-20
• Indiana: Chemistry I and II (pre-conference workshops) ; July 18-29
• Massachusetts: Chemistry I and II, biology: July 9-20
• Massachusetts: Mechanical Waves; July 16-26 – Mechanics; July 30-Aug 9
• Maine: Mechanics, Chemistry, E&M; July 23-Aug 3 (0ne week options available)
• Michigan: Middle school at CMU; July 16-Aug 3
• Michigan: Middle school (2), Physical Science (2),Biology (2), Chemistry I and II, June till August
• Minnesota: Mechanics and Chemistry: July 9-20
• North Carolina; Biology, Chemistry (June 18-29), E&M and Middle School; July 9-29
• New York City: Biology (2), Computational Modeling, Intro to Modeling; July and August
• New York: Siena College: Intro to Mechanics (July 9-12),
• New York: Buffalo: Mechanics; July 9-29


For details please click here.

Physics Careers

Jobs Announcements from the Career Center

Assistant Director for Graduate Student Teaching
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Click here for job description.

Instructor of Physics
NCSSM
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. See the December 2017 Section News.

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