eNNOUNCER March 2018

AAPT News

Enter the 2018 AAPT Apparatus Competition

The AAPT Apparatus Competition is held each year at the Summer Meeting, this year in Washington DC . There are two main categories, Low Cost and Unlimited. Pasco has again graciously sponsored the prizes, $1000 for First Place. The Application Deadline is June 15, 2018. Please consider entering one or more of your Physics Apparatus in the competition.

The entry form is located at aapt.org/Programs/contests/upload/entryform.

The rules and other information can be found at
aapt.org/Programs/contests/apparatus.

2018 Summer Meeting

Registration
Registration is now open for the 2018 AAPT Summer Meeting. Register by May 30 to secure the best rate. Please click here for more information.

Post-deadline Abstracts
Post-deadline abstracts will be accepted from February 22 through May 9. All post-deadline abstracts will be scheduled on August 1 in the last session of the day. Please click here to submit your abstract.

Conference Hotel
The 2018 AAPT Summer Meeting will be held at the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel. All sleeping rooms must be booked by July 2, 2018 in order to receive the group rate. It is recommended that you make your reservation early, since the room blocks can sell out before the cut-off. Please click here for more information.

AAPT Child and Dependent Care Grants
AAPT has small grants available for those looking to attend the Summer Meeting, but would like help with the extra cost of childcare, eldercare or care for an adult child with disabilities. Please click here for more information and an application form.

AAPT Travel Grants
The Special Projects and Philanthropy Committee has limited funds (awards range from $200 to $1200 with a total of $5,000 for all awards) to help AAPT members attend an AAPT National Meeting to make a presentation. The AAPT Board of Directors approved an additional $10,000 for grants to support travel for high school and two year college faculty who are from underrepresented groups and/or from institutions whose students are predominantly underrepresented. Please click here for more information.

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

AAPT Programs

2018 High School Physics Photo Contest

The 2018 contest registration opens March 1, and will close May 15. The contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. Teachers register on the AAPT website and receive a confirmation code that their students can use to submit their entries (essay and photo). Photos may be entered in either the Natural photo or Contrived photo category. The top 100 entries will be displayed and judged during the 2018 Summer Meeting in Washington, DC Learn more!.

Physics Department Chairs Conference

The biennial Physics Department Chairs Conference will be held June 7-9, 2018 at the American Center for Physics in College Park, MD. Details of the conference will be available early in 2018 at www.aps.org/programs/education.

PhysTEC Teacher of the Year - Now Accepting Nominations

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 and nominate a physics teacher today.

5+Club

PhysTEC is pleased to announce the newest inductees into The 5+ Club, a group of institutions that has graduated five or more highly qualified physics teachers in the last academic year. In their 2015-16 report, the American Association for Employment in Education found that the teacher shortage in physics is number three among 59 education fields. The 5+ Club institutions are national leaders in addressing the severe nationwide shortage of secondary physics teachers. See the inductees here

PhysTEC Request For Proposals

The PhysTEC project is now soliciting proposals for new sites. To date, PhysTEC has funded over 40 institutions to educate greater numbers of highly qualified physics teachers. Physics departments that engage in teacher preparation help to serve the needs of the surrounding region, and provide a pathway for students who are passionate about teaching to get a job that many find rewarding. Initial proposals are due April 13. Learn more and submit a proposal today

PICUP Workshop on Integrating Computation into Undergraduate Physics Courses

July 15-20, 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 undergraduate curriculum. Towards this end, PICUP invites all physics faculty to consider attending the Summer Faculty Development Workshop to be held on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, from Sunday, July 15 through Friday, July 20, 2018. The purpose of this week-long workshop is to guide participants in developing their own computational educational materials, and in formulating a plan for implementing these materials in their upcoming courses. All local expenses will be covered for participants at the River Falls Workshop, and there may be some limited funding for round-trip travel to River Falls.

Go to www.gopicup.org for more details on this workshop and other PICUP events.

2018 AAPT PhysicsBowl Registration Open!

Registration is now open for the 2018 AAPT PhysicsBowl Contest taking place March 28 - April 13, 2018. Read more

Gordon Conference on Physics Research and Education on "Energy as a Subtle Concept"

June 10-15 2018
Bryant University - Smithfield, RI

This Gordon Research Conference seeks to bring together physics research scientists and physics education researchers for discussions, talks and posters on how energy is taught within the undergraduate curriculum, and howcutting edge research is allowing educators to consider new methods and models for teaching energy concepts. The format of the Gordon Research conferences (maximum 200 attendees, off the record policy, all plenary sessions, small campus location, and afternoons off for discussion) promote conversation, collaboration, and community building. Registration is now open.

AAPT Membership

AAPT Member Spotlight

Josh Underwood
Tollesboro, KY
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.

Looking for Input from Early Career AAPT Members

Are you currently in the first 5 years of your teaching career, either in K-12 or higher education (i.e., two-year college, primarily undergraduate university, comprehensive, or research university)? AAPT is interested in putting together a small group of early career members with whom we can discuss the daily challenges you face, as well as areas where AAPT could provide support and resources that will aid you in your career. This group would primarily meet via web/conference call, or potentially face-to-face at AAPT national meetings. If you are interested, please contact Mike Hall (301.209.3333, mhall@aapt.org).

The Physics of Winter Olympic Sports Resource Page

The 2018 Winter Olympics events offered the perfect opportunity to bring the excitement of sports into your classroom and, at the same time, demonstrate the physics behind each event. With so much content related to physics and sports, we’ve recently created a resource page, entitled "The Physics of Winter Olympic Sports". You’ll discover content from AAPT journals on the physics of hockey, skating, curling, and so much more. These articles are available free for current members and subscribers.

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.

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.

Lights, Camera, Physics!

Tuesday, 5 March
8 PM EST (Washington, DC)

You have seen them at the summer meetings. Rows of student taken pictures on display for members to view and vote on. The High School Physics Photo Contest has been an attraction at the meetings for years. Join the March webinar to learn more about the contest, how it has changed over the years, and how to get your own classroom involved! Coordinator Tommi Holsenbeck will share her experience and reflections on the contest and its history along with all the details you need to get involved. Tommi reflects, “The HS Photo Contest has been conducted by AAPT since 1998... If you look back at the beginning years, the contrast is striking. The advances in technology can be tracked by looking at the advancing years up until today.“ To hear more, register with the link below.

Click here to Register for this webinar .

In the News

The Physics of Atomic Nuclei Program

The Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) free residential summer program for high school students is now accepting applications for summer 2018. PAN participants will learn about scientific research in nuclear astrophysics through conducting their own experiments, as well as the impact of nuclear science and its applications for society. The student programs will run from June 24-29 at University of Notre Dame and July 22-27 at Michigan State University. Applications are due by March 30. To learn more and fill out an online application, visit www.jinaweb.org.

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.

Arizona State University Master of Natural Science Degree for High School Teachers

Arizona State University has an interdisciplinary Master of Natural Science (MNS) degree in physics for high school teachers. Courses are in summer, and the degree is founded on Modeling instruction. Teachers in 15 western states can apply for IN-STATE tuition; the deadline is APRIL 1.
Click here for details.
Click here for more information.

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.With new 2018 department data, 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

For 2018, Modeling Workshops™ have been organized for many states. Please encourage teachers to check the schedule for workshops in the field of their interest:

Physics Modeling Workshops™: Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia
Chemistry Modeling Workshops™: Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas,
Biology Modeling Workshops™: Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Texas,
Middle school/Physical Science Modeling Workshops™: Alabama, Illinois and Michigan

For information on 2018 Modeling Workshops, please visit the American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA) website: modelinginstruction.org For questions: wendy@modelinginstruction.org or gheheman@asu.edu

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 jobs.aapt.org to get posting!

Jobs Announcements from the Career Center

Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
University of Indianapolis
Click here for job description

Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Physics
Iona College
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 July 2017 Section News.

Section Meetings

Southern Atlantic Coast Section
Mar 2, 2018 - Mar 3, 2018
Spring Meeting
Dalton State College
Dalton, GA
Email: Christopher Wozny  
Phone: 706.272.2170

North Carolina Section
Mar 9, 2018 - Mar 10, 2018
Spring Meeting
Edgecombe Community College
Tarboro, NC
Email: Denise Wetli  

Southeast Pennsylvania Section
Mar 9, 2018 - Mar 10, 2018
Spring Meeting
Penn State Abington
Abington, PA
Email: Barry Feierman or Jeremy Carlo  

New England Section
Mar 16, 2018 - Mar 17, 2018
Spring Meeting
Nashua Community College
Nashua, NH

Michigan Section
Mar 23, 2018 - Mar 24, 2018
Spring Meeting & Joint Meeting with APS Ohio Section
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Email: Brad Ambrose  

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