Recently in American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Category

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College Park, Maryland, United States, October 29, 2009. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the first AAPT J. D. Jackson Excellence in Graduate Physics Teaching Award winner is Eugene Commins, physics professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. This award is given in recognition of contributions to graduate physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students.

This prestigious award will be presented to Commins at a Ceremonial Session of the AAPT Winter Meeting at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC, on Monday, February 15, 2010.

Warren Hein, AAPT Executive Officer noted, "It is a great honor to recognize an educator with such a distinguished career as the first recipient of the J. D. Jackson Award. Dr. Commins sets the standard for graduate physics around the world."

Commins earned his BA with Honors in Mathematics and Physics at Swarthmore College and his Ph.D. in Physics at Columbia University, New York, N.Y. He began his teaching career at Columbia University before moving to the University of California Berkeley in 1960.

Frances Hellman, Chair of the Department of Physics at University of California, Berkley said, "Eugene has been one of the pillars of the Berkeley Physics department for several decades. Over this period, he has taught and educated generations of physicists, many of whom have gone on to sterling careers in their own right: our current Energy Secretary, Nobel Laureate Steve Chu, is an outstanding example of a student who was taught and mentored by Eugene! But, by far, the biggest impact that Eugene has had is on the broad spectrum of graduate students from across the country and around the world."

Lila Adair, Awards Committee Chair, said that there were several reasons Commins was selected. "His nomination recognizes Eugene as a superb and dedicated teacher whose scientific brilliance is complemented by a great work ethic and dedication to the profession of teaching. His students are exuberant in their praise for his lectures, lecture notes, and concern for the students. He is an example of a great mentor. Many extremely distinguished scientists took classes from him, got their PhD's working with him, and speak passionately about him to their colleagues."

This award recognizes that great teaching CAN be done and should be expected of great scientists at leading institutions, not only from people whose primary or entire focus is on teaching.

Regarding his recognition as recipient of the First J.D. Jackson Excellence in Graduate Physics Teaching Award, Commins said, "I am very grateful and honored to receive the J.D. Jackson Award, all the more so because it bears the name of a most highly esteemed friend and colleague, J.D. Jackson. He is a truly distinguished scholar and teacher, and if his name were not on the award, he would be first on my list of those who deserve to receive it."

About the Award
Named in honor of outstanding physicist and teacher, J. D. Jackson, this award recognizes physicists and physics educators who, like John David Jackson, have made outstanding contributions to curriculum development, mentorship, or classroom teaching in graduate physics education.

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

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College Park, Maryland, United States, October 29, 2009. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that The Melba Newell Phillips Medal has been awarded to Mary Beth Monroe, Professor of Physics at Southwest Texas Junior College, in recognition of her creative leadership and dedicated service that have resulted in exceptional contributions within AAPT.

The Medal will be presented to at a Ceremonial Session of the AAPT Winter Meeting at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC, on Monday, February 15, 2010.

Lila Adair, Chairman, AAPT Awards Committee, said, "Mary Beth is an amazing lady. She has dedicated her entire career to sharing her passion for physics and AAPT with her students, colleagues and fellow AAPT members. She is one of the few experts I turn to for the institutional history of AAPT, and I am so proud to be presenting the Phillips Medal to her."

As a long time AAPT member, Monroe has quietly and tenaciously served the organization at the state and national level for more than three decades. She served as AAPT Secretary and Chair of the Publications Committee from 2001-2007 and is currently serving as a member of the Committee on the Interests of Senior Physicists and as Chair of the Governance Review Committee. She has played a leading role in developing networks among physicists teaching in Two Year Colleges that have led both to their increasing involvement in AAPT and to better teaching for the students who study physics in these schools

"The Melba Newell Phillips Medal is AAPT's highest recognition for member leadership and service. Mary Beth personifies these qualities through her continuing role as a leader in our organization and in the Two Year College community," stated Warren Hein, AAPT's Executive Officer.

Monroe received her B.S. degree in physics from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, and her M.S. in Physics (research field, plasma physics) with a double minor in Junior College Teaching (HEW intern) and Math, 1973. She is a dedicated proponent of quality physics education in Two Year and Community Colleges. She served on the AAPT Executive Board as Member-at-Large Representing Two Year Colleges and as a member of the Committee on Physics in the Two Year College. Additionally, she served as Principal Investigator and Project Director for TYC21 and as Co Principal Investigator for Strategic Programs for Innovations in Undergraduate Physics at Two Year Colleges from 2002-2005.

Regarding the award, Monroe stated, "I was stunned when I received word from the AAPT Awards Committee that I had been selected to receive the esteemed Melba Newell Phillips Medal! Melba was responsible for me attending my first AAPT national meeting in 1977 and she used her influence to help place me on some AAPT committees in my first years with the Association. She impressed upon me that I had a responsibility not only to my students, but also beyond my classroom to the physics education community. The AAPT has provided me ample opportunities to fulfill both. Therefore this award, which embodies the ideals that Melba had for physics education and AAPT, has a special significance for me. I am honored and humbled by this recognition."

About the Award
The Melba Newell Phillips Medal honors Melba Phillips for her leadership and dedicated service to physics education. She was the first woman President of the AAPT and a founder of the Federation of American Scientists. Professor Phillips' research was in nuclear physics, and she served on the faculty of Brooklyn College and the University of Chicago. She was a champion of physics education throughout her life. This Award is given only occasionally to subsequent AAPT leaders who display similar achievements and exceptional contributions. The first recipient of the Award was Melba Phillips herself (Emeritus, University of Chicago), in January 1982.

The previous medal recipients include Clifford Swartz, Judy R. Franz, Robert B. Clark, H. Richard Crane, and E. Leonard Jossem. The complete list of winners can be found at http://www.aapt.org/Grants/phillips.cfm.

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

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College Park, Maryland, November 2, 2009 -- During their fall meeting, members of the AAPT Executive Board developed and adopted an official statement endorsing research experiences for undergraduates.

Rationale:
Research in the real world involves the intense and often exhilarating experience of studying nature, learning some new things, and then bouncing that knowledge off fellow workers within your discipline to see if they agree. Richard Feynman likened this to cooperatively observing a chess game without knowing the rules - and gradually learning and celebrating a few of those beautiful rules and the evolving simplicity that should make up physics.

Whether in basic or applied sciences, every undergraduate physics major depends on such an experience to mature toward an investigative state-of-mind and self-confidence that will serve them well in their next professional endeavor. While often learning new experimental, theoretical, or analytical skills, they will also experience the very human frustrations, successes, serendipity, and late nights that can take science totally out of the classroom and into the fabric of their lives. Whether in a graduate school application or a job interview, they will have stories to tell about when they really helped figure something out.

Research experiences will necessarily take on different forms depending on the interests and goals of the student and on the resources and capabilities of their department and may begin early or late during the undergraduate years. Thus undergraduate research will not always involve sophisticated equipment or methodology, but it should be both meaningful and appropriate for the student and situation. On-campus faculty-mentored projects, participation in research at NSF-funded REU sites, research opportunities at national and corporate laboratories, and research opportunities provided through other federal agencies and private foundations should be strategically utilized to meet the needs of our students and departments.

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

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August 31, 2009, College Park, MD--Dr. E. Leonard (Len) Jossem passed away Saturday, August 29, 2009. He served as AAPT President from 1973-74. Warren Hein, AAPT Executive Office, said, "Len was a champion of physics education and a long-time supporter of AAPT. He was generous when it was most critical to the success of our programs. We have lost a very good friend."

Born in Camden, NJ, May 19, 1919, Dr. E. Leonard Jossem received his B.S. in Physics from City College of New York in 1938. During World War II he was a member of the scientific staff at Los Alamos in the Advanced Developments Division. He received his master's degree in 1939 from Cornell University. His Ph.D., also from from Cornell University in 1950, was for his research on experimental condensed matter physics. His long and productive career included nine years on the faculty at Cornell University, and two years with the commission on College Physics. In 1956 he joined the physics faculty at The Ohio State University where he taught for thirty-three years, serving as the Chairman of OSU's Physics Department from 1967-1989. The department is well known for its efforts in insuring that all graduate students are introduced to and schooled in the good practices of exemplary teaching. This program is part of the legacy of Len Jossem.

Jossem was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the New York Academy of Sciences, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Institute of Physics [London]. He held the Howard E. Maxwell Award for Distinguished Service to the Ohio Section of the American Physical Society.

An active member of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) since 1948, Jossem received the AAPT Distinguished Service Award in 1970, the Melba Newell Phillips Award in 1985, and the Oersted Medal in 1994. In presenting the medal, James H. Stith noted, "Leonard Jossem is a master teacher and educator in the broadest sense of the word."

Long interested in physics education, he was a member of the Commission on College Physics, serving as chair from 1966 to 1971, during which time the commission's work fundamentally changed the way physics was taught in this country. In 1995 Jossem was awarded the International Commission on Physics Education Medal for Excellence. He is an editor of the International Commission on Physic Education books, Connecting the Results of Research in Physics Education with Teacher Education, and Physics 2000: Physics at It Enters a New Millennium.

His volunteer service to AAPT included chairing and working on many AAPT committees including, most recently, the Committee on Teacher Preparation 2003-04, the Investment Advisory Committee 2005-06, and the Committee on the Interests of Senior Physicists 2005-06.

He was been a consultant for UNESCO projects in Thailand, and a consultant for the World Bank-Chinese University Development Project in China. He holds honorary professorships in Physics at Beijing Normal University, at Beijing Teachers College, and at Southeast University in Nanjing, China. Deeply involved in International Physics Education, he was recognized on his 70th birthday in an International Newsletter on Physics Education article, "He is at home in schools as well as in research laboratories, he moves among students and teachers as naturally as among professors and Nobel laureates. To have a teaching career with such a fresh innovative spirit during half a century--this is a privilege only a few of the greatest can enjoy."

In his 90 years of life Dr. E Leonard Jossem set a standard for generations of physics students and teachers that incorporates learning through play and exploration as the pathway to understanding. He will be especially remembered for his kindness, compassion, and contributions as a peacemaker.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

CONTACT: Marilyn Gardner, American Association of Physics Teachers, mgardner@aapt.org 301-209-3306.

College Park, MD, July 22, 2009. Defying all the research studies proclaiming that U.S. students lag far behind the rest of the developed world in science and math, the five student representatives of the United States Physics Team competed with teams of high school students from 70 nations and struck gold winning four gold medals and one silver medal at the 40th International Physics Olympiad held in Merida, Mexico in July of 2009.

Students from China won five gold medals, coming in first on the overall medal count; while India and Korea also won four gold medals and one silver medal, tying for second with the United States on the overall medal count. Taiwan, Russia, and Romania each earned three gold and two silver medals. Countries winning at least two gold medals included Singapore, Kazakhstan and Japan; countries winning at least one gold medal included Thailand, Indonesia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Turkey, Serbia, Israel, Poland, and Slovakia.

Traveling to Merida, Mexico for the 40th International Physics Olympiad were:
David Field, of Andover, MA, a sophomore at the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, MA;
Bowei Liu, of Freemont, CA, a sophomore at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA;
Marianna Mao, of Freemont, CA, a senior at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA;
Anand Natarajan, a senior at The Harker School, San Jose, CA;
Joshua Oreman, a senior at Harvard Westlake School, Los Angeles, CA;
Paul Stanley, Academic Director, Dobson Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Beloit College;
Warren Turner, Senior Coach, Assistant Professor at Westfield State, College in Massachusetts.

The three graduating seniors will be going to Harvard (Marianna), MIT (Joshua), and Stanford (Anand) next year.

The US team gold medal winners included Anand Nataranjan (with 14th highest theory score), Bowei Liu, Joshua Oreman (with 11th highest overall score), and Marianna Mao (with 6th highest experimental score). David Field won the silver medal. The overall highest score this year was Handuo Shi from China, marking the first time in the history of the Physics Olympiad that the top score was obtained by a female. Accompanying the US Physics Team to Mexico was Academic Director Paul Stanley of Beloit College and Senior Lab Coach Warren Turner of Westfield State College.

"They all did very well," said Paul Stanley, Academic Director. " Much of the success of the traveling five can be attributed to the collegial, supportive atmosphere of training camp; I thank each of the nineteen team members for working so hard to make this one of the best teams ever!"

The three theoretical problems this year included a question on the tidal drag affecting the moon, a question on laser cooling and optical molasses, and a question on the mass to radius ratio of stars and estimating a lower limit to the size of a star. The two experimental problems included measuring the wavelength of light using a razor blade and vernier calipers, and determining the index of refraction difference of a birefringent material. 316 students from around the world took part in the examination.

The US physics team has participated in the International Physics Olympiad since 1986. On four occasions the team has won four gold medals: in Australia (1995), Singapore (2006), Vietnam (2008), and Mexico (2009). The United States hosted the International Physics Olympiad in 1993. In 2010 the Olympiad will be held in Croatia.

The US Physics Team is sponsored by the generous support of private donors and the member societies of the American Institute for Physics:
Acoustical Society of America
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
American Association of Physics Teachers
American Astronomical Society
American Crystallographic Association
American Geophysical Union
American Physical Society
AVS: Science & Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing
Optical Society of America
The Society of Rheology

MORE ON THE WEB
Main website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/olympiad2009/
History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/Contests/olympiad.cfm

The official website of the International Physics Olympiad: http://ipho2009.smf.mx/home.
About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, July 13, 2009. As physics educators from around the world convene at the University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor, MI, from July 25-29 for The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) 2009 Summer Meeting they will be participating in Michigan state's official Physics Education Week.

In the official Proclamation, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm "encourages all residents of this state to learn more about physics education and to encourage our youth to become involved in this exciting field." The proclamation will be read as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2009 Summer Meeting.

Onsite registration is available to all interested science scholars at the University of Michigan, Michigan League. The meeting program includes plenary sessions featuring nationally renowned speakers, award winning educators, and a salute to the 400th anniversary of the telescope. As an added attraction, David Saltzberg, physics consultant for the popular television situation-comedy "The Big Bang Theory" will join the program.

Monday, July 27
Special Session
A Physicist Scattering on Hollywood
David Saltzberg, (University of California, Los Angeles) has served for the past two years as the physics consultant for the popular television situation-comedy "The Big Bang Theory" which features physicists as its main characters. He will describe his experiences with production of the show.

APS/DPP Symposium on Plasma Physics
The Electrical Charge and Motion of Objects Inserted into a Plasma
John Goree, (The University of Iowa's Department of Physics and Astronomy) conducts research experiments with Plasma, a gas that has been ionized, with freely moving electrons and ions. Objects immersed in plasma develop an electric charge by collecting electrons and ions. Experiments in the laboratory and on board the International Space Station where micron-size plastic spheres are immersed in plasma will be described, including videos of the microspheres in experiments, showing the rich variety of their collective motion.
Turbulent Liquid Metal Dynamo Experiments
Cary Forest (University of Wisconsin) focuses on understanding how electrical currents are generated in plasmas and other MHD systems. This talk will address how dynamo experiments, using high speed flows of liquid sodium, have been investigating the key processes of the geodynamo and solar dynamo. Understanding the conversion of turbulent kinetic energy in the fluid motion into electrical currents and thus magnetic fields, is the biggest challenge for both experiments and theory at this time. Experimental evidence for these currents and future directions, including the possibility of a plasma dynamo experiment, will be discussed.

Robert A. Millikan Medal
Physics for All: From Special Needs to Olympiads
Arthur Eisenkraft, Distinguished Professor of Science Education and Director of the Center of Science and Math in Context (COSMIC), at University of Massachusetts, Boston will present the Millikan Medal Address. He helped created the process that identifies and supports U.S. Physics Olympics Team to compete in the International Physics Olympiad. In 1991, Eisenkraft became the Executive Director of the XXIV International Physics Olympiad, hosted by the U.S. for teams from 40 countries. He was one of the originators of Quantum magazine, and also developed the Active Physics curriculum project, which was funded by research grants from the National Science Foundation. He has appeared on numerous television radio shows and his work has been featured in The New York Times, Education Week, Physics Today, American Journal of Physics, and The Physics Teacher.

Tuesday, July 28
Klopsteg Memorial Award
The Role of the Scientist as a Public Intellectual
Lee Smolin, a theoretical physicist, is a founding and senior faculty member at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Canada. He is also Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Waterloo. His research and writings have made major contributions to the quantum theory of gravity, being a co-inventor of loop quantum gravity and deformed special relativity. He has also worked in cosmology and is the inventor of a theory called cosmological natural selection, which applies a Darwinian methodology to the question of how the laws of physics are chosen. He has research interests also in elementary particle physics, the foundations of quantum mechanics, astrophysics, theoretical biology, and economics.

Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching Award
What Your Mother Never Told You About... Physics Teaching
Deborah Roudebush (Oakton High School, Herndon, VA) shares her experiences as a Physics Teacher as she is recognized with this prestigious award. She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2001 and has served as an AAPT Physics Teaching Resource Agent (PTRA) since 1992, participated in the D.C. Urban initiative, served as Rural Initiative-James Madison University Lead Teacher, and D.C. MSP Lead Teacher in 2008. She has been active in QuarkNet since 2000, serving as Teaching & Learning Fellow with QuarkNet centers. She has participated in the National Academy of Sciences since 2004 and is a member of the College Board AP Physics Redesign Commission. She was recognized as a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Science Teaching in 2001.

Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award
Using Technology to Increase Student Engagement Inside and Outside of the Classroom
Mario Belloni (Davidson College, Davidson, NC) is well known as an author, public speaker, researcher, workshop leader, motivator of students, award winning professor, and an innovator in the use of technology for teaching physics. He received the AAPT Distinguished Service Citation in 2006 and has served as a member of the Planning Committee for the Section Representative/Area Chair Governance (2007), as a member of the AAPT Meetings Committee (2007-08), and as a member of the AAPT Membership and Benefits Committee (2004-07). Belloni is currently Chair of the AAPT Committee on Educational Technologies, North Carolina AAPT Section Representative, and a member of the ComPADRE Quantum Physics Editorial Board.

Wednesday, July 29
Something Incredible Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and the world He Made Up
K. C. Cole (Southern California's Annenberg School of Journalism) is the author of eight nonfiction books, including The Universe and the Teacup: The Mathematics of Truth and Beauty. She covered math, physics, cosmology and psychology at The Los Angeles Times for 10 years, often exploring connections between science, art, and society, and wrote the column "Mind Over Matter." Cole has taught at UCLA, Wesleyan and Yale Universities, and has been an editor, writer, and columnist at Discover Magazine. Her most recent book is Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens: Frank Oppenheimer and the World He Made Up, to be published this summer by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

About AAPT:
AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics education. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

CONTACT:
Journalists are invited to contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, American Association of Physics Teachers, mgardner@aapt org, 301-209-3306 regarding press registration and materials regarding this meeting.

July 13, 2009, College Park, MD - The five students representing the U.S. Physics Team as the 2009 Traveling Team, and two of their coaches, are competing with high school students from 84 nations this week at the 40th International Physics Olympiad in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

The U.S. Traveling Team Representatives are:
David Field, of Andover, MA, a sophomore at the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, MA;
Bowei Liu, of Freemont, CA, a sophomore at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA;
Marianna Mao, of Freemont, CA, a senior at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA;
Anand Natarajan, of San Jose, CA, a senior at The Harker School;
Joshua Oreman, of Los Angeles, CA a senior at Harvard Westlake School, Los Angeles, CA;

The traveling team coaches are:
Paul Stanley, Academic Director, Dobson Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Beloit College;
Warren Turner, Senior Coach, Assistant Professor at Westfield State College in Massachusetts.

The US Physics Team Traveling Representatives participated in a two-day mini-camp at the University of Maryland, College Park, where they reviewed problem solving skills and sharpened their laboratory skills. The mini-camp ended with a visit to the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC where the students met with Antonio Ortiz-Mena, Head of Section Economic Affairs. The team members presented an art glass globe representing the world, as a gift to the people of Mexico during their embassy visit.

The Traveling Representatives arrived in Merida on July 11 and will spend the next week participating in a unique opportunity to meet with other high school students, demonstrate their abilities in physics, exchange experiences, and build cross-cultural contacts. They will have the opportunity to make new and lasting friendships with peers from all over the world; visit archeological sites full of ancient history; and to attend talks by world renowned scientists regarding interesting research in physics.

Team members will have the opportunity to add to the medals received by previous U.S. Physics Teams. Last year's team brought home one silver medal and four gold medals. This year's awards will be presented on July 19, 2009.

MORE ON THE WEB: Main website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/olympiad2009/
History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/Contests/olympiad.cfm
The official website of the International Physics Olympiad: http://ipho2009.smf.mx/home
Donations to support the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/donate.cfm

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

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College Park, MD, May 27, 2009. The physics community and AAPT lost a friend and advocate on May 17 with the death of Betty Preece of Indialantic, FL. A long-time member of AAPT, Betty was recognized for her years of dedicated service with a Distinguished Service Citation in 1997. She served on many committees, including the Committee on Minorities, the Committee on Women in Physics, and the Committee on International Education.

Betty organized events for under privileged elementary children at AAPT's Winter Meetings for many years. She enlisted volunteers including local Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapters in these activities for students. Betty was a recipient of the 2007 SWE Distinguished Service Award.

"Not only was Betty the living standard of a loyal AAPT member, but she was also a personal friend to many of us. She never said NO, and it was very hard to tell her No also. You could always count on her to do anything for the good of AAPT, children and women," said Lila Adair, AAPT Past President.

Betty was the first woman to graduate from the University of Kentucky with a degree in electrical engineering, was inducted into the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinction and was, in 1950, the first woman engineer at the Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral.

Betty was an organizing member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in 1950. She was a civil engineer with over 10,000 volunteer hours as the Handicap and Accessibility Coordinator at Patrick Air Force Base, an Adjunct Professor at Florida Institute of Technology, a physics teacher at Melbourne High for 18 years, and a science fair judge for state and county competitions.

She was a Mentor for Take Stock in Children and she was a member of and held local, state, and national office in the following: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma, Environmentally Endangered Land Society (EELS), Abigail Wright Chamberlin Chapter NSDAR, Daughters of 1812, Daughters of American Colonists, American Association of Physics Teachers, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN), Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS), South Brevard Historical Society, SCSEA, Scots-American Society of Brevard and Women Engineering Society in United Kingdom (WES).

She traveled the world as a speaker and teacher to show children that "Science could be fun." Betty was a cherished member in all of these organizations and will be missed by her many friends and family.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

CONTACT:
Marilyn Gardner, American Association of Physics Teachers, mgardner@aapt.org 301-209-3306.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009

(College Park, MD) -- Five students have been selected to represent the U.S Physics Team as the 2009 Traveling Team at the 40th International Physics Olympiad, a competition among high-school physics students, held this summer in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

The students are:
David Field, of Andover, MA, a sophomore at the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, MA; bio at http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/team.cfm?id=495&year=2009
Bowei Liu, of Freemont, CA, a sophomore at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA; bio at http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/team.cfm?id=612&year=2009
Marianna Mao, of Freemont, CA, a senior at Mission San Jose High School in Freemont, CA; bio at http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/team.cfm?id=627&year=2009
Anand Natarajan, of San Jose, CA, a senior at The Harker School; bio at http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/team.cfm?id=654&year=2009
Joshua Oreman, of Los Angeles, CA a senior at Harvard Westlake School, Los Angeles, CA; bio at: http://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/team.cfm?id=663&year=2009

"We are very proud of all nineteen students who participated in the training camp. They have tested themselves with the best of their peers for ten days and have proven to be an outstanding group of young people," said Warren Hein, Executive Officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers, which sponsors the team. "We are sure that the five Traveling Team members will uphold the tradition of success for the United States as they represent the U.S. Physics Team in Merida."

The students attended a training camp at the University of Maryland, where, through classes, labs and special lectures, they were coached on difficult physics concepts, then took a series of exams. They also made a trip to nearby Washington, DC, to see the Smithsonian Museums and to NASA's Goddard Space Center in Greenbelt, MD.

The coaches for the 2009 U.S. Physics team are: Paul Stanley, Academic Director/Senior Coach, Warren Turner, Senior Coach/Lab Coach, Andrew Lin, David Jones, and David Fallest.

Last year, the team brought home one silver and four gold medals. Joshua Oreman, a returning team member, brought home a gold medal for the 2008 Team.

The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program was started in 1986 by AAPT to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. It continues to be supported as a joint initiative between AAPT and AIP. The nine-day international competition brings together pre-university students from more than 60 nations. This year's event is sponsored by the Mexico Ministry of Education, the National Council of Science and Technology, and the Yucatan State Government with the support of the National University of Mexico, the National Polytechnical Institute, the Metropolitan Autonomous University, and the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosi. The 2009 International Physics Olympiad is being organized by the Mexican Physical Society, the University of Yucatan, and the Merida Campus of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnical Institute.

LIST OF EVENTS:
May 16-26 -- Physics Team students visit University of Maryland for their intensive training camp.
May 26 -- Five students chosen as the Traveling Team to represent the US Team at the international competition.
July 3-7 --Traveling Team Mini-Boot Camp, College Park, MD
July 11 -- Traveling Team arrives in Merida for the international competition.
July 19 -- The International Olympiad's final awards given.

MORE ON THE WEB
• Main website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/olympiad2009/
• History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/Contests/olympiad.cfm
• The official website of the International Physics Olympiad: http://ipho2009.smf.mx/home
• Screening exams the students had to pass to place on the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.compadre.org/psrc/evals/olympiad.cfm

CONTACT:
Marilyn Gardner, American Association of Physics Teachers, mgardner@aapt.org, 301-209-3306

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD, April 27, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that Philip Walker "Bo" Hammer, Ph.D., has joined the National Office as Associate Executive Officer. In this role, Dr. Hammer will work closely with Warren Hein, Executive Officer, to support AAPT's educational programs.

"Bo Hammer brings a unique skill set and knowledge about physics education to AAPT. He is familiar with our programs and the AAPT community and will be a significant addition to AAPT's National Office. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with such a gifted physics educator," said Dr. Warren Hein, AAPT's Executive Officer.

Dr. Hammer comes to AAPT from his position as Vice President of the Franklin Institute Science Museum's Benjamin Franklin Center, where he was responsible for the international Benjamin Franklin Medals and Bower Awards Programs, the Journal of the Franklin Institute, the Institute's Collections and Library, and its public astronomy programs.

Hammer received his BS in Physics in 1987 from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Oregon in 1991. After being a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Hammer spent the '93-'94 academic year as an American Physical Society (APS) Congressional Science Fellow working on the staff of the Subcommittee on Science in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Excellence in science education is key to our nation's competitive and intellectual future," said Hammer, "and I am excited to join AAPT as it leads the science community's efforts to improve physics teaching and advance the understanding of physics."

Formerly Director of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma--The Physics Honor Society, and Assistant Manager of the Education Division of the American Institute of Physics (AIP), Hammer participated in President Clinton's Forum on Science in the Public Interest, served on the American Physical Society (APS) Panel on Public Affairs, and on the U.S. House of Representatives 1997 roundtable on Early Career Scientists. Hammer is past chair of the APS Forum on Physics and Society, currently serves on the APS Council, and is president of the Haddon Heights, NJ, Board of Education. Hammer is well-known in the physics education community for his significant contributions and relationships across the spectrum of science education and science policy.

"We are delighted that Dr. Hammer has agreed to come to AAPT. His efforts will allow us to better serve our members and help us reach our goal of becoming a stronger voice for physics education," said Alex Dickison, AAPT President.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, MD, April 20, 2009

Twenty students from across the U.S. have emerged through a rigorous exam process that began last January with approximately 4,000 students who participated in the Fnet=ma exam to become the 2009 U.S. Physics Team. These students will continue to train for the mentally grueling exams and lab tests they'll face at the 40th International Physics Olympiad, held this year July 12-19 in Merida Yucatan, Mexico.

" AAPT is pleased to recognize all of the physics students who participated in the 2009 Physics Team selection process. They are the future of physics and physics education in the United States. The students who qualified for the team have proven to be exceptional scholars. It is AAPT's honor to support their further participation in the International Physics Olympiad," said Dr. Warren Hein, Executive Officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers in College Park, MD, which selects the students and organizes their training.

In preparation for the International Physics Olympiad, the students will spend ten days at a physics training camp at the University of Maryland, College Park, conducting lab experiments, taking exams, and hearing presentations from prominent scientists. At the end of the training camp, five students will be selected to travel to the Mexico for international competition.

The coaches for the 2009 U.S. Physics team are: Paul Stanley, Academic Director/Senior Coach, Warren Turner, Senior Coach/Lab Coach, Andrew Lin, David Jones, and David Fallest are all Coaches.

Last year, the team brought home one silver and four gold medals.

The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program was started in 1986 by AAPT to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. The nine-day international competition brings together pre-university students from more than 60 nations. This year's event is sponsored by the Mexico Ministry of Education, the National Council of Science and Technology, and the Yucatan State Government with the support of the National University of Mexico, the National Polytechnical Institute, the Metropolitan Autonomous University, and the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of San Luis Potosi. The 2009 International Physics Olympiad is being organized by the Mexican Physical Society, the University of Yucatan, and the Merida Campus of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnical Institute.

LIST OF EVENTS:
May 16-26 -- Students visit University of Maryland for their intensive training camp.
May 26 -- Five students chosen to represent the US at the international competition.
July 11 -- Students arrive in Merida for the international competition.
July 19 -- The International Competition's final awards given.

MORE ON THE WEB
Main website of the U.S. Physics Team: http://www.aapt.org/olympiad2009/
History of the physics team, including past winners: http://www.aapt.org/Contests/olympiad.cfm
The official website of the International Physics Olympiad: http://ipho2009.smf.mx/home.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

College Park, Maryland, United States, March 25, 2009

Distinguished Service Citations are presented to AAPT members in recognition of their exceptional contributions (e.g., committee, section, or editorial work) to physics teaching. The Summer 2009 Citations will be presented during AAPT's Summer Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI.

Alan Gibson is a selfless and tireless warrior in the ongoing war against ignorance, a model educator-citizen, a loyal friend, and an outstanding leader in the MI AAPT as well as the Detroit Metro Area Physics Teacher groups in the past 30 years. He has served for the MI Section Representative, as Vice Chair of the Section Representatives from 2005-2007, as Chair of the Section Representatives from 2007-2009, and as a member of the AAPT Executive Board 2005-2009. Al was in the original PTRA program of 1985 and has been active in the Rural PTRA program. He has served as chair of the International Education Committee and the High School Committee as well as a member of several other committees. In addition to all of his contribution at the local, state, and national levels, Al has served as an ambassador on Physics 'missions' to the Far East."

Al was recognized as a Technology Scholar by Radio Shack. He is recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (1988) and was a finalist for the Michigan Science Teacher of the Year. He has received the highest awards of Outstanding Leadership/Service from the DMAPT and the MI AAPT where they recognized him saying, "Al has inspired thousands of students and teachers by his dedication to his profession. His amazing talents as an educational leader are only surpassed by his humbleness."

David Maiullo is best known for the many public physics demo shows he performs in his community, both in the usual locations (libraries, schools, senior centers, science fairs, etc.) and in the unusual (bars, outdoors before rock bands play, street fairs, Coney Island). These efforts led to his recognition with the Ernest E. McMahon Award for Public Outreach from Rutgers University in 2000 and Rutgers University's President's Staff Excellence in Service award in 2006.

David plays an invaluable role in the preparation of physics teachers in New Jersey and in the greater physics teaching community. He leads workshops for New Jersey teachers and his efforts are integral to the NJAAPT and Rutgers relationship. David was the 2006 recipient of the, NJAAPT Lifetime Achievement Award.

He has served as Past-president and as a member of the Physics Instructional Resource Association (PIRA), an AAPT affiliate, and continues his work at the Summer Meeting with the Lecture Demo Workshop(s), which he led for 5 years. Additionally, David has provided outstanding service as an Apparatus Committee Chair, as well as serving on the committee for years.

Bruce Mason is a faculty member of the Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Oklahoma. He received a BA degree in Physics from Oberlin College and MS and PhD degrees from the University of Maryland. He also held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Illinois in condensed matter theory before coming to Oklahoma. In the mid-1990's, Bruce became interested in the potential for technology to engage students in new ways and in the possibility of encouraging faculty to make use of these new tools. Through this interest, he became the founding editor of the MERLOT-Physics resource collection and the director of the ComPADRE Digital Library, a collaboration of the AAPT, APS, AIP, and AAS. ComPADRE is part of the National STEM Digital Library funded by the US National Science Foundation. The editors and staff of the ComPADRE project have developed a network of resource collections to provide, online, resources and information to support communities of instructors and students in physics and astronomy. Bruce serves on the AAPT Publications Committee and the Educational Technologies Committee. He has given numerous workshops, tutorials, and talks at AAPT national and section meetings and at other local, national, and international conferences. Bruce is also the Secretary/Treasurer of the American Physical Society's Forum on Education.

Mary Winn taught high school physics for 30 years (20 of them as Science Department Chair) after earning her BS in physics at Tulane University and her MA in Physics Education at University of South Florida. Mary has been an active Physics Teacher Resource Agent (PTRA) since 1992, regularly gives workshops to high school teachers in her state, and co-authored the PTRA workshop manual "The Role of Demonstrations in Physics."

Mary Co-authored AAPT's popular book, "Teaching Physics for the First Time" and has presented several PTRA workshops on this topic. She has, also, served on the Committee on Minorities in Physics, the Committee on Membership and Benefits, and the Committee on Physics in Pre-High School. Mary has been a member of Florida AAPT for more than 30 years. Additionally she is a mentor for new physics teachers in Hillsborough County, FL.

Perhaps her most unique and respected contribution to AAPT is her heroic work for the annual High School Photo Contest. She has worked tirelessly, promoting and submissions, arranging viewing times, and determining awards each spring since 2001 and her success is easily measured in the growth of the contest from 35 to over 800 photos.

Mel Steinberg, conducted the first training for Comprehensive Conceptual Curriculum Project (C3P) developers in the use of the project he designed and spearheaded called CASTLE. CASTLE a powerful curriculum that helps students and teachers understand electricity in a concrete way. Over the years CASTLE became a cornerstone of the training for the AAPT/PTRA program as well as the C3P workshops. It is one of the most requested AAPT/PTRA teacher workshops. Mel made an overwhelming difference in physics education. (This award will be presented posthumously.)

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301) 209-3306, (301) 209-0845
(Fax), www.aapt.org.

Technorati Profile

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, March 25, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that Dr. Arthur Eisenkraft is the 2009 recipient of the Robert A. Millikan Medal. Eisenkraft is Distinguished Professor of Science Education and Director of the Center of Science and Math in Context (COSMIC), University of Massachusetts, Boston. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics. It will be presented during the AAPT Summer Meeting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.

Lila Adair, Chairman, AAPT Awards Committee said, "Arthur Eisenkraft's active involvement with AAPT began in the late '80s, when he and a group of high school teachers began writing his popular Active Physics textbook. Due to his many achievements and his high level of activity in the area of physics education through the years, the Awards Committee is pleased to present him with the Millikan Medal."

Eisenkraft began his physics education at SUNY, Stony Brook where he earned both his B.S. and M.A before moving to New York University for his Ph.D in Science Education.

His teaching career began in Nepal while he was serving in the Peace Corp where he decided he wanted to teach physics. After completion of his studies, Eisenkraft began teaching at Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY where he met AAPT Executive Director, Jack Wilson. Together the two educators created the process that identified and supported the first U.S. Physics Olympics Team to compete in the 1986 International Physics Olympiad. In 1991 Eisenkraft became the Executive Director of the XXIV International Physics Olympiad, hosted by the US for teams from 40 countries. He also served as academic director of the U.S. Physics Team for seven years. As an outgrowth of this work, he also helped found Quantum magazine. Dr. Eisenkraft was also the creator and director of the prestigious Toshiba Exploravision Awards; he has served as Chair of the Duracell Science Scholarship Competition for many years, and was the originator of the Toyota Tapestry Awards.

Perhaps Arthur Eisenkraft's single most significant contribution to AAPT and physics teaching has been his development of the Active Physics curriculum project, which was funded by research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of the project was to make physics interesting to students of all backgrounds so that they not only learn the material, but understand its application to their daily lives.

Warren Hein, Executive Officer of AAPT said, "AAPT is pleased and honored to recognize Arthur Eisenkraft with the Millikan Medal. Dr. Eisenkraft has made significant contributions to physics education as a teacher, textbook author, administrator, and through service to the profession as president of the National Science Teachers Association." He is very deserving of this honor for his many scholarly contributions to physics education and science education in general."

Dr. Eisenkraft is a previous recipient of AAPT's Distinguished Service Citation (1989) and the AAPT Excellence in Pre-College Teaching Award (1999).

Regarding the Millikan Medal, Eisenkraft stated, "It is hard to reconcile the wave of humility and sheer exuberance that I am feeling at having received this honor. It is an extraordinary recognition of the important work that involves so many of my fellow physics teachers. Two passions drive my professional life - my passion for physics and my passion for teaching. In the pursuit of my passions, I too often am confronted with inequities in our schools, inequities that prevent many of our students from getting access to a quality physics course, a quality physics teacher or an opportunity to discover and experience the joy of science. Addressing equity issues has become my third passion, because justice for children demands it."

About the Award
The Robert A Millikan Medal, established in 1962, recognizes teachers who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics. The recipient is asked to make a presentation at the Ceremonial Session of an AAPT Summer Meeting. A monetary award, The Millikan Medal, an Award Certificate, and travel expenses to the meeting are presented to the recipient.

Previous Awardees
2008, Eric Mazur, Harvard University
2007, David R. Sokoloff, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
2006, Art Hobson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
2005, John S. Rigden, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
2004, Kenneth S. Krane, Oregon State University, Corvallis
http://www.aapt.org/Grants/millikan.cfm

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301) 209-3306, (301) 209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, March 25, 2009

Dr. Lee Smolin, a founding and senior faculty member at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Canada and Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Waterloo, is the 2009 recipient of the Klopsteg Memorial Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Klopsteg awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to the general public. The Klopsteg awardee presents a lecture on a physics topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists, in memory of Paul Klopsteg, AAPT Past President. Dr. Smolin will receive the award at the 2009 AAPT Summer Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI.

"Lee Smolin, a founding member and research physicist at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo Canada, is well known as a popular author and lecturer, and for his many world-wide appearances on television and radio. For his outstanding contributions in the communication of the excitement of contemporary physics to the general public, the awards committee is proud to present the Klopsteg Memorial Award," says Lila Adair, AAPT Awards Chair, and 2009 AAPT Past President.

Dr. Smolin has written three books, The Life of the Cosmos (1977), Three Roads to Quantum Gravity (2001), and The Trouble with Physics (2006), which explore the philosophical ramifications of developments in contemporary physics and cosmology.

Dr. Smolin has also authored more than 140 scientific papers and has made major contributions to the quantum theory of gravity, being a co-inventor of loop quantum gravity and deformed special relativity. He is well known for his work in cosmology and is the inventor of a theory called cosmological natural selection, which applies a Darwinian methodology to the question of how the laws of physics are chosen. He also has research interests in elementary particle physics, the foundations of quantum mechanics, astrophysics, theoretical biology and economics.

AAPT is the leading organization for physics teachers and physics education and provides services that help enhance teaching skills and publishes scholarly journals documenting best teaching practices. APPT is committed to providing the most current resources and up-to-date research needed to enhance a physics educator's professional development. The results are not only a deeper appreciation of the teaching profession, but most importantly, more enthusiastic involvement from their students.

About the Award
Established in 1990, this award is given to a notable physicist in memory of Paul Klopsteg. The Klopsteg Memorial Award recipient is asked to make a major presentation at an AAPT Summer Meeting on a topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists.

Previous Awardees:
2008 Michio Kaku, Henry Semat Professor at the City college of New York
2007 Neil deGrasse Tyson, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, New York
2006 Lisa Randall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,
2005 Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, CA
2004 Anton Zeilinger, University of Vienna, Austria
www.aapt.org/Grants/klopsteg.cfm

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301) 209-3306, (301) 209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Maryland, United States, March 25, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today Mario Belloni is the recipient of the 2009 AAPT Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award. Belloni is Associate Professor of Physics at Davidson College. This award is in recognition of contributions to undergraduate physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students.

This prestigious award will be presented to Belloni during the AAPT Summer Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI where he will also present a paper.

Lila Adair, Awards Committee Chair, said, "At Davidson College Mario Belloni is well known as an author, public speaker, researcher, workshop leader, motivator of students, award winning professor, and an innovator in the use of technology for teaching. For his outstanding achievement in teaching undergraduate physics, the AAPT Awards committee is pleased to present him the Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award."

Dr. Belloni earned his Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Physics at the University of Connecticut.

Belloni began his teaching career in 1997 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics at Eckerd College, moving to Davidson College in 1998 where he is currently Associate Professor of Physics.

He received the AAPT Distinguished Service Citation in 2006 and has served as a member of the Planning Committee for the Section Representative/Area Chair Governance (2007), a member of the AAPT Meetings Committee (2007-08), and a member of the AAPT Membership and Benefits Committee (2004-07). Belloni is currently Chair of the AAPT Committee on Educational Technologies, North Carolina AAPT Section Representative, and a member of the ComPADRE Quantum Physics Editorial Board.

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, March 25, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the 2009 AAPT Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching Award winner is Deborah Roudebush, a high school physics teacher at Oakton High School in Herndon, VA. This award is in recognition of contributions to pre-college physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students.

This prestigious award will be presented to Roudebush on during the AAPT Summer Meeting in Ann Arbor, MI where she will present a paper and accept a monetary award.

Lila Adair, Awards Committee Chair, said Roudebush, one of five finalists, was chosen for many reasons. "Deborah is an outstanding high school teacher who has demonstrated her excellent skills in the classroom as well as outside. She has been providing teacher workshops and making presentations for many years. She is personable, enthusiastic, motivating and, obviously, loves physics. Deborah is a great role model for all physics teachers, especially women. She embodies the spirit of AAPT."

Roudebush earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Physics at Ohio University. She received a Masters of Science degree from Michigan State University in 1979 with an emphasis in Physics Education and her Ed.D. in Adult and Community Education from Ball State University in 1984. She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2001.

Roudebush has served as an AAPT Physics Teaching Resource Agent (PTRA) since 1992, participated in the DC Urban initiative, served as Rural Initiative - James Madison University Lead Teacher, and DC MSP Lead Teacher in 2008. She has been active in QuarkNet since 2000, serving as Teaching & Learning Fellow with QuarkNet centers. She has participated in the National Academy of Sciences since 2004 and is a member of the College Board AP Physics Redesign Commission. She was recognized as a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Science Teaching in 2001.

Regarding her recognition as recipient of the 2009 AAPT Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching Award, Roudebush said, "I am pleased and thrilled to be so honored by the people who make up AAPT. I have found the AAPT members to be supportive and helpful in my personal journey towards improved physics education. I love working with my teen-aged students to help them discover the joy of understanding the world around them. I equally value my work with fellow teachers to help them establish a connection with other physics teachers in working towards better understanding of physics content and how people learn. I have been able to contribute in this way due in large part to the wonderful support structure of my PTRA and AAPT colleagues. I can't thank you enough."

About AAPT
AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax), www.aapt.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, March 20, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers has been awarded to Douglass A. Endrizzi and Shaun Piazza with Honorable Mention to Rebekah Myler. Supported by an endowment funded by AAPT Member Barbara Lotze, the scholarship provides a $2,000 stipend to outstanding future high school physics teachers.

About the Recipients
Douglass A. Endrizzi is a member of the class of 2010 at Yale University. "What makes physics interesting is that often one's innate intuition about how the world works is wrong. Moments when you correct your frame of the world, the Aha! moments, are some of the most gratifying moments in school," Douglass says. "My drive to become a teacher derives from wanting to help students realize their own Aha! moments."

Jonathon H. Gillette, Director of Yale University Teacher Preparation & Education Studies, says, "Doug routinely reads beyond an assignment that is excerpted from a book and asks for supplemental work that specifically connects to his interests as a future science teacher. He is relentlessly upbeat and eager to share new insight whether from my class or a moment of clarity in a physics class. He is a real joy to teach and I cannot imagine a better prospect as a science teacher."

Shaun Piazza is a member of the class of Fall 2009 at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Reflecting on his very positive personal experience at Upland Hills Middle School in Michigan, Shaun says, "I have a commitment to teach physics/science in an 'at need' school district. This commitment comes from involvement in the STEM program and NOYCE fellowship. I plan to fully give myself to teaching and to employ the methods used at Upland Hills."

William McGinley, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Education said, "I am most impressed not only by Shaun's knowledge of science and physics, but by his commitment to helping all students through the use of innovative and thoughtful approaches to teaching. Throughout his experience in my classroom, Shaun held himself and his peers to the highest of standards with a combination of inventive playfulness and more serious academic inquiry."

Honorable Mention went to Rebekah Myler, Lipscomb University Class of 2010.

Previous Scholarship Winners
A list of previous winners can be found on the AAPT website at: http://aapt.org/Grants/lotze.cfm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Maryland, United States, March 12, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) today announced the top 200 students chosen to advance to the Semifinal round of U.S. Physics Team selection. Nearly 4,000 students participated in the Fnet=ma Exam in January. The top 400 students took the follow up exam during February. Qualifying semifinalists have been posted by AAPT at www.aapt.org/physicsteam/semifinalists.cfm.

About the Olympiad: The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program is a joint initiative of AAPT and the American Institute for Physics (AIP). AAPT began the program in 1986 to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. The International Olympiad is a nine-day competition among pre-university students from more than 80 nations. This year's Olympiad, the 40th, will be held in Mérida Yucatán, México, July 11th to 19th, 2009.

U.S. Physics Team Selection: AAPT is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training teams each year to compete in the International Physics Olympiad Competition. This selection process begins in early January when high schools register their students to participate in the Fnet=ma exam. Each year approximately 400 top scorers on this first test advance to the semifinal round of competition.

A third exam, student transcripts, and letters of recommendation are used as the basis for selection of the 24 members of the U.S. Physics Team. In May these students travel from schools all over the United States, to the University of Maryland-College Park to the Physics Team Training Camp. There they engage in nine days of intense studying, mystery lab, daily exams and problem solving.

At the end of that training camp, five students and an alternate will be selected as the "Traveling Team" to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). In July, the Traveling Team will attend a three day Mini Camp of intense laboratory work. At the end of the Mini Camp the five member Traveling Team and two coaches will go on to the IPhO.

Support the U.S. Physics Olympics Team: Funding for the U.S. Physics Olympics team is supported through donations from concerned individuals and organizations. Contributions are entirely used to support the selection, training, and travel of the team. Donations to the U.S. Physics Olympics team are accepted at www.aapt.org/physicsteam/donate.cfm.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Maryland, United States, February 16, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that Marina Milner-Bolotin has assumed the role of Vice Chair, Section Representatives.

Marina Milner-Bolotin has been a physics teacher for 17 years. She has taught in middle schools, high schools and universities in four different countries: Ukraine, Israel, U.S. (TX and NJ) and Canada (BC and ON). Currently she teaches physics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

Her involvement with the AAPT started almost ten years ago when, as a graduate student at the University of TX, Austin, she was invited to attend a Fall Meeting of the TX section. For the past eight years she has been an active AAPT member and a Section Representative of the BCAPT (2005-2007) and OAPT (2007-current) sections. Dr. Milner-Bolotin has also served on a number of the AAPT Committees, attending and helping to organize National and Section meetings.

Recognizing AAPT as a very important component her professional life, Dr. Milner-Bolotin says, " Physics teaching gives me the opportunity to bring the excitement of science into my students' lives; to teach them not be afraid to ask "obvious" questions and together try new ideas. I feel very fortunate that I can do for a living what I am passionate about. It is great to see how AAPT transcends the high school-university boundary by providing a forum for all physics teachers to share ideas and figure out solutions together."
About AAPT: AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, February 24, 2009

Recognizing the importance of increasing participation from members of all underrepresented groups in the physics community the AAPT Executive Board approved the following statement during the 2009 Winter Meeting, February 12-16, in Chicago, IL:

The American Association of Physics Teachers is committed to making physics more accessible to everyone. We support efforts to encourage greater participation from members of all under-represented groups in every part of the physics community. We strive to provide open access and employment opportunities to all without discrimination. In this commitment we join other organizations engaged in physics and physics education: government agencies; K-12 institutions; colleges and universities; national laboratories and industry.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, February 24, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) today announced the top 400 students chosen to advance to the Quarter-Final round of U.S. Physics Team selection. Nearly 4,000 students participated in the Fnet=ma Exam in January. The top 400 students have been posted by AAPT at www.aapt.org/physicsteam/quarterfinalists.cfm.

About the Olympiad: The U.S. Physics Olympiad Program is a joint initiative of AAPT and the American Institute for Physics (AIP). AAPT began the program in 1986 to promote and demonstrate academic excellence. The International Olympiad is a nine-day competition among pre-university students from more than 80 nations. This year's Olympiad, the 40th, will be held in Mérida Yucatán, México, July 11th to 19th, 2009.

U.S. Physics Team Selection: AAPT is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training teams each year to compete in the International Physics Olympiad Competition. This selection process begins in early January when high schools register their students to participate in the Fnet=ma exam. Each year approximately 400 top scorers on this first test advance to the quarter-final round of competition.

A third exam, student transcripts, and letters of recommendation are used as the basis for selection of the 24 members of the U.S. Physics Team. In May these students travel from schools all over the United States, to the University of Maryland-College Park to the Physics Team Training Camp. There they engage in nine days of intense studying, mystery lab, daily exams and problem solving.

At the end of that training camp, five students and an alternate will be selected as the "Traveling Team" to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). In July, the Traveling Team will attend a three day Mini Camp of intense laboratory work. At the end of the Mini Camp the five member Traveling Team and two coaches will go on to the IPhO.

Funding for the U.S. Physics Olympics team is supported through donations from concerned individuals and organizations. Contributions are entirely used to support the selection, training, and travel of the team. Donations to the U.S. Physics Olympics team are accepted at www.aapt.org/physicsteam/donate.cfm.

About AAPT: AAPT (www.aapt.org) is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, February 16, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that Steve Iona has been re-elected to the role of Executive Board Secretary. Dr. Iona, will serve an additional two-year term as Secretary.

Iona has also previously served on the AAPT Board, most recently as Chair of Section Representatives (1999-2005). Iona has also served AAPT as Chair of a Meetings Committee and the Membership and Benefits Committee. He has also served on the High School Committee; the Pre-High School Committee; the Awards Committee; The Physics Teacher Advisory Board; the AAPT national Nominating Committee; and as one of the first PTRAs.

Over a thirty year career as a K-12 teacher, Iona taught Physics, AP Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, mathematics, a G/T Research Class, and served as the department chair. His professional experience after "retirement" includes Lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Denver (2003-present) and Instructor, Learning Assistant Seminar on Mathematics and Science Teaching University of Colorado (2003-present). His previous higher education experience included adjunct work at Front Range Community College (Physics), Metropolitan State College of Denver (Science Methods), Teacher in Residence, Metropolitan State College of Denver and University of Colorado (PhysTEC).

His is the recipient of the Radio Shack National Awards for Teaching (1999); Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science (2001); AAPT Distinguished Service Citation (2006)

Iona says of his service, "AAPT is a thriving professional organization because of the good ideas that come from individuals and the dedication of its membership to see them implemented. The most successful programs have been those that have helped strengthen relationships among the physics teaching communities. I bring to the Executive Board a historical memory based on my strong participation in past activities and the enthusiasm to explore future opportunities so that AAPT can continue its mission to enhance the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching."

About AAPT: AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Maryland, United States, February 16, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that Alexander K. Dickison has assumed the role of Executive Board President. Dr. Dickison, Professor of Physics, Semonole Community College, will serve as President in 2009, and Past President in 2010.

Dr. Dickison has served as a Physics Instructor (1973-present) and Chairman of the Physical Sciences Department (1986-present) at Seminole Community College. He was also an instructor at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay (1969-72).

His AAPT service includes: Committee on the History and Philosophy of Physics (2002-Present); Treasurer (1996-2002); Chair of Section Representatives (1991-1995); Section Representative (1978-1996); Two-Year College Committee (1987-1990); Building Fund Committee (1986-1988); Science Education for the Public Committee (1981-1985); and TPT Review Committee (1979).

A member of AAPT, the American Physical Society, Florida Section of AAPT, NSTA, Florida Academy of Sciences, and Sigma Pi Sigma, Dr. Dickison has received numerous honors including the AAPT Distinguished Service Award. He serves as the Principal Investigator for Introductory College Physics/21st Century (ICP/21) project; member of the Advisory Committee for SPIN-UP/TYC; Co-Chair of the Florida State Physics and Astronomy Leveling Committee (1996-present); AP Physics Summer Workshops Coordinator (1987-present); Florida Statewide Committee on Common Course Numbering (1984-present); AIP Committee on Career Planning and Placement (1992-present); Summer Eisenhower Grant Institutes for K-12 Teachers Coordinator (1985-92); and the Steering Committee for TYC21.

Recognizing AAPT as a very important component his professional life, Dr. Dickison says, "It provides me a source of rejuvenation. I always leave the section and national meetings with renewed enthusiasm and new teaching ideas to try in my classroom. AAPT is unique in bringing together teachers, from high school through university, to work together to improve student understanding of physics. The strength of APPT resides in its members and their initiatives."

About AAPT: AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, February 16, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that David R. Sokoloff has assumed the role of Executive Board Vice President. Dr. Sokoloff, Professor of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, will serve as Vice President in 2009, President-Elect in 2010, President in 2011, and Past President in 2012.

Sokoloff began his physics education at Queens College of the City University of New York, and went on to earn his Ph.D. in AMO physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972. He has been on the physics faculty of the University of Oregon since 1978.

For more than two decades, he has conducted research into students' understanding of physics, and used the results of physics education research to develop active learning laboratories and interactive lecture demonstrations that connect students to the behavior of the physical world. He has also been active sharing these active learning approaches with colleagues.

Since 1999, he has been part of UNESCO teams presenting active learning workshops in Australia, Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, India, Tanzania, Brazil, Mexico, Zambia, and Cameroon, most recently as part of the UNESCO program for developing countries, Active Learning in Optics and Photonics. He is editor/contributor to Active Learning in Optics and Photonics Training Manual (UNESCO, 2006).

A previous recipient of AAPT's Distinguished Service Citation (1997) and Robert A. Millikan Award (2007), Dr. Sololoff has been an active member of AAPT since 1972. He has served as a New Faculty Workshop presenter (2006-present); Co-chair of the Committee on Research in Physics Education (1992-95); PTRA workshop presenter, and done many other national and international presentations. He also has a long career as an author, including RealTime Physics and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (Wiley, 2004), and is the designer and presenter of optics magic shows for college, elementary school and informal, public audiences.

Sokoloff says of his new role, "With my years of administrative experience at the departmental level and on grant-funded projects, I believe that I can help the AAPT continue to flourish. Having worked, over the years, with high school, two-year college, college and university faculty, I believe that I am sensitive to the needs of each of these groups. I look forward to working more closely with an organization that has given me so many opportunities over the years to grow professionally.

About AAPT: AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, December 15, 2008

Established in 1953, the Distinguished Service Citations are presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions (e.g., committee, section, or editorial work) to physics teaching. The Winter 2009 Distinguished Service Awards will be presented at the Winter 2009 meeting in Chicago, Illinois:

Paul Hickman has had a distinguished career as an optical engineer, a high school physics teacher and associate professor of education. His long years of service to AAPT include leadership in PTRA, PhysTEC, the Teacher Preparation Committee, and being the first recipient of AAPT's Excellence in Pre-College Physics Education award.

Charles Holbrow, Dana Professor of Physics Emeritus at Colgate University and Adjunct Professor at MIT, has had a distinguished career as a physics teacher, textbook author, nuclear physics researcher, and physics historian. He served as Associate Editor of Physics Today, AAPT President, AAPT Senior Staff Physicist and AAPT Interim Executive Officer.

Bob Shurtz has been a distinguished physics teacher at the Hawken School for many years, and served as Academic Director of the US Physics Olympiad Team. Other service to AAPT contribution to PTRA , serving as Ohio Section President, and chairing the High School Committee. One of his many awards includes the Tandy Prize.

Gary White is Director of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, and Assistant Director of the Education Division of the American Institute of Physics. Prior to his post at AIP, he taught at Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was voted 1996 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Courtney Willis teaches at the University of Northern Colorado, after having a distinguished career as a high school teacher. He served as AAPT Examinations Director, Chair of the High School Committee, presented AAPT workshops, contributed frequently to The Physics Teacher, and as the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Colorado-Wyoming Section.

About AAPT

AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information:
Contact Linda Dylla, AAPT Communications Department, 
ldylla@aapt.org, (301)209-3622, 
(301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, December 15, 2008

Established in 1953, the Distinguished Service Citations are presented to members in recognition of their exceptional contributions (e.g., committee, section, or editorial work) to physics teaching. The Winter 2009 Distinguished Service Awards will be presented at the Winter 2009 meeting in Chicago, Illinois:

Paul Hickman has had a distinguished career as an optical engineer, a high school physics teacher and associate professor of education. His long years of service to AAPT include leadership in PTRA, PhysTEC, the Teacher Preparation Committee, and being the first recipient of AAPT's Excellence in Pre-College Physics Education award.

Charles Holbrow, Dana Professor of Physics Emeritus at Colgate University and Adjunct Professor at MIT, has had a distinguished career as a physics teacher, textbook author, nuclear physics researcher, and physics historian. He served as Associate Editor of Physics Today, AAPT President, AAPT Senior Staff Physicist and AAPT Interim Executive Officer.

Bob Shurtz has been a distinguished physics teacher at the Hawken School for many years, and served as Academic Director of the US Physics Olympiad Team. Other service to AAPT contribution to PTRA , serving as Ohio Section President, and chairing the High School Committee. One of his many awards includes the Tandy Prize.

Gary White is Director of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, and Assistant Director of the Education Division of the American Institute of Physics. Prior to his post at AIP, he taught at Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was voted 1996 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Courtney Willis teaches at the University of Northern Colorado, after having a distinguished career as a high school teacher. He served as AAPT Examinations Director, Chair of the High School Committee, presented AAPT workshops, contributed frequently to The Physics Teacher, and as the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Colorado-Wyoming Section.

About AAPT

AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information:
Contact Linda Dylla, AAPT Communications Department, 
ldylla@aapt.org, (301)209-3622, 
(301)209-0845 (Fax)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, December 15, 2008

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the Oersted Medal will be awarded to George F. Smoot, Nobel Laureate, an astrophysicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 1974 and a University of California at Berkeley physics professor since 1994, in recognition of his outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics.

The Oersted Medal will be presented to Dr. Smoot at a Ceremonial Session of the AAPT Winter Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, February 14, 2009. Following the presentation, Dr. Smoot will deliver his keynote address titled, "The History and Fate of the Universe."

Regarding the award, Smoot stated, " Thank you for this esteemed award. I am honored to be part of this recognized group of scientists. It is special to me since I recently taught my freshman physics class about Oersted's discovery that electric currents cause magnetic fields. It is wonderful to show the relation between teaching and research. The past two years have been very memorable and exciting for me, and this award is part of that process. I hope that my contribution will help pave the way for the next generation and for their teachers.''

Dr. Harvey Leff, Chairman, AAPT Awards Committee, said, "It is a great honor to present the Oersted Medal to Dr. George Smoot, who has measured properties of the universe as it existed nearly 14 billion years ago. His detailed study of fluctuations in the cosmic background radiation has led to an understanding of why galaxies formed as they did. This is remarkable physics of the most fundamental kind."

"AAPT is very pleased to present the Oersted Medal, AAPT's highest award, to Dr. Smoot for his significant contributions to our understanding of the universe and for communicating the importance of these discoveries to the general public." stated Warren Hein, AAPT's Executive Officer.

Professor Smoot was born in Yukon, Florida. His father was a hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey and his mother was a science teacher and school principal. Smoot says his parents instilled in him a joy for learning and an interest in science and math. He received his Ph.D. in physics at MIT in 1970 and decided to enter the field of cosmology, a frontier of fundamental science that was ripe for exploration.

Smoot was one of the first pioneering astrophysicists who devised ways to conduct experiments that produced data and information about the early universe. "People have contemplated the origin and evolution of the universe long before the time of Aristotle," he says. "Although cosmology has been around since the time of the ancients, historically it has been dominated by theory and speculation. Very recently, the era of speculation has given way to a time of science. The advance of knowledge and of scientific ingenuity means that at long last, we can actually test our theories."

Professor Smoot is an author of more than 200 science papers and is also coauthor
(with Keay Davidson) of the popularized scientific book Wrinkles in Time (Harper, 1994) that elucidates cosmology and the COBE discovery. Another essay entitled "My Einstein Suspenders" appears in My Einstein: Essays by Twenty-four of the World's Leading Thinkers on the Man, His Work, and His Legacy (Ed. John Brockman, Pantheon, 2006).

About the Award

The Oersted Medal is named for Hans Christian Oersted (1777-1851), a Danish physicist who, in the course of creating a demonstration for teaching his class, discovered that electric currents caused a magnetic field. This was a crucial step in establishing the theory of electromagnetism so important in building modern technology and modern physics. The award was established by AAPT in 1936 and is given annually to a person who has had outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics.

The previous Oersted award went to Mildred Dresselhaus. Other recipients include Arnold Arons, and Nobel Laureates Hans Bethe and Richard Feynman.

The complete list of winners can be found at http://www.aapt.org/Grants/oersted.cfm.

About AAPT
AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators--with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics teaching. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

For more information:
Contact Linda Dylla, AAPT Communications Department, 
ldylla@aapt.org, (301)209-3622, 
(301)209-0845 (Fax)


The American Association of Physics Teachers is offering three $2,000 scholarships for future high-school physics teachers. This scholarship, supported by an endowment funded by Barbara Lotze, is available only to U.S. citizens attending a U.S. school. Undergraduate students in, or planning to enter, physics teacher preparation curricula and high-school seniors planning to enter such curricula are eligible.

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced that Vera Rubin, Ph.D., will receive the Richtmyer Memorial Award. Rubin, Senior Fellow of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, will receive the award for outstanding contributions to physics and effectively communicating those contributions to physics educators.

Arlington, Va. – As school doors swing open, students have a terrific opportunity to look forward to — the Team America Rocketry Challenge.

Registration is now open for the world’s largest rocket contest challenging participants to compete for $60,000 in prizes and scholarships and a trip to next year’s international air show in Paris.

The contest rules and registration are at http://www.rocketcontest.org. Participants must design and build a rocket that will climb to 750 feet and stay aloft for 45 seconds. This year’s new task is transporting the one-egg payload lying on its side rather than positioned vertically, mimicking the position of an astronaut.

Teams have until Dec.1 to register. April 6 is the deadline to conduct a qualifying launch and earn a trip to the finals, scheduled for May 16 at the Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. The registration fee is $105.

AIA sponsors the contest with the National Association of Rocketry, NASA, the Defense Department, the American Association of Physics Teachers and AIA member companies.

Students in grades 7-12 in any U.S. school or non-profit youth organization are eligible to compete. About 7,000 students from across the country took part in the contest last year, and since TARC’s first contest in 2003, almost 50,000 students have taken the challenge. A team from Enloe High School in North Carolina was crowned champion in 2008.

The contest gives future engineers the opportunity to demonstrate their math and physics skills. Working together in a team environment, they will design a real aerospace product, which will be put through the rigors of testing and evaluation.

The aerospace industry is actively looking for young people to join its ranks. The industry is facing a potential workforce crisis as scores of employees reach retirement age. According to AIA statistics, almost 60 percent of the U.S. aerospace workforce was age 45 or older in 2007.

For more information on careers in aerospace, visit http://www.launchintoaerospace.org.

As Associate Executive Officer, Warren oversaw management, budgeting and funding in the national office. He worked with members, officers, staff and leaders of sister societies to foster the dissemination of physics knowledge, particularly through teaching.

Hein also oversaw grants, interfaced with AAPT committees and state and regional sections, and advised the Executive Officer.

Warren received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1966 and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Iowa State University in 1970. Prior to joining the AAPT in 1997, Warren taught physics at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, from 1970-1979, and South Dakota State University from 1979-1997. He also served as Department Head from 1985-1997. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

College Park, Maryland, United States, November 27, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; http://www.aapt.org) announced today that Vera Rubin, Ph.D., has been selected to receive The Richtmyer Memorial Award. Rubin, Senior Fellow of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, received the Award for outstanding contributions to physics and effectively communicating those contributions to physics educators.

College Park, Maryland, United States, November 19, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; http://www.aapt.org) announced today that The Melba Newell Phillips Medal has been awarded to Judy R. Franz, Ph.D., Executive Officer of the American Physical Society (APS), in recognition of her creative leadership and dedicated service that have resulted in exceptional contributions within AAPT.

College Park, Maryland, United States, November 19, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; http://www.aapt.org) announced today that the Oersted Medal has been awarded to Mildred S. Dresselhaus, Ph.D., MIT Institute Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering, in recognition of her outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics.

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced today that Warren W. Hein, PhD, Chief Academic Officer for AAPT, has been awarded the distinction of a 2007 Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This esteemed honor is bestowed upon Dr. Hein by his peers for his outstanding contributions to K-16 education, for sustained and exemplary leadership in the physics education community, and for national advocacy of professional development for all teachers.

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the 2007 AAPT Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award has been awarded to Dr. Steven L. Manly, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, NY. This award is in recognition of contributions to undergraduate physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students.

College Park, Maryland, United States, April 6, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; ) announced today that the 2007 Robert A. Millikan Award has been awarded to Dr. David R. Sokoloff, Professor of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics.

College Park, Maryland, United States, April 6, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; ) announced today that the 2007 Robert A. Millikan Award has been awarded to Dr. David R. Sokoloff, Professor of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics.

BERKELEY – The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) this week honored two University of California, Berkeley, physics professors for their undergraduate and public teaching.

Eugene Commins	Carlos Bustamante
(Photos courtesy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) has announced that Dr. Robert Hilborn has joined the National Office as Senior Physics Fellow for College and University Programming. In this role, Dr. Hilborn will work closely with physics departments to support educational improvements in undergraduate and graduate physics programs. He will expand upon AAPT’s programs that currently involve department chairs, directors of graduate programs, new professors, and teaching assistants. These programs have recently addressed the inclusion of advanced topics such as general relativity and computational physics in the undergraduate curriculum, the education of teaching assistants, and systemic changes in teaching introductory physics at research universities.