eNNOUNCER February 2014

The Physics of Winter Olympic Sports Resource Page

The  2014 Winter Olympics events offer the perfect opportunity to bring the excitement of the sport into your classroom and, at the same time, demonstrate the physics behind each event.  With so much content related to physics and sports, we’ve recently created a resource page, entitled "The Physics of Winter Olympic Sports".  You’ll discover content from AAPT journals on the physics of hockey, skating, curling, and so much more. These articles are available free for current members and subscribers.

2014 Winter Meeting Highlights

Read about the activities, the awards, the committees that met, and more »

AAPT Fellowships Announced

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) has announced the establishment of an AAPT Fellowship Program. Read more »

The Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment

The Frederick and Florence Bauder Endowment provides grants to support special activities in the area of physics teaching. The deadline for applications to request funds is July 1, 2014.

2013 Barbara Lotze Scholarship Winners

The recipients of the 2013 Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers are Lauren Albert - University of Minnesota, Angela Moore - Chicago State University, Rebecca Napolitano - Connecticut College, Logan Nelson - Illinois State University, and Michael Yohn - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

The Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers includes a stipend of up to $2,000 and a complimentary AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years.

The scholarships for future high school physics teachers are supported by an endowment funded by Barbara Lotze. Read more »

PhysicsBowl Registration Now Open!

Registration is  open for the 2014 PhysicsBowl taking place April 2 - April 16, 2014. The deadline for registration is March 3.
Read more online.

Melba Newell Phillips Medal Fund

The Melba Newell Phillips Medal Fund honors the life and legacy of Melba Newell Phillips, the first female president of AAPT. Your donations will help to endow the Medal established in her honor and recognize AAPT's next generation of leaders.

5th International Conference on Women in Physics

Registration is now open for the U.S. Delegation team of the 5th International Conference on Women in Physics. The 5th IUPAP Conference on Women in Physics will be held August 5th - 8th at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada.  The US will be sending a small delegation to the conference. Applications are due by February 28, 2014. Click here for more details and to register.

Save the Date

Physics Department Chairs  Conference, June 6-8, 2014, College Park, MD.   More information about the conference will be available on the AAPT web  site by mid-February.

Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop
Nominations (by Department  Chairs) for the June 23-27, 2014 Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop to  be held in College Park, MD will be open by mid-February.  Department Chairs will be notified by email  when the online nomination form is available.

NGSS for Physics and Physical Science: Forces and Interactions
Prepare yourself for the Next Generation Science Standards with the help of AAPT’s Physics Teaching Resource Agents, June 16-27, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Take “Forces and Interactions,” the first of three courses focused on content and activities that meet the new NGSS criteria. The course may be taken for Continuing Education or 3 graduate credits.
Read more ».

The University of Maryland-College Park is hosting a symposium April 11-12, 2014 on 50 Years of Quarks and Colors, recognizing the introduction of two of the most important ideas in particle physics in the 20th century.  The program features talks by many distinguished theoretical physicists including three Nobel Prize winners. More information about the symposium and registration procedures is available  here .»

The 2014 Gordon Research Conference on Physics Research and Education will focus on “The Complex Intersection of Biology and Physics.”  The conference will be held at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA June 8-13.  The application deadline is May 11, 2014.  Read more ».

Reinventing the Physicist: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education for the 21st Century
APS is hosting a conference which will focus on strategies for implementing physics innovation and entrepreneurship (PIE) education into undergraduate classrooms.  The event will be targeted at physics department leaders, and will be held adjacent to the 2014 Physics Department Chairs' conference on June 5-6, 2014.  The conference is co-sponsored by Carthage College and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA). For more details »

Announcing the AAPT-ALPhA Award

AAPT and ALPhA (Advanced Laboratory Physics Association) announce the AAPT/ALPhA Award for undergraduate physics students who have executed, mastered, and left as a legacy for future students an advanced laboratory experiment.  Do you have a student (or team of students) who might be interested in taking up the challenge to build an experiment new to their own department and possibly receive national recognition, a trip to a national AAPT meeting, an invited talk, and a check for $4,000? Nominations for this award must be submitted, with extensive documentation, by September 1, 2015.  If qualified candidates are proposed, we anticipate presenting the first award at the 2016 AAPT Winter Meeting in New Orleans.  For more details see  http://www.aapt.org/Programs/grants/aapt_alpha_award.cfm. Funding for this award, for the first five years, is provided by TeachSpin, Inc.

Consider Submitting an Entry to the Apparatus Competition

The AAPT Apparatus Competition recognizes, rewards, and publicizes worthwhile contributions to physics teaching through lecture demonstrations, instructional laboratory equipment, and interactive exhibits. The Competition is held annually during AAPT's summer meeting and is open to all members with entries targeting all levels of physics education from K-12 to undergraduates to the general public.  See the entry selection criteria. Entrants must notify the Apparatus Competition Director in June 2014 of their intention to enter the 2014 Apparatus Competition, including a statement about services required to display the apparatus. An official application packet with entry form, rules of eligibility and judging, safety guidelines, and competition requirements is available on the AAPT website.

Chautaugua Short Course

Research-Based Active Learning in Introductory Physics

Chautauqua Short Course, June 15-17, 2014, Portland, OR -- Designed for those who teach introductory physics at universities, colleges and high schools. Up to two hours of graduate credit will be available from the University of Oregon.

This hands-on course is designed for those interested in making learning in their introductory course more active either within a traditional course structure  (lectures, labs, and recitation hours), or by re-structuring their course (e.g., into a workshop or studio course).

For more information and to register go   here or contact David Sokoloff, Department of Physics, 1274 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1274, E-mail: sokoloff@uoregon.edu, Phone: (541) 221-6543, Fax:  (541) 346-5861.

Do You Know an OUTSTANDING Science Teacher?

Nominations are being accepted now for the Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award (OUSTA). Presented annually by the Society for College Science Teachers (SCST), the award recognizes the efforts and achievements of an outstanding science teacher based upon teaching, scholarship, and service.  The award includes a cash prize and support to attend the 2015 and 2016 SCST national conferences. Students or faculty can make nominations for this award, and self-nominations are encouraged. Read more here or contact the awards chair, Tarren Shaw (tjshaw@ou.edu).

Astronomy Image Explorer

IOP Publishing (IOP) and the American Astronomical Society (AAS) are pleased to announce the launch of the Astronomy Image Explorer (AIE). The AIE provides quick and easy access to hundreds of thousands of images, illustrations, graphs, charts, and videos that have been published in peer-reviewed journals and is available free online to scientists and the public alike.   Click here for more details.

Teachers & Tutors Needed

Do you excel  in Physics, Math, Chemistry and/or Biology? Can you explain one or several of these sciences to others?  If so, then we need you!  this is a volunteer opportunity. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
We need you to teach students that suffered through the war in Uganda.  The first goal is to see that these youth can pass the National Examination so that they can build a future for themselves. Second goal is to ignite a passion for the sciences.    Click here for more details.

Mizzou Professor Awarded Prestigious Baylor Teaching Award

University of Missouri physics and astronomy professor Meera Chandrasekhar has been awarded Baylor University’s prestigious Robert Foster Cherry award for teaching excellence. The Cherry Award is given out biannually to honor professors across the country who show a commitment to engaging students and employing innovative teaching strategies.  Read more »

Detecting Radiation in Our Radioactive World

A Teacher Workshop -- K-12 Science Teachers

This full-day workshop will prepare attendees to teach the basics about radiation, how we detect radiation, and uses of nuclear science and technology in society. Teachers who complete the workshop will receive a wealth of materials – background information, hands-on activities, supplementary resources – and a Civil Defense surplus Geiger counter. Registration deadline is February 17, 2014. Register using promo code: WS100. Click here for more details and to register.

Pitt improving STEM teaching scientifically

The University of Pittsburgh announced last week that the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences has created the Discipline Based Science Education Research Center, which aims to improve teaching methods in the school's natural science departments.

Chandralekha Singh, professor of physics and astronomy, will serve as director for the center, nicknamed dB-SERC. She has researched sources of student difficulties in learning physics for nearly a decade and a half. She said the practice of teaching can be studied with the same research methods as other scientific disciplines.Read more »

Funding Opportunity for Undergraduate STEM Education in the Computer/Information Sciences

The Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM (TIDES) initiative will provide up to $300,000/3years for institutions of higher education to develop and/or redesign evidence-based and culturally competent courses related to the computer/information science disciplines.  Predominantly undergraduate institutions, minority serving institutions and community colleges are strongly encouraged to apply.   A letter of intent is due on January 10, 2014.  Full proposals (not to exceed 10 pages) are due on February 18, 2014.

Free Online Access to APS Journals for Public Libraries and High Schools in the U.S.

As a public access initiative, the American Physical Society (APS) provides free online access to its journals to all public libraries and high schools in the United States.  Librarians and high school teachers can obtain access to the APS journal collection by accepting a simple online site license and providing valid IP addresses for the computers in their libraries.   Sign up online at: http://librarians.aps.org/account/public_access_new.

Science in the Classroom

"Science in the Classroom" is a collection of annotated research papers and accompanying teaching materials designed to help students at the advanced high school, community college, and undergraduate level understand the structure and workings of professional scientific research.   Read more »

Modeling Workshops nationwide

Fifty Modeling Workshops in high school physics, chemistry,  physical science, and biology will be offered in summer 2014, in many states. Modeling Workshops are peer-led. Modeling Instruction is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an Exemplary K-12 science program. Some sites offer stipends, usually for in-state teachers.  Graduate credit is available at some sites. Pre-service teachers and TYC faculty are welcome too.
More Information »
Workshop descriptions »

ASU Modeling Workshops in Physics and Chemistry

Four Modeling Workshops (June 9-27, July 7-25) for high school physics, chemistry, and physical science teachers nationwide are offered by Arizona State University in Tempe. The program can lead to a Master of Natural Science degree. Low-cost family housing is available. Modeling Instruction is designated as an Exemplary K-12 science program by the U.S. Department of Education.
More Information

Third Conference on the Physics of Sustainable Energy: Using Energy Efficiently and Producing It Renewably

March 8, 2014 - March 9, 2014 at University of California, Berkeley
This conference will be an intense weekend short  course to enhance the background of physical scientists, especially early-career  scientists, who want to work on applied energy topics. The main audience will  be physics professors, post-docs and graduate students. Read more

Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Workshops for Physics Faculty

The ATE Workshops for Physics Faculty is offering a new workshop in March 2014.  Information about the workshop, application, and the program can be found at the  project's website. You can also contact Tom O'Kuma or Dwain Desbien.

Help  Us Hold the Line on your Membership Dues!

Postage is a major expense  for member services.  You  can help us hold the line on postage expenses and resulting dues increases by  renewing your membership online when you receive the first notice.   Also by keeping your contact information current.  Please take a few  minutes to log into your AAPT member account, update your contact information  and demographics, and check on your member status. Contact your Member Services  Department at 301-209-3333, or  by e-mail at membership@aapt.org if  you need assistance, or have further questions.

Career Learning Center

Professional development is a work in progress, and constantly gaining new skills and knowledge is essential to the success of any career. The latest enhancement to the AAPT Career Center - the Career Learning Center - is a career-guidance companion to searching the latest science teaching jobs. Equipped with four career-centric seminars, the AAPT Career Learning Center is a user-friendly virtual platform that satisfies the professional needs of AAPT members at all points on the career spectrum.
This helpful content is ONLY available to registered users with the AAPT Career Center, a free job seeker service provided by AAPT. Quickly login or create your job seeker account, and take control of your future by building a stronger presence among our industry's top employers.

Free Internship Job Posting on AAPT Career Center

AAPT has an online jobsite that offers free 60-day internship job postings.  To post internships online at AAPT visit http://jobs.aapt.org/. Locate the best fit for your organization by reaching the future of the science community – AAPT members. Valid intern-level opportunities are defined as limited-term (up to 12 weeks) employment for current undergraduates or recent bachelor degree recipients with financial compensation (if any) in the form of a modest salary or stipend. "Internship" Job Level must be selected when posting to access this offer.

Social Media @ AAPT

AAPT wants to connect with you on social media! Stay abreast of the latest AAPT and physics-related news. We invite you to like us, follow us, connect with us, and pin us. You can find us here:
    

SPS and ComPADRE Undergraduate Research Database

The SPS and ComPADRE partner each year to make available a list of research opportunities and internships for undergraduate students. This year there are more than 150 research sites listed from across the country and around the world. We encourage you to direct your students to the database at http://www.compadre.org/student/research/browse.cfm. Deadlines for applications are approaching.

ComPADRE Digital Library

The ComPADRE Digital Library is a network of free online resource collections supporting faculty, students, and teachers in Physics and Astronomy Education.
Each ComPADRE collection contains a catalog of materials for teaching and learning that are selected by the editors for the target user community. The collections also provide information resources and community collaboration tools to support the needs of our users, usually in collaboration with partner physics and astronomy education projects.

Physlet Quantum Physics 2E on ComPADRE

Physlet Quantum Physics contains a collection of exercises covering modern physicsand quantum mechanics topics at the sophomore to senior levels. These interactive exercises use computer animations generated with Physlets (Physics content simulated with Java applets). This is a companion site to Physlet Physics 2E, a collection of over 800 exercises spanning the introductory physics sequence.

The second edition of Physlet Quantum Physics represents a major change in how these 200 Physlet-based interactive materials are delivered to teachers and students alike. Instead of accessing materials off of the CD that came with the printed first edition, now users simply access the Physlet Quantum Physics 2E ComPADRE site at http://compadre.org/PQP. This new edition is compatible with Java 6 and 7 and offers improved speed and security. The materials will be updated as needed to provide the best learning experiences.

Section News

To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mgardner@aapt.org. See the December 2013 Section News.;

2013 Nobel Prize Posters Available

The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics posters in English will be available in December in the pdf-format on the Academy’s website on this link: http://kva.se/nobelprizes.

Registration Now Open for Department of Energy's National Science Bowl

Teams of high school and middle school students  across the country can now register to compete in the 24th annual Department of Energy’s National  Science Bowl (NSB). Thousands of students compete in the contest annually and  it has grown into one of the largest academic math and science competitions in  the country. More:  http://science.energy.gov/news/in-focus/2013/10-21-13/

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