eNNOUNCER May 2022
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AAPT News
Board Strategic Planning Retreat Aimed at AAPT Forward Thinking
Toni Sauncy - 2022 AAPT Board President On April 7-10, AAPT Board members and staff guests met in person for the first time in two years! The regular board meeting was followed by a 2 day strategic planning retreat, facilitated by Lowell Applebaum of Vista Cova, LLC. The purpose of the retreat was to set strategies for a broadened AAPT mission and vision to better meet the needs of AAPT members, and to enhance member engagement. The board worked to develop some key proposed strategies that will take the association into a future where AAPT can grow and learn how to better serve all those with an interest in physics through education. The meeting was productive - with five major themes bubbling to the top of the strategic priority list. The board will now move into a feedback phase, where these themes will be vetted to the membership, since one of the key identified strategies involves finding better ways to engage the full AAPT community to inform AAPT. Please check out coming updates on the COMMUNITIES platform so you can be involved in this process!
Self-Nominations for Equitable Policies Task Force due May 7
The AAPT Board of Directors is establishing an Equitable Policies Task Force and is looking for self-nominations of members. The overarching goal is to provide support for the organization in maintaining, improving, and/or creating where it might not yet exist a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for all members. The primary charges of the Equitable Policies Task Force are to (a) review and update existing policies and procedures, such as the Event Participation Code of Conduct, to incorporate best practices from the field and lessons learned from the past five years; (b) consider new policies and procedures for other areas of AAPT programs, such as awards and honors; (c) consider support mechanisms for enacting any recommended policies, such as the use of external reporting systems for conduct violations; and (d) recommend a review cycle and procedures for future updates of such policies. The Task Force is expected to begin work in early June 2022 and continue through Summer or Fall 2023. Initial meetings are expected to take place every 2-3 weeks with some work offline. Janelle Bailey (Temple University), Past President, has been asked to Chair the Task Force. We anticipate selecting five members, one of whom may come from the current Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Selection will be based upon attempts to achieve wide representation of both personal and professional demographics, to the extent that applicants are comfortable disclosing such - for example, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, membership type (i.e., student/HS/TYC/4YR/other), or highest degree. Applications should be submitted by May 7, 2022. Notifications will go out about 1 week after the deadline, with a goal of a first meeting in early June. Questions about the Task Force can be submitted to eo@aapt.org.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at AAPT - An Update from the DEI Task Force
Over the last few months, the DEI Task Force has added new members and formed as a team. We want to thank our Task Force members for their effort and dedication over the past several months. We detailed the achievements to date in our recent diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) update and at the DEI Town Hall webinar on April 21. In case you missed the event, you can find the recording here (passcode: 5Dq=7UzW). Thanks to the DEI Task Force's commitment and collaboration with Brevity & Wit we are almost done with a defined vision, guiding principles, and value proposition - the foundation for our work going forward. Our next step is to create our DEI Roadmap which will be informed by the DEI vision and the perspectives of you, the AAPT membership. To that end, we are offering several opportunities for stakeholder engagement:
- • First, we are currently running an all-member survey. If you haven't done so yet, please fill out this brief and confidential questionnaire before it closes on May 4 at 5 pm EDT.
- • Second, we are inviting all AAPT members and staff to attend one of two DEI Roadmap Community Feedback Sessions. These interactive sessions are designed to allow AAPT DEI Task Force members to share their progress, while inviting feedback and questions from the broader AAPT community. Please register for one of two sessions at the following links:
While we will share brief summaries of the DEI Task Force's efforts here in the monthly eNNOUNCER, you will be hearing more from us in quarterly DEI updates similar to the mid-April communique. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to Catherine Herne (hernec@newpaltz.edu), David Marasco (marascodavid@foothill.edu), or Beth Cunningham (eo@aapt.org) if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making AAPT a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
Dr. Alexander Kane Dickison Passed Away
AAPT past president, Alex K. Dickison passed away peacefully in his home on January 8, 2022. He was born in Jamaica, New York on October 16, 1943, to William Dickison and Eileen Kane Dickison (both deceased). Alex graduated from Western Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education in Physics. He later attended Montana State University, where he received his Master of Education in Physics and eventually earned a Doctor of Education in Physics. Alex worked as a professor of Physics at Seminole Community College (SCC) where he served as the Physics Department Chair for many years. After a 40+ year career with SCC, he continued teaching online Astronomy courses. His dedication to the education profession and his passion for Physics led him to the office of President of American Association of Physics Teachers. Read more
2022 Lillian McDermott Medal Awarded to Wolfgang Christian
AAPT has announced that Wolfgang Christian will receive the Lillian McDermott Medal during the 2022 Summer Meeting. This award recognizes those who are passionate and tenacious about improving the teaching and learning of physics and have made intellectually creative contributions in this area. Christian, Brown Professor of Physics Emeritus at Davidson College, is probably best known for his development of the high-quality interactive computer-based resources, Physlets and Open Source Physics (OSP), which are freely available to all teachers and students on the AAPT ComPADRE digital library. Read more
Sean J. Bentley to Receive the AAPT 2022 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) has announced that Sean J. Bentley will receive the 2022 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching. This award is given 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. John Wiley & Sons is the principal source of funding for this award, through its donation to the AAPT. Read more
Debbie Stephanie Andres Named as 2022 Recipient of the Doc Brown Futures Award
AAPT has announced that the 2022 recipient of the Doc Brown Futures Award is Debbie Andres. The Doc Brown Futures Award recognizes early-career members who demonstrate excellence in their contributions to AAPT and physics education and exhibit the potential to serve in an AAPT leadership role. The award will be presented during the 2022 Summer Meeting. Read more
Andres R. Torres to Receive 2022 Paul W. Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Teaching Award
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the 2022 Paul Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching Award winner is Andres R. Torres, a Physics, and Environmental Management and Research teacher at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School. This award is in recognition for contributions to pre-college physics teaching and awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to their students. Read more
2022 Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT to be Awarded to Paula Heron
Paula Heron will receive the association's Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT, during their 2022 Summer Meeting. Heron, a Professor of Physics at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA is honored for exemplary service contributions to the mission of the American Association of Physics Teachers to promote the pedagogical skills and physics knowledge of the teachers at all levels, and to increase understanding of physics learning and of ways to improve teaching effectiveness, and to disseminate this knowledge to a broader community of physics educators. Read more.
Summer 2022 AAPT Fellows
The 2022 AAPT Fellows Awardees have been announced. AAPT Fellows are distinguished physicists, educators, administrators, and communicators who have been recognized for their contributions to the physics education community. The 2022 Summer Fellows are:
2021 Barbara Lotze Scholarship Winners
The winners of the 2021 Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers have been announced. Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors entering such programs are eligible. The 2021 scholarship recipients are:
2022 AAPT Summer Meeting
The 2022 AAPT Summer Meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan will be live and in person July 9 to 13th. Mark your calendar and get ready to see old colleagues and connect with your peers who share your commitment to excellence in physics education. This meeting is a great opportunity to explore sessions and workshops designed with your professional development in mind. Participate in a wide range of special events, activities, plenaries, and so much more. The health and safety of our attendees is of the utmost importance. Please click here to read the AAPT Summer Meeting COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy.
Hotel
The 2022 AAPT Summer Meeting will take place at the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton and the Devos Place Convention Center.
Rates
Single/Double - $159 (All rates are subject to applicable tax, currently 15% and are subject to change without notice)
Reservations
Please click here to make a reservation online or call 616.774.2000. You must mention (AAPT) American Association of Physics Teachers to receive the discounted rate.
Cut-Off Date
The last day to book a room is June 14, 2022. We suggest that you book your room early, since the hotel can sell out before the cut-off date.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made 48 hours prior to arrival in order to avoid a one night's room and tax fee.
Physics Education Research Conference (PERC) 2022
The Physics Education Research Conference 2022 will take place following the AAPT Summer Meeting in Grand Rapids on July 13 - July 14 at the Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Here are a few quick updates from PERC 2022 Organizers
PERC 2022 is currently accepting proposals for parallel sessions, which are due March 31, 2022. PERC is accepting proposals for 1) collaborative spaces; 2) discussion groups; 3) talk symposia; 4) workshops; and 5) other custom formats that you're envisioning! You can submit a proposal here: https://www.compadre.org/per/perc/2022/ Please note that the PERC Proceedings paper deadlines are very early this year! Paper-eligible abstracts and PERC Proceedings drafts are due May 16, 2022. If you would like to learn more about the PERC 2022 organizing processes and decisions, please check out our transparency document!. We envision queering PERC 2022 to include queering how we take in feedback and share our processes. We are grateful for feedback at https://tinyurl.com/PERQfeedback! You can also find other important links there: https://linktr.ee/perq2022
2022 AAPT Virtual Summer Meeting
AAPT has added a virtual component to the 2022 Summer Meeting. The virtual meeting will take place on July 7-8 (with the AAPT in-person meeting, starting July 9). This meeting will consist of contributed talks based on the following topics: • High School • PER • Lecture/Classroom • Laboratory • Two Year Colleges • Other Abstract submissions for the virtual meeting will take place from April 22 to May 24. Please click here to submit an abstract to the virtual meeting.
Enter the 2022 AAPT Apparatus Competition
We invite you to enter the AAPT Apparatus Competition. After a 2 year hiatus due to COVID-19, we are finally bringing the Competition back. Please consider entering your innovations that you made to deal with the switch to online and remote learning during the pandemic. The AAPT Apparatus Competition is held each year at the Summer Meeting, this year in Grand Rapids, MI. There are two main categories, Low Cost and Unlimited. Pasco has again graciously sponsored the prizes, $1000 for First Place. The Application Deadline is June 15 , 2022. Please consider entering one or more of your Physics Apparatus in the competition.
The Entry Form and the Description Form are located at:
www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/upload/entryform-2022.pdf
and
www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/upload/apparatus_description-2022.pdf.
The Rules are located at:
www.aapt.org/Programs/contests/apparatus.
AAPT Participating in the AAAS SEA Change Professional Society Pilot
AAPT has been selected to be one of four participating organizations in the SEA Change initiative. Early in 2021, AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) accepted proposals from science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) professional societies to participate in a systemic change initiative called SEA (STEMM Equity Achievement) Change. SEA Change provided an award of $10,000 to each organization to participate in the adaptation and piloting of the SEA Change self-assessment and action planning framework. The AAPT Board of Directors has made a $10,000 match to support completing the AAPT self-assessment. Read more
Call to Area Committees and List Serves - AAPT COMMUNITIES
As you know, AAPT is retiring its Lyris list serves.
If you chair an Area Committee or run one of the list-serves, and are interested in creating a group on COMMUNITIES, please get in touch with us. This may be the best way to create a "friends of the committee" group going forward. Using this method, the Chair could set the default delivery option for the group to Real-Time, which would most accurately mirror the current list serve model. These groups would be open for any AAPT member to join. We would like to start with a handful of these groups as a pilot program to see how it works. If you are interested, please reach out to Mike Hall (mhall@aapt.org).
For those who do not choose to create a dedicated group on COMMUNITIES, you can still use the platform to let AAPT members know about your activities by posting in the General Community. We encourage all AAPT members to visit the AAPT COMMUNITIES platform and follow the Tag for any committee that you are interested in. Likewise, we encourage Committee Chairs to use this tag when posting information relevant to your committee.
2023 AAPT Winter Meeting Update
The 2023 AAPT Winter Meeting has been scheduled for Portland, Oregon on January 14-17, 2023 at the Hilton Portland Downtown.
Join Us for the AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour and Remote Instruction Share-a-thon
AAPT is working to help our members communicate with one another to provide the best physics education possible. AAPT members bring questions about physics education (taken broadly) to discuss and share their experiences in a confidential setting.
Please join us for these events!
Check the calendar for next Virtual Coffee Hour. Check your in-box for an invitation. Please make sure you RSVP (marketing@aapt.org) to the event. Everyone who RSVPs will be sent log-in instructions a few hours prior to the call. We hope you can join us!
Help Support AAPT!
We are living in incredibly challenging times. AAPT has been on the forefront providing resources to help physics educators. However, we need your support to continue AAPT's programs and resources. Gifts to the AAPT Annual Fund support the everyday operations of AAPT, from inspiring excellence through educational programming to recognizing award winning physics professionals, all critical pieces in supporting the advancement of physics education. Many of these programs run year round that need your support--donate today to the Annual Fund to make a difference!
Get a New Perspective on Your Physics Career at the AAPT Career Center
With the changing of the season, there are more opportunities than ever for your next physics job. Even if you don't have much experience searching for yourself, we're here to guide you to the finest listings. By visiting the AAPT Career Center, you'll be able to search via keyword, location, sector, and more. You can also check out the Resource Center to learn more skills, find the latest industry data, and even brush up on your interviewing skills. We're dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date jobs, so don't delay!
New Book Companion, Statistical and Thermal Physics Programs
This freely available online collection includes all the programs used in the text "Statistical and Thermal Physics: With Computer Applications", 2nd ed., Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik, Princeton University Press (2021). These ready-to-run, interactive simulations are designed to help students gain a better understanding of statistical and thermal physics. Physical parameters in the simulations can be changed to explore the systems being modeled. The topics covered range from temperature and approaches to equilibrium, solid and gas models, spin systems, critical phenomena, and near-equilibrium time-dependent phenomena. All simulations are provided in HTML5-JavaScript and will run on most computers and mobile devices.
Teaching High School Physics - Three Titles Supporting Physics Educators
The Teaching High School Physics books by Carl J. Wenning and Rebecca E. Vieyra provide a practical foundation for physics teaching, techniques for engaging students, managing learning difficulties, and tips for curriculum development and lesson planning.
These books are published by AIP Publishing in partnership with the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
Sample the first chapters for free:
- • Teaching High School Physics: The Nature of Physics Teaching
- • Teaching High School Physics: Interacting with Physics Students
- • Teaching High School Physics: Managing the Physics Classroom
- 1. Log in to www.aapt.org and sign in.
- 2. Click on MY ACCOUNT.
- 3. Click the EDIT button (pencil) under ADDRESSES.
- 4. Address preferences should be listed on the right side.
Browse all education titles.
Want to Engage More with AAPT? Nominate Yourself to Become a Member of an Area Committee!
AAPT needs the support of members like you. We are looking for members interested in engaging in AAPT and sharing their interests and expertise to help other physics educators. Consider nominating yourself for a position on an Area Committee. The Area Commitee Nomination Form also includes information about the appointment duration, expectations, benefits, risks, and selection process. If you have any questions about Area Committees, expectations of committee members, or the nomination process, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee:
Debbie Andres (Chair): dandres@paramusschools.org
Kenric Davies: daviesk@friscoisd.org
Joe Kozminski: kozminjo@lewisu.edu
David Marasco: marascodavid@foothill.edu
Deborah Roudebush: droudebush@me.com
PTRA
The PTRA Leadership Institute will be held immediately after the Summer AAPT meeting, July 13-15, 2022 in Grand Rapids, MI. Those wishing to attend will need to apply https://aaptptra.com/workshops/. Be sure you are part of the listserv to receive more updates and information ptra-l@googlegroups.com.
New Open Letter: "Increase Investment in Accessible Physics Labs"
The AAPT Committee on Laboratories assembled a task force whose charge was to write an open letter to the physics education community calling for increased investment in accessible lab courses. In exploring ideas and strategies for improving accessibility, the task force recognized that the development of multiple pathways for laboratory investigation creates opportunities to expand learning opportunities for more students in physics lab programs. The task force identified two types of investment, proactive and reactive investment. Strategies for increasing proactive investment are outlined for six target groups: physics lab instructors and staff, physics education researchers, physics departments, online physics content creators, physics conference planners, and member societies. The intended audiences for this document consist of undergraduate physics students, staff, and faculty, especially those who have direct stake in laboratory courses; physics departments; and member societies, including AAPT. The whitepaper is available here.
AAPT Programs
Support the U.S. Physics Team - Donate Now
Each year AAPT sponsors a competition for high school students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad Competition. The mission of the U.S. Physics Team Program is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in the International Physics Olympiad. AAPT is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training teams each year to compete in the International Physics Olympiad Competition. Your contribution is needed to support these high school students as they prepare to represent the U.S. internationally. Donate now!
2022 AAPT High School Physics Photo Contest
The 2022 High School Physics Photo Contest registration opens March 1, and will close May 15. The contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. Teachers register on the AAPT website and receive a confirmation code that they will use to allow their students to submit their entries (essay and photo). Photos may be entered in either the Natural photo or Contrived photo category. The top 100 entries will be displayed and judged during the 2022 Summer Meeting in Grand Rapids, MI.Learn more.
2022 Physics Department Chairs Conference
Please register for the Physics Department Chairs Conference to be held June 13-15, 2022, at the Hamilton Hotel in downtown Washington, DC. The conference will begin at about 7 pm on Monday, June 13 and end before noon on Wednesday, June 15. There will also be a New Chairs Workshop 3-5 pm on June 13. Register for the Conference before Friday, May 6 at the following url: portal.aapt.org/Event.aspx. The Conference website can be found at www.aapt.org/Conferences/depchairsprogram.cfm.
2022 Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop
Tenure-track faculty, full-time lecturers (or equivalent), adjunct faculty and part-time faculty in the first few years of their teaching appointments and post-docs are encouraged to register to attend the in-person Physics and Astronomy New Faculty Workshop, July 25-28, 2022. The Workshop will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles near LAX. Although COVID restrictions are changing rapidly, we anticipate that attendance will require that participants be fully vaccinated. Details and updates will be posted at www.aapt.org/Conferences/newfaculty/nfw.cfm Faculty may register at https://portal.aapt.org/Event.aspx?EventKey=NFAC_S22 by Friday, June 17 for primary consideration. Conference space is limited due to meeting room availability. Our NSF grant will cover hotel and meal costs for participants while at the Workshop. AAPT will make hotel reservations for the Workshop registrants. Funds are available to support travel and registration for educators from departments with severely restricted financial resources. If you are interested in a travel and registration subsidy, please contact Bob Hilborn (rhilborn@aapt.org).
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, 2022.
NSF-sponsored Young Investigator Workshop. Application Deadline May 3
This is an official announcement that the Broadening Participation: 2022 Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences and Physics) Workshop for Young Investigators hosted by University of Florida is currently open to submit an application: https://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/Physics. The workshop will take place in person in Alexandria, VA on June 13-14. The main goal of the workshop is to provide prospective Principal Investigators in MPS with valuable information and advice on the policies, procedures, and opportunities available at NSF, and also direct experience of the full panel review processes. **Please note that this is only an application to attend and you will be notified by the Workshop Organizers if you are selected to attend the workshop. Each applicant should: 1. Fill out this online application form, click on blue "Register Online" button on left side of page and select application to attend. 2. You also need to have a brief e-mail of support from academic mentor, senior collaborator, or department head sent to kmacwilkinson@ufl.edu. The subject line of the e-mail should read: 2022 MPS PI Workshop Recommendation for [last name of applicant]. What is required to attend this workshop? Please see the deadlines for materials below and prepare accordingly. Instructions will be emailed to selected participants. Application Due: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 11:59p EST Announcement of Accepted Applicants: Friday, May 6, 2022
NOW AVAILABLE: AAPT Book Archive
In partnership with AAPT, AIP Publishing is delighted to offer an archive collection of timeless books. The 34 classic titles have been digitized for the first time and are now available on scitation.org. This collection brings together books originally published from 1977 - 2017, and provides easy to read resources and guidance for physics educators.
Titles include:
• 50 Years on Teaching Physics
• Teaching About Lightwave Communications
• Physics and 21st Century Science Standards: the role of physics in the NGSS
Browse the AAPT Book Archive and read the first chapter of all 34 books for FREE.
New Fellowship Opportunity for Underrepresented Minority Teachers of Physics
A joint project from the American Institute of Physics and the American Association of Physics Teachers is starting and we are looking for applicants. Eligible applicants should be Black, African American, African, Black LatinX, Black Caribbean, and those who identify within the African Diaspora and are either a current, recent, or pre-service physics Teacher. Read more.
STEP UP Lesson Plans
Have you done the STEP UP lessons this year? The Careers in Physics lesson helps your students understand "why physics?" and is a great way to start off the year. Once you've built a classroom culture around discussion practices, give Women in Physics a try to discuss representation and how we can build a more equitable field. We even have recommendations for running them remotely on our Online Community (create a free login to join!)
Undergraduate Physics Website Launched
Effective Practices for Undergraduate Physics website launched. The joint AAPT/APS EP3 Guide project's website is now available at https://ep3guide.org/. The Guide has detailed recommendations and guidelines for enhancing all aspects of undergraduate physics programs.
Download the Educating Physicists for Impactful Careers (EPIC) Report
As the physics discipline evolves, so do the related careers. It is important to help prepare undergraduate students to meet the changing needs of the related professions in the 21st century. The APS PIPELINE project, an NSF-funded program, has just released a report on Educating Physicists for Impactful Careers (EPIC). Build curricular approaches for integrating the knowledge, skills, and mindset that will enhance your physics graduates' ability to find rewarding careers and create innovative solutions to the world's problems. Download now
New Title Published by AIP Publishing in Partnership with AAPT
Read: Honoring Teachers as Professionals: Stories and Pathways for Growth in Your Classroom and Career
Honoring Teachers as Professionals by Alisa Grimes et al. is the latest title to be added to AIP Publishing's growing book collection. The new release provides a guide for retaining and engaging educators using classroom educational research methods.
This book is a valuable resource for administrators, researchers, teachers, and other professionals in education and is an essential guide for graduate students in education, policy advocates, and parents.
Explore the book in more detail by reading the first chapter for free.
New KITP Fellows Program for Physics and Astronomy Faculty Members at Minority-Serving Institutions
Newly Launched! The KITP Fellows program supports a single long visit (6-8 week) at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara, CA from experimentalists, observers or theorists in physics or astronomy departments at teaching-intensive U.S. colleges or universities designated as Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). All applicants must be active ladder faculty (assistant, associate or full professors) at a non-R1 MSI with an undergraduate major in physics or astronomy. Support includes: travel, accommodations and $2k/week supplement. Learn more
Awardees Announced: PhysTEC's 5+ Club
PhysTEC is pleased to announce the newest inductees into the 5+ Club, a group of colleges and universities that graduated five or more high school physics teachers in the last academic year. These institutions are national leaders in addressing the severe nationwide shortage of secondary physics teachers. Learn more
Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) program for HS students (& PAN-CAKE for science educators)
The Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) free summer program for high school students is now accepting applications for summer 2022. PAN participants will conduct research in nuclear astrophysics while learning the impact of nuclear science and its applications for society. The HS student program will meet either in-person or virtually during the week of July 24-29, hosted by Michigan State University. To learn more and fill out an application, visit https://www.jinaweb.org/educational-outreach/physics-atomic-nuclei-pan. Science educators are encouraged to consider the online PAN-CAKE workshop on May 14: https://www.jinaweb.org/educational-outreach/pan-cake-masterclass-educators. Both programs are free to participants, and applications are open until March 28.
"Physics in an Astronomy Context" Mini Workshop Series
The AAPT/Temple team of the NASA Heliophysics Education Consortium will be offering a series of short 1.5-hour workshops one Saturday each month from February through May 2022. These workshops are directed to all introductory physics teachers (high school, two-year college, and university), and will focus on lesson ideas and digital resource packages (AAPT Digi Kits) that help teach physics topics in an astronomy context. Register for one or more sessions, and learn more HERE.
The Physics of Living Systems Teacher (PoLS-T) Network
The Physics of Living Systems Teacher (PoLS-T) Network invites all who want to advance the teaching of secondary/high school level physics to join, especially high school physics teachers, physics education researchers, and decision makers in school administration and government. PoLS-T is organized by Eric Mazur at Harvard University to support high school physics teaching and teachers worldwide. Details: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/pols-t-network/ Join the PoLS-T Network: https://forms.gle/cj87TLRzJ6zcCEUL6
PERC Submissions Due May 16th
2022 Physics Education Research Conference (PERC) paper abstracts and manuscripts are due on May 16, 2022. Non-paper eligible poster abstracts will be due on June 20, 2022. For details about submissions, visit the PERC Conference Proceedings Website.
Apply for the EP3 Departmental Action Leadership Institute
Are you interested in making significant changes in your physics department? The Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Departmental Action Leadership Institute (DALI) have been created to help physics departments address challenges and seize opportunities. The DALIs will meet bi-weekly for at least a year to help departments engage in a process, using the EP3 Guide , that will lead to sustainable improvements to undergraduate education and to a stronger culture of self-reflection and action. The application deadline is May 20. Learn more
AAPT Membership
AAPT Member Spotlight
Rachel E. Scherr
Assistant Professor of Physics
University of Washington Bothell
Bothell, Washington
Read More.
Delivery Options for Print Journals
Many of you receive the print editions of our journals at your workplace, which you may not have access to currently. We wanted to provide you with instructions on how to update your preferred mailing address in your member profile.
As always, if you need assistance or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (membership@aapt.org, 301.209.3333).
Membership Renewal
We appreciate our community of members, and we are here to serve you. If you have any difficulties renewing your membership or have any membership-related questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in the Membership Department at 301.209.3333 or membership@aapt.org.
Member Discounts Now Available!
AAPT Members can take advantage of major discounts at retailers such as Hertz, Office Depot/Office Max and HotelEngine.com. You save a percentage of your bill and a portion of the proceeds helps to support AAPT as well! Be sure to check the Member Discounts Program page for details.
Unwrap Winter Savings with Avis and Budget
In need of a winter, escape? Make the experience safe and comfortable with deals from your bit.ly/aapt_avis Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program. With the Pay Now feature, members can save up to 35% off base rates on every rental, and receive additional offers like a free upgrade or dollars off.
More Ways to Save:
Skip the counter and paperwork at many locations, go straight to your car for faster pick-up, and drop off, when you sign up and use your complimentary membership in the Avis Preferred® or Budget's Fastbreak Rewards Program. In addition, members earn points towards free rentals, accessories and upgrades.
To make a reservation with Avis, visit: www.avis.com/en/association/A672057 and use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number A672057.
To book with Budget, visit: www.budget.com/en/association/B079565 and use your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number B079565.
Sign up for Text Alerts:
Don't miss out on special offers! Get exclusive offers sent directly to your phone by texting AAPTABG to 833-344-0228.
What Do You Want Your Legacy to Be?
Teachers make a difference. Given the chance, most of us would like to leave a legacy to organizations we valued in our lifetime. You help shape the future. AAPT can help you determine what you want your legacy to be-to your family, to your fellow teachers, and to tomorrow's future teachers. Planned Giving creates opportunities for you to make a lasting difference to physics education and AAPT. Consider including AAPT in your estate and financial plans. Click here for more information or contact eo@aapt.org
New AAPT Member Benefit: Up to 25 Free Downloads of AIP Journals Every Year
AAPT has partnered with AIP Publishing on a valuable new benefit. AAPT members now have access to 25 free article downloads every year from any of the AIP Publishing journals
This is an exclusive AAPT member benefit. Access any one of the journals in this list, now by clicking the 'SIGN IN' link in the right hand corner, and logging in with your Scitation username and password. Access the full text of an article from the journal by going to the article page and clicking either the "PDF" download or the "FULL TEXT" menu buttons. You will then be given an option to use one of your AAPT member credits to access the article. If you do not have a Scitation username and password e-mail Scitation and let them know.
Articles you download will be saved in your Scitation profile. AAPT members receive 25 free downloads each year as long as their membership remains in good standing.
Thank you for supporting AAPT, and we hope you enjoy this new membership benefit.
Call for Award Nominations
The AAPT Awards Committee invites nominations for all of AAPT awards, citations, and medals. We are particularly interested in nominations for AAPT Fellows and for the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT. Deadlines for nominations are June 1st and December 1st.
Infusing Engineering Into the Science Classroom
Join other teachers seeking to integrate engineering into their science classroom with this unique professional development opportunity. Headed by AAPT/AIP Master Teacher Policy fellows Matthew Peterie and Andrew Edmondson, you will learn from experienced and skillful teachers. The cost will be $385 for individual attendee which includes your registration for the year long program and meals for the two days at Olathe Northwest. If a group of teachers from a building or district would like to attend, reduced pricing is available. After registering your team by completing the form below, subsequent correspondence will make arrangements for payment. Sign up here.
OSTP/NSF Working Group on Quantum Information Education
The OSTP/NSF working group on Quantum Information Education finished its report and there was a NSF press release. Read more. Also click here for full report.
How to Work with External Evaluators White Paper
Have you wondered how to work effectively with an external evaluator, or budget for their work appropriately? We're pleased to announce a new white paper for the community, authored by experienced evaluators Stephanie Chasteen and Alexis Knaub, for the AAPT Professional Concerns committee. The paper is peppered with practical advice and quotes from experienced PIs and evaluators. Read more.
Get the Facts Out
Do you need help with recruiting future teachers to your teacher preparation program? Check out these resources from Get the Facts Out. Our student and faculty presentations are designed to be easy to use as virtual presentations or for webinars that you can use to promote your programs. Here's an example you can watch. Have you seen the newly redesigned "Inspire Young Minds" GFO posters? Check them out here.
NOW AVAILABLE: New Books on Geometric Optics
Now available on scitation.org and in partnership with AAPT, Teaching Geometric Optics, offers students and educators the fundamentals of geometric optics that covers the basics of light propagation, reflection and refraction. With vast applications, these books comprise 46 activities covering a range of topics and will prove an invaluable resource to teach the fundamentals.
Teaching Geometric Optics: Student Edition - Read the first chapter for free.
Teaching Geometric Optics: Teacher's Notes - Read the first chapter for free.
Alongside Teaching High School Physics, these books are dedicated to providing development and training resources for physics educators. Access books available on scitation.org
The Textbook Physics - The First Science Freely Available
The textbook Physics - The First Science by Peter Lindenfeld ad Suzanne White Brahmia (Rutgers University Press 2011) is now freely available at firstscience.rutgers.edu , where you can also see the reviews that appeared in American Journal of Physics, The Physics Teacher, and Physics Today.
New Textbook on Wave Physics - Freely Available
Introduction to Wave Physics by Anthony Gerig is a textbook designed for a single semester, intermediate level course on waves. It initially focuses on one-dimensional waves to introduce major concepts, and then extends each of those concepts to three dimensions for rectangular, spherical and cylindrical coordinates. Both scalar and vector waves are addressed, using acoustic waves as the primary example of the former and electromagnetic waves as the primary example of the latter. Topics covered include interference, reflection and transmission, cavities and waveguides, radiation, diffraction, and scattering. The book can be freely downloaded at ResearchGate or the book website.
In the News
The American Modeling Teachers Association
The American Modeling Teachers Association has been transforming STEM education since 2005. AMTA teaches an instructional strategy, Modeling Instruction, which builds conceptual understanding, improves classroom discourse and engages students in the learning process. AMTA will soon announce our slate of virtual and face-to-face courses for 2022! Hosts are also beginning to schedule Modeling Workshops in different regions across the country. Details will be updated and registration will be open soon. You can see a full list with details as they become available at modelinginstruction.org/professional-development.
Funding Opportunities
The Knowles Teaching Fellowship provides financial support, mentoring and coaching, and community membership for pre-service and first-year math and science teachers. Applications for next year's cohort are now open; submit a referral for a student you know today!
Undergraduate and Graduate STEM Students' Experiences during COVID-19
Undergraduate and Graduate STEM Students' Experiences during COVID-19: Proceedings of a Virtual Workshop Series was released on March 23, 2021 by the Board on Science Education and the Board on Higher Education and Workforce. It begins to document the changes and responses of institutions of higher education to the pandemic and discusses the impact on students. The workshop series highlights ideas that can assist institutions to better serve all students. Read more.
Let U.S. K-12 Educators Know: Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Application is Live!
The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle, and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration.
The Living Physics Portal is Now Seeking Beta Users!
The Living Physics Portal is a new online environment for physics faculty to share and discuss free curricular resources for teaching introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS). The objective of the Portal is to improve the education of the next generation of medical professionals and biologists by making physics classes more relevant for life sciences students. We are currently looking for beta users to contribute curricular materials to this early version of the site, browse our existing collection of high quality materials from our team, and give us feedback on the site. To learn more about what's available in the beta version of the site, and what will be available in the future, see what's available and what's coming and become a beta tester. To get involved in our upcoming in-person events, see our events page.
JavaScript Physlet Physics Now Available
The new JavaScript edition of Physlet Physics is now available from the Open Source Physics ComPADRE Collection. The original functionality and interactivity of Physlets is maintained and all 800+ Illustrations, Explorations, and Problems are mobile friendly and ready-to-use by students without installing any additional plug-in. Try them out on AAPT-ComPADRE at: www.compadre.org/physlets/
Career Toolbox for Undergraduates
The Careers Toolbox for Undergraduate Physics Students is a set of tools and exercises designed to help undergraduate physics students prepare to enter the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce. Tools range from exploring the common job titles of physics bachelor's to preparing for interviews, and are all geared specifically for physics students. This resource is brought to you by the American Institute of Physics and the Society of Physics Students. The 4th Edition is now ready for use.
Physics Careers
Recruit STEM Interns from the Best Job Sites for FREE!
The AAPT Career Center offers no-cost postings to employers recruiting seasonal interns. Locate the best fit for your organization by reaching the future of the science community - the AAPT membership, as well as the members and student members of the American Physical Society (APS Physics), AVS Science and Technology, and the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma.
Get the word out! Your posting will also appear on the Physics Today Jobs site, which when combined with the job sites of the organizations mentioned above forms the ultimate online science, engineering, and computing career network, ensuring maximum relevant visibility for your internship. Visit https://jobs.aapt.org/employers/ to get posting!
Jobs Announcements from the Career Center
Upper School Physics
Isidore Newman School
Click here for job description.
Physics Instructor
Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
Click here for job description.
More Physics Resources
Social Media @ AAPT
AAPT wants to connect with you on social media! Stay abreast of the latest AAPT and physics-related news. We invite you to like us, follow us, connect with us, and pin us. You can find us here:
Section News
Please submit your Section Report for the AAPT Section News. To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mhall@aapt.org.
About eNNOUNCER
AAPT's eNNOUNCER is a service to members of the American Association of Physics Teachers and is produced by the AAPT Executive Office.
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Note on External Links
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© 2022, American Association of Physics Teachers
Table of Contents
Featured Journal Articles
American Journal of Physics
Quantitative analysis of a smartphone pendulum beyond linear approximation: A lockdown practical homework
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The Physics Teacher
Sterile Neutrinos: Are They Real?
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Physics Store Features
Interactive Physics Demonstrations
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Fizz - Nothing is as it Seems
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