eNNOUNCER November 2018

AAPT News

Preview of New AAPT.ORG

AAPT is in the process of creating a new public website. The current website design will be replaced with the new design in the near future. To give the membership a sense of how the new site will look and feel, a test site has been developed. The test site is not set up for transactions and links to pages or sites other than the test site should not be used for entering data. The test site is for inspection only and can be found at https://dev.aapt.org. Please take this opportunity to see what the new site will be like. Feedback can be sent to feedback@aapt.org.

2019 AAPT Winter Meeting

The 2019 AAPT Winter Meeting will be held in Houston, Texas, January 12-15.

Abstract Submission
Tuesday November 13 is the last day to submit a post deadline abstract. All post-deadline abstracts will be scheduled on January 15 in the last session of the day. This is a great opportunity to present your innovative research and share creative teaching methods with your peers. Please click here to submit your abstract.

Early Bird Registration Deadline!
Wednesday, November 14 is the last day to register at the early bird rate and save over $100. Please click here for more information.

Awardee and Plenary Speakers
AAPT has secured a diverse group of awardees and plenary speakers for the Winter Meeting. Please click here for more information.

Program
The AAPT program is online. Click here for more information.

Registration
Registration is open! Please click here for more information.

Hotel
The 2019 AAPT Winter Meeting will take place at the Westin Galleria and the Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria in Houston's Uptown district. Both hotels are connected by the Galleria Shopping Center. Please click here for more information.

2019 AAPT Winter Meeting Awardees

Jack G. Hehn Recognized with AAPT’s 2019 Melba Newell Phillips Medal
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced the Melba Newell Phillips Medal will be awarded to Jack G. Hehn, AAPT Senior Fellow, College Park, MD, in recognition of his creative leadership and dedicated service that have resulted in exceptional contributions within AAPT. The Medal will be presented during the AAPT 2019 Winter Meeting in Houston Texas. Read more

Gay Stewart to Receive AAPT 2019 Oersted Medal
Gay Stewart has been named as the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Oersted Medal, presented by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). The Medal will be awarded at a Ceremonial Session of the 2019 AAPT Winter Meeting, in Houston Texas. The Oersted Medal recognizes her outstanding, widespread, and lasting impact on the teaching of physics through her pioneering national leadership in physics education, her exceptional service to AAPT, and her mentoring of students and in-service teachers. Read more

Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT
Janelle M. Bailey , Heather Lewandowski , Sherry Savrda , Robert Teese , and Aaron Titus will be recognized as 2019 recipients of the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT during the 2018 Winter Meeting in Houston, Texas.

AAPT Job Opportunity

AAPT is seeking a K-12 Program Manager. Application deadline for full consideration is November 15, 2018. But, applications will be considered until the position is filled. Click here.

AAPT Privacy Statement Update

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

eAlliances: Uniting Isolated Women Physicists and Astronomers

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

Why me?

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

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

To join: Register at eAlliances.aapt.org

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!

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!

2019 F=ma Contest Open

AAPT and the American Institute of Physics (AIP) sponsor a competition for high school students to represent the United States at the 2019 International Physics Olympiad. 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. The selection process begins with the F=ma exam. Online registration is now open.

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 December 1.

High School Physics Teachers Grant

The High School Physics Teachers Grant provides grants to encourage high school physics teachers to experiment and improve on their teaching practices. It is our belief that as teaching practice improves, then physics enrollment and excitement among students increase. The deadline for applications to request funds is December 1.

AAPT Membership

AAPT Member Spotlight

Brian Pyper
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
Read More

Membership Renewal

We appreciate our community of members, and we are here to serve you. If you have any difficulties renewing your membership or have any membership-related questions, please do not hesitate to contact us in the Membership Department at 301.209.3333 or membership@aapt.org.

Applications Now Being Accepted for Jossem Fund Grants

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

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

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

Teachers and Faculty Who Have Tutored Physics?

The AAPT Committee on the Interests of Senior Physicists (CISP) is considering organizing sessions or workshops on tutoring in physics and astronomy. We think that such sessions would be of particular interest to physics teachers looking for post-retirement occupations.

Do you know teacher or faculty member who has tutored physics at any level? If so, please send their names and email addresses to Charlie Holbrow, Chair of CISP (chholbrow@gmail.com). CISP would like to get in contact with them and learn about their experiences and explore how we might share these with interested colleagues.

The possibilities for tutoring online either on your own or through some online agency are of particular interest, but there are useful things to say about any sort of tutoring. CISP wants to gather information about all modes of tutoring physics and make the information widely available.

Support New Teachers This Fall!

Are you interested in the ways you can 'pay it forward'? Have thought about how you can truly impact the future? Consider supporting the next generation of physics teachers with your tax deductible donation to the AAPT New Teacher Fund. Your generosity helps to provide professional development opportunities to new, and early career educators, with a membership in AAPT. Proceeds from this fund underwrite much of the cost of membership dues and, enables us to expand our outreach efforts.

Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) Conference

Save the date for the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) Conference! PhysTEC is the nation’s largest meeting dedicated to the education of future physics teachers. It features workshops on best practices, panel discussions by national leaders, and excellent networking opportunities for physics teacher educators. Registration opens in November. Learn more

Looking for ways to improve your physics teacher education program? Emulate the best!

The PhysTEC program will be hosting a webinar to support physics departments in improving their teacher education programs by completing the new Physics Teacher Education Program Analysis (PTEPA) Rubric The PTEPA Rubric is a self-assessment instrument based on a study of “thriving” programs that routinely prepare at least five physics teachers per year, and is designed to help departments analyze and improve their programs. During the one-hour webinar, the lead study author Stephanie Chasteen will introduce the Rubric, lead participants through one section of it, and answer your questions. The webinar will take place Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 2:00pm ET. No signup is needed; just go online to https://apsphysics.zoom.us/j/537314508 at that time.

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.

Free Individual Membership in the Council on Undergraduate Research for Faculty in Institutions with Enhanced Membership

We wanted to bring to your attention that one of AAPT’s frequent collaborative organizations, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) has an enhanced institutional member category. For a list of CUR’s enhanced members, please see this webpage. If you, and other faculty, administrators, and students are at a CUR enhanced member institution, your individual membership is FREE. All you need to do is to sign-up, remembering to choose the division of physics and astronomy as your “home” in CUR. CUR’s physics and astronomy division is very active, and more members would be welcome!

Please refer to the Membership Tab of the CUR website (https://www.cur.org)) hover over “Become a Member”, select the Individual Membership Online Application, and select your institution’s name from the dropdown list. A “pop up” message will announce that you have added onto the Enhanced Membership, click OK and complete the application form. Thanks for sharing this great opportunity to connect with CUR with your colleagues in physics and/or astronomy departments.

Chesapeake Section Fall Meeting

The Chesapeake Section of AAPT has our fall section meeting coming up Saturday, November 10th at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, VA. More information is available online at www.csaapt.org.

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

In the News

IUPAP Commission on Physics Education (C14) Newsletter

You’re invited to read Issue 67 of the IUPAP C14 Newsletter (and to subscribe) at: https://mailchi.mp/04489a02108d/icpe-newsletter-issue-67-september-2018.

APS 2019 Excellence in Physics Education Award Recipients

The 2019 award recognizes the Learning Assistance Program at U of Colorado Boulder. Three of the recipients are AAPT members.

The award is to recognize and honor a team or group of individuals (such as a collaboration) or, exceptionally, a single individual, who have exhibited a sustained commitment to excellence in physics education. The award, presented annually, consists of a $5,000 monetary award, a certificate citing the achievements of the group or individual, and an allowance for travel expenses to the APS April Meeting where the award is presented.

Recipients: Laurie S. Langdon, University of Colorado, Boulder Richard McCray, University of Colorado, Boulder Steven Iona, University of Colorado, Boulder / University of Denver, (AAPT) Steven Pollock, University of Colorado, Boulder, (AAPT) Valerie K. Otero, University of Colorado, Boulder, (AAPT)

CPEP Award for Excellence in Teaching Contemporary Physics

The Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP) has established the International CPEP Award for Excellence in Teaching Contemporary Physics to recognize an educator working with high school or middle school students, who has made outstanding achievements in teaching contemporary physics topics. Contemporary physics topics include, but are not limited to, particle physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, cosmology, fusion physics, and gravitational waves. Please see www.CPEPphysics.org for more details on these topics.   Click here for more information.

Melba Phillips Papers Now Online

The Niels Bohr Library & Archives (NBLA) at the American Institute of Physics has digitized the papers of physicist and physics educator Melba Phillips. The whole collection is now accessible to the public in NBLA’s online repository here. Click here to read a brief biography of Phillips and to learn about some of the interesting items in the collection.

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.

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

Advise your students in the new year to check out GradSchoolShopper.com, the most complete directory of graduate programs in the physical sciences.Students headed for graduate school can use this FREE service to search by degree programs, admission deadlines, research specialties, faculty profiles, GRE requirements, and more! New 2019 departmental data is now available. If your program isn’t listed, contact us to find out how to have it included.

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

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

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

American Modeling Teachers Association

During the 2018 summer, almost 800 teachers attended one of the 49 Modeling Workshops, held in 14 different states. Plans are currently being made for the 2019 season, in which we hope to have workshops in Physics (mechanics, E&M, waves, computational Modeling: Physics First, light and sound), chemistry (first and second semester), biology, physical science and workshops for middle school teachers. The workshop information will be made available in the spring on the website.

Contact Wendy wendy@modelinginstruction.org.

AMTA learning courses

AMTA is pleased to offer these courses for Spring and Summer 2019 and we would appreciate it if you can share the information below with your network:

Chemistry II (for people who have taken first semester chemistry already)
Brenda Royce and Larry Dukerich will lead the class, which runs from 1-22-2019 till 4-10-2019, from 7 to 10 pm EST. Click here for details and registration

Intro to Modeling (Designed as a first Modeling Course)
The course will meet twice a week; on Monday and Wednesday January 15- April 25, 2019, with leaders Janelle Hollingshead and Matthew Kennedy. Click here for details and registration

Advanced Modeling Instruction Cognition and Instruction in STEM
The seminar is meant for Modelers and will be led by Colleen Megowan-Romanowicz. The class meets from 01/17/2019 - 05/02/2019. Click here for details and registration

The 2019 face-to-face Modeling Workshops Cognition and Instruction in STEM
are posted on the website as we receive the information. Workshops have been planned for Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts and Ohio. Workshops are scheduled for physics, chemistry, biology, middle school and physical science. Click here for details.

Arizona State University Master of Natural Science Degree in Physics for Teachers

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

For more details click here .
Ask for information click here.

Physics Careers

Jobs Announcements from the Career Center

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

FT/TENURE TRACK INSTRUCTOR – PHYSICAL SCIENCE - PHYSICS
Santa Monica College
Click here for job description.

More Physics Resources

Social Media @ AAPT

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

Section News

Please submit your Section Report for the AAPT Section News. To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mhall@aapt.org. See the Spring 2018 Section News.

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