Team News

Friday, June 07, 2002 Today was the big day! It began with a final exam, then a wonderful presentation by our last Frontier Speaker, Dr. David Ling, from IBM. Dr. Ling attended the University of Michigan College of Engineering where he received a B.S.E degree in Engineering Physics. He went on to attend graduate school at Harvard University where he received a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics. From Harvard he went to the University of Chicago where he performed post-doctoral research. In 1984 he joined the research staff at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center and began what is now 17 years of research on computer-aided design of integrated circuits.----His presentation was titled The Elements of Computer Design: From Architecture to Manufacturing---The presentation began with an overview of computer architecture, then focused on one functional unit, the ALU or arithmetic logic unit. He concluded the presentation with illustrations of a few of the basic steps in the manufacturing process by which the layout design is turned into a functioning microchip. ---Later there was a demonstration by Herb Gottlieb from Metrologic. Some members of the U.S. Physics Team were also scholarship winners from the AAPT/Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Physics Bowl Contest. These students were awarded their certificates by Herb Gottlieb: $1,000 Winners-Pavel Batrachenko, Paul Miller, Gregory Price--$300 Winners -Jennifer Hou, Cristina Moldvan--$100 Winner - Patrick Hummel ---After lunch and a quick change of clothes, everyone boarded a bus to Washington, D.C. They were given a "private tour" of one of the galleries in the Air and Space Museum by Dr. David Devorkin. From there, they went to NASA for a Ceremony where they were honored at a "Tribute to the U.S. Physics Olympiad Team 2002." The Ceremony began with introduction, followed by the keynote speaker, Astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld, Payload Commander of the recent successful Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. Dr. Grunsfeld spoke to the group encouraging them to continue to reach for their goal. He showed unbelievable pictures from outer space. He later met with the students, parents, teachers, and friends. (See camp photos for pictures).---Dr. Norman Neureiter, Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State, talked to the audience and added his and Colin Powell's congratulations to the Team. ---Dr. Jack Lightbody from NSF also added in his congratulations. Dr. Bernard V. Khoury, AAPT Executive Officer, then introduced the Team Coaches and the Physics Team Member to a round of cheers and applause. With him, Dr. Mary Mogge, Academic Director for the Team, and Dr. Marc Brodsky, Executive Director and CEO of AIP, each Team Member was awarded a Certificate; The five top members of the Team were then announced and presented with a medal and a scholarship check. Pavel Batrachenko, Steven Byrnes, Sean Markan, Benjamin Schwartz, David Simmons-Duffin. --After the awards presentation, everyone enjoyed good food and lots of well wishes. From NASA everyone was invited to attend a private screening at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum for "SPACE STATION 3D" in the IMAX Theater. A perfect ending to a perfect day! This wonderful day was made more eventful by all the teachers and parents of the Team Members who came to experience this wonderful time and honor with the 2002 United States Physics Team. To them, we owe a great deal of thanks. Thursday, June 06, 2002 The students have now completed 6 exams, 3 labs, 4 mystery labs--- non-stop problems sets and discussions. Were they tired of physics? NO... at every break you found them discussing the day’s problem, exams, or labs... (what a team) Wednesday, June 05, 2002 Today was the official t-shirt day for the students. Photographers were out to get a few pictures of the students in their 2002 U.S. Physics Team T-Shirts. (see camp photos- one of these group shots was framed, and autographed by the students and coaches then given as a “remembrance” to Astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld at the Friday night ceremony). After lunch the students relaxed a bit with a game of frisbee and cards, before going back to class for a five hour exam. Monday, June 03, 2002 UMD - John Toll Lounge - A welcome reception was given at the University of Maryland in honor of the 24 Team Members. The team took a break from their grueling schedule of labs and exams to enjoy this event. VIP’s from University of Maryland, the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Institute of Physics, and the American Physical Society came out to meet and greet the team members. Friday, May 31, 2002 Planes, Trains and Automobiles, is how they traveled to the Training Camp.--- 12:45 pm Chen Li- Walt Whitman High School, Emily Russell- Choate Rosemary Hall, and Andrew Lin - Jr. Coach for the Team, arrived by train at the New Carrollton Station. Twenty Six minutes later the students began arriving at B.W.I. airport. The first to land were Daniel Gulotta and Lydia Ng--- On the other side of town at the hotel those coming by car were checking in: the first driver to arrive was Chintan Hossain. Although there were a few delays the group arrived at camp in time for 7:30pm dinner. The students and coaches were given many books donated by publishers. After dinner there was an orientation in which Dr. Mary Mogge, Academic Director, gave them the rules of the training camp, and each member was given the opportunity to introduce themself and to share what they planned to be doing ten years from now. Most of the students plan to pursue their dreams in the physics area. However, there were a few who had bigger plans such as the one student who said he hoped to be somewhere on the beaches of Hawaii doing nothing ten years from now…