November 2015 eNNOUNCER
eNNOUNCER November 2015
2015 AAPT Executive Board Election Ends November 3
The election of officers for the AAPT Executive Board and voting on the new AAPT By-Laws question closes at midnight Eastern Time on November 3. If you received voting credentials and have not yet voted, please do so now.
Members (on July 31 2015) should have received instructions through email or, if no email is on file, through the mail to help you vote electronically. Those elected will take office at the close of the 2016 Winter Meeting. Learn more about the candidates.
2016 AAPT Winter Meeting Service Awards
AAPT has announced that the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT will be awarded to Michael Faleski, Marina Milner-Bolotin, Gay Stewart, David Weaver, and Karl Mamola during the 2016 Winter Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2016 Winter Meeting Plenary Speakers
Dr. Benjamin D. Santer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Dr. Santer is an atmospheric scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). His research focuses on such topics as climate model evaluation, the use of statistical methods in climate science, and identification of natural and anthropogenic "fingerprints" in observed climate records. His plenary talk is entitled Evidence for Human Effects on Global Climate.
Please click here for full bio.
Dr. Kimberly Ennico Smith, NASA's Ames Research Center- Dr. Kimberly Ennico Smith is a research astrophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center. She is a Co-Investigator and Deputy Project Scientist on NASA's New Horizons Pluto Fly-by Mission, leading the calibration activities and doing compositional mapping of Pluto and Charon with color imagery and spectroscopy. Her plenary talk is entitled First Results from the Historic 1st Fly-By Space Mission.
Connections Matter and could lead to a free trip to SM16
Bring the value of AAPT to your friends and colleagues and enhance your experience connecting with like-minded individuals. When you recruit a member from now through January 31, 2016, you will you will receive one referral credit toward the grand prize of a free trip to the 2016 Summer Meeting in Sacramento, California. Here are some helpful tips.
2016 AAPT Winter Meeting - Registration Early Bird Deadline is Nov.10
The 2016 AAPT Winter Meeting will be held January 9-12, 2016 in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. Join hundreds of your colleagues from early career professionals to those more seasoned, for networking and professional development on a host of topics. Registration is open. The Early Bird Saving opportunity ends November 10. Register early and save.
2016 Winter Meeting Post-deadline Abstracts
Post-deadline abstracts will be accepted through November 4. All post-deadline abstracts will be scheduled on the last day of the meeting. All submitted abstracts will be accepted for the Winter meeting. Please check the AAPT website by mid-October for the date and time of your presentation. A minimum of one-day registration is required for all contributed/poster presenters. All presenters must be registered by November 10, 2015 in order to have your abstract included in the program. Link here to Abstract Submissions.
AAPT's 2015 eMentoring Webinar
Upcoming eMentoring webinar:
9 November, 8 PM EST - "Writing and Reading in the Sciences" with Tanya Baker, The National Writing Project and Trey Smith, The National Writing Project science teacher and Library of Congress science teaching fellow.
Join this one-hour webinar about how to create effective prompts and opportunities to engage students in writing and narration to expose their thinking about science. Ideas will be presented for incorporating the Library of Congress' thousands of free online, historical documents from science history. This webinar will also include a brief overview of the Common Core State Standards for E/LA Reading and Writing in the Sciences and Technical Subjects.
AAPT members and the general public may register for free at: http://goo.gl/forms/qKDlseHMbo.
Neutrinos Resource in Celebration of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics
The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics has been presented "for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass."
In celebration of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, AAPT presents a new resource for members to use in teaching about the physics behind the Nobel Prize, " Neutrinos: Teaching the science behind the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics" featuring articles published in the the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher.
Celebrate 100 Years of General Relativity
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einstein's publication of his theory of general relativity, the BBC World News TV will be broadcasting a series of shows on November 25 looking at the history of general relativity, current experiments searching for evidence of gravitational waves, and general relativity's role in physics education. AAPT's K-12 Program Manager Rebecca Vieyra will be interviewed on one of the shows. In addition, AAPT has prepared an article pack of information about general relativity, available at www.aapt.org.
New to eMentoring - Instant Mentor
Are you an early-career high school physics teacher who sometimes wishes you had "immediate" feedback from an experienced mentor, but don't need a full mentorship pairing? If so, consider seeking help through the AAPT's free Program new "Instant Mentor" option, and a registered eMentor volunteer will get back to you within 24 hours or sooner. Submit your request for an instant Mentor at ementoring.aapt.org.
2016 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 2016 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.
U.S. Physics Team Coach Call
AAPT is seeking faculty to join the staff for the 2016 U.S. Physics Team. Learn about the qualifications and how to apply by clicking here.
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.
Leadership and Recognition Opportunities for K-12 STEM Teachers
November is the time to think about leadership and recognition opportunities for K-12 physics and STEM teachers! Please consider nominating someone or applying for these awards to enhance your own professional development and bring greater recognition to your work as a physics teacher. Contact AAPT K-12 Program Manager if you would like to be put in contact with another AAPT member who has experience applying for these opportunities or winning these awards.
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation Teacher Fellowship - Apply by November 1, 2015
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching - Apply by November 4, 2015
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship - Apply by November 19, 2015
National Board Teacher Certification - Register before January 31, 2016
Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching - (Self)-nominate by April 1, 2016
Two-Year College New Faculty Experience 2016-17 Applications Due
Applications are open for the NSF-supported Two-Year College New Faculty Training Experience for TYC physics faculty in their first five years of teaching. The application deadline is December 28, 2015 but early applications are encouraged. More information is available here.
2016 Physics and Astronomy Experienced Faculty Workshop
The next NSF-supported Physics and Astronomy Experienced Faculty Workshop will be held March 18-20, 2016 in College Park, MD. More information about applying for the workshop will be available in December 2015 on the AAPT web site.
2016 PhysTEC Conference
The 2016 PhysTEC Conference, will be held in Baltimore, MD next March 11-13. To learn more visit the conference website.
Lotze Scholarship Deadline
Undergraduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in physics teacher preparation curricula and high school seniors are eligible to apply for a $2,000 stipend. Recipients will also receive an AAPT Student Membership for one year. The scholarship may be granted to an individual for each of four years. All applications in which all materials, including letters of recommendation, are received by December 1 will be considered for recommendation at the winter meeting by the AAPT Executive Board. Read more »
More from your Membership, Update your AAPT Profile
It is renewal season for 80% of AAPT Members. Do you have new contact information? Login at aapt.org and update your profile information to assure that you receive all of your benefits. While your are logged in your can renew your membership for the coming year. 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.
Child Care Grants now available for WM16
AAPT has small grants up to $400 available for AAPT national meeting attendees who are bringing small children to a national meeting or who incur extra expenses in leaving their children at home (i.e., extra daycare or babysitting services) in order to attend a national meeting.Applications must be received by December 1, 2015 to be considered by the Child Care Grant Selection Committee for a grant associated with the 2016 Winter Meeting. Read more »
Team America Rocketry Challenge
AAPT is proud to be an Educational Partner for the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) in partnership with AAPT, DoD, NASA and AIA member companies, TARC is an opportunity for hands-on learning as students design, build and fly model rockets in a national contest while competing for more than $100,000 in cash and scholarships.
TARC 2016 Registration runs until December 4, 2015 and is open to teams of 3-10 students in grades 7-12. For more information or to register, go to rocketcontest.org. The National Finals will be held in the Washington, D.C. area in early May.
EcoChains: Arctic Crisis Game Night
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
The Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences is hosting an Arctic-themed evening of the brand new card game EcoChains: Arctic Crisis. Created by a team of Arctic climate change researchers and game design experts, EcoChains is a fun and easy-to-learn game of strategy and survival. Play the game, meet its creators, and win prizes! Read more »
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship (AEF) Program for K-12 STEM Teachers is now accepting applications for the 2016-2017 fellowship year. The AEF program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend 11 months working in a Federal agency or U.S. Congressional office, bringing their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to STEM education programs and/or education policy efforts. . The deadline for applications is November 19, 2015. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be currently employed full-time in a U.S. public or private elementary or secondary school or school district, and must have taught full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline. Read more »
Inclusive Excellence: 2017 Undergraduate Science Education Grants
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute recently announced a new competition for science education grants to colleges and universities called "Inclusive Excellence: Engaging all students in science."
The Four Modeling Workshops (June 6-24, July 5-15, 2016) for high school physics, chemistry, and physical science teachers nationwide are offered by Arizona State University in Tempe. Low-cost family housing. Pre-service and TYC teachers are welcome, too. ASU Modeling Instruction is designated as an Accomplished STEM program by Change The Equation. The American Physical Society gave it the 2014 Excellence in Physics Education Award.
IX International Congress on Didactics of Science and XIV International Workshop on Teaching of Physics
Havana Convention's Palace, Havana, Cuba, March 28 to April 1, 2016
The Ministry of Education of Cuban Republic and the Latin-American and Caribbean Pedagogical Institute have the pleasure of inviting you to participate at the IX International Congress on Didactics of Science and the XIV International Workshop on Teaching of Physics which will be held in the Havana Convention's Palace, Havana, Cuba.
The Congress WEB page: www.didadcien.com
Registration deadline is November 15, 2015.
Free Webinar on Transitioning Your Career Beyond Academia
Craft a successful strategy to research, prepare, and ultimately change to a career outside academia, and how to determine the right career for your needs, desires and ambitions. Learn how to stay connected and collaborative with colleagues in higher education, even after you leave, just in case you decide to return to it the future. Register for this free event, being held on November 5, 2015 at 2PM ET and co-sponsored by AAPT.
Laboratory Lecturer/Coordinator, Full-time, 12-month
http://jobs.aapt.org/jobs/7552864
Physics Instructor Position
Guided Discoveries
Free Introductory Engineering Courses on www.coursera.org
There are a series of 4 free introductory courses in engineering available on www.coursera.org. These courses start with an introduction to engineering mechanics and progress through more advanced engineering topics. Concepts are applied in these course from previous courses taken in basic math and physics. Motivated high school students who want to learn more about engineering will find these courses very accessible. The courses address the modeling and analysis of engineering problems with an emphasis on real world engineering applications. These courses are offered by Dr. Wayne Whiteman, a faculty member in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech.
Statics Part 1: Introduction to Engineering Mechanics
Statics Part 2: Applications in Engineering Mechanics
2D Dynamics: Engineering Systems in Motion
3D Dynamics: Advanced Engineering Systems in Motion
Periscope: Looking into learning in best-practices physics classrooms
Periscope is a set of lessons centered on video episodes from best-practices physics classrooms. By watching and discussing authentic teaching events, instructors enrich their experience with noticing and interpreting student behavior and practice applying lessons learned about teaching to actual teaching situations.
Periscope is free to qualified educators at physport.org/periscope.
Cern Beamline for Schools Competition
CERN is famous for the Large Hadron Collider, but there's much more to the laboratory than that. A large part of CERN's research and development is carried out using fixed-target beamlines, which are used for a variety of experiments that range from investigating the inner workings of protons to probing the mysteries of antimatter. As part of the beam line for schools competition, CERN is making a fully equipped beamline available for a team of school students to run an experiment. Read more »
The International Year of Light K-8 teacher resources
In celebration of the International Year of Light, Laser Classroom has several new resources for K-8 teachers.
First is a series of videos that walks teachers through the IYL Kit - the 4 videos total about 30 minutes and go over the kit's contents and the activities in the accompanying booklet.
Colors and materials
Shadows and Refraction
Second is a free, 5 week, self-paced, online professional development course via Canvas.net for formal and informal educators around teaching light and optics with kids ages 6-14. Details and registration can be found here.
Galileoscope Launches 2015 International Year of Light Programs
The Galileoscope program for the 2015 International Year of Light (IYL) is now in full swing, with new inventory available for delivery worldwide, and thousands of K-12 teachers and students in the United States poised to receive free telescope kits thanks to a generous donation to support science education. Created for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA), the Galileoscope solved a long-standing problem: the lack of a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit suitable for both optics education and celestial observation. Order your Galileoscope at www.galileoscope.org.
To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mgardner@aapt.org. See the July 2015 Section News.
Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse on Film and Video
A LEGO Watt balance: An apparatus to determine a mass based on the new SI
2016 High School Physics Photo Contest Calendar
Twin Views of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse