Editor’s Comments

Cameron Reed

When I became editor of P&S just over a year ago I looked forward to reading contributions on a variety of subjects, and I have not been disappointed. For this edition our Forum News includes a report on the Forum Executive Committee Meeting that was held during the Washington, DC, APS meeting in February, and an informative summary of FPS-sponsored or co-sponsored sessions held during that meeting. Reprints of statements from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the AIP respectively address radiation exposure and the appointment of a commission by the Secretary of Energy to advise on issues concerning spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. (As this issue of P&S was being prepared for publication, an AIP FYI reported on testimony before the Congressional Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the need for stronger federal regulation of medical radiation diagnostic and treatment procedures.) We also have an exchange of letters on global warming and commentaries on three very different topics: the risks of alternative medicine, the need for an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Commerce, and energy policy. Our feature articles concern tips for communicating science to the media and the issue of federal involvement in isotope production, and our book reviews examine treatments of U.S. science policy in the twenty-first century and a look at the life of Werner Heisenberg and the German nuclear energy program.

As always, we hope you find these articles enjoyable and thought-provoking, and welcome your contributions. I especially encourage those of you who have presented papers at Forum-sponsored sessions the APS meeting to write up your talks for the Newsletter.

This contribution has not been peer refereed. It represents solely the view(s) of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of APS.