Forum News

Maury Goodman joins P&S Editorial Board

We are pleased to welcome Maury Goodman to the Editorial Board of P&S. Maury is replacing Ruth Howes, who is rotating off the Board after a three-year term. Maury is the leader of the neutrino group in the High Energy Physics Division at Argonne National Laboratory. He received his B.S. from M.I.T. in 1972, and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois in 1979, with a minor in Nuclear Engineering. He served as a postdoc at MIT until 1984, when he joined ANL. He has worked as a particle physicist, specializing in neutrinos and underground physics. He is currently on the MINOS, NOvA and Double Chooz neutrino experiments and recently became deputy spokesperson for LBNE, a new project for a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment using a beam at Fermilab and a detector at the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (DUSEL) proposed for South Dakota. He has served on the APS investments committee, and was on the nominating committee of the FPS from 2001-2007 with 3 years as chairman. He was elected a fellow in the APS in 2008.



2012 Forum Award Recipients Announced

Recipients of the Forum's Joseph A. Burton and Leo Szilard Lectureship Awards for 2012 have been announced. The Burton Award is given to recognize outstanding contributions to the public understanding or resolution of issues involving the interface of physics and society. The recipient for 2012 is Arian Pregenzer of Stanford University "For her intellectual and managerial leadership in creating centers that allow international technical and policy experts to explore confidence building measures and other arms control regimes." The Leo Szilard Lectureship Award is given to recognize outstanding accomplishments by physicists in promoting the use of physics for the benefit of society in such areas as the environment, arms control, and science policy. The 2012 recipient of this award is Siegfried Hecker, also of Stanford University "For his leadership in developing international science and technology cooperation in areas critical to global security resulting in real reductions in the dangers of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism." P&S extends congratulations to Drs. Pregenzer and Hecker on their well-deserved recognitions, and thanks the members of the selection committee for their work: Charles Ferguson (Chair), Granger Morgan, James L. Bonomo, and John Ahearne.

The deadline for nominations for the 2013 Burton and Szilard Awards is July 1, 2012. More Information on Forum prizes and awards.



Assistant Editor Wurtele Receives Plasma Physics Research Award

Physics & Society is very pleased to note that Assistant Editor Jonathan Wurtele is the recipient of the APS's 2011 John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research "For the introduction and use of innovative plasma techniques which produced the first demonstration of the trapping of antihydrogen."



New Fellows Elected through the Forum

Forum members Jonathan Katz and William Rees were elected to Fellowship at the November APS Council meeting through FPS nomination. Katz (Washington University) was recognized "For his significant and wide-ranging physics analyses at the interface of science and society, including nuclear weapons policy and the killing of oil well blow-outs". Rees is being recognized "For applying technical expertise and policy knowledge to strengthen the nation's physics enterprise." Rees joined the Bush Administration immediately after 9/11 to support the stand-up of the Science and Technology Directorate within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. Later he joined the Department of Defense as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Laboratories and Basic Science, where he oversaw $1.8 billion of annual funding in basic research. Katz, Rees, and the recipients of the Burton and Szilard awards will be recognized at the Forum Awards session at the April meeting in Atlanta (see below).



APS Congressional Science Fellowships

Applications for APS Congressional Science Fellowships are due January 13, 2012. Details can be found at http://aps.org/ policy/fellowships/congressional.cfm. Congressional Fellowships are an opportunity for physicists who want to apply their knowledge and skills beyond the lab bench to the conduct of national policy. Fellows serve a one-year term working in the office of a Member of Congress or for a congressional committee. The fellowship term is for one year, usually running September through August. Benefits include a stipend of $70,000 per year, a relocation allowance, an allowance for in-service travel for professional development and reimbursement for health insurance up to a specified maximum.



FPS to Host Sessions at APS March Meeting

The annual March meeting of the APS will be held at the Boston Convention Center from February 27 – March 2, 2012. FPS is hosting three sessions; tentative titles of presentations are given here. Not all details of Forum-sponsored sessions were available at press time.

Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:00 AM

Broader Impacts of Research - NSF Policy and Individual Responsibility
Session Chair: Donald Prosnitz (Independent Consultant)

Science, the Scientists and Values, Alan I. Leshner (Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science)

The APS and the Impact on Physics and Society, Barry C. Barish (California Institute of Technology)

Why Physicists have a Responsibility to Society, Charles D. Ferguson (Federation of American Scientists)

The Broader Impact Criteria - What’s the solution? Don Prosnitz (Independent Consultant)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 8:00 AM

Novel and Proven Methods of Communicating Science to the Public
Session Chair: Brian Schwartz (Brooklyn College and The Graduate Center, CUNY)

Developing a Community-Based Theatre Company Committed to Science Plays, Debra Wise (Artistic Director, Underground Railway Theater and Catalyst, MIT)

Using Cartoons to Communicate Science, Todd Rosenberg (Odd Todd Studios)

Animating Conversational Portraits on Science and Scientists, Flash Rosenberg (Flash Rosenberg Studio)

The New Wave of Science Festivals and their Establishment, John Durant (Director, MIT Museum and the Cambridge Science Festival)

Celebrating 20 Years of Public Outreach of Science and Engineering in Portland. OR, Terry Bristol (President, Institute for Science, Engineering and Public Policy)

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 11:15 AM

Nuclear Power, One Year After Fukushima
Session Chair: David Wright (Union of Concerned Scientists)

A Technical Description of What Happened at Fukushima, Implications for Nuclear Power in Japan, and Lessons for the Future, Akira Omoto (Commissioner, Atomic Energy Commission, Japan)

Lessons from Fukushima for Improving the Safety of Nuclear Reactors, Ed Lyman (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Nuclear Power in China, Yun Zhou (Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University)

Nuclear Power in India, M. V. Ramana (Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University)



FPS to Host Sessions at APS April Meeting

The annual April meeting of the APS will be held jointly with the annual Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA, from March 31 – April 3, 2012. The theme of the meeting is 100 Years of Cosmic Ray Physics. FPS is sponsoring five sessions. Not all details of times, locations, and speakers were available at press time.

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 10:45 am

FPS Awards Session
Session Chair: Pete Zimmerman (King’s College, London)

Introduction of new Fellows elected through the Forum, presentation of Burton and Szilard Award recipients, and invited talks by them.

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 3:30 pm

The Forum at Forty
Session Chair: Puspha Bhat (Fermilab)

Keynote Speaker: Prof. Martin Perl (SLAC, Nobel Laureate, and one of the founding chairs of FPS) Creativity and Funding Reality in Physics.

Other Panelists/Speakers: Brian Schwartz, Pete Zimmerman, Dave Hafemeister, Andrew Zwicker

Monday, April 2, 2012, 10:45 am

New Developments in Radiation Detection Technologies & Nuclear Security
Session Chair: Doug Wright (LLNL)

Latest developments in radiation detection technology and nuclear security issues are discussed.

Nuclear Detection Architecture to Counter Nuclear Terrorism, Warren Stern (Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, DHS)

TBD, Mike Kuliasha, (Director of Defense Threat Reduction Agency Nuclear Technologies, DOD)

Don’t mess with NEST (Nuclear Emergency Response Team), Mike Larson (LANL)

Monday, April 2, 2012, 3:30 pm

American Science & America’s Future (Panel)
Session Chair: Pushpa Bhat (Fermilab); Moderator: Lawrence Krauss (Director, Origins Institute, Arizona State University)

How is the US going to maintain its leadership and competitive edge in the 21st century science and innovation? This panel session will address issues for scientific research, science education, S&T policies, scientific & technical workforce development, and impacts on industry and economy in the US in the new era. It is hoped that the discussion will also explore what measures might be necessary for the US to retain its strong leadership position in promoting and sponsoring science and technological development in the new global economy.

Keynote address: Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Member, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology).

Panel:
Dr. Neal Lane (Rice University, Former Presidential Science Advisor)
Rep. Dr. Rush Holt (To be confirmed)
Dr. Bill Foster (To be confirmed)
Dr. Jim Siegrist, Associate Director, High Energy Physics Division, DOE (To be confirmed)
Dr. Tim Hallman, Associate Director, Nuclear Physics Division, DOE (To be confirmed)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 10:45 am

Nuclear Energy, Safety & Security, Post-Fukushima
Session Chair: Charles Ferguson (Federation of American Scientists)

TBD, Richard Meserve (President, The Carnegie Institute of Science)

TBD, Mark Peters (Deputy Director for Programs, Argonne National Laboratory)

TBD, Harold Feiveson (Princeton University)

These contributions have not been peer-refereed. They represent solely the view(s) of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of APS.