From the Editor

The main event to report in this issue is undoubtedly the cancellation of the March meeting, the largest APS meeting. About ten thousand participants were affected, many were already on their way to Denver or actually already there. Most of them sustained some personal financial loss. Although the talks were eventually put online, the March meeting is always the time where people renew many acquaintances and talk to other researchers that are not exactly in the same subfield, and do not attend the same specialized conferences, but are nevertheless important to talk to. The April meeting has now officially been canceled as an in person meeting, but this time, with much longer notice. Virtual sessions will take place.

What will be the consequences in the long run, not just for Condensed matter Physics, but for Physics, and the APS, at large? Will meetings change their structure permanently?

I would very much welcome contributions (letters to the Editor or articles) on these events and what they may imply for scientific communication.

This issue is heavy on news: invited talks that had been scheduled, newly elected APS Fellows from our Forum, results of our elections, etc. Congratulations to all award, Fellowship, and election winners.

Contributions from all of you readers are always welcome. Articles and suggestions for articles should be sent to me, and also letters to the editor. Book reviews should go to the reviews editor directly (ahobson@uark.edu). Content is not peer reviewed and opinions given are the author’s only, not necessarily mine, nor the Forum’s or, a fortiori, not the APS’s either.

Oriol

Oriol T. Valls
University of Minnesota
otvalls@umn.edu