APS/AAPT Doubling Initiative Mission Statement

We advocate doubling the number of bachelor degrees in physics to address critical national needs including K-12 education, economic competitiveness, energy, security, and an informed electorate

• An essential area of increase is in the number of highly-qualified high school physics teachers
   
• An essential area of increase is in the fraction of both women and under-represented minorities who major in physics
   

Further, there are critical areas and concerns associated with such an initiative:

• We do not necessarily seek to increase the number of PhDs in physics; however, we do advocate for an increase in the quality and diversity of the U.S. pool of physics PhD candidates.
   
• Physics majors successfully pursue and are qualified for a wide range of careers, and we support a much broader recognition of this by faculty and employers.
   
• We advocate that physics bachelor programs
   
  1. Evolve to meet needs of emerging areas such as biophysics and nanoscience
      
  2. Address documented shortages of physics-educated professionals in specific areas (e.g., secondary school teaching, medical physics, nuclear physics, etc.