APS News

November 1998 (Volume 7, Number 10)

Centennial: Topical Symposia Arranged for Centennial Meeting

In addition to the invited plenary talks to be featured at the APS Centennial Meeting in Atlanta, individual APS divisions, topical groups and forums have organized a series of special scientific symposia intended for all attendees and covering nearly every subfield of physics. An alphabetical listing of the various symposia, along with a brief description of each and the sponsoring unit, can be found below. For a preliminary list of scheduled invited speakers for each session, check the special Centennial Meeting program booklet mailed to all APS members in October, or access the APS Centennial Meeting Web site.

Applications of Lasers and New Physics (DLS)
Lasers with precise frequency, directionality, high intensity or short-pulse duration have many technological and research uses. Here are some far-reaching new applications in science and medicine.

Atomic Clocks in Science and Technology (DAMOP, GPMFC)
The development of the atomic clock has led to important advances in a surprisingly wide range of fields in science and technology.

The Atomic Nucleus: A 20th Century Journey into the Microcosm of Matter (DNP)
This symposium describes the exploration and the evolution of our understanding of the atomic nucleus, center of the atom and all visible matter.

Breakthroughs of Women in Physics (CSWP)
The stories of women physicists whose success has advanced both the progress of science and the demolition of barriers that hinder the full participation of women in physics.

Dynamics Since Poincare (GSNP)
Chaos in dynamics, and its ubiquitous manifestation in physical systems, has been thought to be one of the greatest discoveries of this century.

Einstein's Legacy: Probing Nature's Experiments in Gravitational Physics (GGR)
Nature has constructed astronomical experiments which exhibit the full range of gravitational phenomena.

Electronic Structure and Semiconductors (DCMP)
The central theme of this symposium is the physics of semiconductors, demonstrating the synergy between theoretical developments and technological applications.

Energy Landscapes in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (DBP)
The concept of the energy landscape is proving to be a useful way of thinking about the dynamics of a wide variety of systems, notably glasses and proteins.

Environmental and Medical Applications of Chemical Physics (DCP)
This symposium will focus on the applications of chemical physics to issues of direct concern to society.

The History of Chemical Physics (DCP)
The history of theoretical and experimental chemical physics, spanning processes in gas and condensed phases, will be reviewed.

The History of Magnetism (DMP, GMAG)
The rich diversity of magnetic phenomena and magnetic materials provides a fascinating history of fundamental physics studies and the basis for a stream of technological applications.

History of Physics in the National Defense (FIAP, FPS)
We will hear the story of radar and nuclear weapons, imaging and communication satellites, major national programs, national security policy and arms control, from those involved.

The Impact of Computing on Physics (DCOMP)
Presentations will highlight how advances in computing have enabled advances in physics on the national scale, in materials, fluids, and biology.

The Impact of Immigration on U.S. Physics (FIP)
There is no question that U.S. science has profited immensely from the immigration of physicists to our country. The symposium will explore the impact of immigration during the past century on physics in the U.S.

The Impact of the Laser on Contemporary Physics (DAMOP, DLS)
This symposium will review some of the forty year history of the laser and describe some of its applications for physics and technology.

Industrial Research: Past, Present, and Future (FIAP)
We will learn about the historical and future goals of the Research Divisions of Ford, GE, IBM, and Lucent from their leaders.

Milestones in Polymer Physics (DHPP)
Distinguished speakers will review breakthroughs in the development of polymer physics, from its inception to the present.

The Natural Standards (GIMS, GPMFC)
"Natural Standards" anchors the ensemble of the International System of Units (SI) base units to the unvarying constants of nature.

Neutrinos (DPF, DNP, DAP)
Empirical knowledge about the properties and interactions of neutrinos has been increasing rapidly, crucially affecting our understanding of nuclear processes, high-energy physics, and the universe.

From Particles to Atoms and Galaxies: Physics in All Sizes and by All Peoples (COM)
Members of the minority physics community will discuss their roles and contributions to atomic, high energy, astro- and condensed matter physics, as well as in public service.

Physics Education Research: How to be a Better Teacher (FEd)
The current widespread activity in Physics Education Research will be described by leaders in the physics education community.

Physics in the 20th Century: The Revolution - Quantum Mechanics and Relativity (FHP)
This symposium deals with the history of some of the fundamental developments in 20th-century physics.

Physics in the 20th Century: World War II, Accelerators, and the Rise of High-energy Physics (FHP)
This symposium emphasizes the growth of high-energy physics, including accelerators and detectors along with the role of physicists in World War II and developments in theoretical physics since that war.

Plasma Physics in the 20th Century: From Fundamental Physics to Applications (DPP)
The talks focus on the key physics issues, which have surfaced in the exploration of plasma dynamics in the natural universe, in basic laboratory experiments, and in applications.

Precision Measurements in Atomic Physics: A Window into Fundamental Interactions (DAMOP, GPMFC)
The precision and tools available in atomic physics permit the study of low energy fundamental interactions at very low energies that test the foundations of physics.

Quantum Many-Body Phenomena (DCMP, DMP)
A central issue in condensed-matter physics is the emergent behavior from interactions among electrons. Manifestations of these interactions have led to the discovery of families of materials displaying these phenomena.

Science Policy for the New Millennium (FPS)
Subjects open for discussion include the size of the federal investment, program accountability, priority setting, enduring rationales for public investment in research, linkages between educational institutions and industry, and the balance in the R&D portfolio.

Science with Accelerators, Storage Rings, and Light Sources (DPB)
This symposium will include some history, some high-energy physics, application of synchrotron radiation to high-T s, and future uses for spallation neutrons and advanced light sources.

The Search for the Ultimate Structure of Matter (DPF)
This symposium highlights the quest to understand the ultimate structure of matter, from the discovery of the Rutherford atom to the opportunities of the 21st century.

Spontaneous Pattern Formation in Fluids (DFD, GSNP)
Nature abounds with intriguing patterns formed as a consequence of spontaneous instabilities. Here, we trace the legacy of those giants who gave structure to our early insight into nonlinear process and assess progress to date.

Statistical and Multi-disciplinary Physics (DCMP, DMP, GSNP)
This symposium highlights the recent flourishing of statistical physics and some of the many ways in which condensed-matter physics and materials physics reach out to other areas in the sciences.

The Three-Body Problem in Atomic, Molecular, and Nuclear Physics (GFB)
The talks will focus on the contributions made by researchers toward unraveling the complexities of three interacting particles, using the insights and tools of classical, semiclassical, and quantum mechanics.

20th Century Developments in Instrumentation and Measurements (GIMS, FHP)
From pre-20th century instruments, there is a natural progression involving the era of electronics, the role of standardization filled by the National Bureau of Standards, and the impact of computers in laboratories.

Unsolved Problems in Astrophysics (DAP)
Advances in astrophysical research in the last few decades have solved many fundamental problems. They have also provided a number of new and perplexing questions, four of which we will explore in this symposium.



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APS encourages the redistribution of the materials included in this newspaper provided that attribution to the source is noted and the materials are not truncated or changed.

Editor: Barrett H. Ripin

November 1998 (Volume 7, Number 10)

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Articles in this Issue
Centennial: APS Establishes Travel Grants for Student Centennial Attendance
Centennial: Topical Symposia Arranged for Centennial Meeting
Centennial: APS Ephemera Wanted/APS Centurions
Centennial: Historical Factal
Centennial: A Century of Physics
Centennial: Prominent Physicists CD-ROM
Leo Szilard Lectureship Award is Funded
Physicists To Be Honored at November Meetings
In Brief
Physical Review Focus
Senior Membership
APS Regional Sections Hold Fall Meetings
Inside the Beltway: A Washington Analysis
Letters
The Back Page
Zero Gravity: The Lighter Side of Science