APS News

March 2018 (Volume 27, Number 3)

2018 APS April Meeting: "Hello, Columbus"

Columbus, Ohio photo


Attendees in fields from "Quarks to the Cosmos," including particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and gravitation, will gather in Columbus, Ohio, April 14 - 17, at the Columbus Convention Center for the 2018 APS April Meeting. The meeting theme this year is "A Feynman Century," marking the 100th anniversary of the Nobel-winning physicist’s birth with a Kavli Foundation Plenary Session and an invited session on his legacy.

The Kavli session will be held on Saturday, April 14 (8:30 a.m.) and will feature a presentation by Joan Feynman (Jet Propulsion Lab, retired) on life with her brother Richard and her concerns about climate change. Christopher Monroe (University of Maryland and IonQ) will discuss Richard Feynman’s involvement in the origins of quantum computing. Roxanne Springer (Duke University) will talk about Feynman’s contributions to quantum field theory. Discussions about Feynman will continue at an APS Forum on the History of Physics invited session on Monday, April 16 (room B130) at 1:30 p.m., with Paul Halperin (University of the Sciences), John Preskill (California Institute of Technology), and Virginia Trimble (University of California at Irvine).

Two skill-building events for women will take place at the meeting. The first, for postdocs and early career researchers, is a Professional Skills Development Workshop for Women on persuasive communication, negotiation, and leadership (Friday, April 13, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.). The second is a Professional Skills Seminar specifically for undergraduate and graduate women in physics (Sunday, April 15 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.). The seminar will focus on professional skills that students can use to negotiate a position in academia, industry, or at a national lab, interact positively on teams and with a mentor or advisor, think tactically, articulate goals, enhance their personal presence, and develop alliances.

APS will hold its Annual Business Meeting with presentations by APS leadership and an opportunity to ask questions and share comments (4:00 - 5:00 p.m., room A216).

On Saturday, there will be a welcome reception and poster session (5:30 p.m.), followed later (7:00 - 8:00 p.m.) by Nobel laureate Rainer Weiss (MIT), who will present a lecture open to the public on "Exploring the Universe with Gravitational Waves."

Monday’s plenary session (April 16, 8:30 a.m.) features three speakers: Njema Frazier (National Nuclear Security Administration, DOE) will discuss her agency’s programs; Anne Archibald (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy) will give a presentation on "Tests of General Relativity Using a Pulsar in a Triple System," and Marcelle Soares-Santos (Brandeis University) will present "Discovery, Characterization, and Physics Implications of the Electromagnetic Signatures of GW170817" on the first direct detection of a neutron star merger.

A distinguished lineup of speakers graces the plenary session on Tuesday (April 17, 8:30 a.m.). Astrophysicist Eugene Parker (University of Chicago), winner of the 2017 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research, will discuss the physics of magnetic fields in the Sun. 2017 Nobel Laureates Rainer Weiss (MIT) and Barry Barish (Caltech) will give presentations on LIGO and gravitational wave physics.

Throughout 2018, APS leadership will be engaged in developing a strategic plan for the coming years. Member input is vital to this process, so please be sure to attend the Town Hall on Strategic Planning on Monday, April 16, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. in room B130 of the Convention Center. The Town Hall will be hosted by 2018 APS President Roger Falcone and APS Chief Executive Officer Kate Kirby.

For more on the April Meeting visit the April meeting website.

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Editor: David Voss
Contributing Correspondent: Alaina G. Levine
Publication Designer and Production: Nancy Bennett-Karasik

March 2018 (Volume 27, Number 3)

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Articles in this Issue
2018 APS April Meeting: "Hello, Columbus"
Physical Review B: Condensed Matter, Then and Now
PhysTEC Announces New Members of The 5+ Club
Joseph Polchinski 1954-2018
2018 Review of APS Honors Program Underway
Physics is Part of the "World View" of this Cybersecurity Expert
2018 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research
Profiles in Versatility
Spotlight on Development
This Month in Physics History
News from the Office of Government Affairs
Education and Diversity Update
Special Commentary
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