In the past few decades, the American Physical Society (APS) has
expanded beyond its traditional role of organizing meetings and
publishing journals and developed programs that address the needs of
the physics community more broadly. Recent education programs include
a conference on Graduate Education in Physics, New Faculty Workshops,
Future Physicist Days and Minority Undergraduate Scholarships. The
most substantial education project, the Physics Teacher Education
Coalition (PhysTEC), has been working to address the dramatic shortage
of qualified physics and physical science teachers. The Committee on
the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP) has promoted the inclusion of
women and organized several programs including professional skills
development workshops, departmental reviews, and a conference on
gender equity. As the role of the APS continues to evolve, you are
invited to join the conversation.
Dr. Monica Plisch is Assistant Director of Education at the American
Physical Society (APS) in College Park, Maryland. She leads several
initiatives within the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC)
project, including a coalition of more than 130 institutions committed
to improving the education of future physics teachers.