July 2006
SESSIONS AT THE SYRACUSE MEETING
Here is a brief summary of the physics-and-society workshops and sessions, listed in the order of their occurrence. If I've forgotten anything, please inform our group about it by sending a message to our listserv. Try to attend these sessions! We need your ideas and your energy!
* Workshop W02, Saturday July 22, 08:00-12:00 The Population Game: A Socially Significant Laboratory Activity Workshop leader: Art Hobson, University of Arkansas Teaches population dynamics via a game using dice-like cubes that model random exponential population growth, the effects of longevity, family planning, and other aspects of growth. See The Physics Teacher, April 2003, pp. 227-233.
* ISession BN, Monday July 24, 08:30-09:40
Energy and the Environment Presider: Steve Shropshire, Idaho State University
1. "America's sources of energy: What will the future be?" Gorden J. Aubrecht II, Ohio State University. Where will America's future electricity come from? Some say we must build one large generating plant a week in perpetuity. Are there other options? Could energy conservation help much? (Invited, 30 minutes)
2. "Citizens and technical issues: energy and environment," John W. White, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The world is faced by serious problems involving energy and environment, especially in light of expanding economies, limited petroleum supplies, and the greenhouse gas issue. This talk focuses on the education that is needed so that citizens can sort through these issues at the ballot box. (Invited, 30 minutes)
3. "Internal combustion: Taking an ecological approach," Paul L. Gueye, Hampton University. One answer to the search for alternatives to the world's dependency on oil as a fuel source for transportation: hydrogen, separated from water by electrolysis, has potential applications for four-stroke combustion engines. (Contributed, 10 minutes)
* Session EB, Wednesday July 26, 8:00-9:10
Physics and Society Education Presider: John Roeder, The Calhoun School, New York City.
1. "Seeing is believing: escaping energy dollars caught by students," Carol N. Burch, Robert Jones, and Susan Roik, Hannibal Central School, NY. Students used an infrared camera to investigate heat loss in residential and public structures, taking infrared pictures of their own homes (7th grade) and local community buildings (high school). Their reports included possible remedies to save energy. (Invited, 30 minutes)
2. "Introducing biomedical applications and projects to pre-med students in Qatar," Roger Hinrichs, Weill Cornell Medical College. Overview of a special two-year pre-medical program for Middle Eastern students, with details of specific experimental projects including electro-stimulation of muscles, neurons, and simulation of the action potential, blood pressure and gravity, airflow in lungs, etc. (Invited, 30 minutes)
3. "Sustainability and use of resources at present rates of production," Albert Bartlett, University of Colorado. An analysis of Gaussian Hubbert curves for a non-renewable resource such as coal, and of the "Hubbert Peak" for the most probable future production path P(t). (Contributed, 10 minutes)
* Session FA, Wedneday July 26, 1:00-3:15 pm Millikan and Klopsteg Award Lectures
1. "Thought on physics education for the 21st century," Art Hobson, University of Arkansas. Without scientific literacy for all people, the outlook for a better world is not promising. Physics for all should widely taught. Physics for all should be conceptual and primarily modern. It should include a strong societal component, because citizens need to vote intelligently on issues such as global warming and energy resources. (60 minutes)
2. "Warped passages: unraveling the mysteries of the universe's hidden dimensions," Lisa Randall, Harvard University. What if the extra dimensions required by string theory were not curled up but unfurled and vast, extending forever? [Comment: There's no obvious societal component here, but this talk promises to be interesting, and Randall is known to be an exciting theorist and speaker, as well as author of the popular book "Warped passages: Unraveling the mysteries of the universe's hidden dimensions."] (60 minutes)
* Session FH, Wednesday, July 26, 3:30-5:00 pm Crackerbarrel on Physics and Society Education.
Presider: Jane Flood, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
JOIN US to discuss how our group can be more effective in promoting the teaching of physics-related societal topics such as energy, environment, arms control, and pseudoscience. What can or should physics teachers be doing in relation to such topics? Everybody is welcome; please bring your ideas and your energy to this discussion.
PHYSICS AND SOCIETY EDUCATION WEBSITE
We have a website! To access it, go to www.aapt.org, click on "Links," and then click on "Physics and Society Education." Please "bookmark" it on your computer!
PHYSOC EMAIL LIST
To send an email message to everybody on the list, address it to:
The physoc list is for all of us. Use it for anything you want to share with the group: alert us to publications or talks, alert us to relevant news, send a copy of your own article or letter to the editor, ask the group for information, etc.
Help expand our list! If you know anybody who wants to join, ask them to email Art Hobson at ahobson@uark.edu (do NOT email physoc for this), with: