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February 2008 (Volume 3, Number 1)

February 2008 (Volume 3, Number 1) Entire Issue

FY08 Budget Causes Irreparable Harm to Science-APS Presses Congress For Emergency Funding
The American Physical Society, representing more than 46,000 physicists in universities, industry and national laboratories, regards the Fiscal Year 2008 omnibus spending bill as extraordinarily damaging to the nation’s science and technology enterprise.

Supporters of America COMPETES Bill Praise Its Passage, Urge Federal Funding
Capping a 10-year science advocacy campaign, Congress last year finally passed landmark innovation legislation that President Bush quickly signed into law.

‘Sputnik’ House Briefing Draws Trailblazing Astronauts
The launch of Sputnik more than 50 years ago served as a wake-up call for the nation as Americans confronted the reality that the U.S. was no longer considered the scientific and technical leader of the world.

Bienenstock Elected American Physical Society President
Arthur Bienenstock, a Stanford University professor and former associate director of the White House Office and Science Technology (OSTP), is the new APS president, following a recent election of officers by the society’s membership.

APS Board Calls for Doubling the Number of Physics Bachelors
The APS Executive Board wants the number of physics majors at U.S. colleges and universities to double to keep the nation globally competitive, according to a statement recently released by the board.

Three American Physical Society Members Receive National Medal of Science
Three APS members were recently named recipients of the 2005 and 2006 National Medal of Science, and one APS member was awarded the 2006 National Medal of Technology.

Physics Fans Get Chance to Win World’s Smallest Trophy
A nanoscale football field and helmet, created in silicon and metal by physicists in the Craighead research group at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., will be awarded as a prize in APS’ football video contest.

Members in the Media
This features members quoted in other publications.

Snapshots from Physics History
With two discoveries, announced in January 1925 and January 1929, astronomer Edwin Hubble radically changed our idea of the cosmos, showing first that the universe was much larger than previously thought, and second, that it is expanding, getting larger and larger all the time.

The Back Page: A Physicist for President?
Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers discusses the presidential platform of a physicist.

Mae C. Jemison, Kathryn D. Sullivan and Rep. Judy Biggert

Photo by Brian Mosley/APS Staff

Dr. Mae C. Jemison (left), the first African-American woman to travel into space, conveys a message to Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. (middle), the first American woman to perform a space walk, and U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL 13th) during the 'Sputnik' House briefing held late last year. The former astronauts discussed the importance of investing in basic research and science and math education during the event, which was sponsored by the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation in conjunction with the Congressional Research and Development Caucus. (See inside story).

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