The Robert A. Millikan Lecture Award is made annually to a physicist chosen by a special committee of the American Association of Physics Teachers because of his creative and imaginative contributions to the teaching of physics. The lecturer selected is one whom the Association wishes to honor at the Summer Meeting in the same way that it honors the Oersted Medalist at the time of the Annual Meeting. The award is made possible through the annual support of of Prentice-Hall, Inc.; the first award was made in 1964.
The recipient of this award for 1966 is Alan M. Portis, Professor of Physics at the University of California at Berkeley.
The four-year development of the Berkeley Physics Laboratory is described starting from its inception in the Summer of 1962. Reasons for the special attention given to electrons and photons are presented. The use of student groups in the laboratory trials is discussed. The wide response to the laboratory is analyzed. Finally, modifications currently being made in the Laboratory by the Berkeley Physics faculty are presented and discussed.
