The American Association of Physics Teachers has presented its medals and awards for 2003 for contributions to physics teaching and research.
The Oersted Medal, AAPT’s highest honor given for notable contributions to the teaching of physics, went to Edward W. Kolb, a cosmologist in the theoretical astrophysics group at Fermilab and a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago.
The Richtmyer Memorial Lecture Award went to Margaret Murnane, a fellow at JILA and a professor of physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her award lecture was entitled “Can We Make Atoms Sing and Molecules Dance? Using Fast Light Pulses to Observe and Control Nature.”
The Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award recipient was Sylvester James Gates Jr, John S. Toll Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. “Why Einstein Would Love Spaghetti in Fundamental Physics” was the topic of his award lecture.
Fred Goldberg, professor of physics in the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education at San Diego State University, received the Robert A. Millikan Award for his contributions as a leader in the field of physics education research.
Michael Zeilik won the Excellence in Introductory College Physics Teaching Award for his work as a pioneer in astronomy education research at the the university level. He is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
The Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching Award was given to John Roeder, a physics teacher at the Calhoun School in New York City, for his contributions to his school, the teaching profession, and the professional science community.
The association presented Distinguished Service Citations to the following members: Patrick Callahan (Delaware Valley Regional High School in Frenchtown, New Jersey); Wolfgang Christian (Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina); Alexander Dickison (Seminole Community College in Sanford, Florida); Richard Smith (retired from the University of West Florida in Pensacola); and Larry Martin (North Park University in Chicago), whose citation was awarded posthumously.
