Keeping up with what’s going on in physics

NOV 01, 1971

AIP’s Current Physics Information program offers new products to help scientists and engineers stay up‐to‐date.

Arthur Herschman

In an earlier incarnation, it seems, when I did things in physics rather than for physics, I was dimly aware of having an information problem although I doubt that I would have used that term. I scanned Phys Rev and certain other journals; I attended APS meetings. But somehow key items kept getting lost in the chinks—I found out about them much too late to use them properly. This frustration was compounded every time I decided to work on a new topic; tracking down the basic references was maddening. Later, when I became involved in physics information to the exclusion of physics research, I discovered a quote from Lord Rayleigh that summed up my feelings better than I could:

References

1. R. E. Maizell, physics today 13, October 1960, page 42.
2. V. Z. Williams, E. Hutchisson, H. C. Wolfe, physics today 19, January 1966, page 45.
3. Cumulative Bibliography of AIP Information Reports, AIP‐ID‐71‐1 (May 1971).
4. L. J. Anthony, H. East, M. J. Slater, Reports on Progr. in Phys. 32, 709 (1969).
5. H. W. Koch, physics today 21, April 1968, page 41.
6. A. Herschman, F. L. Alt, H. W. Koch, physics today 22, December 1969, page 29.
7. A Program for a National Information System for Physics (1970–1972), AIP‐ID‐69R (August 1969).
8. A Program for a National Information System for Physics and Astronomy (1971–1975), AIP‐ID‐70P (June 1970).
9. The AIP Program for Physics Information, AIP‐ID‐71P (June 1971).
10. C. Herring, physics today 21, September 1968, page 27.
11. W. D. Garvey, B. E. Compton, Johns Hopkins Mag. 18, no. 4, 3 (1967).
12. J. M. Ziman, Public Knowledge; an Essay Concerning the Social Dimensions of Science, Cambridge U.P., Cambridge. UK (1968).
13. A. Herschman, J. Chem. Doc. 10, 37 (1970).
14. S. Pasternack, physics today 19, May 1966, page 38.
15. R. K. Merton, Am. Scholar 38, 197 (1969).
16. Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme, AIP‐ID‐71B (January 1971).
17. Searchable Physics Information Notices: Technical Specifications, AIP‐ID‐71S (January 1971).
18. physics today 24, October 1971, page 69.
19. T. J. Allen in Communications Among Scientists and Engineers (C. E. Nelson, D. K. Pollock, eds.) Heath, New York (1970) page 191.
20. H. W. Koch, physics today 24, June 1971, page 23.

More about the Authors

Arthur Herschman. AIP Physics Information Division.