On physics and employment of physicists in 1970
DOI: 10.1063/1.3022789
The American Institute of Physics has ended its fourth decade in a year of economic turmoil for science—one accompanied by an abruptly dismal job market for physics PhD’s and by concern about unemployment and underemployment of physicists generally. Let us here review the contributions, education and employment of physicists during AIP’s 40 years, so as to place the 1970 experiences in perspective and so understand them better. This perspective will allow us to look at the future of physics and physicists with the insight we need if we are to avoid a repetition of the current difficulties.
References
1. H. W. Koch, physics today, Jan. 1970, page 27.
2. “Doctorate Production in US Universities, 1920–1962, with Baccalaureate Origins of Doctorates in Sciences, Arts and Professions,” NAS‐NRC Pub. no. 1142 (1963).
3. M. W. White, physics today, Jan. 1956, page 32;
“Survey of Physics Enrollments and Degrees,” AIP Pub. no. R‐151, issued annually.4. S. D. Ellis, “Work Complex Study,” AIP Pub. no. R‐224 (1969),
and “Physics Manpower Studies, 1969,” AIP Pub. no. R‐233 (1970).5. A. M. Cartter, address presented at the AAAS meeting, Chicago, Dec. 1970,
published in Science 172, 132 (1971).https://doi.org/SCIEAS6. “Physics Manpower: 1969‐Education and Employment Statistics,” AIP Pub. no. R‐220 (1969).
Earlier editions: Pub. nos. R‐169, R‐161, R‐146.7. A. A. Strassenburg, physics today, April 1970, page 23
8. See physics today, Jan. 1971, page 91;
March 1971, page 69.9. Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences Newsletter 6, no. 1, page 5 (1971).
10. Editorial in Geotimes, Nov. 1970.
11. COMPAS Newsletter, Committee on Physics and Society, AIP, 20 April 1970.
12. “Special Report on Physics Manpower,” APS, Feb. 1971.
13. L. Grodzins, reported in physics today, May 1971, page 61.
14. “1969–1970 Graduate Student Survey,” AIP Pub. no. R‐207.3 (1971)
and “Report on Survey of Physics Bachelor’s Degree Recipients, 1969–70,” AIP Pub. no. R‐211.2 (1971).15. A. M. Cartter, Educational Record, Summer 1965, page 267.
16. A. M. Cartter, Educational Record, Fall 1970, page 333.
17. “Doctorate Recipients from US Universities 1958–1966,” NAS Pub. no. 1489 (1967).
18. W. Brode, Manpower Comments (published by the Scientific Manpower Commission) vol. 7, no. 4 (1970).
19. H. W. Koch, paper presented at the APS meeting in New Orleans, December 1970,
and summarized in physics today, Jan. 1971, page 91.20. See physics today, May 1971, page 64.
More about the Authors
H. William Koch. American Institute of Physics.
