AAPT awards prizes to Kaku and Mazur

Dr. Michio Kaku, Henry Semat Professor at the City College of New York, is the 2008 recipient of the Klopsteg Memorial Award from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Dr. Eric Mazur, Balkanski Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, Harvard University, is the 2008 recipient of the Robert A. Millikan Award for notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics.

Klopsteg awardees are chosen for their extraordinary accomplishments in communicating the excitement of physics to the general public. The Klopsteg awardee presents a lecture on a physics topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists, in memory of Paul Klopsteg, AAPT Past President. Dr. Kaku will give his acceptance talk at the 2008 AAPT Summer Meeting in Edmondton, Canada, entitled, “Physics of the Impossible” on July 21, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Professor Michio Kaku has brought exciting physics ideas to readers worldwide through his popular and highly readable books, TV appearances, and radio series. The Klopsteg Memorial Award honors Michio Kaku’s outstanding contributions in the communication of the excitement of contemporary physics to the general public,” says Harvey S. Leff, Chair, AAPT Awards Chair, as well as the 2008 AAPT Past President, and Professor Emeritus of Physics, California State Polytechnic University.

Dr. Kaku’s most popular and best selling books include “Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps and the Tenth Dimension” and “Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century”, which have been widely translated in different languages. His recent book “Parallel Worlds: a Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos,” was selected as a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction in the UK. Dr. Kaku hosts a weekly syndicated radio program, “Explorations in Science.”

Dr. Kaku has become a popular figure in mainstream media, due to his knowledge, as well as his accessible approach to explaining complex physics, quantum mechanics and other topics from a layperson’s point of view. He is the co-creator of string field theory, a branch of string theory. He continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of the universe into one unified theory.

About the Award

Established in 1990, this award is given to a notable physicist in memory of Paul Klopsteg. The Klopsteg Memorial Award recipient is asked to make a major presentation at an AAPT Summer Meeting on a topic of current significance suitable for non-specialists.

Previous Awardees:

2007 Neil deGrasse Tyson, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, New York2006 Lisa Randall, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,2005 Wendy Freedman, Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, CA2004 Anton Zeilinger, University of Vienna, Austriawww.aapt.org/Grants/klopsteg.cfm

Dr. Eric Mazur will give an acceptance talk at the 2008 AAPT Summer Meeting in Edmonton, Canada, entitled, “Physics Reality Distortion: Why the World of Physics and the Real World are Different in Students’ Minds” on Tuesday July 21, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Professor Eric Mazur’s Peer Instruction technique has altered the landscape of physics teaching. Numerous teachers have adopted Peer Instruction, enlivening their classes by turning passive students into active learners. AAPT’s Robert A. Millikan Medal recognizes Eric Mazur’s outstanding scholarly contributions to physics education,” says Harvey S. Leff, Chair, AAPT Awards Chair, as well as the 2008 AAPT Past President, and Professor Emeritus of Physics, California State Polytechnic University.

Dr. Mazur has devoted his life to science and is a recognized scientist and researcher, who leads n world-recognized optical physics research program. His strong interests in education, science policy, outreach and public perception of science leads him to devote considerable time to education research and identifying verifiable ways to improve science education. He believes that better science education for all, not just science majors, is vital for continued scientific progress of our nation.

The 1990 development of Peer Instruction, a method of teaching large lecture classes interactively, has attracted a large following among AAPT members and others nationally and internationally. The impact of Dr. Mazur’s teaching method is significant for physics teaching. His more recent collaborative production of an award-winning DVD, Interactive Teaching, has just continued this success.

About the Award

The Robert A Millikan Award, established in 1962, recognizes teachers who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics. The Millikan Medal recipient is asked to make a presentation at the Ceremonial Session of an AAPT Summer Meeting. A $7,500 monetary award, The Millikan Medal, an Award Certificate, and travel expenses to the meeting are presented to the recipient.

Previous Awardees2007, David R. Solokoff, University of Oregon, Eugene2006, Art Hobson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville2005, John S. Rigden, Washington University in St. Louis, MOhttp://www.aapt.org/Grants/millikan.cfm

About AAPT

AAPT is the leading organization for physics educators—with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Our mission is to advance the greater good through physics education. We provide our members with many opportunities for professional development, communication, and student enrichment. We serve the larger community through a variety of programs and publications. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland. The results are not only a deeper appreciation of the teaching profession, but most importantly, more enthusiastic involvement from their students.

Contact information for AAPT:

Linda Ware Dylla, AAPT Communications301.209.3306ldylla@aapt.org