AAPT Bestows Honors

The American Association of Physics Teachers held its 129th national meeting in Sacramento, California, in July. At the gathering, AAPT presented awards to the following individuals for their contributions to physics education and research.

The Klopsteg Memorial Award went this year to Anton Zeilinger, professor of physics at the University of Vienna and codirector of the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. AAPT praised Zeilinger and his experimental quantum physics research group, who have “realized in experiment many fundamental predictions of quantum theory and so proved their amazing consequences for our view of the world.”

Kenneth S. Krane, emeritus professor of physics at Oregon State University in Corvallis, received the Robert A. Millikan Award. According to the association, Krane has distinguished himself as a physicist throughout his career in four areas: “research, education, authorship, and administration.”

Robert W. Brown took home the Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award. He was cited by AAPT for the achievements of his 34-year teaching and research career that has centered on undergraduate education and research in the physics department at Case Western Reserve University. Brown is an Institute Professor of Physics at the university.

The Excellence in Pre-College Physics Teaching Award recipient was James L. Hicks, who retired from Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois, after teaching physics there for 37 years. He was honored by AAPT for his significant contributions to science education on the national, state, and local levels.