David R. Sokoloff Assumes New Role as Vice President on AAPT Executive Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Park, Maryland, United States, February 16, 2009

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that David R. Sokoloff has assumed the role of Executive Board Vice President. Dr. Sokoloff, Professor of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, will serve as Vice President in 2009, President-Elect in 2010, President in 2011, and Past President in 2012.

Sokoloff began his physics education at Queens College of the City University of New York, and went on to earn his Ph.D. in AMO physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972. He has been on the physics faculty of the University of Oregon since 1978.

For more than two decades, he has conducted research into students’ understanding of physics, and used the results of physics education research to develop active learning laboratories and interactive lecture demonstrations that connect students to the behavior of the physical world. He has also been active sharing these active learning approaches with colleagues.

Since 1999, he has been part of UNESCO teams presenting active learning workshops in Australia, Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Malaysia, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, India, Tanzania, Brazil, Mexico, Zambia, and Cameroon, most recently as part of the UNESCO program for developing countries, Active Learning in Optics and Photonics. He is editor/contributor to Active Learning in Optics and Photonics Training Manual (UNESCO, 2006).

A previous recipient of AAPT’s Distinguished Service Citation (1997) and Robert A. Millikan Award (2007), Dr. Sololoff has been an active member of AAPT since 1972. He has served as a New Faculty Workshop presenter (2006-present); Co-chair of the Committee on Research in Physics Education (1992-95); PTRA workshop presenter, and done many other national and international presentations. He also has a long career as an author, including RealTime Physics and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (Wiley, 2004), and is the designer and presenter of optics magic shows for college, elementary school and informal, public audiences.

Sokoloff says of his new role, “With my years of administrative experience at the departmental level and on grant-funded projects, I believe that I can help the AAPT continue to flourish. Having worked, over the years, with high school, two-year college, college and university faculty, I believe that I am sensitive to the needs of each of these groups. I look forward to working more closely with an organization that has given me so many opportunities over the years to grow professionally.

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 teaching. 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.

For more information: Contact Marilyn Gardner, Director of Communications, mgardner@aapt.org, (301)209-3306, (301)209-0845 (Fax).

The American Association of Physics Teachers announced that David R. Sokoloff has assumed the role of Executive Board Vice President. A previous recipient of AAPT’s Distinguished Service Citation (1997) and Robert A. Millikan Award (2007), Dr. Sololoff has been an active member of AAPT since 1972. He has served as a New Faculty Workshop presenter (2006-present); Co-chair of the Committee on Research in Physics Education (1992-95); PTRA workshop presenter, and done many other national and international presentations. He also has a long career as an author, including RealTime Physics and Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (Wiley, 2004), and is the designer and presenter of optics magic shows for college, elementary school and informal, public audiences.