David R. Sokoloff Recognized for Notable and Creative Contributions in Physics Education

College Park, Maryland, United States, April 6, 2007

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT; ) announced today that the 2007 Robert A. Millikan Award has been awarded to Dr. David R. Sokoloff, Professor of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene. This award recognizes educators who have made notable and creative contributions to the teaching of physics.

The 2007 Robert A. Millikan Lecture award will be presented on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., during the AAPT Summer Meeting at the Joseph S. Koury Center in Greensboro, NC. Following the presentation, Sokoloff will give an address “Building a New, More Exciting Mousetrap Is Not Enough!” a review with lessons from his two decades of work in physics education research and curriculum development.

Ken Heller, Chairman, AAPT Nominating Committee said, “Professor Sokoloff has been a leader in the movement to redesign lecture demonstrations to make them effective learning experiences. He is very active in promoting active learning and using computers to give students real time feedback of physical phenomena.”

“The work of David Sokoloff on student learning in physics, well received nationally and internationally, represents one of the foundational building blocks that helps the community understand how to teach more effectively. His contributions exemplify our ideal of excellence and fit snugly within our domain of advancing physics through teaching and learning,” stated Toufic Hakim, AAPT Executive Officer.

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.

Since 1999, he has been part of a UNESCO team presenting active learning workshops in Australia, Vietnam, Korea, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, India, Tanzania and Brazil.

He is a previous recipient of AAPT’s Distinguished Service Citation (1997).

Regarding the Millikan award, Sokoloff stated, “It is very exciting and gratifying to be recognized by the physics education community for my work in curriculum development and dissemination. I am hopeful that this award and recognition of my work with UNESCO will bring attention to the continued need for improved science instruction in both the developed and the developing worlds.”

About the AwardThe 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 Awardees:2006, Art Hobson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville2005, John S. Rigden, Washington University in St. Louis, MO2004, Kenneth S. Krane, Oregon State University, Corvallishttp://www.aapt.org/Grants/millikan.cfm

About AAPTAAPT 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.

For More InformationAAPT Summer Meeting Featured Speakers: http://www.aapt.org/Events/SM2007/sm07speakers.cfm Or Contact Robert Merz, Marketing Managermedia@aapt.org1-301-209-33071-301-209-0845 (Fax)http://www.aapt.org

American Association of Physics TeacherOne Physics EllipseCollege Park, MD 20740-3845

Source: AAPT