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Introduction

Program

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Breakout Sessions

Dissemination of
Recommendations

Hotel Information

Contact Information

Getting There

The National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics (NTFUP) has asked Sigma Pi Sigma for recommendations on revitalizing undergraduate physics education. The Congress will generate a report of our collective recommendations (derived from the breakout discussions) for this purpose and for further dissemination, through the venues listed on the Dissemination or Recommendations page.

Call for Experience

We are looking to incorporate your work into the breakout discussions. We strongly recommend that you pick one of the breakout session topics below and submit an "experience abstract" for inclusion in the program discussion booklet.

• Process, Content, and the Physics Major
  Alumni have the perspective of post-degree experience. In light of your experience, how should we tweak the physics majors curriculum? How should we be selling the major, including extracurricular porfessional development and mentoring? How can we recruit and retain more physics majors? What should be taught in the physics department that is not now being taught? How can physics graduates better make their skills known to industry? Tell us your personal stories! The advise of both Hidden Physicists and Explicit Physicists is solicited.
  
  
• The Public Faces of Physics
  We invite abstracts that describe working with local schools, in hands-on personal efforts to make a difference locally in science education; influencing education policy at the district and state levels; influencing attitudes of physics departments and employers about "who is a physicist." How do we respond to stereotypes of "scientists" and "physicists" in the public consciousness?
  
  
• Why Doesn't the U.S. Physics Community Mirror America's Demographics?
  We invite ideas on reaching out to under-represented groups, especially women and minorities.
  
  
• The Range of Sigma Pi Sigma Members' Creativity
  All Sigma Pi Sigma members would like to learn about the work of their colleagues in other fields. Are there any physicist-historians, physicist-artistists, etc,...out there? What kinds of problems are solved by engineers, actuaries, medical doctors, software developers, patent lawyers, policy advisors, artists, clergy…whose physics education had led them into diverse professions? What kinds of problems are solved by engineers, actuaries, medical doctors, software developers, patent lawyers, policy advisors, artists, clergy…whose physics education had led them into diverse professions?

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACTS BY AUGUST 21, 2000 to:
ldart@aip.org

Call for All Posters

This Congress will highlight the many applications of a physics education. We also invite you to present your research, project or description of your work in our Poster Session, Saturday morning, September 16th.

PLEASE COMMUNICATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE POSTER SESSION BY AUGUST 21, 2000 to:
ldart@aip.org

(Include your topic and dimensions of your presentation).