Scientific Citizenship: Connecting Physics & Society

With this theme, We hope to explore the greater role of the physicist in our society through round-table discussions, distinguished speakers, and historical perspectives.  Continuing the momentum of the 2004 Congress, which focused on the topics of professional ethics and responsibility in scientific work, we progress through the scientific, social, and political aftermath of the Manhattan Project. 

The construction of the first atomic bomb (read a first-hand account by Worth Seagondollar here) prompted many scientists to engage in government and public organizations like never before, sharing their knowledge of the world to help shape public opinion of science, assist with government policy decisions, or to otherwise connect their work with the broader community. 

This legacy continues today, as physicists work to address current political and social issues such as science funding and policy, international research and collaboration, underrepresented groups in scientific fields, and science outreach and literacy.