NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #1/NN_1993_1.iso/spool/sci/physics/22479

Text File | 1993-01-11 | 17.1 KB | 461 lines

Newsgroups: sci.physics
Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zachary
From: [e-mail] (Zachary Levine)
Subject: APS petition
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Nntp-Posting-Host: shirahama.mps.ohio-state.edu
Organization: Ohio State University; Physics Department
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 16:44:08 GMT
Lines: 448

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%  This is a TeX file.  It is the YSN petition for APS office.
%
%  Contact [e-mail] for assistance.
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%  Contents: page 1, petition; pages 2-5 candidate statements.
%
%  You may need to make multiple copies of page 1.
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%  When you fill a sheet, please mail it in even if you intend to collect more
%  signatures.
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%  If you find yourself getting bored with collecting signatures, send in what
%  you've got.
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%  A single signature is welcome.
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%  Anyone can support part of the slate by crossing out some initials.
%
%  --- Thank you, Zachary Levine
%
\magnification1200
\nopagenumbers
Please mail the completed petition to: {\bf [MUST ARRIVE BY 29 MARCH 1993]}
\leftline{ZH Levine, Dept of Physics, Ohio State University, 174 W 18th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210}
\leftline{Contact [e-mail] for additional forms or
          other assistance.}
\medskip
\leftline{ We nominate the following people for APS offices:}
\smallskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ #\hfil  & \ \ \ #\hfil \cr
Dr. Kevin D. Aylesworth  & General Councillor \cr
Dr. Norman H. Barth      & General Councillor \cr
Dr. Michael R. Cohen     & Chairperson-Elect, Nominating Committee \cr
Dr. Zachary H. Levine    & General Councillor \cr
}}
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\centerline{\bf KEVIN DONALD AYLESWORTH}
\centerline{\it Young Scientists' Network, Founding Member}
\centerline{\it Candidate for APS General Councillor}

\bigskip
\line{\bf Employment History \hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \ \  #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil\cr
 1992-   & \multispan2{ Technical Assistant/Paralegal for K. Chesebro, Esq.} \cr
 1990-92 & Postdoctoral Associate     & Naval Research Laboratory \cr
}}
\medskip
\line{\bf Education\hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \  #\hfil & \ #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil \cr
 1989 & Ph.D. & Physics & University of Nebraska  \cr
 1983 & B.S.  & Physics, Chemistry & University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point \cr
}}

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Professional Interests/Achievements}
\smallskip
My area of specialization is the experimental study of
magnetic and structural properties of
crystalline and amorphous films and multilayers.  17 peer-reviewed
publications;
Departmental Distinguished Teaching Assistant (1986); UWSP Physics Student
of the year (1983); Bendix Award for Undergraduate Research in Physics (1982).

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Statement}
\smallskip
The stark contrast between reports of the ``scientist shortage'' in the press
and my observations prompted me to write a series of letters to {\it Physics
Today} announcing the formation of the Young Scientists' Network (YSN),
a group linked by electronic mail with some 1300 members at present.
As a result of these activities, I was invited to talk with leaders of
the APS and AIP, the Presidential Science Advisor, Dr. Bromley, and the
head of the NSF, Dr. Massey.  Articles about YSN have appeared in
{\it Science}, {\it The New York Times},
{\it The Chronicle of Higher Education}
and {\it Chemical and Engineering News}.  I have also testified at a
Congressional hearing regarding the misleading report, authored by Peter House,
that was used by the former NSF director, Dr. Bloch, to support his contention
of an impending shortage of scientists.

\smallskip
Although many leaders in the physics community are sensitive to the unique
problems of physicists of my generation, our issues are not
receiving adequate attention.
I believe the best way to ensure our voices are
heard is for young physicists to get involved in the governance
of our professional societies.
Hence, I seek election to the APS Council.

\smallskip
APS should recognize the problem of a scientist ${\underline {\rm surplus}}$,
and act:

\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
The APS should draft a public statement that directly repudiates
the myth of the scientist shortage.

\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
The APS can actively ``sell'' the skills of physicists
in general to nonscientific employers.
Many employers outside of physics
are completely unaware of what a physicist is, and what a physicist can do.

\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
The APS can help eliminate the stigma associated with leaving
the profession by publicizing the careers of older ex-physicists.

\smallskip
If elected I will work to implement these suggestions, and to ensure my
generation has a voice in solving the broader problems facing the
physics profession.

\bigskip
\rightline{[e-mail]}
\vfill
\eject
% - -------------------------------
\centerline{\bf NORMAN H. BARTH}
\centerline{\it Young Scientists' Network}
\centerline{\it Candidate for APS General Councillor}

\bigskip
\line{\bf Employment History \hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \ \  #\hfil & \ #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil\cr
   1990-   & Senior Researcher         & CERFACS, Toulouse, France \cr
   1989-90 & Research Assistant Prof.  & Dept. of Rad. Medicine, Brown \cr
   1988-89 & Postdoctoral Associate    & Physical Oceanography, MIT \cr
   1986-87 & Postdoctoral Fellow       & Medical Physics, Harvard \cr
   1984-86 & Humboldt Fellow           & University of Freiburg, Germany \cr
}}
\medskip
\line{\bf Education\hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \  #\hfil & \ #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil \cr
 1983 & Ph.D. & Physics                 & University of North Carolina \cr
 1978 & B.A.  & Physics, Math, Religion & Gustavus Adolphus College \cr
}}

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Professional Interests/Achievements}
\smallskip
15 refereed  journal  articles;  2   invited
talks; Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship;
National Cancer Institute Fellowship;
representative
of   APS  International    Physics    Group/Fo{\-}rum on International
Physics   for  France; speaker of English (native), German and French.

\smallskip
In 1986, together with Robert Siddon, developed an approach
--- now used extensively throughout the world ---
for localizing lesions in the brain for stereotaxic
radiosurgery.  Presently, working on modeling climate with large scale,
high resolution, coupled models of the atmosphere and ocean.

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Agenda for the APS}
\smallskip
Due to the significant number of physics Ph.D.'s in postdoc
``holding  positions,'' the numbers of career physicists now looking
for jobs due to the ongoing contraction in defense related
industries, and the availability of well-trained
physicists from states of the Former Soviet Union, claims of a
shortage of Ph.D. physicists in the US can be expected to
increase neither NSF budgets, nor graduate student enrollments
in our universities.

\smallskip
Given this, and other realities (growing reliance on postdocs,
non-tenured soft money research faculty, decline in student enrollments)
regarding the changing research environment, the APS, and the physics
community, should take advantage of a golden opportunity created by
two factors: (1) the increased demand by Congress and the general
public for accountability regarding use of NSF and other research
money and (2) the ever-increasing importance of interdisciplinary
research.

\smallskip
Many interdisciplinary research projects are at the
intellectual forefront of human activity, yet satisfy social
imperatives to solve numerous profound problems as diverse as AIDS
and climate change induced by human activity.  Both of these can
benefit from participation by physicists.

\smallskip
Working together with NSF, universities, and other
scientific societies, the APS should be out in front
promoting these opportunities. This will benefit the APS
membership --- which asks only to be allowed to use their skills to
make a contribution --- and also be well received by an ever more
critical Congress, and general public.

\medskip
\rightline{[e-mail]}
\vfill
\eject
% - -------------------------------------
\centerline{\bf MICHAEL R. COHEN}
\centerline{\it Young Scientists' Network}
\centerline{\it Candidate for Chairperson-Elect, APS Nominating Committee}

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Employment}
\smallskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \ \  #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil\cr
    1992-   &  Unemployed \cr
    1990-92 &  Senior Staff Scientist   & SAIC/Eos Technologies \cr
    1987-90 &  Postdoctoral Fellow      & Los Alamos National Laboratory \cr
}}
\medskip
\line{\bf Education\hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \  #\hfil & \ #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil \cr
    1987    &  Ph.D. &  Applied Physics & Cornell University \cr
    1978    &  A.B.-Honors & Physics   & University of Chicago  \cr
}}

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Professional Interests/Achievements}

\smallskip
I have worked in the surface and contaminant characterization program for
advanced optical materials administered by SAIC at the USAF Phillips
Laboratories and in nuclear materials technology at LANL.  My research
accomplishments include the first observation of kinetically-slow surface
chemical processes that influence the dipole optical scattering contributions
of molecular monolayers on semiconductor and oxide surfaces.
I have a total of 11 regular publications plus 6 conference proceedings.

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Why I Run for APS Council}

\smallskip
The deteriorating employment situation in physics and allied fields has
severely affected the career decisions of many of my colleagues.
The quality of one's work is not sufficient to gain any measure of job
security.  My wife, a theoretician in surface physics, is now supporting
our family of three as an underemployed physicist with a half-time,
limited-term student appointment at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

\smallskip
I am concerned by the lack of understanding and misinformation that exists
about the role and utility of our profession.  This problem extends from
the general populace through many of our society's governing bodies and
institutions.  Our present difficulties do not lie in a lack of quality
graduate education or training, but in an underutilization of our
capabilities.
The rise in unemployed and underemployed physicists and the decline in
permanent positions serves to underscore this fundamental issue.
We must aid in preparing the average physicist to compete in
an increasingly technical environment rather than continue to
focus exclusively on oversupplying the very few
upper level positions that our economy is capable of supporting.

\smallskip
I am also keenly aware of the need to pursue equal opportunity for women
and minorities.  Equality
should exist between all members of the international physics community
without regard to gender, ethnicity, origin, or economic and employment
status.

\bigskip
\rightline{[e-mail]}
\vfill
\eject
% - ------------------------------------
\centerline{\bf ZACHARY H. LEVINE}
\centerline{\it Young Scientists' Network}
\centerline{\it Candidate for APS General Councillor}

\bigskip
\line{\bf Employment History \hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \ \  #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil\cr
   1992-   & Research Specialist       & The Ohio State University \cr
   1989-92 & Senior Research Associate & The Ohio State University \cr
   1988-89 & Postdoctoral Researcher   & The Ohio State University \cr
   1987-89 & Visiting Scientist        & Cornell University \cr
   1986-87 & Senior Member of Technical Staff
                                       & AT\&T Bell Laboratories (Princeton)\cr
   1983-86 & Member of Technical Staff & AT\&T Bell Laboratories (Princeton)\cr
}}
\medskip
\line{\bf Education\hfil}
\medskip
\vbox{\halign{
\ \ \ #\hfil & \  #\hfil & \ #\hfil & \ \ #\hfil \cr
 1983 & Ph.D. & Physics & University of Pennsylvania \cr
 1976 & B.S.  & Physics, Mathematics & Massachusetts Institute of Technology \cr
}}

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Professional Interests/Achievements}
\smallskip
My career highlights include 4 Physical Review Letters, a US Patent, and
an invited talk at 1993 APS March meeting on microscopic calculations predicting
nonlinear optical susceptibilities.
\smallskip\noindent
Division Member: Condensed Matter Physics,  Computational Physics

\bigskip
\leftline{\bf Agenda for the APS}
\smallskip
The needs of the young scientist are not being addressed.  We need:
\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
        accurate statistics on the numbers of physicists and the numbers of
        physics jobs -- existing and projected.  Absurdly sunny predictions
        send the wrong signals to everyone and make the situation worse.
\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
        to limit the growth of the physics community in the USA to sustainable
        levels.  Ph.D. production is growing 10\% per year at a time when it
        needs to drop!  The sorry history of the early 1970's is repeating
        itself.
\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
        help for young scientists who wish to make a transition out of physics.
        Some ideas:  a network of counselors in industry to help understand
        industrial cultures, and to help repackage academic physics skills.
        Retraining fellowships.
\smallskip
\item{$\bullet$}
        for the physics community to think more seriously about technology
        transfer.  Only by helping the economy can we hope to avoid funding
        for physics sinking to the level of the arts.

\bigskip
\rightline{[e-mail]}
\vfill
\eject
\end
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