The 2019 Spring Meeting of the AAPT New England Section will be held on March 22 & 23 at Springfield College, Alden Street, Springfield, MA concurrent with the APS New England Section.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/LcVFi3pQ2SM2
The Meeting Theme is: Physics at the Intersections of Research and Teaching
Open questions fitting the theme: Are we teaching physics better in the 63 years since PSSC? Are we researching physics better in the 69 years since NSF? Are we researching the teaching of physics better?
Our Friday Keynote speaker is: Dr. Natasha Holmes of Cornell University.
Saturday invited speakers include: Dr. Bethany Johns of the American Institute of Physics and Dr. Andrew Duffy of Boston University
If you plan to contribute a paper or poster that will make the program, please send your abstract before the end of the day, Friday, March 8. The Link to submit abstracts is:
https://goo.gl/forms/CvrJ4crt5ganX0Br2
We are encouraging contributions in these 3 tracks; other topics will also be considered:
1) Applying and Exploring Physics though Engineering Design / Maker Spaces
2) The hybrid disciplines: Intersection of Physics with Other Scientific Domains (e.g. Geophysics, Biomechanics, etc)
3) Physics Education Research
LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED, BUT NOT GUARANTEED ON THE PRINTED PROGRAM.
Schedule:
Friday, March 22, 2019; Joint AAPT & APS
3:30 pm Registration & Vendor Exhibits (to 6:30 pm)
4:00 pm Session A: APS* Contributed Talks
5:00 pm Session B: Poster Session & Vendor Exhibits
6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Plenary: Keynote Speaker
9:00 pm Astronomical Observing (weather permitting)
Saturday, March 23, 2019; Joint AAPT & APS
7:30 am Breakfast, Open*** Posters, Registration & Vendors
8:30 am Sessions C, D, E, F: Parallel AAPT** and APS* Contributed Talks
10:15 am Coffee Break & Vendor Exhibits
10:30 am Session G: APS/AAPT Invited Talks
12:00 pm Box Lunch, Open*** Posters, Vendors (AAPT-NES Board Meeting during)
12:45 pm Session H: AAPT Section Meeting and Demonstration Sharing
12:45 pm APS-NES Board Meeting (to time as needed)
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Workshops A, B, C, D (3 hour sessions) & Vendors
Note: APS members are welcome to enroll in workshops. Register for the meeting as usual at the APS link, then register here under the Special APS category.
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm Pick up professional development certificates.
Workshops Run Concurrently:
Workshop A 1:30 - 4:30 pm Learning Physics Through Gaming by Jim O'Brien, Springfield College — This is a fun and interactive workshop where participants will play one or two physics board games that we have developed for teaching basic physics concepts.
Workshop B 1:30 - 4:30 pm Gravity Waves and Planck's Constant (PTRA) by Steve Henning, AAPT-PTRA — This PTRA workshop features Perimeter Institute activities. Founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe -- from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos -- Perimeter is the world’s largest hub devoted to theoretical physics. It conducts its research motivated by understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in Ontario's Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit is a unique public-private endeavor, including the Ontario and Canadian governments, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement. Two activities will be explored: a) Gravity Waves will look at what a gravity wave is and how they are detected. b) Planck's Constant is a lab exercise using inexpensive materials to verify Planck's Constant.
Workshop C 1:30 - 4:30 pm Teaching with Telescopes by Andria Schwortz, Quinsigamond CC.— Do you have a telescope just gathering dust? Are you looking for ways to integrate it into your curriculum? Or do you just want to take some students out at night to look at the stars? This workshop will include hands-on time with reflecting and refracting telescopes, examples of class activities, time to brainstorm and lesson plan with colleagues, and resources for maintaining or purchasing telescopes. If you have access to a telescope, you are encouraged to bring it (and any accessories)! You will learn to use it or assess the maintenance needs.
Workshop D 1:30 - 4:30 Biomechanics: Modeling and Analyzing Human Motion in Introductory Physics Labs by Jeff Gagnon and Zenobia Lojewska, Springfield College. — Do you have students interested in sports, exercise, or the health sciences? Are you looking for new physics lab activities to engage students? If so, then this workshop is for you. We will share several experiments that focus on the human body and human motion. These experiments include finding the center of mass of the body, investigating the biceps force during an isometric contraction, and analyzing a maximal vertical jump using motion analysis and ground reaction force data. A brief introduction and background theory will initially be given for each experiment. This will be followed by breaking out into small groups where the labs will be performed by participants.
* Note, APS members specifically wanting APS recognition/storage for presentations of papers must be registered as APS members through https://www.aps.org/units/nes/
** AAPT welcomes all other contributed papers/posters through March 8 at https://goo.gl/forms/CvrJ4crt5ganX0Br2
We particularly encourage contributions in these 3 tracks:
- Applying and Exploring Physics though Engineering Design/Maker Spaces
- The hybrid disciplines: Intersection of Physics with Other Scientific Domains (e.g. Geophysics, Biomechanics, etc.)
- Physics Education Research
Any other contributed talks and posters are of course welcome!
*** Open posters: "Post-deadline" posters are welcome, space as available.
HOTEL: 30 rooms are reserved for Friday night for $99 at the Tower Square Hotel, 2 Boland Way, Springfield MA 01115. Reservations: (413) 781-7111 thetowersquarehotel.com through and by MARCH 1, please identify as part of the PHYSICS GROUP using code GAAPHY. (Estimated taxes $14. Onsite overnight garage parking $17.)