Group photo taken in front of Reed Hall, 2022-04-02. Click for larger photo.
This meeting is hosted by the Department of Physics at Radford University (Google map)
Special Announcement:
The Radford University Planetarium will host Special Shows for in-person attendees and their guests at the following times:
- Friday, April 1, from 8:00PM
- Saturday, April 2, from 6:05PM (after the Meeting)
The program is about 55 minutes long.
The Radford University Planetarium is located in the Center for the Sciences building, which is connected to Curie Hall where the meeting room is. Please see the Meeting Location page for details.
[ Overview | Registration | Deadlines | Program | Questions ]
Overview:
The Chesapeake Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (CSAAPT, covering Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia) will host its Spring 2022 Meeting semi-virtually on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
No membership required!
You do not have to be an AAPT or CSAAPT member to attend. We welcome participation of all physics/science teachers and students in the region as well as anyone interested in physics education, or physics in general.
The semiannual CSAAPT meetings are a great forum to exchange ideas on novel teaching techniques and economical physics demonstrations, and to meet a fascinating cohort of physics education enthusiasts.
Radford/Zoom:
The physical in-person meeting will take place at Radford University (Google map), which will be broadcast on Zoom so that people from afar (both presenters and attendees) can join in virtually. Please see the Meeting Location page for directions to Radford, and the meeting location on Radford Campus.
Masking Policy at Radford:
All in-person attendees are required to follow any covid related policies that are in effect at Radford University at the time of the Meeting.
Update: Radford has transitioned to an indoor masking optional policy starting March 4, 2022.
Lodging Support!
We have limited funds to provide lodging support ($100) for high school physics teachers. Please see the Travel & Lodging Info page for details.
Free Books!
We are grateful to Wiley Publications, McGraw Hill, and Savvas Learning Company for their generous donations of books that will be distributed for free to in-person attendees. Please click on Books in the menu to see the list of offerings. Preference will be given to high school teachers and CSAAPT members. If the number of teachers requesting a book > number of books, we will pick the lucky person(s) via a raffle.
Registration:
You can register to attend either in-person, or virtually via Zoom.
- In-person attendance:
In-person attendees are requested the following registration fees, to be collected at the Meeting, to cover administrative and other costs:
- Instructors/faculty of 2-year and 4-year colleges/universities : $25
- K-12 Instructors, Students, Guests : $15
- 1st-time in-person attendees : $5
- You can also join CSAAPT (if you are not a member already) at the Meeting. Annual dues for 2022 : $15
- Coffee and Refreshments at the in-person Meeting will be provided courtesy of McGraw Hill.
- Lunch at the in-person Meeting will be provided courtesy of Cengage.
- Virtual Attendance:
There is no registration fee for virtual (online) attendance.
Please note that the Zoom link for the meeting will not be made public and will only be emailed to registrants.
- Certificate of Attendance/Presentation:
If you need a certificate of attendance and/or presentation for CEU purposes, please register your name exactly as it should appear on your certificate(s). No nicknames or pseudonyms, please.
To register, please click on Registration in the menu on the left. Registration for in-person attendance will be open until midnight of Friday, March 25, 2022. This is so that we have a count of how many people will be physically present one week prior to the Meeting. Registration for virtual attendance will be open until midnight of Friday, April 1, 2022.
To submit talk abstracts/demo descriptions, register first and then click on Call for Abstracts. Submission of abstracts is open until midnight of Friday, March 18, 2022.
Deadlines:
- Hotel room-block cutoff date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
- Submission of talk and demo abstracts: midnight of Friday, March 18, 2022
- Registration for in-person attendance & application for lodging support: midnight of Friday, March 25, 2022
- Registration for virtual attendance: midnight of Friday, April 1, 2022
Program:
- Click on Timetable in the menu for a detailed program.
- Featured Talks (11:00AM to 12:00 noon) :
- Dr. Beth A. Cunningham (Executive Officer of AAPT)
Title: Changing the culture in Physics & Astronomy Departments - the SEA Change Project
Abstract: Many postsecondary physics educators have a sense that the current state of physics education needs to be changed to better serve all. However, knowing what and how to improve physics education is a daunting endeavor. Fortunately, there are many projects and programs that offer support, from materials to guidance/advice to vibrant communities, to make these changes. For the past several years, leadership from the Physics and Astronomy disciplinary societies have been working with AAAS to launch the SEA Change Project in our fields, specifically Physics and Astronomy departments. The aim is to support and recognize post-secondary institutions and departments as they address structural changes to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. The progress that has been achieved, and also next steps for the SEA Change project will be described in this talk.
- Alma Robinson (Virginia Tech)
Title: STEP UP - Inspiring Women to Pursue Physics
Abstract: Did you know that across the United States, about half of high school physics students are women, but only about 20% of incoming physics majors are women? Further, did you know that if half of high school physics teachers recruited one woman to major in physics, we’d eliminate this gap? The STEP UP Physics Together project is tacking this problem with two research-based lessons and classroom strategies that have encouraged women to major in physics. This interactive presentation will introduce the STEP UP project, and provide an overview of the lessons and classroom strategies. Middle school, high school, and college faculty are invited to participate.
- Dr. Beth A. Cunningham (Executive Officer of AAPT)
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) workshop (1:00PM to 2:00PM)
- To be lead by Radford University faculty
- To be lead by Radford University faculty
Questions:
If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact Tatsu Takeuchi (takeuchi@vt.edu).
Organizational Committee:
Jason Sterlace (James Madison U, VA, CSAAPT President & Chair)
Tatsu Takeuchi (Virginia Tech, VA, CSAAPT Vice President)
Ryan Brem (Radford HS, VA)
Mukesh Chhajer (Danville CC, VA)
James Freericks (Georgetown U, DC)
Elena Kuchina (Thomas Nelson CC, VA)
Joy Scales (Blacksburg HS, VA)
Brett Taylor (Radford U, VA)
David Wright (Tidewater CC, VA)
