Group photo in Exploratory Hall Atrium.
This Meeting is hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University,
with additional funding from
- Department of Physics and the College of Science at Virginia Tech
- Departments of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Virginia
- The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges (OPTYCs)
- PASCO
Overview:
The Spring 2025 Meeting of the Chesapeake Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (CSAAPT) will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. This is during the National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 (March 20-April 13, 2025) so it is a great time to visit the DC-Northern Virgina area!
George Mason University is the largest public research university in the Commonwealth of Virginia with over 40,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries. It is ranked among the top 50 public universities in the United States by the Wall Street Journal. Click here for the Wikipedea article on the history of George Mason University.
Unlike past CSAAPT meetings, in lieu of a registration fee, we are requiring CSAAPT membership ($15 until summer 2025) for in-person attendance. That is, dues-paying CSAAPT members can attend for free. Please note that this is less than the traditional registration fee and is for logistic necessities for this meeting only.
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.
This meeting is semi-virtual. The in-person meeting venue will be at the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University. Further details will be announced on the Meeting Location page soon. The Meeting will be broadcast on Zoom so that people from afar (both presenters and attendees) can join in.
Lodging Support!
We have limited funds to provide up to $350 in lodging support to high school physics teachers. Support for community college faculty is also available from OPTYCs. Please see the Travel & Lodging Info page for more details.
Observatory Tour:
There will be an exciting Observatory Tour on Friday, April 4. If you are interested to join, please come to the lobby of the Research Hall (please see the map on Meeting Location) by 8pm on April 4.
(Cancelled due to unfavorable weather.)
Program:
Invited Speakers:
Prof. William D. Phillips (NIST & University of Maryland; Nobel Laureate)
Title: Quantum Mechanics 2025: Incredible Past, Amazing Present, Magnificent Future
Abstract: At the dawn of the 20th century physicists began to understand that the usual classical physics could not explain important features of nature, and the “Old Quantum Theory” emerged as an admittedly imperfect mix of classical physics with quantum ideas. Then, 100 years ago, a revolution replaced classical physics with a new mechanics, that of Heisenberg, Schroedinger, Dirac, and others, which revolutionized not only our understanding of the physical world but our very notions of reality itself. That revolution produced, among other things, semiconductor electronics that changed the lives of almost everyone on earth, with devices whose capabilities have been in a state of continual blossoming. Now, early in the 21st century, another revolution is at hand. The strange features of quantum mechanics, superposition and entanglement, well known to the founders, are now becoming part of the applications landscape, with activities like quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing poised to change lives in as-yet unimagined ways. 100 years of quantum mechanics have changed everything, and the coming years may do so again.
Bio: William D. Phillips received a B.S. from Juniata College in 1970, and a Ph.D. from MIT in 1976; after two years as a postdoc at MIT, he joined NIST to work on precision electrical measurements and fundamental constants. There, he founded NIST’s Laser Cooling and Trapping Group, and later was a founding member of the Joint Quantum Institute, a cooperative research organization of NIST and the University of Maryland. His research group has developed some of the principal techniques used for laser-cooling and cold-atom experiments in laboratories around the world. Atomic fountain clocks, based on the work of this group, are now the primary standards for world timekeeping. The group also studies quantum information applications of cold atoms.
Dr. Phillips is a fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a Fellow and Honorary Member of OPTICA, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a corresponding member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences. In 1997, Dr. Phillips shared the Nobel Prize in Physics "for development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light."
Prof. Hakeem Oluseyi (George Mason University)
Title: Star Hackers: How Educators Rewrite Destinies
Abstract: Every student carries an untold story—and every educator holds the power to change its trajectory. In this talk, astrophysicist and science communicator Hakeem Oluseyi reflects on the teachers and mentors who altered the course of his life, from elementary school through graduate studies, and how their belief, curiosity, and presence transformed possibility into reality. Drawing from his own path and decades of experience as an educator, he explores what it means to truly engage learners, ignite potential, and serve as a turning point in someone’s life. This session invites educators to reflect on their own impact, offering inspiration and practical insights into teaching as an act of transformation.
bio: Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, author of the critically acclaimed memoir A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars, is a multidisciplinary astrophysicist, multi-patented inventor, award-winning author and journalist, internationally recognized educator, and a highly sought-after TV presenter, podcast host, voice actor, and keynote speaker.
Having earned a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Tougaloo College and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from Stanford University, Dr. Oluseyi has made pivotal contributions to developing technologies that have become standard across multiple subfields of astrophysics and has pioneered patented technologies for constructing semiconductor devices used worldwide. He has published over 100 scientific publications and has seven U.S. patents and four E.U. patents.
Dr. Oluseyi is currently CEO of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, which has been guiding curious minds through the cosmos for over 135 years. He is also an affiliated professor at George Mason and Princeton universities, where he is associated with the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe satellite’s science and communications teams.
He has an impressive record of service and collaboration with various U.S. federal agencies. He performed diplomatic missions for the U.S. Department of State in Hong Kong in 2023, Indonesia in 2019, Algeria in 2013, and South Africa in 2011 and 2009. Additionally, he served as the Space Science Education Manager at NASA Headquarters for NASA's Science Mission Directorate and co-managed 25 cooperative agreements worth ~$45M.
Dr. Oluseyi is a renowned science communicator. He has gained recognition for his award-winning books, engaging public lectures, and international TV science shows, including How the Universe Works, Baking Impossible, PBS NOVA, Outrageous Acts of Science, and many more. He has demonstrated a keen ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, fostering an appreciation for connections among science, technology, education, and society. He has brought the wonders of the universe and scientific process to millions and solidified himself as a vital advocate for science literacy.
As a science journalist, Dr. Oluseyi has been nominated for a News Emmy and has won four Webby awards. His investigative journalism into the namesake of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope landed on the New York Times front page in December 2012, overturned two decades of disinformation, and positively impacted science and society globally.
Dr. Oluseyi’s success is even more impressive, given his incredible personal background and story. He grew up in some of America’s roughest neighborhoods and changed schools roughly ten times in seven years. Living in chaotic circumstances led him to spend most of his time indoors reading and watching nature shows. Discovering a love of nature and a fascination with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Dr. Oluseyi decided to teach himself these science principles starting at age 10. It turned out well.
Contributed Talks and Demos:
We solicit contributions within the following parameters:
- 15-minute talk or demo (12 minute talk + 3-minute Q&A, both in-person and via Zoom)
Talk topic/demo can be anything pertaining to physics teaching - To submit the title and abstract of your talk, please register first and then click on Call for Abstracts in the menu
- The deadline to submit your title and abstract for talks and demos is midnight of Sunday, March 9, 2025.
- We plan to have a demo share-a-thon in the afternoon (no demo presentations in the morning).
- Contributors of talks/demos will be issued certificates of presentation. These will be emailed to you after the Meeting.
Registration:
- In-person attendance:
- Please use the in-person attendance registration form on the Registration page,
- The deadline to register for in-person attendance is midnight of Sunday, March 16, 2025.
- If you register for an in-person attendance, you will receive an email after the registration is closed. If you are an existing CSAAPT member, the email will confirm your membership and there is no need for you to pay any dues as the membership is effective until Summer 2025. If you are not an existing member, the email will ask you to pay the dues ($15/yr) to become a member. If you are bringing any accompanying persons, we ask them to join CSAAPT, too.
- Please use the in-person attendance registration form on the Registration page,
- Remote Attendance:
- Please use the Zoom attendance registration form on the Registration page.
- The deadline to register for remote attendance is midnight of Friday, April 4, 2025.
- There is no need for remote (Zoom) attendees to pay the CSAAPT membership fee.
- Please note that the Zoom link for the meeting will not be made public and will only be emailed to registrants. The Zoom link will be sent to you in a Zoom or calendar invite, so please pay attention to what you are receiving in your email.
- Once on Zoom, please change your Zoom name to your full name followed by your affiliation in parentheses, e.g. Jane Doe (George Mason High School). This is so that we can identify your presence for the purpose of issuing your certificates of attendance.
- Please use the Zoom attendance registration form on the Registration page.
- Certificate of Attendance/Presentation:
- Certificates of attendance/presentation will be issued to both in-person and virtual attendees/presenters.
- If you need a certificate of attendance and/or presentation, please register your name exactly as it should appear on your certificate(s). No nicknames or pseudonyms, please.
- A detailed program in pdf can be generated by clicking on the "PDF" button at the top of the "Timetable" page (once the timetable is available).
- Certificates of attendance/presentation will be issued to both in-person and virtual attendees/presenters.
Important Deadlines:
- Application for Lodging Support: midnight of Sunday, February 23, 2025
- Hotel room-block cutoff: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Submission of talk and demo abstracts: midnight of Sunday, March 9, 2025
- Registration for in-person attendance: midnight of Sunday, March 16, 2025
- Registration for virtual attendance: Friday, April 4, 2025
Organizational Committee:
Jessica Rosenberg (Chair, George Mason University, VA)
Laura Akesson (George Mason University, VA)
Nancy Holincheck (George Mason University, VA)
Kent Yagi (CSAAPT President, University of Virginia, VA)
Jency Sundararajan (CSAAPT Vice President, University of Virginia, VA)
Shella Condino (Oakton High School, VA)
Gerald Feldman (George Washington University, DC)
James Freericks (Georgetown University, DC)
Muge Karagoz (CSAAPT, MD)
Kris Lui (AAPT-OPTYCs, MD)
Carl Mungan (US Naval Academy, MD)
Samantha Spytek (Academies of Loudoun, VA)
Jason Sterlace (James Madison University, VA)
Tatsu Takeuchi (Virginia Tech, VA)
Francesca Viale (Northern Virginia Community College, VA)
