The field of physics and its practitioners received commendation on
Capitol Hill before Congress left town for August. In recognition that
next year has been designated the World Year of Physics by the International
Union of Pure and Applied Physics, on July 7 the House of Representatives
passed a resolution in support of physics and physics education. "This
resolution encourages the American public to take note of the physics
used every day and encourages them to learn more about it," said
its sponsor, Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI). "I hope that the American
people will observe the World Year of Physics by supporting physics
education and research. I encourage physicists and educators to engage
the public, especially the children, in physics to inspire the next
generation of scientists and engineers."
The World Year of Physics in 2005 will be an international celebration
of the field, timed to honor the 100th anniversary of the publication
of Albert Einstein's groundbreaking papers on the special theory of
relativity, the photoelectric effect, and Brownian motion. In the U.S.,
the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers,
and the American Institute of Physics are leading efforts to organize
events during the year, but individual scientists, teachers, physics
departments, laboratories, science museums and other groups are encouraged
to plan local events in their communities. More information on the World
Year of Physics can be found at http://www.physics2005.org.
The resolution, H.Con. Res. 301, was introduced by Ehlers for himself
and his fellow physicist in Congress, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ). Other cosponsors
of the resolution were Democratic Reps. Brian Baird (WA), Michael Honda
(CA), Edward Markey (MA), Jim McDermott (WA), Donald Payne (NJ), Vic
Snyder (AR), and Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (Guam). In describing it
on the House floor, Ehlers said, "This resolution recognizes the
important contributions of physicists to technological progress and
the health of many industries.... As a physicist, I recognize the physics
principles that are part of our everyday lives. From mechanics and gravity
to optical technologies that enable our CD players, physics is all around
us. Through physics we can explore the depths of the universe and black
holes, as well as the tiniest parts of the atom.... I think it is just
absolutely marvelous that we can explore our world in both the smaller
and larger directions and have not reached its limits at this point."
Ehlers praised the American Physical Society for promoting the World
Year of Physics, and thanked Reps. Baird and Holt for their work on
the resolution, noting that he and Holt, "as the two physicists
in the Congress, have worked together closely on many issues."
Baird remarked that he and other Members of Congress often turn to
Ehlers and Holt for help in understanding technological issues. Physics,
he said, "underpins all of science in some way, and so much of
our technology deals with the most fundamental understanding of the
properties of matter. Emerging fields such as nanotechnology, information
technology and biotechnology are substantially based on the results
of fundamental discoveries in physics."
"Through physics," Holt said, "we can explore the diverse
phenomena from the existence of black holes to the composition of the
atom and nucleus. Understanding mechanics, gravity and propulsion allowed
us to develop machinery, bridges and rockets while knowledge about electricity
and magnetism and matter led to lasers, light bulbs, telescopes, fiber
optics, the internet and the huge market of consumer electronics."
He added that "Physics research will help us to solve major new
challenges in homeland security and find new energy sources."
The text of the resolution acknowledges the contributions of physics
to "knowledge, civilization, and culture," its impact on "many
emerging fields in science and technology," and its "vital
role in addressing many 21st-century challenges." "Therefore,
be it resolved," the resolution states, "by the House of Representatives
(the Senate concurring), that the Congress -
"(1) supports the goals and ideals of the World Year
of Physics, as designated by the General Assembly of the International
Union of Pure and Applied Physics;
"(2) encourages the American people to observe the World
Year of Physics as a special occasion for giving impetus to education
and research in physics as well as to the public's understanding of
physics;
"(3) encourages all science-related government agencies
and nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and the media
to highlight and give enhanced recognition to the role of physics
in social, cultural, and economic development as well as its positive
impact and contributions to society; and
"(4) encourages all those involved in physics education
and research to take additional steps, including strengthening existing
and emerging fields of physics research and promoting the public's
understanding of physics, to ensure that support for physics continues
and that physics studies at all levels continue to attract an adequate
number of students."
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