Panel on Public Affairs

The Panel on Public Affairs (POPA) is responsible for making recommendations to the President, the Board, and the Council on public affairs activities of the Society that have been designated to it by the Board and/or Council. POPA may initiate new public affairs activities for the Society and may recommend new programs to the Council. POPA draws from the expertise of its membership to draft reports and statements on behalf of APS. These draft reports and statements are subject to Council approval prior to release.

The membership of POPA includes a Chair, Chair-Elect, Vice Chair, the Past Chair, the Vice President, the immediate APS Past President, the Congressional Fellow(s) in the second year following the term of service, thirteen (13) members elected by Council to staggered three (3) year terms, and one (1) member from each of the Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics (FIAP), the Forum on Early Career Scientists (FECS), the Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA), and the Forum on Physics and Society (FPS) to serve staggered three (3) year terms. The Vice Chair is elected by Council, and serves a four (4) year term in the Chair line.

The POPA Steering Committee consists of the Chair, the Chair-Elect, the Vice Chair, the Past Chair, the Vice President, the Past President, and at least two (2) additional members selected from among and by the members of POPA.

POPA is a Council Committee.