APS Seeks to Recruit "Physics on the Road" Teams for World Year of Physics

A vital part of the APS-led effort for the World Year of Physics 2005 will be an infusion of funds to Physics on the Road programs across the United States.

Many of these local touring programs currently exist in physics departments. These troupes, composed largely of volunteers, bring entertaining physics demonstrations and hands-on experiments to thousands of people, most of whom are children, each year.

"These are wonderful, fun, exciting programs," said Jessica Clark, APS outreach coordinator, "but the lack of funding and external (and, sadly, internal) recognition limits their scope to small numbers of visits in localized areas."

The APS will award at least sixteen $10,000 grants to be used for program supplies, vehicle maintenance, room and board for participants and other costs associated with physics on the road. These funds will allow the selected programs to expand their reach, both in terms of the number of students visited and their geographical range, including rural or remote areas not currently served by comparable programs.

The APS encourages existing programs to apply for these grants and will also accept applications from others interested in creating Physics on the Road programs at their universities.

Applications are due December 3, 2004. Recipients will be announced in January 2005.

For more information, go to www.physics2005.org