The 2007 Joint Annual Conference of the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic met recently at the Boston Sheraton Hotel and John B. Hynes Convention Center.
This year’s conference, themed Global Competitiveness Through Diversity, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the National Society of Black Physicists.
The Joint Annual Conferences of the National Society of Black Physicists and National Society of Hispanic Physicists brings together over 500 African American and Hispanic American physics students and professionals. This conference had a cutting-edge scientific program as well as a student professional development program that included mentor-protégé match-making and a recruiting fair. The scientific program included over 120 oral and poster presentations. The presenters included students and faculty from Harvard, MIT, Florida A&M, Fisk University, CUNY, Hampton, Jackson State and University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southernmost College.
The “Science Ambassadors” of the both the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists appeared at two Boston area Boys and Girls Clubs as part of the conference’s K-12 science education and outreach program.
“We are very excited about our 30th anniversary,” says Dr. Quinton Williams, President of the National Society of Black Physicists and chair of the physics department at Jackson State University.
“NSBP has evolved from a few dozen people, to now hundreds of members. There are new Ph.D. programs at Florida A&M University, Hampton University, a joint Ph.D. program between Fisk and Vanderbilt, as well as the long established programs at Howard and Alabama A&M.” Together these programs are poised to increase the production of African American Ph.D. physicists from less than 10 per year to greater than 25. With the current growth in the number African Americans earning a baccalaureate degree in physics, the number of Ph.D.’s may go even higher still.”
The very first African American to earn the Ph.D. degree in the United States was Edward Allen Bouchet in 1877 at Yale University. He went on to teach at the secondary level at Quaker school for African-American youth. His graduate education was funded by one of the school’s trustees in what we would call today scholarship for service.
Founded in 1977 at Morgan State University, the mission of the National Society of Black Physicists is and mission of the National Society of Black Physicists is to promote the professional well-being of African-American physicists within the international scientific community and within society at large. The organization seeks to develop and support efforts to increase opportunities for African Americans in physics and to increase their numbers and visibility of their scientific work. It also seeks to develop activities and programs that highlight and enhance the benefits of the scientific contributions that African American physicists provide for the international community. The society seeks to raise the general knowledge and appreciation of physics in the African American community.
Deadline March 30 for SLPS small high schools
The St. Louis Public School District has announced an application deadline of Friday, March 30 for students interested in attending one of its small high schools: Carnahan High School of the Future or Northwest Transportation and Law Academy.
Graduating 8th graders interested in a specialized program will receive engaging college preparatory curriculum, dual high school/college enrollment opportunities, and exemplary instructional leadership.
“The courses that are taken at our small high schools are geared towards the students’ interest,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Bourisaw. “Once they graduate from school, they are prepared to succeed in college or any field they choose to go in,” she added.
Named after the late Governor Mel Carnahan, the school opened in July 2003 as a middle school. Carnahan offers dual academic tracks, college preparatory and technology, and compliments both tracks with internship opportunities. Located on the corner of Broadway and Gasconade Streets in south St. Louis, the building has capacity for more than 500 students.
The Northwest High School, located at 5140 Riverview Boulevard, has been a community focal point for the Walnut Park neighborhood for over 40 years. Northwest is the first school in our district to implement a year-round school calendar with a trimester schedule. This one-of-a-kind schedule allows students to complete their high school requirements in just three years. The Law and Transportation Academy, with a “hands-on” focus, guides students on a career path helping them achieve career goals in the areas of law, law enforcement, or the automotive industry.
Dates, deadlines, facts:
Application deadline is Friday, March 30, 2007.
Applicants must submit all required information to be considered for placement.
Thirty-five percent of seats will be reserved for neighborhood students residing within SLPS Transportation Department “walk-to-school” boundaries (2 miles for high school students).
Non-neighborhood students and neighborhood students not selected as part of the 35% reserve will be considered equally for the remaining seats.
If eligible applications outnumber available seats, a lottery will be run for placement to each school the second week of April, 2007.
Acceptance letters will be mailed April 20, 2007.
