American Association of Physics Teachers

American Association of Physics Teachers
Name	American Association of Physics Teachers
Founded	0 1930
Headquarters	College Park, Maryland
Focus	Physics education
Website	https://www.aapt.org

American Association of Physics Teachers is a professional membership society dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching. Founded in 1930, it serves educators at all levels, from high school to university, fostering excellence in pedagogy and curriculum development. The organization is a founding member society of the American Institute of Physics and plays a leading role in shaping national STEM education policy and standards.

History

The organization was established in 1930 at a meeting during the annual gathering of the American Physical Society in New Orleans. Key founding figures included prominent physicists and educators like Homer L. Dodge, who served as its first president, and Paul E. Klopsteg. Its formation was driven by a growing recognition of the need for a dedicated forum to address the unique challenges of teaching physics, separate from research-focused societies. Early initiatives focused on standardizing laboratory instruction and improving teacher preparation, with significant growth occurring after World War II alongside national investments in science education. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it became deeply involved in major curriculum reform projects, such as those influenced by the Physical Science Study Committee.

Organization and governance

The association is governed by an elected executive board, which includes a president, president-elect, and vice-presidents representing different membership constituencies. Day-to-day operations are managed by an executive officer and a professional staff headquartered in College Park, Maryland. Key governance committees include the Committee on Physics in Undergraduate Education and the Committee on Science Education for the Public. Membership is organized into regional sections across the United States and Canada, such as the Southern California Section and the New England Section, which hold local meetings and workshops. It also maintains close collaborative ties with the American Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society.

Publications

It publishes several influential peer-reviewed journals, most notably The Physics Teacher, aimed at high school and introductory college instruction, and the American Journal of Physics, which focuses on foundational concepts and pedagogical research at the university level. Other significant publications include the Physical Review Physics Education Research journal, co-published with the American Physical Society, and the newsletter Announcer for membership news. The association also produces a wide array of educational resources, books, and conference proceedings through its imprint, published in partnership with Springer Nature and Taylor & Francis.

Programs and activities

A core activity is organizing national and regional meetings, such as the annual Summer Meeting and Winter Meeting, which feature workshops, poster sessions, and invited talks from leaders like Carl Wieman. It administers the prestigious Physics Teaching Resource Agents program, which trains master teachers to lead professional development. The association runs the New Faculty Experience program to support early-career educators and actively contributes to projects like PhysTEC, a coalition to improve physics teacher preparation. Its public outreach initiatives include supporting the PhysicsBowl contest and developing interactive demonstrations for public science festivals.

Awards and recognition

The association bestows numerous awards to honor excellence in physics education. Its highest honor is the Oersted Medal, recognizing notable contributions to the teaching of physics, past recipients of which include Albert A. Bartlett and Lillian C. McDermott. The Robert A. Millikan Medal honors those who have made creative contributions to laboratory instruction, while the Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching Award recognizes outstanding early-career educators. Other significant awards include the Klopsteg Memorial Lecture award and the Distinguished Service Citation, which acknowledges exceptional service to the broader physics community.

Affiliated organizations

The association is a founding member society of the American Institute of Physics, a federation of physics societies. It maintains formal partnerships with other major educational organizations, including the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association of Physics Students. It is also a key collaborator with the American Physical Society on numerous joint committees and publications. Internationally, it has strong ties with analogous bodies like the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and the European Physical Society through its participation in global physics education conferences and initiatives.

Category:Physics organizations Category:Educational organizations based in the United States Category:Science education organizations