Gary White
Director, Sigma Pi Sigma Pi Sigma & Society of Physics Students
American Institute of Physics
College Park, MD

Talk Title: The Architects of Modern Physics & Sigma Pi Sigma Heritage

Abstract
While the tools of modern physics were being honed throughout the last century, physicist Marsh W. White (no relation) served as the installation officer for over 200 chapters of the physics honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma. Years earlier, though, his 1926 thesis "The Energy of High Velocity Electrons" served as a direct test of one of Einstein's most radical 1905 ideas. The "red books" of Sigma Pi Sigma, into which all inductees pen their names, include some of the most talented quantum mechanics of the 20th century, such as Edward Teller and George Gamow. In this talk, I will review these and other links between Sigma Pi Sigma and some of the architects of modern physics.

Biographical Sketch
Gary White received his Ph.D. in nuclear theory at Texas A & M University (TAMU) in 1986, and became interested in ion beams and lithography during a postdoctoral appointment in 1991. Recently, his interests have also migrated towards pedagogy, especially the use of science research as a teaching tool. Over the past 14 years, in addition to teaching mathematics at TAMU, he has taught physics and astronomy at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU), being awarded Outstanding Teacher by the NSU Alumni Association in 1996.

As SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma advisor at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSU), he guided the chapter to a significant increase in activity in recent years, including several SPS Undergraduate Research Awards and many outreach projects. In 1998, he was elected Society of Physics Students' Zone 10 Councilor and eventually, President of the National SPS Council.

Dr. White has served as a curriculum reviewer for the National Science Foundation and a reviewer for American Institute of Physics publications, and in 1999 was appointed to the nine-member national Advisory Committee on Physics Education for the American Institute of Physics. He has published articles in Physical Review, Annals of Physics, The American Journal of Physics and The College Mathematics Journal. In June 2001, White joined the American Institute of Physics (AIP) as Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics Honor Society.