The undergraduate years are a turning point in producing scientifically literate citizens and future scientists and engineers. Evidence from research about how students learn science and engineering shows that teaching strategies that motivate and engage students will improve their learning. So how do students best learn science and engineering?…

Learn the astronomy behind the changing of the seasons. Students know that we mark the change of seasons with the position of the Sun over certain parts of the Earth. The specific time and date for the change of seasons is determined by the position of the Sun, not above the horizon necessarily, nor geographically, but rather where the Sun is…

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) publishes 87% of the primary research journals in the discipline of physics in the United States. These journals have provided an indispensable communication mechanism for research results and education in physics and astronomy. A redesign of the present journal system is required because of expansions in…

Science communication techniques are expected to change markedly in the next decade because of the developments on an international scale of coupled information systems in various scientific disciplines and technological missions. A change in techniques is also expected because of growing needs of users as well as of producers of science…

Four hundred and ninety one primary journals covered by "Physics Abstracts" in 1965 have been studied and their basic characteristics analyzed in terms of sponsorship, distribution by country, language, frequency, and coverage by secondary services other than "Physics Abstracts," and the number of libraries holding each…

In order to identify producers of physics research and to determine their relative productivity, institutional affiliations of authors as given in nine physics journals were studied. Organizations were classified and analyzed by type and geographical location, and productivity established. Findings indicate that organizations differ in their rate…

The basic characteristics of sixty-nine secondary services in physics were analyzed in terms of sponsorship and distribution by: (1) country of origin, (2) language, (3) age, (4) frequency of publication, (5) subject and geographical coverage and (6) size. The eight major services, in terms of size, are identified. The use of the services by the…

Traces the history of various theories about Mars that were derived through direct observation. (MLH)

Approximately thirty years ago archivists began formulating new models to guide archival collecting, creating a literature that continues to grow. In the mid-1980s, the introduction of the documentation strategy collection model put new emphasis on cooperation between repositories and among stakeholders. The model initially focused on the history…

The American Institute of Physics is working toward the development of a national information system for physics, whose objective is the organization of the flow of physics information from the producers to the users. The complete physics information system has several constituent subsystems, among which are: one for the management of the flow of…

The current status of the National Information System for Physics and Astronomy which is being implemented by the information Division of the American Institute of Physics is reported in this issue of a series of annual reports on the program. The goals of the system, their relative priorities and the over-all strategy by which they are to be…

Describes the physical aspects of Mars, including old and new theories. Discusses the proposed landing sites of Viking. (MLH)

Describes the Alpha Centauri star system, which is the closest star system to the sun. Discusses the difficulties associated with measurements involving Alpha Centauri, along with some of the recent advances in stellar seismology. Raises questions about the possibilities of planets around Alpha Centauri. (TW)

A summary of some of the newly gained information about Mars from the Viking Lander is presented. (MR)