M. P. Anantram

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, California

23 August 2001

 

 

Marc Brodsky (via e-mail)

CEO and Executive Director

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, Maryland 20740

 

Dear Dr. Brodsky,

 

I am concerned by the enclosed mail that I received from Talat Rahman et al.  While I understand that AIP is a workplace that cannot afford the freedom possible in a research environment, the action of firing Jeff Schmidt for the reasons given in the enclosed letter is unjustified.

 

I appeal to you and your colleagues to reverse your opinion, reinstate Jeff Schmidt at AIP, and work on making AIP a model organization for corporate America.

 

I have enjoyed Physics Today and other AIP publications and believe that your staff is doing an excellent job.  Even more impressive are the many nontraditional articles written in Physics Today (those that do not agree with conventional Physics establishments).  I hope that we in the scientific community will continue the tradition of NOT AGREEING with one another; this only makes us BETTER.  The punishment of firing Jeff Schmidt for following this tradition is too harsh.

 

Sincerely,

 

M. P. Anantram

 

(Opinions are my own; my affiliation is given for identification only.)