Anne Miller-Bagwell

Research Associate

Center for Science Education

24 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:

As physicists and other scientists concerned about freedom of expression in the science community, we were troubled to learn of your dismissal of Jeff Schmidt, who had been an articles editor at Physics Today magazine for over 19 years.

As we understand it, you fired Jeff after you saw his book, Disciplined Minds, and in particular after you learned that Jeff had used some of his spare time at the office for critical writing about education and employment in physics and other fields. This point of view is further strengthened by the first-hand accounts of draconian measures imposed on the AIP staff, such as gag orders, forbidding non-workplace conversations, and reserving the right to monitor all private conversations, and resistance to compliance with.

While we do not necessarily agree with Jeff's views about the situation of physicists and other salaried professionals, and do not expect you to, we believe that free debate within the physics community is healthy and everyone's right. We expect you to encourage it, not stifle it, especially because physicists are known for speaking out when physicists internationally are punished for expressing their views. Your actions as head of the American Institute of Physics help to shape society's view of the physics community. We urge you to reconsider your decision, and offer to reinstate Jeff as an editor at Physics Today.

We ask that you publish this letter in Physics Today, to bring our concerns to the attention of the wider physics community.

Sincerely,

Anne Miller-Bagwell