Klaus E. Rieckhoff, Ph.D., LL.D. (hon.)

Professor of Physics, Emeritus

Simon Fraser University

Burnaby, British Columbia

23 August 2001

Marc H. Brodsky (via e-mail)

CEO and Executive Director

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse

College Park, Maryland 20740

Dear Dr. Brodsky:

As a physicist and longtime member of the APS concerned about freedom of expression in the science community, I was troubled to learn of your dismissal of Jeff Schmidt, who had been an articles editor at Physics Today magazine for over 19 years.

As I 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.

While I do not necessarily agree with Jeff's views about the situation of physicists and other salaried professionals, and do not expect you to, I believe that free debate within the physics community is healthy. I 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. I urge you to reconsider your decision, and offer to reinstate Jeff as an editor at Physics Today.

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

Sincerely,

Klaus Rieckhoff