NCS-AAPT and SHAPE
(Symposium on Horizons in Astronomy and Physics Education)

Joint Meeting, Spring 2026

Our theme is Transitions. In physics, this often refers to a change in state, such as a change in energy state for a quantum system. There will be three SHAPE workshops related to quantum systems. However, transitions also describes high school students going to a two-year college or four-year college and college students going to the workforce. We will have presentations by Brad Conrad and Lavinia Sebastian on developing the workforce. With the disruptive technology of agentic AI, the entire field of education is in transition.

SHAPE is an annual symposium for high school teachers on current advances in physics, astronomy, and the teaching of these subjects in secondary schools. SHAPE is organized by the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UNC Chapel Hill. The invited presentation by Amy Nicholson and the three quantum-related workshops are sponsored by SHAPE. High school teachers who attend the entire symposium are eligible to receive Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits. In addition, SHAPE teachers will receive materials from the workshops to take back to the classroom. To receive CEU credits and workshop materials, it's important to register for SHAPE.

Invited Speakers

Dan Scolnic, Associate Professor of Physics, Duke University

The Physics of Sports and the Expanding Universe

Sports provide some of the most intuitive examples of physics in everyday life. The motion of a basketball, the spin of a baseball, and the optimization behind a long jump are all governed by many of the same physical principles we use to understand systems on extragalactic scales. In this talk I’ll start with familiar examples from sports to illustrate core ideas in mechanics and measurement, and then show how those same ideas scale up to modern cosmology. In particular, I’ll discuss how astronomers use observations of exploding stars to measure the expansion of the universe and probe dark energy. My goal is to share examples and perspectives that physics teachers can bring into the classroom to connect everyday experiences with some of the biggest questions in science.

Amy Nicholson, Associate Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill

From micro to macro: how quantum physics dictates the cosmos

The strong nuclear force is one of only 4 fundamental forces that govern our universe. The theory behind the strong force, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), is known to dictate the quantum interactions between the fundamental particles (quarks and gluons) which compose the nuclear cores of all known matter: from a single hydrogen atom, to the heaviest of natural elements, to the mysterious nuclear liquid which forms the centers of the densest stars. Numerical solutions to this theory, called lattice QCD, allow us to better understand the nature of matter from first-principles. Perhaps even more excitingly, it also allows us to calculate processes which are difficult to replicate in a laboratory, such as the stellar fusion which powers our sun and creates many of the heavy elements found on Earth.

Brad Conrad, Workforce Development Manager, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, NIST

Lavinia Sabastian, Workforce Development Manager, PowerAmerica

Career Pathways in Advanced Manufacturing for Physics

In 2026 there are over 400,000 well-paying manufacturing jobs, many of which are within advanced manufacturing. These STEM jobs are well-paying, located in rapidly growing technical areas between now and 2031, and very well suited to students in community colleges and physics departments. This talk will explore career pathways, future looking STEM occupations, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for students to excel in the workforce over the next 5 years. We will outline the broader ecosystem for STEM careers for physics teachers and students, look at several technology areas through Manufacturing USA, dive into the occupations and skills needed for careers related to wide band-gap semiconductors as an example, and provide attendees with pathways to connect to industry and the future careers of students.

Workshops

Lasers and Quantum: For many students, a first pass at learning Quantum Mechanics is conceptually confusing and more abstract than much of their previous coursework. To provide some foundational grounding, a simple and concrete introduction to quantum can be helpful. The wave nature of light can be used as a bridge to understand quantum systems. In this workshop we’ll explore some low-cost experiments with pen lasers that can be done in a high school classroom and will give students an introduction to the world of quantum mechanics.

LEDs and Quantum: A solid understanding of quantum mechanics is important for advancements in modern technology, and the key idea of quantum mechanics is ‘quantization.’ However, quantization is often introduced to students as an abstract mathematical tool rather than part of their everyday reality. In this workshop we will use LEDs to explore quantization and its implications for modern technology. Students at all levels can use this lab activity to calculate the fundamental constant of quantization, Planck’s constant.

Quantum Games: Ideally, every student possesses an innate interest in quantum mechanics and quantum technologies. However, this is seldom the case since many students don’t get to learn about the important problems in quantum mechanics and technology. ‘Quantum Games’ can serve as an introduction to ideas and terminology like two-level systems, entanglement, and quantum computing. In this workshop, we’ll share some fun, low-cost quantum games that can be played in the classroom or at home.

A Future for Physics — The Game
Tony Crider

This workshop translates a morning talk's themes into action. Participants take the role of physics departments, then navigate a decade of simulated crises: budget cuts, enrollment collapses, administrative pressure to eliminate programs, disruptive AI tools, and shifts in public trust in science. Drawing on tabletop exercise mechanics, the simulation forces tough decisions. No department makes it through the decade unchanged. The goal is not to win, but to surface the assumptions we bring to these decisions and consider what is worth preserving in physics education.

Understanding why most equity initiatives fail and how to improve impact

Melissa Dancy and Charles Henderson

While many approaches to equity are grounded in good intentions, they often fall short in effecting substantial change. This is largely due to a lack of deep engagement with the complex, systemic nature of institutional inequity and an inadequate theory of change. In this highly interactive workshop we introduce a framework to help participants analyze and critique common approaches to equity work. Participants will leave with a better understanding of why typical efforts fail and a roadmap to guide more productive efforts. A key focus of the workshop will be on introspection and dialogue.

Information

Submit an abstract (due March 18)
1. - Oral presentations are 11 minutes (10 min, plus 1 min for questions)
Register for NCS-AAPT OR register for SHAPE.
1. - Register for the NCS-AAPT Conference (due March 19)

OR

1. - Register for SHAPE (due Mar 25; HS Teachers only)
Pay registration fees for the NCS-AAPT 2026 meeting (for those who registered for NCS-AAPT)
Location: 3rd floor, Riddick Hall, 2401 Stinson Dr.
1. - Google map for Riddick Hall
  - Parking on campus in unmarked spaces is free after 5 PM on Friday and all day Saturday. Parking is available along Stinson Dr, Lampe Dr, and Current Dr. Also, there are large parking lots behind SAS Hall and next to Reynolds Coliseum.
Hotels
Dinner/Breakfast/Lunch Menu including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
1. - Friday dinner: Chipotle
  - Saturday breakfast: bagels and fruit
  - Saturday lunch: boxed lunches and salads from Cafe Carolina
Tentative Schedule:

Friday, Mar. 27, 2026 Saturday, Mar. 28, 2026

5:00 – 6:00 PM Registration 7:30 – 8:20 AM Coffee / Breakfast

6:00 – 7:00 PM Dinner 8:20 – 8:30 AM Welcome

7:00 – 8:00 PM Invited Speaker (Scolnic) 8:30 – 9:10 AM Invited Speaker (Nicholson)

9:15 – 9:55 AM Invited Speaker (Conrad and Sabastian)

9:55 – 10:05 AM Break

10:05 – 11:00AM Parallel Sessions for Contributed Talks

11:05 – noon: Parallel Sessions for Contributed Talks and Workshop 1
(Lasers and Quantum)

12:00 – 12:45 PM Lunch

12:30 – 1:10 PM Poster Session

1:15 – 2:10 PM Workshop 2 (LEDs and Quantum or A Future for Physics — The Game)

2:15 – 3:10 PM Workshop 3 (Quantum Games or Understanding why most equity
initiatives fail and how to improve impact)

3:15 – 4:15 PM NCS-AAPT Business Meeting

Contact host Aaron Titus (aptitus@ncsu.edu) if you have questions about the meeting.

Biographies of Invited Speakers

Dan Scolnic, Associate Professor of Physics, Duke University

Dan Scolnic is an Associate Professor of Physics at Duke University, Director of the Duke SPACE Initiative, and a Duke Presidential Fellow. His research focuses on observational cosmology, using Type Ia supernovae to measure the expansion history of the universe and probe the nature of dark energy. He has played a leading role in building and analyzing some of the largest supernova datasets used for precision cosmology. Scolnic is the recipient of the Packard Fellowship, Sloan Research Fellowship, and the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, and his work places him among the top 1% most cited scientists in space science. At Duke, he is also active in teaching and efforts to connect modern astrophysics with broader science education.

Amy Nicholson, Associate Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill

Dr. Nicholson obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 2011. She was a postdoc in the Theoretical Quarks, Hadrons, and Nuclei group at the University of Maryland, and a postdoc in Nuclear Physics at UC Berkeley. She joined UNC-CH Physics and Astronomy in 2017. Her research focuses on understanding low-energy properties of the constituents of matter (hadrons, nuclei, and nuclear matter) by solving Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) using computational techniques. She is particularly interested in making theoretical connections with experiments searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics (neutrinoless double-beta decay, direct dark matter detection, CP violation), as well as understanding the origins of matter in the Universe (baryogenesis, Big Bang and stellar nucleosynthesis) and phases of matter under extreme conditions, such as within the cores of neutron stars.

Brad Conrad, Workforce Development Manager, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, NIST

Brad R. Conrad, Ph.D. is the Education and Workforce Development Manager within the Partnerships and Outreach Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM). Brad received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland – College Park and a B.S. from RIT. Prior to NIST, Brad served as the Director of Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics and Astronomy Honor Society. Previously, Brad was a tenured Associate Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University. Brad is a fellow of the AAPT and has given over 250 talks at national conferences or universities and published articles and reports on workforce development and technical careers for undergraduates. At the Office of Advanced Manufacturing (OAM) Brad leads advanced manufacturing education and workforce development partnerships and outreach opportunities to expand awareness and engagement with industry stakeholders, educators, workers, and students.

Lavinia Sabastian, Workforce Development Manager, PowerAmerica

Career Pathways in Advanced Manufacturing for Physics

Lavinia Sebastian brings over 15 years of experience in higher education, having served at both two-year and four-year public institutions. Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as a physics instructor and STEM program coordinator, focusing on innovative strategies to improve student retention through strong industry engagement. Passionate about student success, Dr. Sebastian is dedicated to creating pathways that enable learners to pursue STEM education and build meaningful careers.

In her current role as Workforce Development Manager at PowerAmerica, a Manufacturing USA institute, she works to strengthen the microelectronics and power electronics workforce pipeline through industry, academic, and government collaboration.

Prior to transitioning to higher education, Dr. Sebastian worked as an engineer, gaining valuable industry experience that continues to inform her approach to workforce and STEM education initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a Master’s degree in Applied Physics, and a Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Higher Education Organizational Leadership.