For Professor Marston, the phrase “science for a shared future” embodies the growing role of physics in addressing the world’s most urgent challenges, from climate change and sustainable energy to the societal implications of emerging technologies.
Physics discoveries often translate into technologies that transform society, Marston says. The transformational nature of physics discoveries is among the themes he plans to explore at the APS Global Summit. “A discovery in quantum physics has been translated into something that is now the biggest and fastest-growing source of new electrical energy in the world,” Marston said of solar energy. Research in quantum physics ultimately led to solar technology, which Marston says will soon surpass other sources of electrical energy due to their installed capacity, the maximum output that the solar panels can produce.
At the summit, Marston hopes physicists will explore how scientific knowledge can contribute to sustainability and climate solutions while reflecting on the relationship between science and democratic institutions. Both, he argues, rely on open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas, which are central to the development of science in democracies.
The summit itself, which brings together physicists from across disciplines and around the world, is an example of those principles in action. The new event merges the APS’s long-running March and April meetings, creating opportunities for scientists in fields ranging from condensed matter physics to astrophysics and biological physics to interact in new ways.
Marston hopes for early-career scientists and students to take advantage of that breadth. Too often, he said, researchers remain siloed within their narrow disciplines, thereby missing opportunities. He’s hoping attendees will take advantage of seminars outside their fields to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and generate new ideas.
“Something that’s understood in one field can often be brought into another and advance it,” Marston said. That kind of cross-fertilization can lead to important breakthroughs, he says.
The APS is also working to promote collaboration beyond disciplinary and national borders. Marston emphasized the importance of maintaining open international scientific exchange, noting that collaboration between American and Soviet scientists during the Cold War helped sustain communication even amid geopolitical tensions.
Advocacy for science is another key priority. The APS regularly engages with policymakers to support federal research funding and ensure that scientific expertise informs public policy. Through congressional visits, reports, and ongoing communication with staff in Washington, physicists help translate complex scientific ideas into guidance for decision-makers.” We have policy bodies within the APS that take positions on various issues and write letters to federal agencies, Congress or the administration. And you can see some of these positions on the APS website,” Marston said. “We're doing deeper dives into topics like the impact of AI on physics research, physics education, and the ethics of using different forms of AI when writing papers for research journals, a very complicated topic. So, there's a really multi-faceted approach to policy, but any position we take has to be connected to physics.”
The society is also focused on strengthening the pipeline of future physicists. Programs such as the APS Bridge Program help students from diverse backgrounds transition into doctoral programs, while new educational initiatives aim to support high-school physics teaching and inspire students at an earlier stage.
Marston says that physics will be instrumental in finding sustainable ways to reduce energy consumption required by AI and that enthusiasm among younger scientists for pursuing sustainability is encouraging. “Increasing numbers of young people are interested in applying physics understanding to solving various problems, global problems,” he said. “Whether it’s climate change, sustainable technologies, or reducing the energy demands of AI systems, there’s a real sense that physics can help build a better future.” Marston reflects on a recent West Coast talk he gave to over 500 attendees. He was encouraged by the number of young people wanting to talk to him, an indication of the level of enthusiasm and interest in how “science, how physics, can contribute to technology. There’s a lot of interest and public support for science, and I don't think that's going away.”
That sense of purpose, he believes, reflects the broader mission of the APS and the spirit of the Global Physics Summit itself.
“We want people to leave feeling that it was a worthwhile place to spend a week,” Marston said, “and that physics can contribute to a shared future.”
As far as his goals for the APS, Marston says that leading the advancement of physics is certainly the mission of the APS, “and to fulfill that in the face of this difficult environment.”