Table of Contents

Message from the CEO — Federation — Institute — Reputation — Excellence — Foundation — 2024 Financials

Positive Change

In 2019, AIP embarked on a journey of strategic transformation. Our strategic framework, AIP-2025 , was built on four foundational pillars: Federation, Institute, Reputation, and Excellence, known as our FIRE goals. I’m pleased to report we have nearly completed this transformative journey.

In thinking about our transformation since the AIP Board of Directors convened five years ago to chart our future, two words come to mind: positive change. Today, AIP is a changed organization, one that is ready for the future. We don’t just look different today, we are different. We are modern, we are bold, and we are connected.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways we have changed for the better.

Federation:

• For the first time in our organization’s history, all 10 Member Societies signed on to a strategic plan, which demonstrates their steadfast and unrelenting commitment to cultivating a culture of STEM inclusion and opportunity for all interested in the physical sciences.
• The Member Societies for the first time and through the relatively new Federation Assembly empaneled a Task Force to provide advice to AIP, this time on how to advance Member Society success in Public Policy and Government Relations.
• We hired a new Federation Officer to strengthen bonds among the Institute, Member Societies, and Affiliates.

Institute:

• We hired our first Chief Research Officer to lead the newly formed AIP Research team, enabling us to leverage decades of work in statistical research, library and archives, and history to ensure our research better aligns with the needs and interests of the Federation.
• We added a new position to our Executive Team, hiring our first Student Engagement Officer to forge a stronger connection between AIP and undergraduate students, with the goal of fostering a lifelong connection with the next generation of physical scientists.

Reputation:

• We have nearly completed the migration of our content onto the new digital experience platform, and we are already witnessing the benefits. Our content today is more compelling, impactful, and suited to meeting users’ needs.
• We are reimagining Physics Today to become a digital first publication that is more accessible and relevant to all stakeholders—most importantly our Member Societies.

Excellence:

• We overhauled our talent and leadership structure, which included hiring a new Talent and Culture Officer . The new structure represents a major shift in how we manage our people and foster and encourage collaboration across teams to ensure all staff are better positioned to be more successful in their roles and deliver on excellence.

And finally, the AIP Foundation celebrated its fifth year in operation. A culture of philanthropy now is imbued into all that we do at AIP, helping to further advance the physical sciences enterprise for the collective good.

To learn more about our transformative work in 2024, please continue reading.

Michael H. Moloney
Chief Executive Officer

AIP Hires New Federation Officer

AIP hired Federation Officer Max Saffell to develop and execute a strategy to deepen bonds among the Institute, Member Societies, and our Affiliates.

Why it Matters
As a Federation that advances the success of its Member Societies, our Federation Office is working to strengthen interconnectivity between the Member Societies and our Affiliates. The office is also partnering closely with teams across AIP to underpin the strength of the Federation and the successes of its members.

Go Deeper
In addition to hosting the AIP Annual Forum and the biannual Federation Assembly, the Federation Office held a number of highly successful workshops. Events included a discussion on data privacy and opportunities to partner on the new digital experience platform (DXP) and a training that demonstrated how volunteer leaders and their work can be more integrated between staff and volunteers and how they can be more successful stewards of their organization. Based on member feedback, the office launched a free monthly webinar series, Third Thursdays, to convene Member Societies and Affiliates around topics of mutual interest.

Learn More
Click here for more information about the Annual Forum.
Read about the expertise Max Saffell brings to the AIP team.
Have an idea or feedback you’d like to share? Contact the team at membersocieties@aip.org .

AIP Annual Forum

AIP held its second Annual Forum at the American Center for Physics, Washington, DC—a new convening space that opened in early 2024. The Forum brought together leaders from across the physical science enterprise for a day of learning and discourse.

Member Societies Unanimously Endorse Strategic Plan Supporting STEM Inclusion

AIP launched a Federation-wide strategic plan focused on a collective commitment to cultivating a culture of STEM inclusion and opportunity for all interested in the physical sciences. This plan marks the first time in the organization’s history that all 10 Member Societies have come together to endorse a collective strategic plan.

Why it Matters
The plan supports AIP’s mission to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. It also supports the work of the Member Societies and Affiliates in creating a culture of inclusion and raises the Federation’s visibility as a leader in this space.

Go Deeper
The five-year plan identifies four main areas of focus:

1. Diversify the physical sciences field
2. Create an inclusive culture in the physical sciences
3. Build a community of champions and change makers
4. Model organizational change

Learn More
For more information, contact deibaoffice@aip.org .

AIP Expands Executive Team

AIP made two new additions to our Executive Team to help further advance the Institute.

We hired our first Chief Research Officer, Trevor Owens , bringing together our statistical research, library and archives, and history team to form a new Research Team. We also elevated oversite of the Institute’s research function to the executive level.

In addition, we hired our first Student Engagement Officer, Alejandro de la Puente , who will also serve as Director of the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma to help strengthen the connection between AIP and undergraduate students.

Why it Matters
Research: Research is central to our transformation as an Institute to be a research-driven center of excellence and ensure that our initiatives best support the needs and interests of the Federation. While AIP has been involved in research since the 1960s, the new integrated approach brings together our existing research capabilities and expertise — under one umbrella — to encourage more cross-collaboration among staff in order to advance the Federation as a whole.

Students: The Society of Physics Students appears to many to operate independently and, as a result, many students aren’t familiar with AIP. Elevating the Student Engagement Officer to the executive level enables AIP to develop a more cohesive strategy to integrate the work we do into student programs and raises AIP’s profile among future physical scientists.

Go Deeper
Research: AIP recognizes that individual Member Societies are well-positioned to lead priority efforts in their own specific areas of focus. Where AIP Research adds relevance — and where it will focus its efforts — is in advancing and supporting work that offers the most Federation-wide stakeholder value.

Students: De la Puente will be responsible for student programs focused on the undergraduate level through the Society of Physics Students and the physics and astronomy honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma. He will lead student engagement efforts across AIP, with the goal of building lifelong connections between students and the AIP community and helping to ensure students understand AIP’s value as they make the transition from school to the professional world—including translating to membership of AIP’s Member Societies.

Learn More
Read about Trevor Owens vision for AIP Research and how a scheduling snafu in college led him to where he is today.
Read more about Alejandro de la Puente , a theoretical physicist, and the role SPS played in his life as an undergraduate.

New Report Sheds Light on Undergraduate Physics Majors

In a new AIP report , “Attrition and Persistence in Undergraduate Physics Programs,” 745 students considering a physics major at four large public universities were followed for five years to identify who graduated with a degree in physics, who left the major, and why they persisted or left.

Why it Matters
This study, which is the longest longitudinal study of persistence in undergraduate physics to date, sheds light on why students are leaving physics majors, and how we can improve physics programs to improve student experience and retention.

Go Deeper
Results found that early intervention is essential. Most undergraduate students who were considering a physics major changed their mind within their first or second year of introductory physics. While some students left a physics major due to interests in other majors and career paths, others left because of negative experiences in introductory physics courses and physics departments. Women and members of underrepresented race/ethnicity groups were more likely to report having negative social experiences.

Learn More
Read the full report here , including what physics departments can do to improve student retention.

TEAM-UP Together

Launched in 2022, TEAM-UP Together is AIP Federation’s first collective action initiative (in partnership with AIP Member Societies - American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, and American Physical Society). The initiative aims to ignite impactful systemic change in physics and astronomy and significantly improve graduation outcomes by creating a culture that supports and engages undergraduate students who face the starkest barriers to success.

Student Experience Conference

TEAM-UP Together held its first Student Experience Conference Oct. 4–6 in Washington, D.C.

Why It Matters
As TEAM-UP Together matures, we’ve expanded beyond scholarships to offer broader support to help students stay on the path to graduation. Because student retention is critical to the future success of our field, TEAM-UP Together created the conference to help inspire and educate the next generation of physicists and astronomers.

Go Deeper
An estimated 100 attendees convened for three days of networking, workshops, and poster sessions and heard an inspiring keynote address by Gold medal Olympian and physicist, Dr. Edwin Moses. For many students, this was their first time attending a professional conference. It exposed them to peers and mentors from across the country and gave them the opportunity to learn about the diverse array of career options. For students who exhibited at the poster session, it gave them the chance to practice presenting their research in a supportive environment.

Learn More
Watch the conference highlight reel .
View the conference agenda .
Read about Dr. Edwin Moses ’s many accomplishments.

In Other TEAM-UP Together News

• A record 72 students were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship. In addition, $20,000+ in emergency funds went to students facing financial challenges, such as food insecurity and risk of not graduating due to financial holds.
• $1.1 million was awarded to six TEAM-UP Together EXCEL grantees to support physics and astronomy departments and faculty engaged in systemic change initiatives.
• A new partnership was formed with the American Physical Society’s National Mentoring Community to provide mentoring to students. APS is one of TEAM-UP’s lead partners.

Physics Today Undergoes Major Transformation

We are reimagining our flagship publication, Physics Today, to be more accessible and relevant to all stakeholders. It will become a digital first publication to reflect how content is consumed today.

Why It Matters
Physics Today’s mission to be a unifying voice across physical science specialties remains as vital as ever, and it must continuously evolve to serve that role.

Go Deeper
Physics Today has relied on research scientists to write many of its articles. This practice makes it beholden to the schedules of busy researchers. Also, articles are often so technical they haven’t always been useful to the wide range of scientists we serve.

Our solution: leverage the talent and expertise of our staff to write articles. Many staff are scientists with PhDs and are trained to write about highly complex topics, so they are more easily understood by the wider science community. The October issue was the first issue to carry only staff-written articles.

Learn More
Read Physics Today here .

AIP Digital Experience Platform Near Completion

We made significant progress in migrating nearly all AIP content onto our digital experience platform, or DXP.

Why It Matters
The DXP not only serves as the public face of AIP but also is revolutionizing how we engage with our audiences, reach new ones, and streamline departmental operations.

Learn More
Read about how the new DXP fits into AIP’s strategic transformation.

AIP Revamps Talent and Culture Team

To deliver on the “E” in our FIRE goals, Excellence, we have significantly transformed how we manage our people resources and have hired a new Talent and Culture Officer, Alicia Waller, to lead those efforts.

Why it Matters
The new structure fosters greater collaboration across teams to ensure all employees are better positioned to be more successful in their roles and deliver on excellence both to our organization and to our stakeholders.

Go Deeper
AIP is now organized into four “Home Teams,” each comprised of smaller teams. The purpose is to streamline communication and processes, reduce redundancy, and break down silos. The change helps to ensure our resources are used more efficiently and there is a unified approach to problem solving across the organization. The new structure has already yielded positive results. In a recent employee engagement survey, staff reported feeling more valued and connected to their colleagues, managers, and teams.

In addition to our new Home Teams, we’ve implemented a salary structure to ensure we remain competitive as an employer, adopted a more modern total compensation philosophy, and put a renewed emphasis on employees and their career success. Collectively, these changes help to attract and retain top talent, drive continuous improvement, and foster a culture of Excellence at AIP.

Learn More
Discover how Alicia Waller’s background makes her well positioned to lead initiatives that deliver on AIP’s Excellence goal.

AIP Foundation generates philanthropic support for programs within AIP that foster the next generation of students in the physical sciences, preserve and deepen understanding of the history of physics, provide science policy reporting, and create a more accessible field for all.

Heineman Foundation Expands Support of Students

AIP Foundation continuously works with our philanthropy partners to amplify their impact with new opportunities that align with AIP’s mission and the funder’s goals. In 2024, the Heineman Foundation, a longtime supporter of AIP, began supporting undergraduate research fellowships under the TEAM-UP Together initiative, which aims to break down barriers to undergraduate student success in physics and astronomy to ensure equal opportunity for all.

Heineman Foundation’s support dates back to 1959 when it established the Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics followed 20 years later with the establishment of the Heineman Prize for Astrophysics .

AIP Foundation Hosts Fireside Chat on Physics, AI and the Future of Discovery

In the spring, AIP hosted a fireside chat with leaders from industry, government, and academia to discuss the impact of AI on the profession. The event, which was also livestreamed, was held at American Center for Physics new space in Washington, D.C., and moderated by AIP Foundation Board of Trustees Inaugural Chair France A. Córdova.

Learn More
Watch the fireside chat on YouTube
Read the November article in Physics Today.

AIP Receives Two Important Gifts to Help Preserve History

AIP Foundation received a gift from longtime AIP supporter and professor to fund a pilot project to explore the use of artificial intelligence tools as potential methods to enhance the searchability and accessibility of AIP’s growing collection of oral histories. AIP’s world-renowned Niels Bohr Library and Archives (NBL&A) is home to more than 2,700 unique oral histories, which document physical sciences from the early 1960s to the present.

In late 2024, an anonymous donor funded the planning phase of AIP’s visioning to identify a permanent home for NBL&A. In addition to housing oral histories, the NBL&A is also a repository and clearinghouse for information in the history of physics, astronomy, geophysics, and allied fields containing more than 4,000 rare books and manuscripts. This planning phase sets the crucial groundwork for putting into place the future sustainability of the NBL&A and AIP’s history program.

AIP receives support from many generous donors.

View the 2024 Donor and In Honor & Memorial lists below.

Learn more
Learn about the Niels Bohr Library and Arc hives and browse its extensive collection of oral histories .

Discover how the AIP Foundation empowers future generations of physical scientists, advances discovery, and fosters an inclusive and innovative scientific community through philanthropy.

Interested in making a donation or leaving a legacy gift? Contact Executive Director Anna Lee at alee@aip.org .

Financial Performance

In 2024, AIP posted its 15th consecutive year of positive net operating results, a testament to our long-term commitment to operational excellence. The progress made in 2024 in achieving our major operational and strategic priorities was instrumental in advancing the success of our Strategic Framework. This momentum deepens our commitment to our overarching strategy and our audiences’ experience of AIP in the coming years.

We reached an exciting milestone in 2024 with the opening of our new American Center for Physics - AIP location in Washington, D.C., in partnership with our member organizations, AAPT and APS. The space was designed for collaboration and meetings and has become a popular location for in-person gatherings within AIP and across our community.

AIP was able to remain financially strong and build on its organizational excellence from all the positive experiences we have had during the year.

Noteworthy 2024 Financial Highlights

• Net surplus from operations of $3.0M
• Investments generated a positive return of 10.7%, increasing to $235.9M
• Net assets increased by 4.1% to $277.4M
• Net assets released from restricted reserves of $19.1M

Net Assets and The Path Forward

Each year, AIP reviews and evaluates its financial assets and aligns them with the Institute’s goals and strategic priorities. The Board Designations are the culmination of this effort. In 2024, net assets released totaled $19.1M, coming from donor restrictions ($5.7M) and board designated funds ($13.4M). These funds provided valuable resources for implementing priorities for 2024 and sustaining the financial operations.

The Board continues to focus on how AIP is working to build a stable and sustainable future. With the Board’s support, AIP is using a multi-pronged approach that includes managing spending formulas from quasi-endowments and other board designated funds, as well as structured disbursements from special purpose funds that are guided by donor intentions, and the operational risk reserve. We continue watching the trends and benchmarks of our peers, mitigating the risks of uncertainty in market performance, the economic and global environment, general inflation, and real growth in AIP’s expense base. This Board’s oversight provides financial discipline that allows for long-term financial stability balanced with a diversified investment approach that seeks stable asset appreciation.

AIP is grateful for the generous support provided by donors, foundations, and sponsors for its programs and awards and will continue to be a disciplined steward of its financial assets.