Heat and Thermodynamics: Organizations & Associations

AAPT® was established in 1930 with the fundamental goal of ensuring the "dissemination of knowledge of physics, particularly by way of teaching." Founders, Homer L. Dodge, Paul E. Klopsteg, and William S. Webb, led the effort to organize the first association dedicated to improving physics education. Today that vision is supported by members around the world.

Since 1955, SPIE has focused on supporting and advancing the international optics and photonics community. View our timeline below to see how our not-for-profit has grown and developed, serving our constituents across the globe.

The European Physical Society (EPS) is a not for profit association whose members include 42 National Physical Societies in Europe, individuals from all fields of physics, and European research institutions.
As a learned society, the EPS engages in activities that strengthen ties among the physicists in Europe. As a federation of National Physical Societies, the EPS studies issues of concern to all European countries relating to physics research, science policy and education.

The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories.