Arthur Eisenkraft
Project Director, Active Physics

Project Director Arthur Eisenkraft teaches physics and serves as science coordinator in the Bedford Public Schools in New York. Dr. Eisenkraft is the author of numerous science and educational publications. He holds U.S. Patent #4447141 for a Laser Vision Testing System (which tests visual acuity for spatial frequency).

Dr. Eisenkraft has been involved with a number of NSTA projects, chairing many NSTA sponsored competitions: the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVisions Awards (1991 to the present); the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants (1990 to the present); the Duracell/NSTA Scholarship Competitions (1984 to the present). He was also Chair of the NYNEX Awards Program (1993-95); was a columnist and on the Advisory Board of Quantum (a science and math student magazine that was published by NSTA as a joint venture between the United States and Russia; 1989 to 2001)-he and a colleague created a monthly contest problem for this magazine.

Dr. Eisenkraft has also been involved in a Scope, Sequence and Coordination curriculum project sponsored by NSTA with funding from the National Science Foundation (1997-1998). In 1993, he served as Executive Director for the XXIV International Physics Olympiad after being Academic Director for the United States Team for six years. He served on the content committee and helped write the National Science Education Standards of the NRC (National Research Council).

Dr. Eisenkraft has also been recognized with the following awards: Tandy Technology Scholar Award 2000, Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, 1986 from President Reagan; AAPT Distinguished Service Citation for "excellent contributions to the teaching of physics", 1989; Science Teacher of the Year, Disney American Teacher Awards in their American Teacher Awards program, 1991; Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1993.

In 1999 Dr. Eisenkraft was elected to a 3-year cycle as the President-Elect, President and Retiring President of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest science teacher organization in the world. Also in 1999, he was the sole recipient of an award for Excellence in Pre-College Physics teaching from AAPT.

He serves on numerous advisory boards for: The Merck Institute of Science Education; ICI; BSCS; EDC and CESAME. He is a member of the New York State Committee to create the laboratory component for the new physics core curriculum; was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, " Bridging cognitive Science Research and Science Classrooms" and a study to "Engage Ph.D's in K-12 Science Education".

Dr. Eisenkraft has appeared on The Today Show, National Public Radio, Public Television, The Disney Channeland numerous radio shows. He serves as an advisor to the ESPN Sports Figures Video Productions.

He is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker at National Conventions. He has published over 80 articles and presented over 110 papers and workshops and has been featured in articles in The New York Times, Education Week, Physics Today, American Journal of Physics and Physics Teacher.

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