Bio

Helen Quinn received her Ph.D in physics at Stanford in 1967. She has taught physics at both Harvard and Stanford. Dr. Quinn work as a particle physicist has been honored by the Dirac Medal (from the International Center for Theoretical Physics, Italy) and the Klein Medal (from The Swedish National Academy of Sciences and Stockholm University) as well as the Sakurai Prize (from the American Physical Society), the Compton medal (from the American Institute of Physics, awarded once every 4 years) and the 2018 Benjamin Franklin Medal for Physics (from the Franklin Institute). She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Science and the American Philosophical Society. She is a Fellow and former president of the American Physical Society. She is originally from Australia and is an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia.

Dr. Quinn has been active in science education for some years, and since her retirement in 2010 this has been her major activity. She was a founding member of the Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP) which produced a well-known standard-model poster for schools in 1987 (see photo). She served as Chair of the US National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education (BOSE) from 2009-2014. She was as a member of the BOSE study committee that developed the report “Taking Science to School” and chaired the committee for the “Framework for K-12 Science Education”, which is the basis of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and similar standards now adopted by about 30 states in the US, and has been influential internationally as well. She also contributed to follow-up NRC studies on assessment and implementation of NGSS. From 2015-2018 Helen served at the request of the President of Ecuador as a member of the “Comision Gestora” to help plan and guide the initial development of the National University of Education of Ecuador.

Academic Appointments

  • Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Honors & Awards

  • Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia (2018)
  • Compton Medal, American Institute of Physics (2016)
  • Sakurai Prize, American Physical Society (2013)
  • Klein Medal, University of Stockholm and Swedish Academy of Sciences (2008)
  • Dirac Medal, International Center for Theoretical Physics (2000)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Member, Comision Gestora, National University of Education, Ecuador (2015 - 2018)
  • Chair, Board on Science Education NRC (2009 - 2014)
  • Member, Board on Science Education NRC (2005 - 2009)
  • President, American Physical Society (2004 - 2004)
  • Founding President, Contemporary Physics Education Project (1988 - 1998)

Program Affiliations

  • Center for Latin American Studies

Professional Education

  • PhD, Stanford University, Theoretical Physics (1967)
  • MS, Stanford University, Physics (1964)
  • BA, Stanford University, Physics (1963)

Contact

Additional Info

All Publications

  • Commentary: The Role of Curriculum Resources in Promoting Effective and Equitable Science Learning JOURNAL OF SCIENCE TEACHER EDUCATION Quinn, H. 2021; 32 (7): 847-851

    View details for DOI 10.1080/1046560X.2021.1897293

    View details for Web of Science ID 000698834800009

  • OBITUARY Roberto Daniele Peccei PHYSICS TODAY Quinn, H. 2020; 73 (10): 68

    View details for Web of Science ID 000574451300018

  • Science and Language for English Language Learners in Relation to Next Generation Science Standards and with Implications for Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHER Lee, O., Quinn, H., Valdes, G. 2013; 42 (4): 223-233

    View details for DOI 10.3102/0013189X13480524

    View details for Web of Science ID 000330303100002

  • How the cosmos was conquered NEW SCIENTIST Quinn, H., Nir, Y. 2008; 198 (2651): 26-29

    View details for Web of Science ID 000254946100031

  • Heavy-flavor physics 2002 EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS, PROCEEDINGS Quinn, H. 2004; 2004 (1): 35-64

    View details for Web of Science ID 000222025400002

  • Comment on extracting alpha from B ->rho rho PHYSICAL REVIEW D Falk, A. F., Ligeti, Z., Nir, Y., Quinn, H. 2004; 69 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1103/PhysRevD.69.011502

    View details for Web of Science ID 000188785800007

  • SU(3) relations and the CP asymmetries in B decays to eta K-'(S), phi K-S, and K+K-KS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Grossman, Y., Ligeti, Z., Nir, Y., Quinn, H. 2003; 68 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1103/PhysRevD.68.015004

    View details for Web of Science ID 000184583700051

  • Summary and outlook for KEKTC5 5th KEK Topical Conference on Frontiers in Flavor Physics Quinn, H. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 2002: 250–258

    View details for Web of Science ID 000179303200039

  • The symmetry, or lack of it, between matter and antimatter INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MODERN PHYSICS A Quinn, H. R. 2002; 17: 137-156

    View details for Web of Science ID 000179165100015

  • B physics and CP violation 2001 SUMMER SCHOOL ON PARTICLE PHYSICS Quinn, H. 2002; 10: 1-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000189346500001

  • Summary and outlook for 9th International Symposium on Heavy Flavor Physics HEAVY FLAVOR PHYSICS Quinn, H. R. 2002; 618: 470-477

    View details for Web of Science ID 000177029300051

  • CP violation in B physics - What have we learned, and what comes next? International Conference on CP Violation Physics Quinn, H. R. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 2001: 159–165

    View details for Web of Science ID 000168498000019

  • Using kaon regeneration to probe the quark mixing parameter cos2 beta in B ->psi K decays PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Quinn, H. R., Schietinger, T., Silva, J. P., Snyder, A. E. 2000; 85 (25): 5284-5287

    Abstract

    We suggest a novel method to determine the sign of cos2beta in the decays B --> psiK, by creating interference between K(L) and K(S) final states via "regeneration," that is propagation through a matter target region to convert some K(L) to K(S). The determination of this quantity resolves an ambiguity between beta and 90 degrees -beta that remains after the standard measurements of sin2beta and may turn out to be important in resolving whether the result is in agreement with standard model predictions or indicates the presence of new physics. We find the measurement is feasible at a B factory, but requires several years of high-luminosity running with a regeneration target affecting a significant fraction of the detector.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000165884200006

    View details for PubMedID 11135977

  • Use of early data on B -> rho pi decays PHYSICAL REVIEW D Quinn, H. R., Silva, J. P. 2000; 62 (5)

    View details for Web of Science ID 000089022500028

  • CP and T violations: new results leave open questions PHYSICS WORLD Quinn, H., Hewett, J. 1999; 12 (5): 37-42

    View details for Web of Science ID 000080227900029

  • Bounding the effect of penguin diagrams in a(CP)(B-0 ->pi(+)pi(-)) PHYSICAL REVIEW D Grossman, Y., Quinn, H. R. 1998; 58 (1)

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074642500060

  • Removing discrete ambiguities in CP asymmetry measurements PHYSICAL REVIEW D Grossman, Y., Quinn, H. R. 1997; 56 (11): 7259-7266

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997YH61000047

  • CP violation Conference on Production and Decay of Hyperons, Charm and Beauty Hadrons Quinn, H. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 1996: 17–23

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996VA49400006

  • CP VIOLATION IN B-DECAYS NUCLEAR PHYSICS B Quinn, H. R. 1994: 21-28

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994PE19400004

  • MEASURING CP ASYMMETRY IN B-]RHO-PI-DECAYS WITHOUT AMBIGUITIES PHYSICAL REVIEW D Snyder, A. E., Quinn, H. R. 1993; 48 (5): 2139-2144

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993LW39100031

  • TOPICS IN CP VIOLATION ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Quinn, H. R. 1993; 688: 11-18

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993LM12500003

  • CP VIOLATION IN B-PHYSICS ANNUAL REVIEW OF NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE SCIENCE Nir, Y., Quinn, H. R. 1992; 42: 211-250

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992KB23300007

  • PENGUIN TRAPPING WITH ISOSPIN ANALYSIS AND CP ASYMMETRIES IN B-DECAYS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Lipkin, H. J., Nir, Y., Quinn, H. R., Snyder, A. E. 1991; 44 (5): 1454-1460

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991GD24100012

  • MEASURING CABIBBO-KOBAYASHI-MASKAWA PARAMETERS WITH CP ASYMMETRY AND ISOSPIN ANALYSIS IN B-PI-K PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Nir, Y., Quinn, H. R. 1991; 67 (5): 541-544

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FY50500004

  • HOW TO EXTRACT CP-VIOLATING ASYMMETRIES FROM ANGULAR-CORRELATIONS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Dunietz, I., Quinn, H., Snyder, A., Toki, W., Lipkin, H. J. 1991; 43 (7): 2193-2208

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FE75400014

  • LEARNING ABOUT THE CABIBBO-KOBAYASHI-MASKAWA MATRIX FROM CP ASYMMETRIES IN B0 DECAYS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Nir, Y., Quinn, H. R. 1990; 42 (5): 1473-1476

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990DX39800019

  • OPERATOR RENORMALIZATION-GROUP PHYSICAL REVIEW D Horn, D., Langeveld, W. G., Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1988; 38 (10): 3238-3247

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988R035500039

  • NEW FORMULATION FOR THE LATTICE-FERMION DERIVATIVE - LOCALITY AND CHIRALITY WITHOUT SPECTRUM DOUBLING PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1986; 57 (21): 2617-2620

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986E880100005

  • LATTICE THEORIES OF CHIRAL FERMIONS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1986; 34 (8): 2440-2456

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986E450100025

  • NONPERTURBATIVE EFFECTS IN EQUILIBRIUM FINITE-TEMPERATURE SCALAR FIELD-THEORY PHYSICAL REVIEW D Aoyama, H., Quinn, H. R. 1985; 31 (4): 885-899

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985ABU0500025

  • MODELS WHICH ALLOW A NEW INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE HISTORY PHYSICAL REVIEW D Gupta, S., Quinn, H. R. 1984; 29 (12): 2791-2797

    View details for Web of Science ID A1984SW35000023

  • EXACT REAL-SPACE RENORMALIZATION-GROUP AND NEW TRUNCATION ALGORITHMS FOR LATTICE THEORIES PHYSICAL REVIEW D Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1982; 25 (6): 1661-1680

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982NH17000021

  • HEAVY QUARKS AND PERTURBATIVE QUANTUM-CHROMODYNAMIC CALCULATIONS PHYSICAL REVIEW D Gupta, S., Quinn, H. R. 1982; 25 (3): 838-842

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982NC39200024

  • COMPOSITE MODELS OF QUARKS AND LEPTONS AND STRONG-COUPLING LATTICE GAUGE-THEORIES PHYSICAL REVIEW D Quinn, H. R., Drell, S. D., Gupta, S. 1982; 26 (12): 3689-3700

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982PU94200032

  • OPERATOR-PRODUCT EXPANSION AND VACUUM INSTABILITY PHYSICAL REVIEW D Gupta, S., Quinn, H. R. 1982; 26 (2): 499-504

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982NX48400019

  • WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PARTICLE PHYSICS THEORY - A REVIEW TALK FOR NON-PARTICLE PHYSICISTS AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS Quinn, H. R. 1980; 33 (5): 789-799

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980LL62400001

  • DYNAMICAL BREAKING OF CHIRAL SYMMETRY IN LATTICE GAUGE-THEORIES PHYSICAL REVIEW D Svetitsky, B., Drell, S. D., Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1980; 22 (2): 490-504

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980KC55500028

  • APPROXIMATE DYNAMICAL SYMMETRY IN LATTICE QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS PHYSICAL REVIEW D WEINSTEIN, M., Drell, S. D., Quinn, H. R., Svetitsky, B. 1980; 22 (5): 1190-1197

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980KJ04600020

  • QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS ON A LATTICE - HAMILTONIAN VARIATIONAL APPROACH TO THE PHYSICS OF THE WEAK-COUPLING REGION PHYSICAL REVIEW D Drell, S. D., Quinn, H. R., Svetitsky, B., WEINSTEIN, M. 1979; 19 (2): 619-638

    View details for Web of Science ID A1979GJ82900025

  • MULTIPLE VACUUMS IN A LATTICE FORMULATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL ABELIAN HIGGS MODEL PHYSICAL REVIEW D Quinn, H. R., WEINSTEIN, M. 1978; 17 (4): 1063-1072

    View details for Web of Science ID A1978ET02900013

  • CP CONSERVATION IN PRESENCE OF PSEUDO-PARTICLES PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Peccei, R. D., Quinn, H. R. 1977; 38 (25): 1440-1443

    View details for Web of Science ID A1977DJ61200003

  • SOME ASPECTS OF INSTANTONS NUOVO CIMENTO DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI FISICA A-NUCLEI PARTICLES AND FIELDS Peccei, R. D., Quinn, H. R. 1977; 41 (2): 309-330

    View details for Web of Science ID A1977DY43000010

  • CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY CP CONSERVATION IN PRESENCE OF PSEUDOPARTICLES PHYSICAL REVIEW D Peccei, R. D., Quinn, H. R. 1977; 16 (6): 1791-1797

    View details for Web of Science ID A1977EB81900023

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9799-2071