Society, politics, and the realm of physics

Abstract

Day replies: Robert Orr’s belief that immigration was not the biggest reason leave voters favored Brexit is supported by an opinion poll conducted soon after the referendum.11. Lord Ashcroft Polls, 24 June 2016, http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2016/06/how-the-united-kingdom-voted-and-why. Almost half of leave voters cited sovereignty as their main concern. But immigration came in second; it was the main concern of one-third of leave voters. What’s more, the UK Home Office reported a surge in racially or religiously motivated hate crimes in the month after the vote.22. M. Weaver, Guardian, “Hate crimes soared after EU referendum, Home Office figures confirm,” 13 October 2016. Hate crimes also rose in the US after the election of Donald Trump as president.33. M. Eversley, USA Today, “Post-election spate of hate crimes worse than post-9/11, experts say,” 12 November 2016.As for sticking to physics, this magazine has never done that. Our mission remains to report on physics, on the impact of physics on the wider world, and on the wider world’s impact on physics. The Brexit vote will affect physicists, so Physics Today covered it. (See “Brexit vote rattles UK and European scientists,” June 2016, Physics Today online.)It’s also part of Physics Today’s mission to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas—which is why I welcome Orr’s letter.ReferencesSection:ChooseTop of pageReferences <<1. Lord Ashcroft Polls, 24 June 2016, http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2016/06/how-the-united-kingdom-voted-and-why. Google Scholar2. M. Weaver, Guardian, “Hate crimes soared after EU referendum, Home Office figures confirm,” 13 October 2016. Google Scholar3. M. Eversley, USA Today, “Post-election spate of hate crimes worse than post-9/11, experts say,” 12 November 2016. Google Scholar© 2017 American Institute of Physics.