Physics Forums aims to provide a community for students, scientists, educators or hobbyists to learn and discuss science as it is currently generally understood and practiced by the professional scientific community.
Our main focus is physics, but we also cater to other STEM fields including engineering, chemistry, biology, mathematics, etc.
STEM homework help for students is available, as well as academic and career guidance.
Physics Forums awards various types of medals to members for showing ability or dedication in a given area. These different awards are described below.
There are several different medals or rankings a member can achieve while being an active part of Physics Forums. Each medal has different requirements that must be fulfilled. The different medals/"rankings" a member can have on PF are:
Normal Member: This is not very hard to achieve. It involves signing up for free. Do it today!
PF Contributor Medal: These members are also known as "Gold Members" due to their names being displayed in Gold in the forums. In order to obtain this medal a member must contribute a donation that goes towards running the site. If you enjoy PF and wish to contribute, you may do so by clicking the "Upgrade" button on the top of the page. Other benefits these members get (along with the medal and gold name) include:
No ads
Set invisible ability
Custom title
Ability to have a Signature
Avatars
Profile photo
200pm limit
Ability to view who's online
User notes
Boolean searching
Homework Helper Medal: This is the first of the PF merit-awarded medals discussed here. As such it entails responsibility beyond that of the average poster. In order to be recognized as a Homework Helper a member must:
1) Give correct and reliable help to students in the homework help forums of the site.
2) Help in the homework forums regularly whenever they are able.
3) Be a regular and "established" member of PF. (By this I mean they must show that their contributions will most likely continue in the future. i.e. They are members who are not as likely to disappear on a whim and never help again.)
Members are nominated by current homework helpers and mentors. The medals are then awarded by the administrator, Greg Bernhardt. Due to the amount of effort homework helpers devote to keeping the homework sections of PF running smoothly and efficiently, they are listed under the "Staff" link at the top of any PF page along with Science Advisors, Mentors, and Administrators. Homework helpers also from time to time participate in policy/structure discussions.
Science Advisor Medal: The science advisor medal is a merit awarded medal as well. As such, it entails responsibility beyond that of the average poster. In order to be considered for a science advisor medal a member must:
1)Offer reliably correct explanations for scientific questions posed in the various forums of PF. Science Advisor medals are awarded to those members who have demonstrated an unmistakable expertise in a certain field of science discussed on PF.
2)Help other members understand their field of expertise a little better through their postings.
3) Be a regular and "established" member of PF. (Same meaning as above.)
Members are nominated by current science advisors and mentors. The medals are then awarded by the administrator, Greg Bernhardt. Due to the amount of effort science advisors devote to keeping high quality scientific discussions on PF, they are listed under the "Staff" link at the top of any PF page along with Homework Helpers, Mentors, and Administrators. Science Advisors also from time to time participate in policy/structure discussions.
Guru Plaque: Every year, around December, PF members (of any level) vote for members who have been nominated by mentors for excelling in different areas. The winner of the poll for each category receives the "Guru" plaque for that category. They will keep the plaque until next year when the voting begins again. Guru plaques are awarded every year in the following categories:
Physics
Astronomy/Cosmology
Mathematics
Engineering
Technology
Other Sciences
Homework Helping
Community Spirit
Newcomer
Funniest Member
Mentor Rank: A PF mentor is a member who has been chosen by current mentors and administrators because of their demonstration of unparalleled commitment to PF, extensive scientific knowledge in a certain field, and perceived ability to be able to effectively moderate discussions on PF and run the day to day operations of the community. The mentors help maintain the high-quality scientific discussion that makes PF famous! Many of the mentors are professional scientists and graduate students. Mentors are distinguished by a green name in their posts on the forums and a "PF Mentor" label underneath their name. The Physics Forums mentors are listed under the "Staff" at the top of any PF page.
Retired Staff Medal
This medal simply denotes past service as a Mentor or Admin.
Administrator Rank: The administrator (Greg Bernhardt) keeps the site running by looking after the technical end of things. Greg also owns PhysicsForums.
Current Gurus
Physics: Demystifier
Mathematics: FactChecker
Astro/Cosmo: kimbyd
Engineering: jim hardy
Other Sciences: BillTre
Guidance Counselor: Dr. Courtney
Newcomer: Lord Jestocost
Homework Help: haruspex Charles Link PeroK
Community Spirit: Wrichik Basu
Best Humor: Drakkith
Best Insight: "“Classical Physics Is Wrong” Fallacy" by ZapperZ
Insight Writer: fresh_42
Hall of Legends: Orodruin
Guru Roll of Honour
This list recognises those users who have previously been voted Gurus. We congratulate them on their achievement and thank them for their contributions to the community.
Physics 2003: marcus 2004: ZapperZ 2005: marlon 2006: pervect 2007: George Jones 2008: mgb_phys 2009: DrChinese 2010: DrChinese 2011: Fredrik 2012: Dalespam 2013: PeterDonis 2014: vanhees71 2015: bhobba 2016: vanhees71 2017: Orodruin 2018: Demystifier
Astronomy & Cosmology 2003: schwarzchildradius 2004: Chronos 2005: SpaceTiger 2006: hellfire 2007: marcus 2008: marcus 2009: marcus 2010: marcus 2011: marcus 2012: bcrowell 2013: marcus 2014: marcus 2015: Chronos 2016: Andy Resnick 2017: davenn 2018: kimbyd
Mathematics 2003: Mathman 2004: Matt Grime 2005: Matt Grime 2006: mathwonk 2007: Matt Grime 2008: mathwonk 2009: Dick 2010: mathwonk 2011: mathwonk 2012: AlephZero 2013: HallsOfIvy 2014: Stephen Tashi 2015: mathwonk 2016: micromass 2017: lavinia, FactChecker 2018: FactChecker
Engineering 2004: Clausius 2005: Astronuc 2006: FredGarvin 2007: FredGarvin 2008: FredGarvin 2009: Mgb_phys 2010: vk6kro 2011: AlephZero 2012: jim hardy 2013: AlephZero 2014: jim hardy 2015: sophiecentaur 2016: jim hardy 2017: sophiecentaur 2018: jim hardy
Other Sciences1 2003: FZ+ 2006: Bystander 2007: Chemisttree 2008: Andre 2009: Borek 2010: Andy Resnick 2011: Andy Resnick 2012: Chemisttree 2013: Ygggdrasil 2014: davenn 2015: Ygggdrasil 2016: Bystander 2017: Ygggdrasil 2018: BillTre
Homework Helper 2005: Tide 2006: OlderDan 2007: Dick 2008: tiny-tim, Dick 2009: tiny-tim 2010: tiny-tim, Mark44 2011: I Like Serena, tiny-tim 2012: ehild, Dick 2013: Simon Bridge, haruspex 2014: ehild, haruspex 2015: SteamKing, BvU 2016: haruspex, Simon Bridge 2017: BvU, TSny 2018: haruspex, Charles Link, PeroK
Guidance Counselor Award 2015: Vanadium 50 2016: ZapperZ 2017: Vanadium 50 2018: Dr. Courtney
Community Spirit 2003: drag 2004: Gokul43201 2005: Math is Hard 2006: Astronuc 2007: Gokul43201 2008: Redbelly98 2009: Lisab 2010: Lisab 2011: Gad 2012: Pengwuino 2013: WannabeNewton 2014: dlgoff 2015: Borg 2016: OmCheeto 2017: Borg 2018: Wrichik Basu
Best Insight Article 2015: won by bapowell
2016: Misconceptions about Virtual Particles (by Arnold Neumaier) 2017: What is a Tensor? (by fresh_42) 2018: “Classical Physics Is Wrong” Fallacy (by ZapperZ)
Philosophy5 2003: Boulderhead 2004: Les Sleeth 2005: Les Sleeth
Crackpot of the Year6 2003: LogicalAthiest
Best Thread of the Year6 2003: Astronomy
(1) Formerly 'Biology & Chemistry', now includes all other sciences.
(2) Formerly 'Funniest Member'.
(3) A vote among all winners of the previous year, as they are not eligible in other categories
(4) Combined to 'Other Sciences' afterwards
(5) Phased out after 2005.
(6) Phased out after 2003.