SPS News
- Studying Abroad
- Six Flags
- 2010 APS/AAPT
- Laserfest
What is Involved in Getting a Ph.D. Abroad?
 Find out first-hand from SPS member Anna Quider, a third year graduate student in astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, UK. Anna is blogging about her experiences as an American-trained student working towards a physics Ph.D in the United Kingdom. Her goal is to give US physics students an idea of what it’s like to study abroad for a graduate degree, as she knew very little about life as an international grad student before she became one.
Meet Anna | Read the Blog | More student publications
Join SPS for Physics Day at Six Flags America!
 Ever had a 96-foot drop as part of your demo show? On May 13th, 2011, thousands of high school physics students will descend on Six Flags America near Washington, DC, and its gut-wrenching, free-falling, thrilling rides—and the Society of Physics Students will be there to welcome them! Join SPS volunteers from across the Mid-Atlantic region as we take physics to the students.
Info & Registration | Six Flags America | Amusement Park Physics
Snow no match for students at the APS/AAPT Meeting
 The record snowfall in the mid-Atlantic region last February did not deter hundreds of enthusiastic undergraduate physics students from descending on Washington, DC, for the 2010 APS/AAPT Joint Meeting. SPS had six dedicated oral sessions and a poster session, in which 75 (!) SPS members presented their research. Many more undergraduates participated in the specialized research sessions. During the SPS student awards reception, 21 presenters were honored with "Outstanding Paper" certificates and books donated by APS and AAPT.
Here are four compelling perspectives on the jam-packed week from SPS Reporters.
Leigha Dickens | Katie Foote | Erin Lease | David Neto
Exciting the Imagination: Laserfest 2010
 Laserfest is a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the laser, which was first demonstrated in 1960. From DVD players to eye surgery, the laser is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century—one that has revolutionized the way we live. Events around the world will showcase how the laser works, the history of the laser and its impact on society, and the laser's potential for the future. In conjunction with Laserfest, SPS has chosen " Exciting the Imagination" as it's 2010 theme.
Exciting the Imagination | Laserfest Website | Laserfest Events
|
|
• 2010 SPS Leadership Scholarships Announced
• Welcoming 2010 with the AAS 215th | Taking It All In: The 215th AAS Meeting
• Joint Meeting of Zone 14 and the Four Corners Section of APS
• 2010 Undergraduate Research Awards
• 2010 Marsh White Outreach Awards
• Einstein Fellows visit SPS national office at American Center for Physics
• Science Day brings local children to Elon University
 |
 Karen Williams receives Worth Seagondollar Award
Dr. Karen Williams, professor of physics at East Central University, has been awarded The Worth Seagondollar Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary level of service and commitment to Sigma Pi Sigma and SPS. It recognizes her “service as a chapter adviser, zone councilor and president of the SPS, overseeing a great expansion of the role of president and the precedent-setting 2004 Sigma Pi Sigma Congress.”
Full story | About SPS & Sigma Pi Sigma |
• Fun with physics: Union College students inspire local youngsters
• Dr. Samuel Lofland named 2008 Outstanding Chapter Advisor
• 2008 Outstanding Chapters
• SPS Reporters cover all angles of Sigma Pi Sigma Congress
• 2009 Marsh White Outreach Awards Announced
• 2009 Undergraduate Research Awards Announced
• Chapter Project Reports from 2008 Undergraduate Research Award Recipients
|
To the Moon and back with the SPS interns
 From mapping the hydrogen content on the surface of the Moon to developing laser-themed science kits for middle-school students, the SPS summer interns have been busy! SPS recently hosted the eighth annual SPS Intern Presentations at the American Center for Physics, College Park, MD. A diverse audience of mentors, colleagues, family, and friends came to hear the 12 energetic interns formally present their physics research and outreach projects. One attendee commented, "If those SPS interns represent the future of physics, well then, I feel much better."
The interns wrapped up their projects on August 6 and headed back home to Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and other destinations around the country. To read about the interns' summer experiences, see photos and view slides from their presentations, visit the 2009 Interns Page.
Journals & Presentations | Photo Gallery | About the Program | Previous Interns
• 2008 Fellowship in Physics & Society
• USU's Willard L. Eccles Research Fellow: Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground
• SPS 'Outstanding Students' present research at ICPS in Cracow, Poland
• Thomas Olsen Takes on New Role as Assistant Director of SPS
• 2008 Blake Lilly Prize Recipients
• SPS launches COPUS Student Hub
• CERN science writer Katie McAlpine has a hit on her hands with Large Hadron Rap
|
 SPS and NSHP offer joint membership
SPS and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP) are now offering joint student memberships at a discounted price. NSHP seeks to increase opportunities for Hispanics in physics and to increase the number of practicing Hispanic physicists, particularly by encouraging Hispanic students to enter a career in physics.
More information | Joint Membership Application | NSHP Website
|
Archived News Stories
|
|
ISU SPS Celebrates Pi Day and Einstein's Birthday with Outreach Events
 KIDK News Video
KIFI News Video
 MARCH 14-The Idaho State University Department of Physics and the I.S.U. Society of Physics Students invited everyone Saturday afternoon to celebrate Pi Day at the Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, ID.
Saturday March 14th was "Pi Day," (Pi is 3.14) and it's also Einstein's birthday.
The event had physics demonstrations, hands-on science exhibits and much more. There was free pie for the kids and real ice cream made in minutes with the help of liquid nitrogen.
Students say it's a great way to show kids that science is not boring. "We're just trying to show them that science is a lot of fun. It's not boring. It is just something that is really cool and it would be great to know about," said Dayton Smye, a sophomore at I.S.U.
"We're really excited to give them an opportunity to see science in action and to do some fun stuff that they might not normally be able to do and hopefully inspire them to study science more for themselves," says president of the Society of Physics Students Andrew Harmon.
Einstein would have turned 130 years old today.
Previous Chapter Spotlights...
|
|
|
