Want to participate in SPS on a national level? Want a free trip to Washington D.C.?

Consider running for the 2013-2014 SPS National Council. The SPS National Council is the governing body for the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma, and makes decisions about the direction of these two societies. To learn more about the council, please visit spsnational.org/governance/council

This spring SPS will elect:
-Zone Councilors (faculty representatives) from Zones 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, & 17
-Associate Zone Councilors (student representatives) from all 18 Zones
-SPS President

If you aren't sure what Zone your chapter is in - ask your chapter advisor or check out the Zone Map at: spsnational.org/governance/handbook/directories.html

Nominations are due February 15 - nominate yourself or a colleague at www.spsnational.org/governance/elections/

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SPS Scholarships Available!

SPS has several scholarships available for students in physics, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Scholarships are available for leadership, two year college students, future teachers, and those with financial need.

To learn more about the SPS scholarships and to apply, visit www.spsnational.org/programs/scholarships

All applications are due Friday, February 15, 2013.

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Make a difference after graduation with Teach for America

Join Teach for America, the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals - of all majors (including physics!), backgrounds, and career interests - who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural low-income communities and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. Apply now for the 2013 Teach for America corps.

Applications are due Friday, February 15, 2013.

If you're interested in learning more, find out who TfA looks for, and explore how you can get involved.

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Looking for something to do this summer?

Are you looking for a place where you can do one stop shopping for summer physics REUs and internships? The Nucleus has the answer: www.compadre.org/student/research/browse.cfm. There are postings from REU sites, NASA, and more! Deadlines are rapidly approaching, so start planning now!

If you're a faculty member and you have summer internship opportunities available, you can post them on the nucleus (for free!) after you create an account at: http://www.the-nucleus.org/research/register.cfm?code=REU.

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Zone Meetings - your chance to connect!

If you attended the 2012 Physics Congress you know how electric SPS/Sigma Pi Sigma meetings can be. SPS meetings can be a place for undergraduate physicists to meet new friends, network, present research, and engage with other SPS Chapters in their area. SPS National knows the following SPS Zones are holding meetings this spring: Zones 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, & 18. Find out details about the meeting in your area (including the when/where) on the SPS calendar.

If you are hosting a Zone Meeting, get up to $500 from the SPS National office to help cover the costs associated with the meeting. Learn more on the SPS website.

If you want to attend a Zone Meeting but there isn't one listed in your zone, please contact your Zone Councilor or Associate Zone Councilor for more information and if they know about one that we don't, let us know!

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SOCKs available!

The SPS Science Outreach Catalyst Kit, or SOCK, is a large sock (literally) filled with resources and hands-on materials designed by SPS interns to help SPS chapters plan an engaging physics outreach event for students of all ages. The 2012 SOCK, Fabric of the Cosmos, focuses on two of the many invisible fields in our cosmos--gravity and magnetism. It includes a giant piece of Spandex (a modeling tool for gravitational fields), a new twist on traditional iron filing experiments, and other wonders such as multi pole magnets and Ferrofluid!

SOCKs are free, but recipients must commit to sending in a 1-2 page summary of how they used the SOCK by May 1, 2013. To receive a SOCK, chapters must send an email to SPS at sps@aip.org with the following information:
1. School
2. Chapter Adviser
3. Primary student contact and his/her email address
4. Mailing address at which you would like to receive the SOCK
5. When, where, and with who your chapter plans to use the SOCK
AND
6. The SPS Chapter Adviser or President needs to send an email to sps@aip.org confirming plans to use the SOCK, and giving the name of the student who is responsible for submitting the SOCK summary by May 1, 2013.

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Upcoming Meetings

The APS March Meeting (March 18-22, Baltimore, MD) is coming up! The online registration deadline is February 15 (you can register on site but there are long, long, long lines and it's much more expensive) and there are special registration rates for students. There are tons of SPS events that undergrads can attend - a welcome reception & career panel, 5 undergraduate sessions, a poster session, and a student awards reception. Keep your eyes open for an undergraduate epitome! aps.org/meetings/march

The APS April Meeting (Apr. 13-16 in Denver, CO) abstract submissions may be closed, but registration is still open! SPS will be there as well, and we look forward to seeing you there. Learn more at aps.org/meetings/april

It's never too early to start thinking about going beyond your own borders. The AAPT Summer Meeting (July 13-17 in Portland, OR) will be 'Going Green with Portland.' Start thinking about your abstract, which is due by February 28. Learn more at aapt.org/Conferences/sm2013

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