 SPS is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Outstanding Student Awards for Undergraduate Research: Therese Jones, Penn State University; Rachael Roettenbacher, Ohio Wesleyan University; and Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes, Utah State University (pictured). They will represent the United States and SPS and present their research at the 2008 International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS) in Cracow, Poland. August 6-13. More...
 What would lure thousands of physicists to the streets of the Big Easy? An average visitor might be enticed by a drink named after the hurricane from the House of Blues or the smooth tunes of a local jazz band. But talk of condensed matter, quantum, and computational physics was cause enough for over 7,000 scientists to come to Louisiana for the March APS meeting in New Orleans. Read accounts by SPS members Ann Deml, Katherine Zaunbrecher, and Lee Massey.
 SPS reporter Ovie Martin Arienmughare found that as a whole, the Spring 2008 OSAPS conference was very educational, inspirational, and fun—from the poster and oral presentations to the coffee break at Moser Hall.
Full story...
 SPS National Council member Krystle Williams brings Future Faces of Physics to Symmetry readers. Symmetry is a magazine about particle physics and its connections to other aspects of life and science, from interdisciplinary collaborations to policy to culture. It is published by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Read Krystle's article...
 Whoever said “Dreams can come true” was dead on. It all began with an idea that was transformed into reality, thus three months of planning and scheduling accorded Lincoln University’s Physics and Engineering club the opportunity to attend the National Society of Black Physicists & National Society of Hispanic Physicists annual conference in Washington, DC. Full story...
 All SPS members are invited to attend the 2008 Sigma Pi Sigma Congress, slated for Nov. 6-8, 2008 at Fermilab, IL. The theme of the 2008 Congress is Scientific Citizenship: Connecting Physics and Society. We believe that this is the only national physics meeting specifically designed to bring undergraduates, practicing physicists and physics alumni together to address common concerns for the discipline and for society. 2008 Congress information...
 Who says physicists cannot have a good time? Read the impressions of undergraduates from Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, and Angelo State Unviersity, San Angelo, TX, who went to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and attended the SPS/AAPT poster reception, Physics Jeopardy competition, and outreach events during the 2008 AAPT Winter Meeting. Morgan State Article | Angelo State Article | Visit the Photo Gallery
 Eight SPS chapters, including CSU-Chico, pictured, have received
Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Awards to fund chapter research projects.
The awards provide calendar year grants to support local chapter activities that
are deemed imaginative and likely to contribute to the strengthening of the SPS
program. Recipients List...
 Thirteen SPS chapters have received Marsh W. White Outreach Awards to help fund their outreach projects during the coming academic year. Pictured here are members of winning chapter Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA. Marsh W. White Awards are made to SPS chapters "to support projects designed to promote interest in physics among students and the general public." Recipients List...
 We often highlight the presence and participation of our SPS members at the AIP Member Society meetings, and we talk about the SPS members as future leaders of our physics profession. At the 2008 AAS meeting in Austin, I was reminded of the work that is being done by a few remarkable high school students who we hope will become the next generation of SPS leaders. I want you to meet Emily Petroff and her mentor Catherine Garland.
—Jack G. Hehn, Director, Education, AIP
 "I was in awe—surrounded by reporters from big names like Science, Nature, BBC News, and Scientific American." That's what Therese Jones (left) said about her recent participation in the American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, TX. Therese, an undergraduate from Penn State, presented her research on quasars and also served as a SPS reporter. Read Theresa's Report...
 What's a PhD worth? How many years of study does it take to earn the big bucks? Who's going to graduate school? And, where do recent college grads find work? Find out by reading the Physics Trends flyers from AIP's Statistical Research Center. Download the flyers...
 Having missed the opening reception on Sunday night because of flight delays, the AGU Fall Meeting started for me bright and early Monday morning, 6:30 AM to be exact, at the student breakfast. Roughly 300 students and a number of AGU leaders were rewarded for rising early with bacon, eggs, and a nice welcome by the President of AGU, among others. More...
 Katie McAlpine (pictured at left), a friend of and frequent visitor to the SPS national office and the SPS Interns, recently left her science writing internship at the American Physical Society (APS) for a one-year journalism position half a world away, at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Follow her adventures here, in The Geneva Gazette.
 This was the first time I have ever attended a physics conference of any sort, and I’ve got to say, next time I have a chance to attend one, count me in! The 2007 American Institute of Physics Industrial Physics Forum (IPF) was held in Seattle, WA, which was actually sunny on the first day I was there. I had never been to Seattle, so this was a great experience. More...
 Dr. Toni Sauncy, Associate Professor of Physics and Society of Physics Students (SPS) Advisor at Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX, has been honored as the 2007 SPS Outstanding Chapter Advisor. The Award, which was announced at the SPS National Council Meeting on September 28, 2007, consists of a plaque and a $5,000 prize; with $3,000 going to Dr. Sauncy and $1,000 going to both the Angelo State physics department and the Angelo State SPS chapter. More info...
 Austin Basye, Abilene Christian University: Gregory Carson, University of Southern Mississippi; and Yun Kyoung Ryu, Ohio Wesleyan University represented the U.S. at the 2007 International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS) on London England. The three are recipients of this year's SPS Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research. Meeting Report...
 SPS is pleased to present the experiences of several members who are involved in the Teach for America program. Teach For America is the national corps of top recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. Read their stories...
 The Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics (JURP) is a peer-reviewed, online journal of the Society of Physics Students. JURP is devoted to archiving research conducted by undergraduate students in physics and its related fields. Earlier this year, Dr. Dwight E. Neuenschwander, Professor of Physics at Southern Nazarene University, agreed to serve as acting JURP Editor, and he has shepherded the first new paper through the peer-review process and to publication. To coincide with the revival of JURP, the website has been redesigned. Check out the new research and website at www.jurp.org.
 From toys in the classroom to behind-the-scenes staff observations to the physics behind crime scene investigations—read SPS Interns Justin Reeder and Andrea Roma's exeriences at the AAPT Summer Meeting in Greensboro, NC. Meeting Blog & Photos | Meeting Report
 Tutoring: it's the perfect part-time physics job! SPS has partnered with Tutor.com to bring better physics to more students across the country. Their current tutors list the following benefits: Great way to earn extra income; Flexible scheduling; Work from the comfort of home or dorm; Make a difference and help students all over the country; Great resume builder. More information and application details...
 Meet the 2007 SPS national interns, who are in the Washington, DC area for eight week science, policy and outreach internships with SPS, AIP, and other scientific organizations. Intro's & Online Journals | Photo Albums | Outreach Event
 Five SPS chapters have received the annual Blake Lilly Prizes for inspiring physics outreach activities. The Blake Lilly Prize recognizes SPS chapters and individuals who make a genuine effort to positively influence the attitudes of school children and the general public about physics. Recipients list...
 Austin Basye, Abilene Christian University (pictured); Gregory Carson, University of Southern Mississippi; and Yun Kyoung Ryu, Ohio Wesleyan University are recipients of the 2007 SPS Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research. They will represented the United States and presented their research at the 2007 International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS) in London, England, August 10-16, 2007. More...
 Space weather and undulations of the earth's magneto-tail were hot topics among the SPS members presenting their research in oral and poster sessions at the American Physical Society (APS) April Meeting, April 14-17, 2007, in Jacksonville, FL. Report & Photos...
 Sarah Anderson, Bethel University (pictured at left), and
Alison Earnhart, Juniata College, have each been awarded a $3,500 SPS Outstanding Leadership Scholarship. Twenty-one other SPS members
have received $2,000 scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year. Recipients list...
An open letter from Mark Malloy, SPS member & freshman physics major, VA Tech
Today was by far the most trying day I've experienced in my life. On April 16, 2007 33 people were killed, with 15 more wounded on the Virginia Tech Campus. I know that this is likely not new information, but I repeat it just to add strength to my message. There are not words to properly express just what feelings this day has brought. Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it. Continue...
 This year at the APS March Meeting in Denver, CO, APS celebrated the 20th Anniversary of High-Temperature Superconductivity with presentations in the "Woodstock" session by Marvin L. Cohen and many other prominent physicists. Meeting report & photos | Academic/Industrial Mixer | Award Recipients
 The APS Forum on Physics and Society (FPS), in partnership with SPS and the APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs, proudly launched the Student Fellowships in Physics and Society this year.
The 2006-07 Fellows are Lee Massey, Eric Flumerfelt (pictured above) and Elise Buckley. More...
 SPS Reporters Kudzanayi Munetsi-Mugomba (Kudzie) and Martin Arienmughare enjoyed the heady atmosphere in Boston at a recent meeting of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP). They are members of the SPS chapter at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania which has recently been revived under the leadership of Dr. Helen Major. Report & Photos ...
Note: For information about how your chapter can serve as SPS Reporters at a national meeting, see the SPS Reporter Awards page.
 Twelve SPS chapters have received Marsh W. White Outreach Awards to help fund their outreach projects during the coming academic year. Pictured at left are members of the Ohio University chapter, whose project is titled " An After School Science Club for Elementary Students." See Recipients List...
 Five SPS chapters have received Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Awards to help fund research projects during the coming academic year. Pictured are left are members of the Idaho State University chapter, whose project is titled "A Measurement of the Atmospheric Optical Thickness Using Photovoltaic Cells" See Recipients List...
 More than a dozen SPS members received SPS Travel Awards or SPS Reporter Awards to attend the AAPT/AAS 2007 Joint Winter Meeting in Seattle, WA, January 5-10, 2007. Many more attend the poster sessions and SPS reception during the joint meeting.
Meeting Reports | List of Award Winners | Photo Gallery
 Many new college graduates who have performed internships find that the experience pays off in terms of the starting salaries they are offered for full-time jobs, according to a report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Nearly half of the employers (46.2 percent) participating in NACE's recent Experiential Education survey said they offer higher starting salaries to new college hires who have internship experience. Among those offering higher starting salaries to candidates with internship experience, more than half reported that they have a set percentage that they add on top of their entry-level salaries. On average, they add 6.8 percent more to the position’s entry-level salary. More info | SPS Internships
 SPS research presenters, interns and reporters attended professional society meetings representing all 10 AIP Member Societies during 2006. This is the first year SPS had an official presence at meetings of all 10 AIP Member Societies. Meeting reports & photos...
 Anna Quider (left) received one of the first two AAS Chambliss Student Achievement Medals at the 208th AAS Meeting, Calgary, AB, Canada. The awards recognize exemplary research by undergraduate and graduate students who present at one of the poster sessions at the meetings of the AAS. More info...
 'Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold,' a public broadcasting special, will demonstrate how civilization has been profoundly affected by the mastery of cold. SPS has become a national Partner of the project, and will be involved in outreach, strategic guidance, support and in-kind institutional resources. More info...
The University of Toledo SPS chapter won 2nd place at the Rube Goldberg competition held at Purdue University on April 1st. The competition is based on Rube Goldberg's cartoons of machines that accomplished simple tasks in multiple complicated steps. More info...
 Want to make a difference in the education system? Not sure you want to go to graduate school yet? Think you can teach physics better than your high school teacher? Apply for Teach For America! My name is Colleen Gillespie, and I'll be teaching physics through TFA in Oakland, CA next year. I'm a physics major at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. I've done a lot of research, but have since decided that it's not really for me. When I learned about TFA, it sounded like the perfect opportunity. Full article..
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The Director's Corner
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.
