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Chapter Reporter Award

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Applications Open: May 9
Applications Close: October 11

Apply for Awards

A limited number of Chapter Reporter Awards up to $600 per chapter will be offered to help fund SPS chapters who travel to and report about PhysCon. The resulting articles should be 2-3 page reflections about the meeting from a student perspective, often used as feature articles on the SPS website and included in SPS publications such as The SPS Observer, The Journal of Undergraduate Reports in Physics(JURP), or Radiations.

Those who are awarded the "Digital Ambassador" title will be required to post to social media a specified number of times per day throughout PhysCon. A powerpoint with all posts will be submitted in lieu of an official report.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be undergraduate students at the time of the meeting
  • Applicants must be members of the SPS National Organization

Application Procedure

Applications are due by October 11, 2019. The application asks chapters to rank their preferred reporting topic or to suggest a topic of their own and to provide a statement stating why they would like to participate in PhysCon. The application also requires a certification from an advisor or academic mentor that the applicants are in good standing with the department; the online application will guide applicants through the process of requesting this certification.

Award Details

Within 30 days of attending PhysCon, you are required to submit your finalized article. Along with your report, you will also be required to provide chapter information including the Tax Id, “payable to” information, and mailing address. Upon approval of a complete, thorough article, SPS National will send a check to your chapter via the information provided. Students may not receive both a Travel Award and a Chapter Reporter Award.

Article Guidelines

There is no set format for the article, but it should include the following elements:

  • At least 1,000 words
  • An interesting title
  • A little about yourself, your SPS chapter, and why you were interested in attending PhysCon
  • Highlights and a discussion of the aspect of the meeting on which you were asked to report
  • You are encouraged to interview at least one leading physicist at the meeting, and include quotes if they enhance your article—person-on-the-street interviews can be compelling also, so consider that as well
  • Several photos from the meeting with captions and photo credits. Include at least one photo that includes the reporter(s)
  • Articles must be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word™ documents. You are encouraged to interview at least one meeting attendee who is not from your chapter, and include quotes if they enhance your article.

Program Support

The Chapter Reporter Awards are funded, in part, by the generosity of Sigma Pi Sigma members. To donate to Sigma Pi Sigma and the PhysCon Student Travel Fund, visit: https://donate.aip.org/