About SPS
The Society of Physics Students is a
professional physics association explicitly designed for
students. Membership, through collegiate chapters, is open
to anyone interested in physics.
Besides physics majors, our members include majors in
chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology,
mathematics, medicine, and other fields. Within SPS, Sigma
Pi Sigma, a nationally recognized scholastic honor society,
elects members on the basis of outstanding academic
achievement. this two-in-one society operates within the
American Institute of Physics (AIP). At present there are
over 600 active chapters of SPS at colleges and universities
nationwide. Approximately 6,000 students take part in
chapter activities, making SPS the fourth largest physics
society in the country. Total membership in SPS and SIgma
Pi Sigma, including alumni, exceeds 58,000.
SPS at the University of Louisville
The University of Louisville chapter of SPS meets once every
week in the physics department. Membership has, in recent
years, ranged from 10 to 50 people, both graduate and
undergraduate, from many different areas of study.
Approximately 100 students are on our local email
distribution list at any given time. Membership dues are
$10.00 per semester locally and $20.00 per year nationally.
You can join SPS at either or both the local and national
level. Currently, we are offering a
membership special: join SPS at the national level and local
membership is just $5.00 per semester (half price!).
Why join SPS?
SPS exists to help students transform themselves into
contributing members of the professional community. Course
work develops only one range of skills. Other skills needed
to flourish professionally include effective communication
and personal interactions, leadership experience,
establishing a personal network of contacts, presenting
scholarly work in professional meetings and journals, and
outreach services to the campus and local communities.
The SPS at the University of Louisville engages in many
activities - social, educational, and community service
oriented in nature - in order to help student members
achieve these goals. Some of our typical activities
include:
- Inviting guest speakers to lecture at our meetings
on topics ranging from current research to the history
of physics.
- Tours of national labs and institutions (Fermi,
Argonne, and Oak Ridge to name just a few).
- Travel to national meetings for SPS, AIP, APS, and
AAPT.
- Planning and implementing physics outreach programs
at local elementary through high schools.
- Physics Tutoring services at U of L.
- Picnics, movie marathons, and an intramural
basketball/volleyball team.
In addition, the elected SPS officers must interact with the
faculty, administration, and student government of the
University of Louisville providing them with an excellent
opportunity to obtain leadership experience.
Joining SPS at the national level has many benefits as
well. AIP and SPS placement services are available to
members of SPS. This service links new recipients of BA/BS
degrees with potential employers. National members also
receive
Physics Today, the publication sent to all
members of AIP societies; the
Journal of Undergraduate
Research in Physics,
where student research is published; and the SPS Newsletter,
published five times per year, which covers local, regional,
and national SPS activities and includes the latest job
information. In addition to this members receive
substantial discounts on other
AIP publications,
and
AIP member society
publications.
For more information about SPS, or how to join, please
contact a SPS officer from the SPS
officers page.
