The Society of Physics Students, or SPS for short, is the quintessential organization for students of physics. SPS is one of the ten professional science organizations within the American Institute of Physics. The Lynchburg College chapter of SPS was reestablished in the Fall 2002 semester. For only $20 per year in chapter dues, a student in SPS receives Physics Today, which is a very popular monthly magazine that contains articles on current research at a very readable level. Also included with membership is a subscription to SPS Observer, which is the society newsletter that comes out every three months, and the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics, which contains student-written and student peer-reviewed articles describing undergraduate research.
2002-2003
Our modest reestablishment
of SPS in Fall 2002 began with eight students: Ben Hannas (president - LC '03),
Jennifer Jack (LC '03), Kevin Shay (LC '04), Dan Hartlaub (vice president -
LC '04), Stuart Farrell (LC '05), Shayna Boyles (secretary/treasurer - LC '05),
Andrew Crawford (LC '06), and Adam Hudak (LC '06). A dinner at Dr. Goff's house
kicked us off on October 24, 2002. During the 2002-2003 academic year, we usually
met once per month where we got the opportunity to discuss physics and enjoy
some snacks. We enjoyed a few student presentations: Ben talked to us about
snowflakes, Kevin demonstrated some of the physics behind static electricity,
and Stuart educated us on the ideas behind air drag near the sound barrier.
Several of us attended a lecture by Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman (physics Nobel
Prize in 1988) at Randolph-Macon Women's College on April 8, 2003. We got to
hear Dr. Lederman discuss the importance of physics in the education of 21st-century
students. Our final event was a cookout at Dr. Sigler's house on April 27, 2003.