Project Lead: Toby Pederson
Chapter Advisor: Jency Sundararajan
Project Summary: The Missouri Southern State University physics community came together to share in Sigma Pi Sigma induction traditions and build community across generations.
Project Lead: Lucy Zimmerman
Chapter Advisor: Alina Gearba-Sell
Project Summary: The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Sigma Pi Sigma chapter held its fifth induction ceremony in the spring of 2019. At this ceremony, we celebrated our chapter alumni and inducted nine students and seven faculty members, bringing our total number of members to 85.
Project Lead: Anne Ruckman
Chapter Advisor: Caio Bragatto
Project Summary: Research suggests that the ionic conductivity of glass is influenced by the presence of lithium, but the physical mechanisms behind this behavior are not well understood. We investigated this experimentally and computationally by preparing silicate and borate glass samples with different lithium concentrations, conducting electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements, and comparing our results to predictions from existing models.
Project Leads: Alex Blose, Ben Kistler, Dany Waller
Chapter Advisor: Charles Brown
Project Summary: Computational methods are powerful tools for solving problems. We built an inexpensive mini supercomputer for use in research, education, outreach, and community building. Once our supercomputer was operational, we then used it to explore how parallel processing impacts the accuracy and processing time of physics-related computing tasks.
Project Lead: Andrew Marder and Austen Adams
Project Advisor: Jason Slinker
Project Summary: The SPS chapter of the University of Texas at Dallas presented its second annual “Escape the Physics Building” event, centered around a physics-themed escape room and hosted in our very own physics building. The hope of this project was to pique interest in physics and showcase what SPS could accomplish to members of the campus community.
Project Lead: Tyler B. McDonnell
Project Advisor: Donna Hammer
Project Summary: The University of Maryland SPS chapter received the Marsh W. White Award from SPS National to design a program of activities focusing on quantum concepts for elementary school students that introduces them to the world of quantum through diverse learning experiences.
Project Lead: Jason Starita
Project Advisor: Gary White
Project Summary: I CAN Science is an outreach collaboration between The George Washington University’s SPS chapter and the Life Pieces to Masterpieces afterschool program. Aimed at young African American boys, the program promotes hands-on physics learning through demonstrations.
“Physics Is Everywhere”
Project Lead: Evan Main
Chapter Advisor: Brent Hoffmeister
Project Summary: The Rhodes College SPS chapter launched an outreach initiative focused on engaging underprivileged elementary students in the Memphis area. Our goal was to get these students excited about physics by building and riding hovercrafts.
Physics is the study of matter and energy. Matter and energy make up everything. Therefore, physics is the study of everything.
