Hello Everyone! We hope you’ve all enjoyed your first few weeks of classes! This Monday from 5:30 to 6:30pm in SSB G1.310, SPS will host Dr. Sitz’s annual undergraduate physics research meeting. This is a fantastic chance to hear about what sorts of opportunities are available to you here in the UT Physics Department!

Announcements

• SPS now has official membership requirements. Attend two or more meetings or SPS events this academic year in order to be a 2023-24 SPS member. Membership begins by filling out this google form!

• If you’re interested in getting more involved with SPS and GMiP, please check out this form for our new committee system. It is currently due September 9, so please be sure to fill it out as soon as possible!

• Tuesday at TBA in PMA 15.216B, ASA will meet as usual.

• Thursday at 6:30pm in PMA 15.216B, GMiP will meet as usual.

• Friday at 11:30am in the Student Union, SPS will host “phlunch” for SPS members to socialize and grab a bite to eat.

• The second Pizza Seminar of the semester will be September 12, presented by Prof Jose R. Alvarado at 5pm in PMA 6.104.

• There is no Physics Colloquium scheduled for this week.

Special Announcement

Special message from your American Physical Society (APS) Student Ambassador:

THREE BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM APS regarding conferences!

1. APS March Meeting is now accepting abstracts! (DUE OCTOBER 20) March meeting is a VERY IMPORTANT scientific research conference that brings together more than 13,000 physicists from around the world to showcase their work, connect with others, and discover groundbreaking physics research. Undergraduates are invited to present their research, which you can and should talk to your advisor about doing! You first need to submit an abstract and a title (but know that it is okay, common, and likely that your work will change by the time March comes and that’s completely acceptable!). Ask your PI about travel support and/or participate virtually. Learn more at the link above.
2. The Fall 2023 Joint Meeting of TSAPS, TSAAPT and SPS Zone 13 is accepting abstracts! (DUE WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12)                This meeting, taking place NEXT MONTH, OCTOBER 12-14) is smaller than the March Meeting, taking place at Angelo State University (3.5 hours drive from UT), and poses an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to present their work, network, and this year participate in a viewing party of the upcoming eclipse! The organizing committee is offering travel funding to some applicants, so apply soon! I will be there as an APS ambassador! Hope to see you too. :)  
3. Applications are now being accepted for the APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) 2024! (DUE OCTOBER 23) CUWiP, taking place JANUARY 19-21, 2024, is held at many places across the US to serve and unite women and gender minorities in physics (although men are welcome as well!). This conference is targeted primarily towards undergraduates, offering professional development seminars, graduate school and career information, and a chance to connect and network with other women in the field (and of course, a poster conference for presenting research)!

Although these deadlines are approaching very rapidly- especially that of TSAPS/TSAAPT/SPS, I highly encourage everyone to seriously consider attending! Conference presentations are a FANTASTIC addition to your resume and serve as useful experience in scientific communication. These conferences also offer critical opportunities to network with professional physicists, broaden your awareness of physics research across the country, and develop as a physicist professionally and personally.

As always, feel free to reach out to me at hailey.currie@utexas.edu with any questions or concerns about the conferences or APS in general – or just to let me know you’re signing up to attend!

Best,
Hailey Currie

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