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What:
Spend a packed weekend making new connections, interacting with scientists and distinguished speakers, debating common concerns for the physics and astronomy community and society, and visiting iconic scientific venues. Stay for the costume dance party on Saturday night for students!
The Sigma Pi Sigma’s Physics and Astronomy Congress brings together physics students, alumni, and faculty members for three days of frontier physics, interactive professional development workshops, networking, and fun. It is the largest gathering of undergraduate physics and astronomy students in the world! This event is supported by the American Institute of Physics and hosted by Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics and astronomy honor society, and anyone interested in physics is invited to attend. We also have special programming for Sigma Pi Sigma members!
The 2025 Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Astronomy Congress will be a cutting-edge, life-changing meeting where participants will be immersed in the theme “Σupporting our Πhase Σhifts (ΣΠΣ).” This meeting happens just once every three years, and presents unique opportunities for attendees to:
- Bond with fellow physics students from across the United States and beyond.
- Explore graduate programs, summer research opportunities, and career options.
- Be inspired by renowned physicists and tours of labs at the forefront of science and technology.
- Grow professionally through workshops on communication, inclusion, and leadership.
- Expand their understanding of physics and its variety of applications.
- Present their research to fellow students, potential graduate school advisors, and potential employers.
The 2025 Sigma Pi Sigma Physics and Astronomy Congress is being planned for about 1,300 students of physics and astronomy, mentors, alumni, and renowned scientists. Denver, Colorado will be hosting us for this life-changing experience, as we explore how we can support each other as physicists and astronomers and continue to create an inclusive community.
Honorary chair:
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Plenary speakers include:
- Eric Cornell
- Sarah Hurst
- Julieanne Pollard-Larkin
- Donnell Walton
- Renee Horton
Fundraising
Looking for help to get to the Physics & Astronomy Congress? Check out SPS's fundraising tips here!
Schedule:
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Optional tours return before 1 pm
6:00 am–5:00 pm: Registration
12:00 pm–1:45 pm: Expo & Career Fair
1:45 pm-2:30 pm: Physics Teatime (Coffee Break)
2:30 pm–3:00 pm: Opening Events and Awards
3:00 pm–3:15 pm: Historian
3:15 pm–4:30 pm: Plenary I - Jocelyn Bell Burnell
4:30 pm–4:45 pm: Break
4:45 pm–6:15 pm: Physics and Astronomy Congress (Workshop)
6:15 pm–8:00 pm: Dinner on your own
8:00 pm–12:00 am: SPS Lounge and study room
Friday, October 31, 2025
9:00 am–10:15 am: Plenary II - Eric Cornell
10:30 am–11:30 am: Coffee in Expo
10:15 am–12:00 pm: Expo & Career Fair
10:30 am-12:00 pm: Poster Session & Physics Phine Art I
12:00 pm–1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm–2:45 pm: Plenary III - Julianne Pollard Larkin
2:45 pm–3:30 pm: Coffee/Tea time
3:30 pm–5:00 pm: Breakout session I
5:15 pm–6:45 pm: Renee Horton Plenary Workshop
6:45 pm–8:45 pm: Dinner on your own
8:00 pm–12:00 am: Spooky Action at a distance @ UC-Denver
8:00 pm–12:00 am: SPS Lounge and study room
Saturday, November 1, 2025
10:00 am–11:30 am: Plenary IV Donnell Walton
11:30 am–1:00 pm: Expo & Career Fair
11:30 am–1:00 pm: Posters & Art Session II
1:00 pm–2:15 pm: Lunch with Scientists
2:15 pm–3:30 pm: Plenary V - Sarah Horst
3:30 pm–4:00 pm: Awards
4:15 pm–5:45 pm: Breakout session III
6:00 pm–7:15 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm–9:00 pm: Chapter showcase
9:00 pm–9:05 pm: Closing remarks
9:00 pm–12:00 am: Dance Party
9:00 pm–12:00 am: SPS Lounge and study room
Want to learn more? Check out the past events below:
Past reading list:
- 2022 Physics Congress Workshops, Tours, and More (SPS Observer, Fall 2021)
- Get Ready - The Physics Congress is Coming! By Blane Baker and Samantha Pedek, 2022 Physics Congress Co-Chair (SPS Observer, Fall 2021)
- Fundraise Your Way to PhysCon By Brittney Hauke, 2022 Physics Congress Planning Committee Member (SPS Observer, Fall 2021)
- New Event Breaks Chapter Boundaries at the 2019 Physics Congress by Brittney Hauke, 2019 Physics Congress Planning Committee (SPS Observer, Winter 2020)
- Breaking Boundaries in Breakout Sessions By Toni Sauncy, PhysCon 2019 Planning Committee Member (The SPS Observer, Spring 2019)
- Champion Your Chapter at PhysCon 2019 By Brittney Hauke, PhysCon 2019 Planning Committee Member (The SPS Observer, Spring 2019)
- A Physics Tour of Providence By Kendra Redmond, Contributing Editor (Radiations, Spring 2019)
- Dr. First: Jami Valentine Miller By Rachel Kaufman, Editor (Radiations, Spring 2019 and The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Energizing Change: Ellen Williams By Rachel Kaufman, Editor (Radiations, Spring 2019 and The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Such Great Heights: Sandeep Giri By Rachel Kaufman, Editor (Radiations, Spring 2019 and The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Prepare to Make Waves By Brittney Hauke, PhysCon 2019 Planning Committee Member (Radiations, Spring 2019)
- Making Waves and Breaking Boundaries By Steve Feller, Co-Chair of PhysCon 2019 (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Jocelyn Bell Burnell Returns to PhysCon By Rachel Kaufman, Editor (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- A Nobelist’s Next Move: John Mather By Rachel Kaufman, Editor (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- PhysCon 2019 Highlights By Kendra Redmond, Contributing Editor (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Making the Most of PhysCon By Mary Ann Mort, Tori Eng, and Brittney Hauke, student members of the PhysCon 2019 Planning Committee (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- One Interaction at a Time By Brad R. Conrad, Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- PhysCon Is a Congress—Each Student Has a Voice By Jim Borgardt, Sigma Pi Sigma President (The SPS Observer, Winter 2019)
- Get Excited: PhysCon 2019 By Joshua L. Willis, Co-Chair, 2019 PhysCon Executive Planning Committee (The SPS Observer, Winter 2018)