pg21.jpg

At the 2022 Physics Congress, we asked people from nearly 125 chapters, “What is SPS for you, in five words or less?”

SPS is a sense of family and belonging to a student from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls who loves science and wants to inspire kids to go into STEM. To a member from the University of Puerto Rico, SPS is an inclusive and supportive community. A biophysicist from the University of Maine sees SPS as a local network for physics undergraduates, while two students from Rhode Island mentioned that SPS means “being a shark and a spherical cow.” A Randolph College student thinks of SPS as a place to find fun, friends, and inspiration. A student interested in space physics from Memphis, Tennessee, says that SPS means “Go big or go home.” Many students called SPS a supportive community, and many called it home. And, of course, some said that it’s a group of funny, nerdy physicists. 

author photo - Adelphi - What Is SPS.jpg

Adelphi University’s SPS reporters. Photo courtesy of the reporters.

Their answers show that SPS is not just an organization; many people think of it as a family. The fun facts or struggles that other people don’t usually get―everyone here gets them. SPS is not just a place to share your work, it’s a place to share love and life. A student from the George Washington University gave a wise answer, saying “SPS is everything to me!”