Membership in the Society of Physics Students makes you part of a professional society devoted to physics students and their mentors. It also allows you to pick two other American Institute of Physics member societies to join, and provides free enrollment in the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists.

These sound like exciting opportunities, and they are. Let’s look a bit more into why joining professional societies is a smart move.

The most obvious reason to join a professional society is because it’s what professionals do. You become a member of a community of individuals with common interests and goals, supporting the future development of your profession. Professional societies communicate with members of Congress, educate the (tax-paying) public about the importance of their profession, and carry out many other activities that promote that profession (thereby increasing your chances of continued employment in that profession).

Member societies also provide opportunities to meet future collaborators, employers, and employees. My first job came because of a chance meeting at a conference I attended while in graduate school. Had I not met that person (and had he not encouraged me to apply for the job), I probably would not have applied. While online networking can be very important too, it does not replace the spontaneous face-to-face conversations that occur when you participate in society meetings or get involved in your society. Other interactions at professional conferences and SPS activities have led to insights helpful to my work, information on funding opportunities, collaborations, and good friendships.

Professional societies provide many other resources that can help you as you pursue a career: job listings, advice articles, and webinars on job searching; newsletters with announcements relevant to your professional interests; information about funding opportunities; publications from the top journals in your field; tailored topical groups where you can connect with others facing similar challenges and interests; etc. SPS in particular has many scholarships, travel awards, and research prizes available to undergraduate student members.

If you aren’t currently a member of a professional society, I encourage you to join at once. Join SPS. Take advantage of the free AIP member society memberships. Continue your affiliation with professional societies in your chosen field after you graduate to benefit from all they can offer. //

Dig Deeper

Learn more about the ten AIP member societies.