Whether you are planning an outreach event on your institution's campus or within your community, outreach workshops and demonstrations are a fun and engaging way to communicate science to a broad audience. SPS can help your chapter expand its demo library through use of our Outreach Demonstrations. Topics include astronomy, mechanics, optics, and more! If you have demo ideas to contribute, contact sps-programs@aip.org for a template.

The American Institute of Physics’ Center for History of Physics offers free teaching guides that highlight often forgotten historical contributions of women and minorities to the physical sciences. These resources are easily integrated in classrooms from first grade through the college level, and provide students with a diverse set of role models while also calling attention to ongoing diversity issues in STEM. Each teaching guide includes a lesson plan, discussion questions with an answer key, and additional readings and resources. Check out the 50+ available teaching guides, here.

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded today to Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou, and Donna Strickland for their groundbreaking work turning lasers into powerful tools. This morning the Royal Swedish Academy of the Sciences announced that Ashkin will receive half of the prize for his invention of “optical tweezers” which can trap and manipulate small particles and living cells. Mourou and Strickland will share the other half of the award “for their method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses” which is used the world over in medical and industrial applications. Together, Strickland and Mourou paved the way for this scientific breakthrough spurred by research the duo conducted while Strickland was a graduate student at the University of Rochester under her advisor, Mourou.  

Upon receipt of the Nobel medal in December, Strickland will become the third woman to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Physics and the first to receive the award since Maria Goeppert Mayer won in 1963 for her work on structure of the nuclei.

Get up-to-date news on the Prize winners on the AIP website and read the initial Physics Today announcement here.

The SPS Observer often features articles by SPS members, advisors, and staff on science communication and outreach. Here are a few of our favorites below:

•  “Science Communication & Outreach”, Dr. Stanley Micklavzina, U. of Oregon - This article walks you through how to maximize the impact of outreach events, how to set the stage for your demo shows, and how to incorporate performance into your demonstrations. Read more here.

•  “Exploring Outreach”, Jacob Robertson, Austin Peay State University - In this article, and SPS student member discusses why outreach is important to you, your department, and your community. Read more here.

• “Five Tips for Communicating Science Like a Pro”, Rachel Kaufman, Editor of the SPS Observer - An editor of the Observer sits down to interview Dr. Eva Amsen who has spent much of her career managing communications for scientific organizations. Amsen shares the top five tips for effective science communication, no matter what your background is. Read more here.

Physcon 2019 is quickly approaching and it’s time to start thinking about how to get your chapter to Providence! Like SPS on Facebook and click "Interested" or "Going" to the official PhysCon event to receive all our updates, including: testimonials from Physcon 2016, fundraising tips, and info about events at Physcon 2019. For full details about PhysCon and to sign up for registration notifications, check out the newly updated PhysCon website.

The American Physical Society’s Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) provide students with resources, support, and motivation to support women pursuing a physics major and a career in physics. CUWiP offers inspirational talks by women in physics, student poster/presentation sessions, workshops, and panel discussions on topics from grad school to careers to work-life balance. Applications to attend this year’s CUWiP are open until October 12.

Not sure how to use GradSchoolShopper? It’s easy! Check out this simple user guide on how to navigate through the GSS website and how to create a FREE account. You can also download your saved schools onto spreadsheet form to better organize your searches. Check out GradSchoolShopper.com now!

18th Annual AMS Student Conference, January 4-6

The deadline for student abstract submissions is October 2 for the Annual AMS Conference in Phoenix, AZ. Conference info is located here.

AAS 233rd Meeting , January 6-10

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 3 for the AAS Meeting in Seattle, WA. Conference info is located here.

AAPT Winter Meeting, January 12-15

Early Bird Registration is open until November 14 for the AAPT Winter Meeting in Houston, TX. Conference info is located here.

APS March Meeting, March 4-8

The deadline for abstract submissions is October 26 for the APS March Meeting 2019 in Boston, MA. Conference info is located here.

SPS offers Travel Awards of $200 to members presenting their research at AIP member society meetings. A limited number of awards will be offered. Apply Today!

SPS members attending and reporting on professional physics meetings are eligible to receive $200 in travel reimbursement. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply Now!

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Research Experience for Undergraduates

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

https://jobs.spsnational.org/jobs/11494755

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chemistry at The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama

https://jobs.spsnational.org/jobs/11522898