Western Kentucky University's Society of Physics Students

This Saturday, March 20, 2010, the 8^th annual Girls in Science Day will be held on the WKU campus.  We are proud to offer this exciting opportunity to young women in 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th grades.

The “Girls in Science Day” will consist of talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities for the girls to give them the opportunity to explore various topics in math, technology, engineering and science. It is also a chance for participants to talk to current students, teachers and scientists conducting their own important research at Western Kentucky University.

The day consists of a morning and afternoon session.  During the morning session, participants will be attending fun classes in several areas of science, math, and engineering.  This year, there are 12 classes from which to choose. In the afternoon, they will be engaged in a spectacular Chemistry Show.  Parents/Guardians are invited to attend the Chemistry Show. We need volunteers (men and women) to chaperone these classes, which cover a variety of topics–not just physics and astronomy. Free shirts and lunch will be provided.

Please email Dr. Campbell (rachel.campbell@wku.edu) if you are able and willing to volunteer with this event or have further questions.

Western Kentucky University’s

GIRLS IN SCIENCE DAY

March 20, 2010

Schedule of Events

8:00-8:30 Registration, Thompson Complex Center Wing Lobby

8:30-9:00 Introduction, Snell Hall Auditorium

9:00-9:45 Class I, Various locations in Ogden College of Science and Engineering

10:00-10:45 Class II, Various locations in Ogden College of Science and Engineering

11:00-11:45 Class III, Various locations in Ogden College of Science and Engineering

12:00-1:00 Lunch, Snell Hall Auditorium

1:15-2:15 Chemistry Show, Snell Hall Auditorium

2:30 pm            Girls in Science Day completed

Our apologies for the late announcement, but there is a new meeting time for the SPS monthly meetings! It’s not a typo! We will meet at 4:30 in the SPS’s lounge (TCCW 238) on Tuesday, March 2nd. As usual, there will be free pizza and important information!

This is a reminder that the Fortieth WKU Student Research Conference (formerly the WKU/Sigma Xi Student Research Conference) will be held this Saturday at South Campus from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM.  Below is a list of students from the Department of Physics and Astronomy who are giving a presentation at the conference.  Hopefully I haven’t left anyone out.  Feel free let me know if I did.

Please come out and support our students this weekend.

Session 1

09:15 – 09:30 Dewayne Sowell, Room 112
09:30 – 09:45 Landon Oakes, Room 112
09:45 – 10:00 Kyle Cook, Room 112

Session 2

10:45 – 11:00 Jacob Baxley, Room 113
11:15 – 11:30 Alex Berry, Travis Morrison, & Mike Simpson, Room 113
12:00 – 12:15 Brittany Logan, Room 112

Session 3

01:30 – 01:45 April Pease, Room 113
01:45 – 02:00 Schuyler Wolff, Room 113
02:00 – 02:15 Tara Wink, Room 113

Poster Presentations

Aaron Bell
Nathan Campbell
Sarah Huey
Julie Scott
Mayme Van Meveren
John Wilson

Engineering majors working at the API show in italics.

The new by-laws are officially in place with a unanimous vote in favor of them. This also means that the SPS is in need of  a president elect.

An election for president elect for the remainder of this year will take place Tuesday all day and Wednesday until 4:30 (the 23rd and 24th). This officer will become president for the 2010-2011 school year. Our nominees are:

• Gordon Gameson
• Jason Leszczewicz
• Armin Smailhodzic
• Tara Wink
• Schuyler Wolf

All students need to stop by the main office and cast their votes. A simple majority decides the winner. The new officer will be announced Thursday morning.

All student members of the SPS need to stop by the main office and vote on the new by-laws. Voting is open now through Friday at noon.

If you vote to keep them, please nominate someone on the ballot for the office of president-elect.

If you vote to not keep the by-laws, please briefly outline the things that are unsatisfactory in the by-laws so that changes can be made.

The by-laws are posted on the website. Please read them prior to voting.

If you have any questions, please see one of the officers or post a comment to this announcement.

Each year we host the Western Kentucky Physics Olympics where area high schools send teams of four students each to compete in a variety of physics related competitions.  This  year’s event is this Saturday, February 20 and the theme is Green Physics.

More details about this year’s Olympics including a full schedule and event descriptions can be found here. If you are able to help then please contact Dr. Gelderman (by email at richard.gelderman at wku.edu).

Any one interested in participating in Bowl for Kids’ Sake needs to contact me (mayme.vanmeveren609@wku.edu), leave a comment on this post, or write your name on the SPS chalk board by Friday 3:00. Please include the times you are available from 4-9 on Tuesday, February 23rd (you need to be available for 1 hour). I need to distribute the packets for the teams, and I would like to do that before everyone disperses for the weekend.

Here’s the run-down for the event: Teams of 5 are required, and each team needs to raise $150 ($30 per person). Prizes are awarded for the team that raises the most money, as well as prizes awarded per individual (t-shirts, gift cards, dinner and a movie for 1 year from Applebees, $1,000 shopping spree from Ashley furniture-mart) for funds raised. Proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central KY. Faculty may participate.

I hope to see everyone’s name soon!

On Thursday, February 18th, at 2:20 pm in SH 2113, we are very lucky to have WKU alumnus and former NASA astronaut Terry Wilcutt visiting to give a lecture and answer questions on the importance of math and science in his career and in the country’s future.

Lt. Colonel Wilcutt, a Russellville native, graduated from WKU in 1975, and that degree in mathematics has taken him literally out of this world, twice serving as pilot on space shuttle missions and later serving as the commander on two other missions.  He has been a constant friend of WKU, and is an excellent role model for students in our college.

Lt. Colonel Wilcutt is a also a member of the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni.  Please make plans to attend this talk.  Students will benefit greatly from hearing his talk, and will find him to be a very engaging and motivating speaker.

• Went over Bylaws (within next week vote on bylaws and nominate president-elect)
• New SPS Website (sign up)
• The physics Olympics will be held on February 20th
• SPS Elections-April 1st for a week (New President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer)
• April 3rd SPS Spring Picnic
• April 10th SPS Rain Date
• April 24th SPS Banquet (Sigma Pi Sigma 50th Anniversary)
• SPS President-Elect (Next Fall’s President)
• Bowl For Kid’s Sake Feb 23rd, 4:00 to 9:00 at DUC  (contact Mayme Van Meveren for more info)  sign up list is in the SPS Room on chalk board, sign up by Feb 10th