The SPS is essentially a self-governing Society created to serve the interests of physics undergraduate and graduate students. It was formed in April 1968, from the union of the AIP Student Sections and Sigma Pi Sigma. The Student Sections had been established by AIP. Sigma Pi Sigma originated as a local honor society at Davidson College, North Carolina, in 1921.
At present there are over 600 active chapters of SPS on campuses across the country. Approximately 6,000 students take part in the chapter activities, making SPS the fourth largest physics society in the country. Over 400 chapters include the honor society as part of their activities. Total membership in Sigma Pi Sigma, including alumni, exceeds 58,000.
To the Individual Student
Your SPS
chapter is largely autonomous. Only those items specified in the national
SPS constitution are limiting factors. The constitution can be amended
only on recommendation of the National council followed by approval from
two-thirds of the SPS chapters. Thus SPS is your society and deserves
your active participation and support. We urge you to use your membership
in SPS to participate in the physics community, both on your own campus
and on the regional and national levels.
Why join SPS?
The SPS exists to help
students transform themselves into contributing members of the
professional community. Course work develops only one range of skills.
Other skills needed to flourish professionally include effective
communication and personal interactions, leadership experience,
establishing a personal network of contacts, presenting scholarly work in
professional meetings and journals, and outreach services to the campus
and local communities.
Locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, the SPS offers the opportunity for these important enrichments to the student's experience.
SPS members may apply for one of the annual SPS Scholarships awarded for the senior year of study. The Marsh White Award funds science outreach programs in the local community. The Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Award supports research projects conducted by the chapter.
2 Regionally, the SPS is organized into 18 Zones. At the semi-annual Zone meetings, students from many chapters meet to enjoy fellowship, present research papers, tour laboratories, hear nationally known distinguished guest speakers, and exchange ideas on topics of mutual interest, such as ideas for science outreach to grades K-12, or career options besides physics that are open to one with a physics degree. Attending zone meetings is the most effective way to build and maintain a healthy chapter.
AIP and SPS placement services are available to members of SPS. Starting in the 1995-96 academic year, some Zone meetings will include a placement center, linking new recipients of BA/BS degrees with potential employers.
Members of SPS receive Physics Today, the publication sent to all members of AIP Member Societies; the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics, where student research is published; and the SPS Newsletter, published five times per year, which covers local, regional, and national SPS activities and includes the latest job information. Free membership to undergraduates to one AIP Member Society, choose from: American Physical Society, Optical Society of America, Acustical Society of America, The Society of Rheology, American Association of Physics Teachers, American Crystallographic Association, American Astronomical Society, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, American Vacuum Society or American Geophysical Union. Each member will recive the benifits of the Member Society membership, including journals, for up to three years.
3 Nationally, the policies of SPS are set by the National Council, which is elected by chapters within geographic zones. Faculty members are nominated by chapters to represent their Zones as Councilors. If elected they will serve for three-year terms. Associate Councilors, students themselves, are also nominated by the chapters and are elected for one-year terms. Both councilors and Associate Councilors participate in Zone activities and in the annual policy-making meeting of the Council. Councilors organize committees within Zones and serve on committees of the National Council.
SPS chapters with a Sigma Pi Sigma chapter award recognition and distinction to students who have achieved high scholarship, by electing them to membership in Sigma Pi Sigma.
4 Internationally, the SPS sends two students per year to represent the USA int the International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS). There are also a few SPS chapters outside the USA.
Local dues are set by the individual chapters. Most AIP Member Societies offer combined student memberships at reduced rates.
What is AIP?
The American Institute of Physics was founded in
1931 as a membership corporation of the leading societies in the field of
physics. It combines into one operating agency those functions on behalf
of physics which can best be done by the societies jointly. Its purpose is
the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its
applications to human welfare. It is a major publisher of scientific
journals.
How is a Chapter Formed?
All that's
needed is a group of interested students, a faculty advisor, and the
approval of the physics department to petition for an SPS chapter.
Petition forms are available from the National Office. A chapter can be
established at any accredited college or university. Only a chapter at a
college or university offering a physics major is eligible to form an SPS
chapter.
How does Sigma Pi Sigma Function?
Sigma Pi Sigma is a nationally recognized
scholastic honor society within SPS. It is a member of the Association of
College Honor Societies and is an affiliated society of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. Membership is limited by the
national SPS constitution to individuals who have completed at least three
semester courses in physics that can be credited towards a physics major
and who are in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship.
Higher standards can be set by local bylaws. A separate pamphlet that describes the
honor society is available.
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