NEWS

Louisiana Tech University’s on-campus chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) was named an Outstanding Chapter by the SPS National Council for its contributions to scientific outreach.

Each year, the national SPS rigorously evaluates a list of chapters throughout the country, judging which of these chapters deserve the Outstanding Chapter award based on a variety of criteria: involvement in local, regional, and national SPS and professional meetings; outreach to K-12 programs, the general public and the college community; community service; student recruitment and retention; participation in social events and interactions with program alumni.

The Louisiana Tech chapter of the SPS is active in community service both to the University and to the city of Ruston, offering weekly tutoring sessions to students and frequent opportunities for public engagement in physics.

The organization demonstrates science and physics at public events in Ruston and at the annual College of Engineering and Science Engineering and Science Day. Members of the SPS also volunteer at the Science Olympiad hosted at Louisiana Tech’s Ruston campus each year.

“SPS is a fantastic group of students,” Dr. Thomas Bishop, associate professor of chemistry and physics and SPS advisor, said. “They are very deserving of this recognition. They are dedicated to education, have fun doing physics, and put considerable effort into outreach and tutoring.”

SPS President Laurel Larramendi, who recently attended the American Physical Society Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics, believes the award helps motivate the SPS members to constantly expand their outreach.

“This recognition from SPS Nationals means so much to our chapter and gives us encouragement to continue doing what we can to provide the knowledge of physics to others,” said Larramendi.

Learn more about the SPS by visiting the Society of Physics Students website or contacting the organization at SPS@LATech.edu.

This story was written by communications student Daniel Young.