Physics students at WJC are members of a national organization known as SPS (Society of Physics Students). As a participating group within this community, Jewell’s SPS chapter has garnered Outstanding Chapter Awards in 2005-06 and 2006-07. WJC students regularly present posters and/or talks at national conferences sponsored by SPS. Currently, the group is planning a trip to the 2008 Quadrennial Congress (November 6-8), hosted at Fermilab.  

On the local level, SPS holds regular meetings on the first Monday of each month. Speakers at the monthly meetings have included scientists, mathematicians, high school teachers, patent lawyers, and engineers. Over the past five years, approximately 30 speakers have visited the WJC Physics Department. The local chapter also participates in Homecoming, summer science camps for kids, and service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The group often makes trips to regional SPS meetings, museums, and other attractions during the academic year. SPS officers for 2008-09 are: Carl Ziegler (President), Dane Engquist (Vice President), and Jenna Gales (Secretary).

The 2008-09 SPS meeting schedule (with speakers indicated) is below:

September 8: Fall Kick-Off Meeting—Pizza/Movie Night

October 6: Tom Zepf, Creighton University, "Mysteries from the Haunted Physics Lab" 

November 3: Mairead Greene, Rockhurst University, “Coding Theory”

December 1: William Spencer (Christmas Lecture), “Science is fine, but what about the rest of my life?” (White Science Center 107, Refreshments 5:30 PM, Talk 6:00 PM)

January: Summer Opportunities Session

February 2: Chris Fischer, University of Kansas, “Molecular Motors”

March TBA

April TBA

Recent Student News (2008)

Blair Unger is completing his PhD in Optics at University of Rochester.

Cam Cooper is working at Burns and McDonnell as an engineer.

Tom Rychlewski is employed at CRB Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Shane Price is a PhD candidate at KU. Shane is also Instructor of Chemistry at William Jewell College.