SPS Zone 15 Meeting 2025

Meeting Date: March 22, 2025

Location: Logan, UT

Host: Society of Physics Students

Reported By: Vanessa Chambers, Utah State University

The SPS Zone 15 meeting was held on March 22, 2025 at Utah State University. Six chapters came with attendance numbers close to 40. This is the most well attended meeting we’ve had in Zone 15 in years!

We were able to provide travel assistance to the Montana State chapter since they had the farthest to travel and arrived the day before.

We began the day at 8:00 A.M. with check-ins, where each participant received some SPS swag. During registration, we incorporated a “Get to Know You Bingo” activity to help people from different chapters interact with one another. It proved to be a great success. At the same time, we had a breakfast station with a bagel spread and an assortment of drinks.

At around 9:00 A. M., we kicked off maker experiments for everyone to take part in. We had two concurrent activities for the participants to choose from. In one area, we provided materials to create DIY speakers using wire, paper, and magnets. For those less inclined toward engineering, we offered origami paper, including NASA StarShade origami instructions, a similar concept used in NASA’s New World project. The second activity focused on making homemade lightbulbs using graphite filament and jars. By running current across the graphite, participants could see the graphite glow for a brief moment.

By 9:45 A.M., after finishing the activities, we gathered for a group picture.

Many were filled with excitement for the big item on the agenda: the virtual talk by Kip Thorne! At 10:00 A.M., we got ready for his talk, “Vacuum Fluctuations in Cosmology and Technology.” His presentation was filled with levity and knowledge, suitable for an undergraduate level where everyone could follow along while learning something new. It was a surreal experience for many, if not all, the participants of this conference. A memorable moment in his presentation was after discussing 20 minutes of the precision used by quantum technology for measurements, when he casually said, “Now, let’s get technical.”

After that phenomenal presentation, we had the business meeting. Kelby Hahn, our Zone Councilor, started off by encouraging people to apply for the AZC role. Participants gave elevator speeches explaining why they should be chosen for the role. Afterward, we went over the great resources and opportunities that SPS provides for its members at both the local and national levels. It was an informational and engaging session.

At 11:30 A.M., we had lunch, where sandwiches, salads, and drinks were served. It was a very relaxing social environment. 

After everyone had some food, around 12:00 P.M., we provided chapters with time to give reports on what had been happening in the current school year, including any new developments. In addition, we held a Demo Contest, where each chapter could show off cool physics concepts of their choosing. Utah State University showcased an interesting illustration of the scientific process by testing which selection of ball had the greatest bounce, Weber State University demonstrated entropy through a simulation, Brigham Young University presented a concept about torque, and Westminster University showed the “magical” powers of electric static discharge. Ultimately, while all demos were great, Weber State took first place. They managed to navigate the complexities of the concept while providing a clear and eloquent explanation of entropy.

After getting updates on each chapter, we got our legs moving. At 12:30 P.M., we separated into three different groups by “random” order. Over the next two hours, we had three different rotations. One rotation was a lab tour through our Microfabrication and Photonics lab, where Professor T.-C. Shen discussed both technical aspects that help physicists excel and the human aspects as well. The second rotation was a t-shirt design station, where each participant could design their own t-shirt using printable transfer paper. Each shirt featured the logos of each school that participated in the conference, making for a great piece of memorabilia. The third rotation was a more relaxed, free-form session where groups could play games.

At 2:30 P.M., we had a Physicist Q&A panel with Dr. Anders Knospe from Lehigh University, Dr. Roberto Ramos from St. Joseph’s University, and USU SPS alum Dr. Robert Call from Old Dominion. Each panelist shared perspectives on their journeys that led them to where they are today. Each one offered different advice, giving a well-rounded understanding of potential career paths for physics students. The audience asked intriguing questions, ranging from study habits to preparation for grad school. Overall, it was a very insightful opportunity.

Dinner was around 4:00 P.M. We had a nacho/taco buffet, creating a great social environment for everyone to enjoy. Before everyone left, we thanked them for participating in the zone conference hosted by USU. The event wrapped up around 5:00 P.M.

USU was pleased to organize and host this event. It was wonderful to meet our fellow SPS members from around the zone, and build camaraderie centered around SPS and a shared enthusiasm for physics. We are already looking forward to attending next year’s meeting!