SPS Zone 8 Meeting 2026
Meeting Date: March 27-28, 2026
Location: Berea, KY
Host: Society of Physics Students
Reported By: Madison Wilson, Berea College
Students and faculty from across Zone 8 gather at Berea College for the SPS Zone Meeting to celebrate a weekend of physics, learning, and collaboration.
Meeting Agenda:
Friday, March 27th
Check-In & Poster Setup
3:00-5:00PM | MAC 2nd FLOOR LOBBY, POSTERS ON 4TH FLOOR
Welcome Session
5:15PM-5:30PM | PLANETARIUM
Planetarium Show
5:30-6:00PM | PLANETARIUM
-Life: A Cosmic Story
Life invites audiences on a journey through space and time to witness key events since the Big Bang that set the stage for life on Earth. From the tiniest microbes to the mightiest stars, discover the building blocks shared by all matter in the Universe—and develop a deeper appreciation for how Earth’s incredible biodiversity evolved.
Dinner – Qdoba
6:15-7:15PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Physics jeopardy!
7:30-8:45PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Saturday, March 28th
Continental Breakfast
8:00-9:00AM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Presentation Session
9:00-11:00AM
·Posters (FOURTH FLOOR)
·Oral talks (MAC 406)
Lunch – Jimmy Johns
11:00AM-12:00PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Group Photo
12:15PM | STEPS OUTSIDE MAC
Guest Speaker: Dr. Mackenzie Ridley
12:30-2:00PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
About our speaker...
Dr. Mackenzie Ridley is a materials scientist and R&D Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he studies how materials behave in extreme environments. His research focuses on high-temperature materials interactions, including oxidation, corrosion, and mechanical performance.
Dr. Ridley received his B.A. from Berea College and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia.
As a researcher at a Department of Energy National Lab, Dr. Ridley contributes to advancing the fundamental science of materials. His career path, from an undergraduate student to a national laboratory scientist, serves as an inspiring example for aspiring scientists.
Snack Break
2:00-2:30PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Closing Remarks
2:30-3:00PM | YAHNG DISCOVERY CENTER
Narrative:
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) Zone 8 meeting hosted at Berea College on March 27-28th was a successful and engaging event, bringing together students and faculty from across the region for a weekend of physics-centered learning, collaboration, and community building. As organizers, we were excited to welcome students from across the region. A total of 46 attendees participated in the meeting, including 30 registered visitors from outside institutions and 16 participants from Berea College. One of our goals in planning this meeting was to create a space that felt both academically enriching and welcoming.
Attendees represented several SPS chapters across Tennessee and Kentucky, including 8 students from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, 3 from the University of Kentucky, 2 from Austin Peay State University, 7 from East Tennessee State University, and 4 from Tennessee Technological University, in addition to Berea College’s chapter. The diversity of institutions present contributed to a rich exchange of perspectives and experiences throughout the weekend.
The meeting began Friday afternoon with a planetarium show, Life: A Cosmic Story. The show guided audiences on a journey through space and time, exploring key events since the Big Bang that made life on Earth possible. From the smallest microbes to the largest stars, the show highlighted the shared building blocks of all matter in the universe and fostered a deeper appreciation for the evolution of Earth’s biodiversity.
Following dinner on Friday was an interactive and social Physics Jeopardy game! We intentionally scheduled this on Friday evening as a way to break the ice and help students connect before the formal academic sessions following the next day. This encouraged teamwork, friendly competitions, and community building among the participants. Seeing students from different chapters have fun helped set an enthusiastic tone for the remainder of the weekend.
On Saturday morning following breakfast, the program featured five oral research presentations and one poster presentation, showcasing undergraduate research across a range of physics-related topics. These presentations provided students with valuable experience in communicating scientific ideas and receiving feedback from peers.
Oral presentation speakers (left to right): Joshua Purnell, Henry Dixon, Benjamin Gorton, Evan Toon, and Jack Seger
Poster presenter Keira Scott shares her research with fellow students and faculty during the poster session.
A highlight of the meeting was the talk by Dr. Mackenzie Ridley, a materials scientist and R&D Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Ridley’s research focuses on how materials behave in extreme environments, particularly high-temperature materials interactions such as oxidation, corrosion, and mechanical performance. He earned his B.A. from Berea College and his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia. During his talk, Dr. Ridley discussed his research and career path, offering insight into work at a national laboratory. His journey from a Berea College undergraduate to a national laboratory scientist served as an especially inspiring example for students considering careers in research and applied science. As Berea College students, we found Dr. Ridley’s return to campus particularly meaningful.
Guest speaker and Berea Alum Dr. Mackenzie Ridley shares his journey from undergraduate studies at Berea College to navigating graduate school, and discusses his research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
An essential component of the meeting’s success was the support of dedicated student volunteers who helped ensure the event ran smoothly from start to finish. Volunteers staffed the check-in and information desk, where they welcomed attendees, distributed itineraries, assisted with poster logistics, and answered questions related to sessions, meals, etc. Additional volunteers provided poster setup and technical support, helping presenters mount posters and troubleshoot issues. During the oral sessions, student moderators introduced speakers, kept presentations on schedule, and took photos. Volunteers also played a key role in hospitality and meal coordination, guiding attendees to dining locations, assisting with food distribution, and monitoring dietary accommodations. Finally, support during evening social events and activities helped create an engaging and welcoming atmosphere beyond the formal academic sessions. The efforts of these volunteers significantly reduced challenges during the meeting and contributed to a positive experience for everyone.
Overall, the SPS Zone 8 Meeting at Berea College successfully combined academic programs, professional development, and community engagement. We hope attendees left feeling inspired to continue their involvement in physics and the broader scientific community.
Zone 8 Councilor Richard Prince discusses the benefits of the Society of Physics Students and highlights the importance of hosting annual Zone Meetings.
From the organizing team’s perspective, the meeting was especially rewarding to plan and host. Our goal was to balance academic events with opportunities for connection and fun, and the enthusiasm of the attendees made that effort worthwhile. Seeing students engage with one another, ask thoughtful questions, and enjoy both the scientific and social aspects of the event reinforced the value of hosting the meeting and the work put into it.
Suggestions for Planning the Next Zone Meeting
- Post the registration form well in advance, ideally one to two months before the meeting, to give chapters sufficient time to plan travel, secure funding, and encourage student participation.
- Design the registration form to collect all essential information in one place, including food allergies or dietary restrictions, T-shirt sizes, whether participants plan to present research, and abstract submission details. Having these components integrated into the initial registration process helps organizers plan more efficiently and reduces the need for follow-up communication.
- Clearly communicate deadlines and expectations (such as presentation formats and schedule outlines) on the registration form and in follow-up emails to ensure participants are well prepared.
- If possible, schedule tours of relevant campus facilities, laboratories, research centers, or nearby scientific institutions. Tours provide attendees with additional insight into physics-related career paths and research environments, or other interesting activities.
- Incorporate more interactive games or social events throughout the meeting, such as team-based challenges or hands-on activities. These events help foster networking, collaboration, and get attendees talking to each other across different chapters.
Acknowledgements: A special thank you to the Society of Physics Students Organization for helping fund this event, and to the Berea College Physics Department for their generous support.
We are also grateful to Zone 8 Councilor Richard Cody Prince and Associate Zone Councilor Faith Simmons for giving us the opportunity to host this year’s Zone meeting and for their guidance throughout the planning process.