UWP Society of Physics Students receive Marsh W. White Award
PLATTEVILLE- To fund their outreach activities, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Society of Physics Students recently received the Marsh W. White Award.
The award is given by the National Society of Physics Students to deserving chapters to support projects designed to promote an interest in physics among students. It is given in honor of Marsh W. White for his service to Sigma Pi Sigma, a national physics honors society. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges who select the proposals with the most merit.
"The award means a lot to us. It will help us put on our event and it gives recognition for the program. This is the first time in about four years that we've received the award," said Justin Reeder, SPS president.
The funds will support Physics is Phantastic Phunshop that will be held in the fall on the UWP campus. The workshop is open to area fifth and sixth graders. This annual event attracts 60 to 70 students from 25 area schools. This year, students will learn about the physics of rocketry as they build and launch a model rocket. By this activity and others, SPS hopes to spark students' interest in physics.
"Physics is important because it is involved in every aspect of our daily lives. Middle school students are an important group to reach because it has been statistically shown that that is the age where students tend to veer away from liking science. We like to show them that the discovery of physics is fun and exciting to learn about all the time," said Reeder.
SPS does several other outreach activities throughout the year including Girl Scout Technology Days, physics travel road shows, presenting to elementary schools, bringing in speakers and providing tutoring in the physics lounge. They also do social activities such as canoeing, spelunking, and having pizza parties. The group meets every first and third Tuesday of the month in 222 Ottensman Hall.
Anyone wanting more information about SPS or the Physics Phunshop, may contact Reeder at reederj@uwplatt.edu.
Contact: Justin Reeder, president, Society of Physics Students, reederj@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu
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