Physics Student Organizations

Carthage has more than 130 student clubs and organizations through which students can get involved, explore possible careers, meet other students, work closely with faculty advisors, and perform customer service. See a full list of Carthage student organizations on The Harbor, our website for student organizations.

Carthage Microgravity Team

Each year, Carthage fields a Microgravity Team to compete for a place in NASA’s Systems Engineering Educational Discovery program. Students in physics, computer science, and chemistry have participated. Carthage has successfully participated in this program every year since the program’s beginning in 2008. SEED pairs NASA researchers with student teams tasked with designing and building experiments in support of NASA mission research priorities.

Society of Physics Students

The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association specially designed for students. The Carthage chapter of SPS, founded in 1995, is very active on campus and in the community. Chapter activities have included field trips to Fermilab and the Yerkes Observatory, attending research meetings at places like Argonne National Laboratory, creation and presentation of physics demos in the “Flying Circus of Physics,” and a forthcoming research expedition to study the Northern Lights. Members regularly visit Kenosha-area middle and high schools to present physics and astronomy demonstrations. They also offer astronomy shows in the Carthage Planetarium.

The group has been named an outstanding SPS chapter by the American Institute of Physics for two consecutive years. Fewer than 5 percent of the chapters across the country are honored — less than one per state. Chapters are selected based on the depth and breadth of SPS activities conducted in physics research, public science outreach, physics tutoring programs, hosting and representation at physics meetings, and providing social interaction for chapter members.

Sigma Pi Sigma

Sigma Pi Sigma is the national physics honor society, which elects members on the basis of outstanding academic achievement. Carthage has its own Sigma Pi Sigma chapter. Sigma Pi Sigma membership confers recognition of outstanding scholarship and a record of significant professional achievement. To be considered for induction, which is for lifetime, students must be a junior or senior physics student in good standing, having completed a least one 300-level or higher physics course, have a GPA in the major (physics) of 3.0 or better, be in the top third of Carthage students with overall GPA, and have presented original physics research in some physics forum.

 

TO SEE MORE CARTHAGE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, VISIT THE HARBOR›