Physics Department Hosts Regional Conference

The 20th Spring Meeting of the NCS-AAPT took place at Elon University on April 15-16.

The meeting included a plenary talk on the recent discovery of graviatational waves, a banquet where Aassociate Dean Nancy Harris welcomed the participants to the university, poster sessions, and several workshops.

One of the workshops, titled “Starting Your Own Maker Hub,” was led by ​Elon’s Michael Vaughn and physics senior Connor TeVault. In addition to activities for physics faculty, Elon’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students hosted undergraduates from across the state in dedicated sessions. These included a science-inspired pub trivia challenge at the Oak House, a Q&A on gravitational waves, a panel with Elon physics alumni, and a rocket building followed by a launch at the Francis Center field. 

The meeting took months to prepare and involved most faculty and students in the physics department.

Associate professor Tony Crider and assistant professor Chris Richardson took the lead on the organizing. By all accounts this was a successful conference. Elon physics department has been playing an active role in the organization. Tony Crider and associate professor Martin Kamela had served as its past presidents and many current and former student, and faculty, have presented their research and led workshops at the organization’s meetings. 

This was the third time Elon hosted the group, which brings together university, college and high school physics educators, and physics students, in support of improving the teaching of physics and promoting undergraduate research.