Idaho State University student physics receives national award

The Idaho State University Society of Physics Students (SPS) has received the 2012 Outstanding Chapter Award from the National Society of Physics Students and the American Physical Society.

According to Steve Shropshire, ISU professor of physics and astronomy and the faculty advisor for the club, SPS Outstanding Chapters are determined each academic year after a careful review of the information, photos and supporting material presented in annual Chapter Reports.

Criteria for the award includes: 1) Involvement in local, regional, and national SPS meetings, as well as other professional meetings, 2) Participation in SPS programs. 3) Outreach efforts to the grades K-12 or the general public, 4) Participation in community service, 5) Contributions to student recruitment and retention, 6) Participation in social events, and 7) Interactions with the department's alumni.

ISU's club was specifically recognized for its Haunted Science Lab, where SPS members, with the help of the Pocatello Kiwanis Club, maintained a set of interactive spooky science exhibits for school field trips for two weeks in October 2011, and open to the public on the Saturday before Halloween. Also mentioned in the award was the Punkn' Chuck competition they organized serving area schools, a Science Day exhibition at the Pine Ridge Mall, public demonstration shows, outreach to public and private schools, and demonstration postings on Youtube.