A&M-Commerce to Host Premier Meeting of Physicists

Physicists far and wide will visit Texas A&M University-Commerce from March 23-25 when the university hosts the 2023 Joint Spring Meeting of the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (TSAAPT), the Texas Section of the American Physics Society (TSAPS), and Zone 13 of the Society of Physics Students.

The joint meeting brings together a diverse group of physicists—including researchers, faculty and students from high schools and higher education institutions—to learn from each other and discuss ways to enrich the discipline of physics for all.

“The opportunity to host the 2023 TSAAPT Joint Spring Meeting is an exciting undertaking for the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the College of Science and Engineering,” said Dr. Andrea Graham, interim dean of the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce.

She continued: “Bringing together a community of scholars to present physics-based research and share ideas is at the very core of what A&M-Commerce strives for in its mission to ‘Educate. Discover. Achieve.' We look forward to welcoming every student, teacher and vendor to our campus in March.”

The program will include plenary speakers, sessions, and workshops devoted to research, teaching and the interaction between physics and society.

Noteworthy guest speakers include Dr. Katerina Chatziioannou, assistant professor at the California Institute of Technology; Dr. Noah Finkelstein, professor at the University of Colorado Boulder; Dr. Pamela Gossin, professor at The University of Texas at Dallas; Dawson Lang, teacher at Jefferson Academy Secondary School in Broomfield, Colo.; Dr. Michael Marder, professor at The University of Texas at Austin; and Dr. Claudia Ratti, professor at the University of Houston.

Event co-organizers Drs. William Newton and Robynne Lock—who serve as associate professors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at A&M-Commerce—are eager to promote physics in Texas.

“We're thrilled to provide the opportunity for high school physics teachers and university faculty to meet and exchange ideas,” Newton said.

“We're excited to host a meeting highlighting not only the great physics research being done in Texas but also the importance of physics teaching in our state,” Lock said.

Awards in multiple categories will be presented during the meeting.

TSAAPT awards will include the Mary Beth Monroe Distinguished Service Citation, the Excellence in Physics Teaching Award, the Robert N. Little Award for outstanding contributions in Texas physics higher education and the Katherine Mays Award for outstanding contributions in Texas high school physics education.

Student award categories include Best Undergraduate Presentation, Best Undergraduate Poster, Best Graduate Presentation and Best Graduate Poster.