2025 Fall Zone 7 Meeting

Meeting Announcement

The Fall 2025 Zone Meeting for SPS Zone 7 was held on October 24-25, 2025, on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in conjunction with the Fall 2025 Meeting of the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society (EGLS APS).  The Eastern Michigan University SPS Chapter #1739 was the local host of the meeting.  The EMU SPS Students put together a Welcome Video to help everyone find their way around campus. 

The theme of the meeting was "Discovery and Curriculum," but contributions were accepted on any topic related to physics or astronomy, and the final program is available from the meeting host's web site. There was no cost for students to attend the zone meeting, however, student banquet tickets were $20, but they needed to register at the EGLS APS Fall 2025 Meeting's web site. Students also needed to set up a free APS account to register for the EGLS APS meeting. Note that free APS membership  is available for students who are first-time APS members (yes, it's really free!). 

Students were encouraged but not required to present a poster or talk, and awards were given by EGLS APS for the best poster and oral presentation by undergraduate students. Abstracts had to be submitted via the link on the EGLS APS Fall 2025 Meeting's web site and were due by October 3rd. Students who were not presenting at the EGLS APS meeting did not need to be an APS or SPS member to participate in the SPS Zone meeting activities shown in the schedule below (except for the careers talk, which we were unfortunately not able to have due to unexpected circumstances, but was replaced by a great APS Fellow talk and Physics & Astronomy Jeaopardy).  But, of course, we encourage all students to join SPS to take advantage of its great benefits!  

• Students who were preparing to present during this meeting were recommended to review the videos by past SPS zone meeting presenter Lisa McDonald from the American Ceramic Society on giving effective oral presentations or poster presentations. 

A limited number of EGLS APS student travel scholarships were available for undergraduate students traveling to the meeting from outside of the Ypsilanti, Michigan, area to attend the meeting.  Travel scholarships are limited to one per institution and cover up to $100 in travel costs. Based on need, the section's Executive Committee considers scholarship applications on a case-by-case basis. Applicants were encouraged to team up with other meeting attendees for travel and lodging purposes and must register for the meeting to be eligible for a travel scholarship. Students must attend the meeting in person to receive their scholarship. Student travel applications were available from the from the meeting host's website. 

Zone Meeting Schedule

The meeting schedule is listed below (last updated October 3 2025).  Any updates were posted here and on the Eastern Michigan University meeting page, which also has maps and a list of keynote speakers.

Friday, October 24, 2025

12:30 - 2:00 pm: Check-in and Registration [Strong Hall Atrium]

2:15 - 3:00 pm: EGLS Invited Speaker [Strong Hall, Room 100]

3:15 - 4:00  pm: EGLS Invited Speaker [Strong Hall, Room 100]

4:30 - 5:30 pm: SPS Zone 7 Meeting Kick-off Event [Strong Hall, room 101] (will also have virtual option)

This event is an opportunity for students to introduce themselves, meet fellow students across the zone, and find out more about the programs and activities of the Society of Physics Students.  This event will be chaired by Associate Zone Councilor Ella Baldwin (Grove City College) and Zone Councilor Laura DeGroot (College of Wooster). Everyone, including faculty and other professionals, are welcome to attend.  The event will be live-streamed (link to come!), and a recording of the livestream will be posted to the SPS Zone 7 YouTube channel.

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Poster Session [McKenny Hall]

7:00 - 8:30 pm: Banquet & Speaker  [McKenny Hall]

9:00 - 10:00 pm: SPS Zone 7 Gathering - Planterium Showing! 

Details of where to meet will be provided soon! 

10:00 - 11:00 pm: Night Sky Observing (Weather Permitting) [Sherzer Observatory] 

Details of where to meet will be provided soon! 

Saturday, October 25, 2025

8:00-8:30 am: Coffee and refreshments [Strong Hall Atrium]

8:30-9:30 am: EGLS APS Invited Speaker  [Strong Hall, Room 100]

9:30-11:00 am: Contributed Oral Presentations [Strong Hall Classrooms]

11:15 am-12:00 pm: EGLS APS Invited Speaker [Strong Hall, Room 100]

12:00 - 1:30 pm: SPS Careers Talk &  Pizza Lunch, APS Ambassadors Presentation [Strong Hall]

This event is free for students and chapter advisors, a pizza lunch will be provided for attendees, during the virtual careers talk. 

Rama Bala, Ph.D.
President and CEO, CCL-US, Pittsburgh, PA

Executive Director, STEMNetX (www.stemnetx.org)

APS Career Mentoring Fellow

Teaching Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh

"Congratulations! Your are a Physics Major..."

Abstract: 

Physics degree holders are highly employable in both the private and public sectors. However,

many students and early career scientists are often unaware of the types of career paths available to them. This talk will provide data on the number of physics degree holders and where they typically find employment, give examples of common career paths, and highlight career resources useful for exploring options and searching for and applying to jobs.

We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting!

Around 40 students and alumni from at least 13 chapters across the zone attended the meeting, making it a very successful zone meeting.  Chapters in attendance included Albion College, Cleveland State University, College of Wooster, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Marietta College, Marshall University, Oakland University, Ohio State University, University of Mount Union, University of Dayton, Wayne State University, and Youngstown State University. A report on the meeting, including photos from the event, has been posted.  

Check back on the SPS Zone 7 web site for announcements about future zone meetings.