Monday, October 19, 2015
When SPS member Amanda Landcastle traveled to Croatia in August to present her research at the International Conference of Physics Students, hosted by the International Association of Physics Students (IAPS), she had no idea that she would come away with not just a great experience, but as an elected leader among the international physics student community.
Landcastle attended the meeting as one of two US delegates to IAPS after winning the SPS Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research. After learning more about IAPS and its opportunities for students, and seeing the potential for a stronger US presence, she jumped in and was elected vice president and appointed as the Outreach and Education Coordinator. IAPS is completely organized and run by students.
Landcastle is now working to spread the word about IAPS and its opportunities for students within the United States and outside of Europe (where IAPS has the most participation). She hopes to initiate a joint SPS/IAPS outreach event and use the successful ideas that SPS has developed over the years to inspire possible international outreach events. Says Landcastle, “IAPS allows all of the individual physics organizations from all over the world to get together and make an even bigger difference. Spreading the joy of physics should be a global effort. That is my goal.”