Thanks to your generous donations and heartfelt passion, we are pleased to report that the 2016 Quadrennial Physics Congress (PhysCon) was a tremendous success!

At PhysCon, students met their heroes and connected with peers from across the country. We spoke with a student reporter who was so excited about an upcoming interview that she was visibly shaking with anticipation. Another student was beside herself with excitement that Jocelyn Bell Burnell stopped to ask her questions about her poster. Students who had never met before became fast friends after bonding over E&M problem sets, and new friends were made on the very early bus ride to the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Sigma Pi Sigma’s impact, however, doesn’t stop with PhysCon. Students present their research and outreach accomplishments at Member Society conferences throughout the year. Often these students are attending and presenting for the first time, giving them a greater understanding of physics while also improving their communication and networking skills. Students bring copious amounts of drive and enthusiasm, and Sigma Pi Sigma members have stepped in time and again to help the next generation of students become involved in the community.

On behalf of each and every student, thank you for supporting our programs. With your financial support, we are able to provide students with a sense of community and a home in the professional world.

With gratitude,
Bill DeGraffenreid and Steve Feller, PhysCon 2016 Planning Committee Co-chairs

Thank You PhysCon Sponsors

PhysCon would not have been possible without the support of AIP Member Societies and corporate sponsors.

The Friday evening PhysCon dance party was brought to you by the American Physical Society, a non-profit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities.

The PhysCon app was sponsored by the American Astronomical Society, the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its membership of about 8,000 also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research and educational interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy.

The Outstanding Student Poster Awards and Art Contest Awards were provided by the OSA Foundation, the charitable organization working on behalf of The Optical Society (OSA).  The OSA Foundation has funded hundreds of programs for future and emerging scientists benefiting thousands of individuals in more than 55 countries.

The National Science Foundation provided full travel support for 72 students from minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to attend PhysCon 2016 and present their research.

The registration bags were provided by Newport Corporation, a leading global supplier of advanced technology products and systems to customers in the scientific research, microelectronics, life and health sciences, industrial manufacturing and defense/security markets.

The name badge lanyards and general support for PhysCon were provided by Hamamatsu Corporation, a major developer and manufacturer of photomultiplier tubes, imaging devices, light sources, opto-semiconductors, and imaging and analyzing systems.

The PhysCon Student Travel Fund was funded in part by Associated Universities, Incorporated, which collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities.

The PhysCon Student Travel Fund was funded in part by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, a scientific and professional organization dedicated to ensuring accuracy, safety, and quality in the use of radiation in medical procedures such as medical imaging and radiation therapy.

The PhysCon Student Travel Fund was funded in part by the American Association of Physics Teachers, the premier organization representing and supporting physics and physical science teachers and teaching in the United States.

In-kind subscriptions to the Wolfram|Alpha computational knowledge engine for PhysCon award recipients was provided by Wolfram Research, Inc., one of the world’s most respected computer, web, and cloud software companies—as well as a powerhouse of scientific and technical innovation.

PhysCon 2016 was sponsored in part by Thorlabs, a manufacturer of photonic tools and systems, with products ranging from optics and opto-mechanical positioning components to sophisticated optical imaging systems.

PhysCon 2016 was sponsored in part by the Texas Instruments Foundation,  a non-profit organization providing philanthropic support for educational and charitable purposes primarily in the communities where TI operates.

PhysCon 2016 was sponsored in part by WebAssign, the leading provider of powerful online instructional tools for faculty and students.