Outreach

Our SPS chapter does outreach work with the public community and several faculty members in the physics department. Below are some of the faculty and organizations we work with.

Pride in Physics at Zebra Youth | 2023-2024

In an effort to expand the diversity of the field of physics and provide empowerment to marginalized communities, Caden Zaccardi and Kirsten Lina, at the University of Central Florida (UCF) organized the Future Faces of Physics outreach event, Pride in Physics. For this event, homeless and community LGBT+ youth ages 13 – 24 were hosted at the LGBT+ non-profit temporary housing organization, Zebra Youth in Orlando, FL. The evening consisted of lightning talks led by SPS members, faculty talks, socialization over dinner, and live astronomical observations led by the UCF Robinson Observatory director, Dr. Richard Jerousek.

This event was made possible with the Future Faces of Physics grant given by the National Society of Physics Students.

A person stands in front of a room giving a presentation titled "Big Crunch" to an audience seated and listening attentively. A projector screen displays related information and images.
A picture showing Olivia Bitcon’s lightning talk about multiple cosmological theories on the death of the universe.
A telescope image of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) and its companion galaxy. The image was taken with a 5-minute exposure on April 13, 2024. Stars and galaxies are visible in the background.
A detailed astronomical image showing the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) with its distinct spiral structure and companion galaxy.

Electrifying Interest in Physics | 2022 – 2023

SPS UCF used circuit kits designed for young kids to provide a hands-on experience to the fth-grade class of Lake Whitney Elementary school. Our goal was to inspire kids to pursue a career in physics or STEM through a fun and interactive learning experience. We incorporated a mixture of Powerpoint slides and circuit “stations” at which the students could learn about various circuit components as well as try their hand at building their own circuits.

This event was made possible with the Marsh White grant given by the National Society of Physics Students.

A teacher interacts with five students seated around a table covered with educational materials in a classroom. Shelves and cabinets in the background hold various supplies.
A picture of Caden showing 5th graders how a photoresistor works.
A man in a blue shirt assists four boys working on electronic projects at a classroom table.
Max showing 5th graders how to build their own circuit.

Events held during the year:

Physics Career Exploration Day is geared toward high school students and college students in their first 2 years. The students are invited to bring one or two parents along with them to this career exploration day.
Activities of the Day include:

  • Speakers from the UCF Physics Department
  • Lunch
  • Tours of UCF facilities
  • Demonstrations (including liquid nitrogen ice cream)
  • Personal discussions with both faculty and students from both departments.

Volunteers of the event help out during the day, but mainly help with the tours. During the tours volunteers either lead or co-lead a group of students to designated locations for demonstrations.

STEM Day at UCF encourages K-12 students to study science and math. In the physics department, there are numerous demonstrations set up to teach several physics topics. Volunteers help out with conducting the demonstrations.

Last updated: August 15th, 2024