Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students

On Thursday, May 8th, SPS had the pleasure to host Prof. Chris Stubbs, the Chair of the Physics Department. Prof. Stubbs is very interested in learning about undergrads' experiences. He is eager to work closely together with us in implementing ideas that could be of significant benefit to the students.

Here are the excerpts and the ideas from the meeting:

1. Undergraduate Lounge - We feel this is an excellent idea and Prof. Stubbs really wants to see this done during his time as the Chair of the Department. Suggested location is the space below Jefferson 250. The proposed timeline is the following: using the 08/09 academic year to completely define and finalize the plans so that necessary construction can be done over the next summer. Starting September '10 the lounge should be completed!
2. Curriculum changes - Go over and revise the undergraduate curriculum. What areas are missing? How are certain classes taught and how can that be improved? Get more feedback from students about classes. SPS website can facilitate such discussion through means of online blogging and polls on physics courses. Help us develop this idea
3. Mid-semester evaluation - The CUE helps students pick courses but is of little benefit to students while they are taking the class. How would you feel about having mid-semester, anonymous, surveys carried out by the department to help identify troubles spots for students?
4. Research roadmap to the Physics department - a more thorough guide to research that is being done at the department, specifically suited for the undergrads. A more regularly updated website page that deals with this as well
5. Crash-courses: Taking advantage of the new calendar - In January, during the break in semesters, SPS together with the department would offer/organize crash-courses in Python, Matlab, and many other tools that physicists use on a daily basis. This is especially important for students interested in doing research: the amount of tools you know determines your initial value to potential mentors and lab PIs. This could be done in collaboration with other departments (CS, math, chemistry...) or schools (SEAS)
6. Secretary for the Undergrads - Prof. Stubbs suggested a position of an undergraduate 'mom'; a person that would work together with Dr. Morin, Prof. Georgi and the Chair of the Department and deal specifically with the needs of the undergrads - from helping reserve rooms to helping us maintain the lounge one it's completed. They would be a go-to person for concentrators and pre-concentrators for help in picking an advisor or finding a lab and would be a messenger for getting undergraduate ideas to the department chair. They could help plan events to foster a sense of physics community...Let us try to figure out if there is a need for someone like that (it could be a part-time position).

We need your contribution to see these mature from ideas to concrete proposals!
Please comment below and let's start the discussion. Tell us how you feel about the above mentioned suggestions - are they relevant to you, how can they be improved. or if you other suggestions or things you would like to see implemented? Anything at all!

Also, if you want to track this discussion, feel free to leave your email address so that you can be notified of any replies. Rest assured your email address will not be used for anything else. You can, at any point decide to stop receiving emails.

Ognjen Ilic
Secretary of the SPS