Angelo State SPS Peer Pressure Team Completes 10th Annual Physics Road Tour

The Angelo State University Society of Physics Students’ (SPS) Peer Pressure Team recently completed its 10^th annual “Physics Road Tour” after spending six days performing physics demonstrations at more than a dozen elementary, middle and high schools.

The team traveled more than 1,000 miles through West Texas and eastern New Mexico to present its program to more than 1,750 students, as well as teachers, administrators and parents.  This year’s tour ran May 18-23 and included visits to schools in Water Valley, Sterling City and Midland before swinging into New Mexico to schools in Hobbs, Lovington, Artesia, Alamogordo and Sante Fe. The trip culminated with a guided tour of the Los Alamos National Laboratory near Sante Fe.

This year’s Road Tour participants were freshmen Daniel Anable of Temple, Alyssa Davenport-Herbst and Jose Duran of San Angelo, and Taylor Turner of Italy; sophomore Chris Ortega of San Angelo; junior Sean Czarnecki of San Angelo; and seniors James Bufkin of Houston, Connor Hoelscher of Wall, Christopher Madrid of San Antonio, Richard Moore of Hobbs, N.M., and Stephen Seibel of Kerrville. They were accompanied by Dr. Juan Blandon of the ASU physics faculty. This was the second year for Blandon to lead the tour.

The Physics Road Tour program is a public service designed by Angelo State SPS members to generate enthusiasm for the study of science and spur interested students toward paths that lead to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The SPS team presents a variety of physics demonstrations focused on educating students about scientific principles, while at the same time generating excitement and providing an informal and entertaining venue for them to enjoy.

Angelo State’s SPS chapter has been designated an “Outstanding Chapter” by the national SPS for 12 consecutive years. In the spring of 2007, its Physics Road Tour program received a Marsh White Award from the national SPS and a corresponding grant to help pay for demonstration materials. It also received Blake Lilly Awards from the national SPS in 2007 and 2009 for outstanding physics outreach. Most recently, the program was recognized with a 2010 LaserFest Outreach Award and corresponding $7,500 grant by the American Physical Society.