UBC Physics Circle

Are there giant ants in outer space? How is DNA crammed into the cell nucleus? How many Starbucks stores in Seattle? Can you extract information from a black hole?

Physics provides a powerful set of tools for understanding the world around us. The UBC Physics Circle invites motivated high school students (grades 10–12) to join us as we build up this toolset, and apply it to everything from buying a cup of coffee to the deepest mysteries of the cosmos. Each meeting features a guest lecture by a UBC professor or student, or an on-campus lab tour at UBC Point Grey. Past topics include dark matter, music, molecular dreidels and quantum gravity. Lectures are followed by pizza and problem solving sessions, guided by UBC physics students. While our problem sessions can prepare attendees for competitions (such as the CAP Prize exam and the Sir Isaac Newton Exam), our main goal is to foster curiosity, creativity, and a sense of community.

Physics Circle meetings consist of 2-hour sessions on Thursdays (from 5:15–7:15 PM), occurring every 2–3 weeks (starting October 3, 2019). They are held in the Hennings building, UBC Point Grey Campus, in room 301 unless otherwise noted. Please email physics.circle@phas.ubc.ca if you have any questions.

We strongly encourage students underrepresented in STEM – girls, Indigenous youth, and those from underprivileged communities – to participate. A small fee is collected to cover the cost of pizza. However, no student will be turned away for the lack of funds.

Features

Meetings start with lectures. Typically, a UBC physicist will introduce their research, advanced physics concepts, some applications of physics, or ideally all three (5:15–6:00).
Lectures are occasionally replaced by on-campus lab tours.
After the lecture/lab tour, students are let loose on a fun and challenging problem set (6:00–7:15). This is an informal setting where students can explore, ask questions, and learn actively together.
Physics Circle volunteers write problem sets and provide guidance, as well as occasional problem-solving tutorials. Sets will include both competition-style questions and explorations beyond the high school syllabus.
Pizza and refreshments are provided.