Spring 2019 Book Club

Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming is a 2010 non-fiction book by American historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. It identifies parallels between the global warming controversy and earlier controversies over tobacco smoking, acid rain, DDT, and the hole in the ozone layer. Oreskes and Conway write that in each case “keeping the controversy alive” by spreading doubt and confusion after a scientific consensus had been reached was the basic strategy of those opposing action. In particular, they show that Fred Seitz, Fred Singer, and a few other contrarian scientists joined forces with conservative think tanks and private corporations to challenge the scientific consensus on many contemporary issues.

Winter 2019 Book Club

Between the World and Me is a 2015 nonfiction book written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and published by Spiegel & Grau. It is written as a letter to the author’s teenage son about the feelings, symbolism, and realities associated with being Black in the United States.

2018/19 Officers

MacKenzie Lenz, Kelby Hahn, Mattia Carbonaro, Mike Vignal, Elizabeth Gire, Madison Gryba, Gina Mayonado, Kasey Yoke, and Nicole Quist

Fall 2018 Book Club

“Beliefs about men and women are as old as humanity itself, but Fine’s funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that we’ve heard Testosterone rex’s last roar.” —Annie Murphy Paul, New York Times Book Review

Journal Club: Social Topics in Physics

PH 405/505 CRN 58630/58631

Social Topic in Physics (STiP) is a once weekly journal club organized by PhIS. We read and discuss journals, essays, and articles on topics related to the social, environmental, economic, etc. state of physics, science, and education. Course in P/N attendance based and the meeting time will be arranged to accommodate the schedules of those interested.

2017/18 Officers

MacKenzie Lenz, Kelby Hahn, Jessica Armstrong, Maggie Greenwood, Janet Tate, Allison Gicking, Gina Mayonado, and Nicole Quist

2016/17 Officers

The APS CUWiP at Oregon State University 2016

CUWiP 2016 Group Photo

Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP)

At CUWiP, budding physicists will experience a professional conference, learn about graduate school and professions in physics, and share invaluable experiences, advice, and ideas with other women.
Oregon State University hosted CUWiP in 2016 and PhIS was the team behind holding the conference. We also encourage member to attend future conferences and have helped assist them in that effort.

First Blog Post: PhIS!

We’re a student organization sponsored by the physics department. We want to change the atmosphere and culture of physics to be more accessible and inclusive. Currently, only 20% of physics degrees are held by women, and only 11% of Bachelor’s degrees and 7% of PhDs are held by underrepresented minorities in physics. We aim to significantly increase the number of female and underrepresented minority physics majors on campus by providing an inclusive community, professional development opportunities, and mentorship for any woman or minority interested in physics.