Auburn Physics graduate students host regional symposium for early career scientists

Auburn University’s Department of Physics recently hosted the 8th Annual Southern Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Symposium, or SPAGSS, welcoming nearly 90 students and researchers from across the Southeast for a day of scientific exchange, professional development and community building.

Organized entirely by graduate students through the Auburn Physics Graduate Student Association, this year’s symposium marked the first time Auburn has hosted the event. Participants traveled from institutions including the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi.

The symposium provided a regional forum for early-career scientists to present their research, exchange ideas and build professional connections across institutions.

“This symposium created a unique and welcoming environment for graduate students to share their work and connect with peers,” said Brooks Howe, chair of the symposium organizing committee. “The organizing committee put in a lot of hard work to make this event happen, and we were very happy with how it went. We received many positive comments from attendees and believe everyone left with a strong impression of the Auburn Physics community. We are especially grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible.”

The event featured approximately 45 research presentations spanning plasma physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, astronomy and astrophysics. The range of presentations reflected the diversity of modern physics research and the strength of graduate programs across the region.

For many participants, SPAGSS offered an accessible, supportive environment to present their work to peers and receive constructive feedback.

In addition to research presentations, the symposium emphasized professional growth and leadership. The day concluded with two interactive workshops. One focused on graduate student leadership, giving student leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas related to organization, outreach and advocacy. The second workshop engaged the broader graduate student community in discussion about ways to improve the graduate student experience across institutions.

Attendees also toured Auburn research laboratories, including the attosecond pulse lab, Auburn’s particle accelerator, magnetized dusty plasma experiments and the department’s nuclear fusion device. The tours gave visiting students a firsthand look at Auburn’s experimental facilities and highlighted the breadth of research opportunities within the Department of Physics.

SPAGSS is distinctive because it is fully organized by graduate students. By placing students in leadership roles, the symposium provides not only a platform for presenting research but also opportunities to develop organizational, communication and leadership skills that are valuable across scientific careers.

The event is designed to be accessible to graduate students, with free registration, meals and activities made possible through support from the Auburn Department of Physics, the College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Auburn Graduate School.

The success of this year’s symposium highlights the initiative of Auburn’s graduate students and the importance of regional collaboration in advancing science. Next year’s symposium will be hosted by Mississippi State University, continuing a growing tradition of student-led scientific exchange across the Southeast.