Categories
Advocacy

IAPS Statement on the Breach of Fundamental Rights of Belarusian Students

September 16th, 2020

The International Association of Physics Students represents thousands of physics students around the world, and is committed to the well-being of our member community. Students’ rights form the foundation of academic development and civic engagement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of IAPS to address matters which impede upon these rights.

IAPS is deeply concerned with the infringement of fundamental human and civil rights following the recent presidential election in Belarus. A culture of fear has been imposed upon academics who criticised policies of the current government. Members of the scientific community who signed an open letter against the ongoing violence have been intimidated by the head of the Belarusian Academy of Science. Rights of thousands of peaceful Belarusians have been violated through unprecedented physical violence, restriction of internet access and suppression of freedom of speech. 

We are troubled by the implication of these events on the educational and academic activities of fellow students. IAPS stands in solidarity with the Belarusian scientific community and supports their call for an end to violence and the arrests of peaceful protestors.

The Executive Committee of the International Association of Physics Students


The International Association of Physics Students (IAPS), as its Charter states, is an international, student-run educational association, which aims to encourage physics students in their academic and professional growth by developing an ever-growing worldwide community within which peaceful relations are established in a collaborative, diverse and friendly social environment.

You can read the Original Statement from the People of the Republic of Belarus: https://scienceby2020.github.io/#en

Things We Can Do As Students:

1. Write (open) letters of support.

2. Members can sign this open letter in support of Belarusian scientists who are now under administrative pressure for their civil stance: Statement in support of Belarusian scientists: https://forms.gle/VHw7X4sgn7fLxtqq9

3. If your university has contacts or partnerships with education officials at Belarusian universities, please use them to express solidarity with protesting students and concerns with lawless repressions;

4. Spread the word about the situation in Belarus / Belarusian academia with the help of local media, student organizations, public events at your university;

5. Donate to Belarus Solidarity Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/donate/759400044849707/1523380014538448/

To read more about the latest events in English, please follow these links: 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/belarus-students-protest-1.5707670

https://www.voiceofbelarus.com/bsu-lecturer-who-coordinated-strike-convicted/

https://belarusfeed.com/

Categories
Advocacy

IAPS AGM Fridays for Future Statement

August 22nd 2020

Statement of support for the Fridays for Future movement

Fridays for Future as a movement advocates for the recognition of scientific facts regarding the climate crisis and demands actions in accordance with the current scientific consensus. The International Association of Physics Students supports the demands of the Fridays for Future movement and calls for their implementation.

Concerning higher education, research facilities and universities, this entails a requirement to facilitate the participation at peaceful protests, for all people, no matter their age, place of living, or level of employment. Additionally IAPS condemns all kinds of repression or threads thereof against participants of those protests.

We also call on everyone to support these protests and the implementation of the demands from Fridays for Future. An example of this could be to host Public climate schools at facilities of higher education, advocate environmental awareness and co2 neutral research buildings/labs,and to promote participation in these matters.

The IAPS 2020 Annual General Meeting

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Advocacy Events Opportunities

IAPS @ a distance – Week 4

IAPS @ a distance proceeds to its final Week 4 – Standing on the shoulders of giants. The sessions are the following, with Zoom registration links below:

⚛️ Condensed Matter Physics, with Dr. Roberta Caruso of the European Physical Society (EPS) and Dr. Omololu Akin-Ojo of the East African Institute for Fundamental Research (EAIFR)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w_sqo7xWS2OvQZcsiyYNRA

🪐 Astronomy I, with representatives of the European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_afJy5_WQRGyvVJD1XgPL-Q

🌋 Volcanology, with representatives of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior (IAVCEI)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KdmuGOpCQkWOTs2l5Olmpg

👩🏾‍🔬 Women in Physics II, with Dr. Jessica Wade and Dr. Maryse Nkoua of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ws1XVJblTOyik9Bgi3Q0_Q

🌱 Environmental Physics, with representatives of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ix6erD63TQuZ9oZSetOOjg

🪐 Astronomy II, with representatives of the ALMA Observatory
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1tL8N0W3TbmMnr0axbQoPQ

📉 Statistical and Nonlinear Physics, with Dr. Christian Beck of the Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division (SNPD) of the European Physical Society (EPS)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tnUQItc_Td2yfNJUvLOjqw

🌐 Opportunities & EPS, with Dr. Petra Rudolf, President of the European Physical Society (EPS)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2MWooi5zTrq_bPNwuD611w

You can also watch the sessions live on the IAPS Facebook page or on IAPS Streams Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1qbebAtgGFt5LzTH77LjA.

Stay tunned and participate!

Categories
Advocacy Events Opportunities

IAPS @ a distance – Week 3

IAPS @ a distance proceeds to Week 3 – Fantastic topics and how to explore them. The sessions are the following, with Zoom registration links in parenthesis:

📈 Physics of Socio-Economic Systems I, with Dr. Magda Schiegl of the Max Planck Alumni Association
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UAGGCE12T2GWoI-BoG2Lrw)

📐 Metrology, with representatives of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UAGGCE12T2GWoI-BoG2Lrw

👩🏾‍🔬 Women in Physics, with representatives of the OWSD and of The International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Women in Physics Working Group
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KrrrtgROS96f64_olUYbvQ

📊 Physics of Socio-Economic Systems II, with Dr. Marc Timme and Dr. Oliver Richters
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lnM1BxFOSoitojNMTYrXXA

🎓 Physics Education, with representatives of the African School of Fundamental Physics and Research (ASP)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bQaPkoB2RZabJGKW7Sp9Rw

🧬 Biophysics, with representatives of The International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bQaPkoB2RZabJGKW7Sp9Rw

🍎 Gravitational Physics, with representatives of the South American Institute for Fundamental Research (associated with the ICTP – International Centre for Theoretical Physics) and the Virgo Collaboration
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H23GaRSRTdGwWLfFvSxC4Q

🖥 Seismology, with representatives of the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2Lx7I2kxRRmj5rSkGeS-vw

🌀 Gravitational Wave Cosmology, with Dr. Misao Sasaki
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T-8ZcDyBSvu7PiXNDLNrPw

💎 Physics of Crystallography, with representatives of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0qz_n9e9RIecRBNFSweldw

🧭 Geomagnetism & Aeronomy, with representatives of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FfjmC5alSIug0IH_YdrZPQ

🌐 Physics for Development, with representatives from the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics – IUPAP’s Commission on Physics for Development (C13)
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oF2WFBL3S9euOoT9_V4ELg

You can also watch the sessions live on the IAPS Facebook page or on IAPS Streams Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1qbebAtgGFt5LzTH77LjA.

Stay tunned and participate!

Categories
Advocacy Events Opportunities

IAPS @ a distance – Week 2

IAPS @ a distance powers on and the sessions for week 2 are the following:

Physics Outreach, on August at 17th 3:00 PM CEST, with representatives from the European Physical Society (EPS) Young Minds (YM), the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) and The Optical Society (OSA)

Geodesy, on August 18th at 1:00 PM CEST, with representatives from the International Association of Geodesy (IAG)

Astronomy in Culture, on August 18th at 7:00 PM CEST, with representatives from The International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Working Group on Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture

Physics at a global scale, on August 19th at 3:00 PM CEST, with Dr. Michel Spiro, President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)

Advocacy in Physics, on August 20th at 2:00 PM CEST, with representatives of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the CAPhys – Canadian Association of Physicists

Climate Change, on August 21st at 11:00 AM CEST, with representatives of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Philosophy & Ethics in Physics, on August 21st at 5:00 PM CEST, with representatives of the Division of Logic, Methodology and philosophy of Science and Technology (DLMPST) of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IUHPST)

In addition, there will be:
:male-teacher: an IAPS Workshop, on August 21st at 2:30 PM CEST, on the topic of Advocacy for IAPS members only
:busts_in_silhouette: a social session, on August 17th at 12:00 PM CEST, for Physics students to share with each other their experiences in studying Physics

You can watch the sessions live on Facebook or on IAPS Streams Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1qbebAtgGFt5LzTH77LjA.

If you want to watch through Zoom, where you can ask questions to the speakers, you can register for each session through the respective link:
Outreach: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ELCC3ql8Qc2rxwuAv2_7Xg
Geodesy: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QZ2Wrw9KRlCB7TKqwk-nUA
Astronomy in Culture: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JaGCr8MxTCOelHgPr8hNoA
Physics at a global scale: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7FRyeDLvRVG4DKGqqRv4ng
Advocacy: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tFMnFt1tRE2kzBxP1H8t8g
Climate Change: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AG4DSXQ8Qua06hMK3Fx8Wg
Philosophy&Ethics: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sQkFq_rQRAWdTh8yErIjIw

If you are a student affiliated with IAPS, you can register for the workshop or the social session here:
Social Session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoduGhpjgsE9ZmfPciWZ-lh7Rmm1UeCjC_
Workshop: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckcumuqDMuHN3GqpxaOz29sUENGi1UboGV

Stay tuned and participate!

Categories
Advocacy

IAPS EC Statement

The IAPS Executive Committee is addressing a longstanding history of systemic disparities and institutional racism within academia and stands in solidarity with the global movement demanding justice for Black communities. The full statement can be found from here:

Categories
Advocacy

IAPS 2019 Annual General Meeting statement on climate change

The 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IAPS, held on August 13th, passed, with approximately 90% of favorable votes, a resolution to endorse the IAPS 2018/2019 Executive Committee statement on climate change and the Student Strike for Climate with the addition of explicit support for the Student Strike for Climate and the Fridays for Future initiatives and students’ participation in them.

As the statement highlights, climate change is an issue that must involve worldwide efforts to take the necessary action to stop the upwards trajectory of the increase in average global temperature that will likely have disastrous effects in societies across the goble.

This is an issue that knows no geographic limits, so we must act upon it accordingly and do what we can as Physics students to call public decision-makers to action, including through the international student strikes that have involved millions of young students.

IAPS, therefore, joins the thousands of scientists, researchers and academics of Scientists for Future that have declared their support for the Student Strike for Climate and the Fridays for Future initiative.

Read through the statement below!

Categories
Advocacy

IAPS EC statement on climate change and the Student Strike for Climate

Due to its nature as a global organisation for cooperation between Physics students, IAPS is a particularly important platform for serious discussion around scientific topics, including reflection on how research impacts public policy and what the scientific community can do to influence policy on relevant issues that directly relate to its work and its understanding of natural phenomena.

As is generally known, climate change is, most likely, the issue that is most representative of the dangers of public decision-makers not following or falling short of taking necessary action to address long-standing, evidence-based scientific consensus.

Consequently, the Executive Committee of IAPS considers it is of utmost importance for all in the scientific community to make sure the public and its representatives are paying attention to the all too real threat of a climate crisis, especially those who represent future of Science: students.

In order to do its part in calling attention to climate change, the EC decided to release a statement stressing the seriousness of this issue, mentioning the insufficient efforts by many governments – some not even accomplishing the timid goals of the Paris Climate Agreement – and underlining the positive impact of various forms of action, including the Student Strike for Climate. Though much has been done recently, it is clear more ambitious measures must be taken.

Read through the statement below!

Categories
Advocacy

May is IAPS Student Mental Health Awareness Month

IAPS Student Mental Health Awareness Month

This May, IAPS is promoting on its social media a series of articles, research and testimonies related to student mental health.

An often overlooked topic, mental health is critical for students’ academic achievements and work-life balance in general, with psychological studies – as pointed out here – regularly concluding and pointing out the harm of frequent excessive levels of stress and psychological pressure in academia on emotional equilibrium, motivation and productivity in the workplace or in studies.

With this initiative, the IAPS Executive Committee hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the obstacles students, including those who study Physics, face in academia, be it in courses, research and work practice.

Categories
Advocacy

IAPS EC Statement on international students in Denmark

The International Association of Physics Students represents, through its member committees along with individual members, thousands of students from all over the world Therefore, considering rights are a fundamental basis for students’ academic development and civic engagement, IAPS has the responsibility of addressing matters related to students’ rights, taking a stand whenever these are in any way undermined.

So, the IAPS Executive Committee has issued a statement to affirm its position on the danish government’s policy of reducing the number of international students opportunities in danish universities, including in Science-related courses.

The IAPS EC believes this decision is wrong and deeply hurtful, particularly for the scientific community, as it restricts the possibility of students, as future professionals of Science, to expand their cultural and scientific horizons, connect and establish working relationships and friendships with their colleagues from other countries and cultures and participate in projects that benefit from transnational, diverse perspectives – all fundamental aspects of the identity and dynamic of the global scientific community.

As Science and knowledge know no boundaries, so shouldn’t the institutions that have the purpose of enlightening students on the amazing and diverse areas of the scientific endeavour, of which all who share the drive to explore nature and the cosmos should be able to be a part.

Read through the statement below!