The Physics and Engineering departments came together this year to create an all-inclusive club, PEEPS. They invite students from all departments to join.
PEEPS, which stands for Physics Education, Engineering and Physics, is the new name for the Society of Physics Students, a club on campus since the ’70s. The club changed its name after the Physics and Engineering departments joined forces this past year.
Dr. Michael Daugherity, assistant professor of engineering and Physics, is the advisor for the club.
“We really stress unity and cooperation. It is important that incoming students don’t decide that they’re only interested in one area and ignore everything else,” Daughterity said. “We needed a term to refer to all of the students in the department.”
PEEPS is looking to grow from its current 50-person membership into a much larger club through the addition of the engineering department and outside student involvement.
Andrew Miller, senior physics major from the Woodlands, is the president of PEEPS.
“Most of our members are engineering or physics students, but anyone who has an interest in science is welcome to join,” Miller said.
The club remains a local chapter in the national organization SPS, but is hoping to gain accreditation in Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers because of the addition of the engineering department.
“When we become a student chapter of these organizations depends on student involvement and what ways they’ll be able to benefit the engineering students that are now moving through our program,” Miller said.
The club invites students from across campus to join them in this semester as they work on innovative new projects including rebuilding a retro golf cart and floating an iPhone into the atmosphere.
Dr. Tim Head, assistant professor of engineering and physics, serves as co-advisor of PEEPS.
“If students want to get involved, Chapel is a good place to start and find out what is going on,” Head said.
PEEPS Chapel meets on Wednesdays in Walling Lecture Hall and is open to all students.
