PhysCon registrants have the opportunity to join one of the following Congress tours on Thursday, November 14, 2019. Only fully paid PhysCon registrants can go on the tours, which are limited to one per Attendee. Attendees may not be able to get their first choice of tour, as space is limited. All tours are opt-in and require registration before attendance.
Most tours occur on Thursday morning, November 14, 2019. Plan to arrive Wednesday, November 13, due to early bus departures. Tours vary in length but will allow for full conference attendance.
FEES:
Tour registration cost is $10 (early bird) / $20 (General Registration) for each tour. No on-site registration is available for tours. Only one tour per Attendee. Bottled water is provided on each bus. Additional fees for lunch are indicated for each tour. Tour fees are not refundable.
The tours have entry requirements, as outlined below, which will be enforced, especially those related to citizenship and ID requirements. Failure to comply with the requirements could mean forfeiting your participation. Photo ID is required for all tours.
Meet at the 3rd floor registration area, on time. Roundtrip shuttle service is provided to transport Attendees from the Rhode Island Convention Center to the tour sites. For most tours, there is only one pick up and drop off time. Tour buses will not wait for missing Attendees. Do not miss the provided transportation or you must find an alternate method to return to the conference hotel.
IMPORTANT:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, some last-minute changes, including cancellations, to tour schedules/destinations are possible. Please verify your tour meeting time upon check in. Tour fees are not refundable.
T-01: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of marine science and engineering. Its scientists and engineers are committed to understanding all facets of the ocean, as well as its complex connections with Earth’s atmosphere, land, ice, sea floor, and life—including humanity. Its work touches every aspect of physics: geological activity deep within the earth; plant, animal, and microbial populations and their interactions in the ocean; coastal erosion; ocean circulation; ocean pollution; and global climate change.
Students will hear from field experts, tour WHOI facilities and potentially tour their research vessel.
Moderate walking.
Additional lunch cost: $10
Entrance Requirements:
You may not enter into unauthorized areas.
Line up time: 7:15 AM
Return time: 1:00 PM
T-02: Naval Submarine Base New London
The Naval Submarine Base New London is the Navy's first submarine base and home of the Submarine Force Library and Museum. A naval yard in 1868, the site is now home to a submarine school, a major submarine construction yard, and home port for several submarines. Come visit the museum, tour an active duty submarine (Los Angeles or Virginia class), and investigate the high stress trainers and sub simulator.
Moderate walking. Wheelchair accessible except on submarine.
Lunch on your own, can be purchased onsite.
Entrance Requirements:
Must be a US citizen.
Bring Photo ID.
You may not enter into unauthorized areas.
Must stay with escort the entire time.
There is only one pick up and drop off time. Do not miss the provided transportation or you must get yourself back to the conference hotel.
Line up time: 7:15 AM
Return time: 2:15 PM
T-03: Brown University Department of Physics
Dating back to 1772, Brown University's Department of Physics is a leader in the science community. Explore up to six cutting-edge research laboratories, hear from field luminaries, visit with department faculty, and tour the campus with the local SPS chapter. With research specialties including Astrophysics & Cosmology, BioPhysics, Condensed Matter, Particle Experimental, and High Energy Theory, the department has a lot to offer any upcoming physicist.
Extensive walking. You may not enter unauthorized areas.
Lunch on your own, can be purchased onsite.
Line up time: 9:00 AM
Return time: 11:45 AM
T-04: Harvard University Department of Physics
The Department of Physics at Harvard is large and diverse in its research interests. With 10 Nobel Prize winners to its credit, the distinguished faculty of today engage in teaching and research that span the discipline and define its borders. Accordingly, Harvard is consistently one of the top-ranked physics departments in the nation. Visit research laboratories (Center for Nanoscale Systems, BioPhysics, Robotics and more), hear from Harvard faculty, learn about their graduate program, and explore their cutting-edge research through a poster session.
Extensive walking. You may not enter into unauthorized areas.
Lunch on your own, can be purchased onsite.
Line up time: 7:00 AM
Return time: 2:00 PM
T-05: MIT Department of Physics (Full)
The highly acclaimed MIT Physics Department’s mission is excellence in physics research and teaching. The department also aims for inclusion -- to tell the story of the physical universe to the world means having all the world's voices as part of the community.
Come visit this center of research that strives to be at the forefront of many areas where new physics can be found. The local SPS chapter will guide the tour to visit research laboratories (up to ten options), the campus facilities, and hear from leaders in the field.
Extensive walking. You may not enter into unauthroized areas.
Lunch on your own, can be purchased onsite.
Line up time: 7:30 AM
Return time: 2:00 PM
T-06: Rhode Island Hospital (Full)
Interested in Medical Physics as a career? This tour is for you! Visit the Rhode Island Hospital, located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence.
This interactive tour will let you see what it's really like to be a medical physicist! The tour includes a talk by two recently graduated medical physicists, detailed information about career pathways for medical physicists, advice on graduate school options, and a clinical tour featuring dosimeters, CTE scanner, patient immobilization, and much more.
Moderate walking.
Lunch on your own, can be purchased onsite.
Entrance Requirements:
Bring photo ID.
Tour occurs in medical hospital.
You may not enter into unauthorized areas.
Line up time: 8:45 AM
Return time: 1:30 PM
T-07: Optikos Corporation
Interested in a career in industry? Want to know where your physics undergraduate degree could take you? Optikos Corporation is known worldwide for its products and systems used in the measurement of optical image quality; and for expert optical product design and manufacturing in life sciences, defense, consumer products, automotive and other industries and applications. Located just north of Boston, see what industrial physicists do, visit research and development laboratories, hear from industry leaders including Stephen Fantone, 2020 president of The Optical Society (OSA), and explore how you can use your physics degree after graduation.
Moderate walking.
Accessibility: Not advised for the severely visually impaired.
Additional lunch cost: $10
Entrance Requirements:
US Citizens and Permanent Residents bring photo ID; non-US citizens bring passport.
No photography without express permission.
You may not enter into unauthorized areas.
Line up time: 6:15 AM
Return time: 1:00 PM
T-08a: Ladd Observatory (Thursday evening tour) - (Full)
Night tour! The historic LADD Observatory dates back to 1891. and houses the original 12'' refracting telescope with a lens made by John A. Brashear of Pittsburgh following the lens design of Prof. Charles S. Hastings. Come see this feat of engineering along with a breathtaking collection of astronomical instruments. Tour the historic observatory, learn about observational astronomy, and (weather permitting) join us for a evening of observing. Bring warm clothes!
There are two tours of LADD Observatory available.
Moderate walking.
Accessibility: Not advised for the severely visually impaired.
Line up time: 7:30 PM
Return time: 9:45 PM
T-08b: Ladd Observatory (Friday evening tour) - (Full)
Night tour! The historic LADD Observatory dates back to 1891. and houses the original 12'' refracting telescope with a lens made by John A. Brashear of Pittsburgh following the lens design of Prof. Charles S. Hastings. Come see this feat of engineering along with a breathtaking collection of astronomical instruments. Tour the historic observatory, learn about observational astronomy, and (weather permitting) join us for a evening of observing. Bring warm clothes!
There are two tours of LADD Observatory available.
Moderate walking.
Accessibility: Not advised for the severely visually impaired.
Line up time: 7:30 PM
Return time: 9:45 PM