AIP Provides Aid to Struggling Physics, Astronomy Students Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic
Students with financial hardship due to pandemic can apply for emergency scholarship
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2020 -- To help students struggling through financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Institute of Physics has established an emergency relief fund to support needs-based scholarships for undergraduate students in physics and astronomy.
The AIP-SPS Student Emergency Scholarship Fund will be awarded on a rolling basis during this spring and summer and throughout the 2020-2021 academic year to provide immediate and timely relief for students who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
In particular, the scholarships seek to alleviate student financial hardships due to displacement or loss of employment or internship opportunities, encourage scholarship in physics and astronomy, and support the future of the physical sciences.
Students can apply for up to $2,000 to assist them achieve their educational goals if they have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Applicants must be undergraduate members of the SPS national organization, which is open to all physics and astronomy students, and demonstrate financial need through a written statement. The Society of Physics Students is an organization of the American Institute of Physics.
“As students continue to face unprecedented challenges to their continuing education during this pandemic, it is vitally important that the physical sciences community provide a helping hand to them through the SPS Emergency Scholarship,” said Michael Moloney , CEO of AIP. “This is an important investment in our future physics and astronomy scientists at a time when they are examining their potential career choices. We must find ways to encourage and support the pursuit of their dreams in the physical sciences.”
Initial funding for these scholarships is provided by AIP. Additional support is being provided through a donor campaign to increase the outreach and impact of the assistance.
Those with questions about how to apply for aid or how to donate to support the scholarship program can contact SPS-Programs@aip.org .
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About American Institute of Physics
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a 501(c)(3) membership corporation of scientific societies. AIP pursues its mission—to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity—with a unifying voice of strength from diversity. In its role as a federation, AIP advances the success of its Member Societies by providing the means to pool, coordinate, and leverage their diverse expertise and contributions in pursuit of a shared goal of advancing the physical sciences in the research enterprise, in the economy, in education, and in society. In its role as an institute, AIP operates as a center of excellence using policy analysis, social science, and historical research to promote future progress in the physical sciences.
About Society of Physics Students
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association explicitly designed for students and their advisers. Membership, through collegiate chapters, is open to anyone interested in physics. SPS is a chapter-based society that exists to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community. SPS is an organization of the American Institute of Physics.
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