Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)

Core Mission and Objectives

The CAP's core mission is to be the voice of Canadian physics and physicists. Its overarching objectives include:

• Promoting Excellence: Fostering excellence in physics research and education across Canada.
• Advocacy: Representing the interests of the Canadian physics community to government, funding agencies, and the public, advocating for robust support for science and physics.
• Community Building: Creating a strong, cohesive, and inclusive community for physicists, physics students, and physics educators nationwide.
• Knowledge Dissemination: Facilitating the sharing of physics knowledge through conferences, publications, and educational initiatives.
• Public Engagement: Increasing public awareness and appreciation of physics and its contributions to society.
• Professional Support: Providing resources and opportunities for the professional development and recognition of its members.

Key Activities, Programs, and Services

The CAP undertakes a wide array of activities and offers numerous programs and services to fulfill its mission:

1. CAP Congress: The annual CAP Congress is the flagship event of the association. It is Canada's largest general meeting for physicists, bringing together researchers, educators, students, and industry professionals. Key features include: * Scientific Sessions: Presentations of the latest research findings across all sub-disciplines of physics, organized by CAP's numerous subject divisions. This includes invited talks, contributed oral presentations, and poster sessions. * Plenary Lectures: Talks delivered by distinguished Canadian and international physicists, including Nobel laureates and CAP medal winners. * Professional Development Workshops: Sessions on topics such as career development, science communication, grant writing, and teaching techniques. * Networking Opportunities: Formal and informal events designed to foster collaboration and connection within the community. * Exhibits: Showcasing physics-related industries, publishers, and research organizations. * Student Activities: Special programs and competitions for undergraduate and graduate students.

2. Publications and Communications: The CAP provides several channels for communication and information dissemination: * Physics in Canada (PiC) / La Physique au Canada (PaC): A quarterly magazine distributed to all CAP members. PiC features review articles on various physics topics, news from the Canadian physics community, opinion pieces, updates on CAP activities, book reviews, and articles on physics education. It serves as a community bulletin rather than a peer-reviewed research journal. * CAP News Bulletins and News Flashes: Regular electronic updates to members on deadlines, announcements, science policy developments, and other news relevant to the physics community. * Affiliated Journals: The CAP maintains connections with scholarly publications such as the Canadian Journal of Physics (CJP) and the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Journal (CUPJ). * Conference Proceedings: Publishes proceedings from its events where appropriate. * Website (cap.ca): A comprehensive online resource for information about CAP activities, programs, news, and resources for physicists.

3. Advocacy and Science Policy: The CAP actively advocates for the interests of the physics community and the broader scientific enterprise: * Science Policy Committee: Develops CAP positions on science policy issues, prepares briefs for government (e.g., annual pre-budget submissions to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance), and engages with policymakers and funding agencies. * Liaison with Funding Agencies: Maintains an ongoing dialogue with major funding bodies like the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the CAP-NSERC Liaison Committee. * Collaboration with Other Organizations: Works with other scientific societies and umbrella organizations (e.g., Canadian Consortium for Research, Partnership Group for Science and Engineering - PAGSE) to strengthen Canada's science and innovation ecosystem.

4. Education and Outreach: The CAP is deeply committed to fostering physics education at all levels and engaging the public: * Student Programs: * CAP High School/CEGEP Prize Exam: An annual national competition designed to encourage excellence in physics among pre-university students. * CAP University Prize Exam (Lloyd G. Elliott University Prize Examination): A prestigious national examination for undergraduate physics students. * Best Student Paper Awards: Presented at the CAP Congress for outstanding oral and poster presentations by graduate and undergraduate students. * Support for Undergraduate Conferences: Including the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC). * CAP Lecture Tour: Organizes tours where physicists visit universities across Canada to give lectures to undergraduate students. * CAP Foundation Graduate Scholarships: Provides financial support for graduate students in physics. * Student Advisory Council (SAC): Represents student interests within the CAP and organizes student-focused initiatives. * Educator Support: * CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics: Recognizes outstanding physics teachers at the pre-university level. * Division of Physics Education (DPE): Provides resources, workshops, and a community for physics educators to share best practices and discuss curriculum development. * Public Outreach: * Herzberg Memorial Public Lecture: An annual public lecture delivered by a prominent physicist, typically held during the CAP Congress, aimed at making physics accessible and exciting to a general audience.

5. Awards and Recognition: The CAP has an extensive program to honor outstanding achievements in Canadian physics: * CAP Herzberg Medal: Awarded for significant achievement in any field of research by a Canadian physicist. * CAP Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Physics: Recognizes a sustained and distinguished career in physics. * CAP-CRM Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics: Awarded in partnership with the Centre de recherches math?matiques (CRM). * CAP/DCMMP Brockhouse Medal: For outstanding contributions to condensed matter and materials physics, in partnership with the Division of Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (DCMMP). * CAP-TRIUMF Vogt Medal for Contributions to Subatomic Physics: Awarded in partnership with TRIUMF. * CAP Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial and Applied Physics. * CAP-COMP Peter Kirkby Memorial Medal for Outstanding Service to Canadian Physics: Awarded biennially in partnership with the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP). * CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Physics. * CAP Fellows Program (FCAP/FACP): Recognizes CAP members who have made significant contributions to physics research, teaching, the advancement of technology, or service to the CAP. * Various other divisional and student awards.

6. Professional Affairs and Development: * Professional Certification (P.Phys.): The CAP offers the P.Phys. designation, the only general professional certification available to Canadian physicists, signifying a high level of competence and ethical standards. * Career Resources: Provides information on careers for physics graduates and lists employment opportunities. * Networking Opportunities: Facilitated through the CAP Congress, divisional activities, and an online member directory.

7. Divisions and Committees: The CAP's work is largely carried out by its numerous volunteer-based subject divisions and standing committees: * Subject Divisions: These represent specific sub-fields of physics (e.g., Particle Physics (PPD), Theoretical Physics (DTP), Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (DCMMP), Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOPC), Plasma Physics (DPP), Medical and Biological Physics (DMBP), Physics Education (DPE), Optical Physics and Photonics Division (OPPD), and many others). They organize specialized sessions at the CAP Congress, workshops, and other activities. * Standing Committees: Focus on areas such as science policy, education, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), professional affairs, communications, and international affairs.

8. Membership Services: The CAP offers various categories of membership (Regular, Student, Postdoctoral Fellow, Retired, Corporate, Departmental, Institutional) with associated benefits: * Reduced registration fees for the CAP Congress and other CAP-sponsored events. * Subscription to Physics in Canada and regular news updates. * Access to the online CAP Member Directory. * Eligibility for CAP awards, fellowships, and P.Phys. certification. * Opportunities to serve on CAP committees and divisions. * Access to group benefits such as home, auto, and life insurance through partner programs.

9. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): The CAP is committed to promoting EDI within the Canadian physics community. This includes: * An active EDI Committee (which evolved from earlier initiatives like the Committee to Encourage Women in Physics - CEWIP). * Developing and implementing policies and programs to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for all physicists. * Organizing sessions and workshops on EDI topics at the CAP Congress.

10. International Relations: * Canadian National IUPAP Liaison Committee: Represents Canada within the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). * Maintains reciprocal agreements with other national physics societies (e.g., American Physical Society - APS, Institute of Physics - IOP), often offering discounted membership or meeting registration fees to members of partner societies.

Through these comprehensive activities and services, the Canadian Association of Physicists plays a crucial role in shaping the present and future of physics in Canada, supporting the careers of physicists, and ensuring that physics continues to contribute to Canadian innovation and society.