Magnets, lasers and fission, oh my! The Madison College Physics Club held their first meeting of the semester, Sept. 18, at Truax.

Nine students attended the meeting. Each of them is currently enrolled in a physics course, interested in physics, or both. Daniel Bodnar, last semester’s Physics Club secretary, said he joined the club because he’s interested in everything. “I guess what I’m saying is, I’m interested in physics because physics encompasses everything,” he said.

Madison College physics instructors Gerry Ashmore, John Brandenburg and Dixie Burns also attended the meeting.

Since its 2011 inception, Physics Club has worn many hats. “Physics Club is what the students want it to be,” Burns, the official Physics Club faculty advisor, told students. “It can really follow any direction that the people who are here want to take it.” Historically, Physics Club meetings consisted of more than just weekly discussions in the classroom. During previous semesters, activities ranged from field trips to study groups, and even included “Myth Busters” viewing parties.

Students at the meeting put together an ambitious list of activities to consider this semester. Possible field trips included visiting the U.S. Department of Energy’s Illinois-based Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and attending a physics lecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students also expressed interest in inviting speakers from the physics community, to learn more about career options and networking opportunities.

The second half of the meeting included a presentation by Brandenburg on how the technology needed to solve the global energy crisis already exists. He prefaced his presentation by stating “Today I’m going to tell you why you should be optimistic about the future and, in particular, why you should study physics.” Brandenburg’s explanation captivated the students’ interest.

Physics Club meets 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday in room B3200A at Truax. The club will vote for student officers at the meeting Sept 25. Students interested in joining Physics Club can search The LINK or Facebook for Madison College Physics Club, or attend an upcoming club meeting.