UP Physics Association

The UP Physics Association (commonly referred to as UPPA) is an academic and scientific student organization based in the National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. It is dedicated primarily to the promotion of careers and interests in pure or applied physics, oriented towards students interested in these fields.
Since its founding in 1980, UPPA has developed leaders in the field of physics in the Philippines and abroad, with its alumni serving key leadership positions in the National Institute of Physics and the National Research Council of the Philippines.
General Objectives
The UPPA is guided by the following objectives:
* To promote the common interest and individual development of physics majors and other students in this field
* To advance the study and awareness of physics in all its aspects among students and the general public
* To cooperate with the UP Physics faculty for the improvement of the National Institute of Physics
Internal Structure
The UPPA is led by the Executive Committee, which is composed of the three officers and the six committee heads. The officers are the President, the Vice President for External Affairs, and the Vice President for Internal Affairs. The committee heads lead the six committees, namely the Secretariat, the Finance Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Membership Committee, the Projects Committee, and the Public Affairs Committee.
Elections are held annually, and all members are allowed to vote. The UPPA is also composed of a junior faculty adviser and a senior faculty adviser, who helps guide the Association and align the activities of the Association with the National Institute of Physics. The faculty advisers are selected by the Executive Committee from the teaching faculty of the institute.
Membership
The UPPA is exclusively open for membership for undergraduate students of the University of the Philippines Diliman. The applicants undergo a semester-long application process, in order to learn about the workings of the Association and to get acquainted with all the resident members.
As an academic and scientific organization, the application process includes a seminar, wherein the applicants would present research papers, and a comprehensive examination and interview, aside from other activities.
Activities
All the activities of the Association are aligned with its objectives. Several internal activities are done throughout the academic year based on the interests of the members, such as the Committee Cup, Sem Starter and Sem Ender Parties, Tribute for Graduating Members, Christmas Party, and Research Meetings. There are also regular internal events such as the monthly General Assembly meeting and the Annual Meeting which takes place at the end of the second semester.
There are two main activities of the Association, PISIKAalaman and Physics Month. PISIKAalaman is an annual physics competition for high school students, which has already reached its tenth year. It has been endorsed by the since 2006.
Physics Month is an annual celebration of physics in the National Institute of Physics, which is usually held in the month of February. It includes several events, which may vary from year to year, such as:
* PISIKAwise-an: A general knowledge quiz bee
* NIP Open House and Lab Tour
* PISIKAlakasan: A race involving obstacles
* UPPAg-Ibig: A mock-wedding
* PISIKAtakawan: An eating contest
* Mutya ng NIP: A cross-dressing beauty pageant
Other events aside from PISIKAalaman and Physics Month include the Philippine Young Physicists' Tournament, the SCIENCYE, the Decasecond Film Festival, and the Integration Bee.
The UPPA also holds free tutorials for various Physics courses. Partnerships with other organizations and companies are also cultivated all year round. Several infographics about physics and Philippine society such as national elections, calamities, and other current events, are regularly posted at the organization's online portals. Aside from bringing scientific information to the public, the UPPA also holds events for the community such as outreach events and educational projects.
Affiliations
The UPPA is officially recognized by the Office of Student Activities, a sub-unit of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs of the University of the Philippines Diliman, as a university-wide organization. The UPPA is also recognized by the Office of the Associate Dean for Student and Public Affairs as a college-based organization in the University of the Philippines College of Science.
The UPPA is a founding member of the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pisika (SMPP), an alliance of different physics organizations from different universities in Metro Manila. It is also a founding member of the UP Alliance of Physics Organizations, which is composed of the different physics-oriented student organizations from the different campuses of the University of the Philippines. The UPPA has been a member of the International Association of Physics Students since 2014, as the local committee for Quezon City.

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