As President of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) it is my pleasure to welcome you to our website. The CAP’s mission is to champion physics, aiming for a vibrant and inclusive physics community that fosters discovery and innovation in Canada. To this end, the CAP embeds our values of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout all our activities and programs.
The CAP serves our membership and the broader physics community in Canada in many ways. First and foremost, the Association provides a home base for our valued members, numbering over 1300, whether they are students, teachers, postdoctoral fellows, professors, research scientists, professional physicists and retirees, who share a love of physics. As junior physicists progress in their career, perhaps moving to a new institution or employer, they will always find a home of friends and colleagues within the CAP.
One of the CAP’s most important endeavours is science policy and advocacy. The CAP regularly communicates with funding agencies on behalf of its members. The CAP coordinates with other national science advocacy groups to convey to government officials the importance of fundamental and applied science to society.
Physicists working in industry are very welcome in the Canadian Association of Physicists and encouraged to apply for the Professional Physicist designation, abbreviated to “P.Phys.” in English and “phys.” in French.
Our flagship activity, the annual CAP Congress, offers a fantastic opportunity to meet physicists from across the country. The academic program includes plenary and invited talks covering the latest research in physics and advances in physics pedagogy. The technical sessions provide a platform for graduate students to showcase their research, hone their communication skills and compete for the best student oral or poster presentation. Professional development and industry networking sessions are popular with early-career physicists. We hope you’ll join us for the 2027 Congress hosted by Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland next June.
Training the next generation of physicists is an endeavour close to our hearts. In conjunction with our annual Congress, the CAP hosts a 1-day workshop for high school/CEGEP physics teachers in the region. The CAP Student Advisory Council organizes activities at Congress and throughout the year. The CAP office also provides support for various student-run conferences, such as the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference, the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women+ in Physics, and the Women+ in Physics in Canada Conference.
The Canadian Association of Physicists is primarily a volunteer-run organization. Getting involved is a rewarding experience where you can expand your skill set and form lifelong friendships. There is a plethora of opportunities to support our many and varied programs, depending on your interests. I encourage you to join the CAP, if you are not already a member, and to browse our website to learn more. Reach out to me or the CAP office staff for more information.
Wendy Taylor, FCAP
taylorw@yorku.ca