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Canadian Association of Physics (CAP)

The Canadian Association of Physics (CAP) is Canada's national professional organization for Canadian physicists.

Based in Ottawa, but lead by members from across the country, CAP is responsible for a number of activities. These activities include organizing national scientific meetings, maintaining communications within the Canadian physics community, offering professional certification, awarding national physics awards and medals, government relations and lobbying, and other related professional activities. In addition to these activities for practising physicists, the Canadian Association of Physics has a number of activities directed specifically towards students.

The Canadian Association of Physics helps sponsor the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC). The conference is generally held in October and takes place in a different city every year. The conference involves talks and poster presentations by undergraduate students as well as four keynote speakers. Students are also encouraged to contact the Physics and Astronomy Student Association (PASA) if they are interested in attending.

The Canadian Association of Physics lecture tour for undergraduates is a series of invited talks scheduled at universities across the country.  Every fall, undergraduate students are contacted to vote for which lectures they would like to hear. For full details on upcoming lectures, see our news and events section.

The Lloyd G. Elliott university prize examination is usually held in February. Students from across the country compete. First prize is $500, second is $300 and the third place prize is $200. In addition, the winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the Canadian Association of Physics annual congress. For full details, see the university prize exam website. Students interested in competing should contact the undergraduate program coordinator, as the department will arrange for study sessions for those writing the exam.

Every year at the Canadian Association of Physics congress, both graduate and undergraduate students can present posters or give oral presentations detailing the results of their recent research. CAP provides awards for the best students papers and posters delivered at the congress.