About Nexus

The student wing of the Institute of Physics

Nexus was founded in 1992 by student members of the Institute to act as a contact point between physics societies. Since then, Nexus has become the identity through which the Institute of Physics conducts all of its student activities and has grown to include around 8000 members. Membership of Nexus is automatic for student (undergraduate and postgraduate) members of the Institute of Physics. In addition to the usual membership benefits of the Institute, Nexus provides some specific services to the student community.

By students, for students

The course of Nexus is set by its members - in the form of the Nexus committee, the affiliated society committees and the student representatives.

The Nexus committee is designed to consist of student representatives from different regions around the UK and Ireland, with one person acting as the chair. These representatives help to decide on regional and national events, and advise the Institute on the needs of their student members. They also help in maintaining contacts between physics societies and student members in their region, as well as creating networking opportunities.

Nexus provides affiliated student physics or astronomy societies with grants, awards, promotional material and support for all their future activities, and encourages interaction between different societies. We also actively promote the emergence of new societies at universities which do not currently have one, and are here to help such a society through its early stages.

Individual student members, particularly at universities without a student society, are welcome to join national or regional Nexus events, and we encourage some society events to be open to students of other nearby universities.

Nexus is also the National Committee for IAPS, the International Association of Physics Students, membership of which is automatic for all Nexus members. IAPS oversees student activities across the world, with special focus on Europe. Its flagship is the annual International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS), which is held in a different city each year and open to physics students everywhere.

Support from the Institute of Physics

Physics societies and Nexus representatives are encouraged to liaise with the relevant regional branches of the Institute, as well as the Regional Officers in England and the National Officers in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The officers will be able to provide guidance and support, as well as feedback. In the near future the Nexus grant scheme will be modified such that funding will be made to available through the regional branches.

The main contact at the IOP headquarters in London is Mischa Stocklin, Membership Development Officer, responsible for student matters and membership. The MDO oversees the running of Nexus within the Institute's activities and liaises closely with the Nexus committee, as well as individual physics societies. They are also here for providing help and advice to individual student members, as well as answering any queries you may have.

To contact the Membership Development Officer e-mail mischa.stocklin_AT_iop.org.

What next?

Find out more about joining the Institute of Physics as a student member.

Find out what membership benefits are available to student members of the Institute through Nexus.

Find out about the Nexus committee.

^ To the top ^