By Carly Orewiler
March 4, 2024
University of Texas at Dallas Society of Physics Students (SPS) president Alison Spadaro is set to deliver remarks at the March 6 Sciences Building dedication ceremony, alongside several campus leaders including UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson.
The 186,000-square-foot Sciences Building is one of the newest structures on the UT Dallas campus. It houses the Department of Physics and provides a centralized space for 1,750 students, 50 faculty and 20 senior lecturers in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
For Spadaro, a mathematics and physics senior in the Collegium V Honors Program, the Sciences Building has opened several doors since its opening in 2020. Finding a network of peers on campus was initially difficult for her, especially since she started her college career in a virtual setting amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was isolated at first, but having access to communal spaces like the Physics Lounge where students can work and hang out together really helped bridge the gap,” she said. “Some of us don’t get a chance to talk outside of classes, so connecting with people in a dedicated gathering place was really important to me and even got me involved in SPS.”
The university’s SPS chapter, which recently received its 11th consecutive Distinguished Chapter Award, plays a vital role in supporting physics majors by providing opportunities for learning and applying essential skills such as research, leadership, and networking.
In addition to SPS, Spadero is also involved in UT Dallas Student Government and the Chi Alpha Iota Diaternity, which is an LGBTQ-affirming, all- inclusive, gender-neutral social Greek organization on campus. She is currently a member of Dr. William Vandenberghe’s laboratory, using numerical methods to solve a function that produces prime numbers, which has several applications for cryptography.
Looking ahead, Spadaro aspires to a career in academia and hopes to run her own physics research lab.
“I am so grateful for the opportunities I have here as an undergrad,” Spadero said. “I really felt encouraged to explore my passions. Research is something I want to continue for a long time.”
The dedication and ribbon-cutting event is open to the community and will take place near the Sciences Building main entrance facing Rutford Avenue at 4-6 p.m. this Wednesday. Light snacks and drinks will be provided.
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