WELCOME TO PHYSICS SOCIETY, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

The History and Evolution of the Physics Society, University of Jaffna

The Physics Society of the University of Jaffna stands as one of the prominent student’s entities within the Department of Physics, acting as the primary platform for fostering academic curiosity, promoting scientific discourse, and enhancing the professional and personal development of its undergraduates.

The Physics Society was formally inaugurated in 1988, marking a significant milestone in the department’s student life. The society’s first governing body was constituted shortly thereafter: the inaugural election was announced on 15th November 1988 and the elections were held in December 1988. Prof. R. Kumaravadivel (presently the Chancellor of the University of Jaffna) served as the founder Senior Treasurer, and (late) Prof. K. Kunaratnam served as the founding patron providing essential mentorship and administrative guidance during the society’s initial period.

The Society’s initial aim centered on promoting education, organizing extracurricular events, study support, opportunities for networking, and building a supportive environment for the undergraduate community. The Society’s journey, like that of the University and the region, is marked by multiple periods of significant challenge due to the prevailing conflict in the region. The initial active phase saw the Society successfully maintaining its activities, including internal seminars, student forums and field visits, without interruption until 1996, when the escalation of the civil war necessitated a temporary halt to official functions.

Demonstrating remarkable resilience, the Society swiftly resumed its operations in April 1998, initiating a second period of vibrant engagement that continued until 2006. The Society continued its resilient operations until the subsequent intensification of the conflict forced a temporary cessation of activities once more in 2006.

Physics Department experienced a significant resurgence after 2009. The Society’s return to full functionality was formally marked by a complete revamp in May 2013. This critical restructuring received initial financial backing through a Rs. 50,000.00 grant from the HETC project.

The modern Physics Society is instrumental in organizing several high-impact events:

1. Popular Talks and Guest Lecture Series: Initiated in 2013 as part of the Society’s revitalization, this flagship program has successfully organized 47 popular talks featuring distinguished physicists from around the world. These lectures are instrumental in exposing students to global research frontiers and cutting-edge developments.
2. Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS): The Society supports and encourages the annual URS, providing students with a platform to design, conduct, and present their research findings. The Society successfully conducted three such symposiums between 2020 and 2022, and for each symposium, the Society released the Proceedings of the Physics Society, University of Jaffna, formally documenting the research presented.
3. Educational Outreach and Social Engagement: The Society is actively involved in community-facing projects, including organizing workshops, exhibitions, and educational seminars for G.C.E. A/L students across the Northern Province, effectively contributing to the national educational effort and promoting physics as a discipline. Specifically, the Society has:
   • Organized practical workshops for G.C.E. O/L students in districts such as Mannar.
   • Conducted awareness programs on answering the G.C.E. A/L Physics examination and conducted Physics Practical workshops for students in northern province.
   • Also organized various significant public events, such as the solar eclipse observation camp in December 2019 and

The Physics Society of the University of Jaffna continues to uphold its tradition of academic excellence and commitment, serving not only its members but also the wider scientific community in Sri Lanka.

Office barriers of the Physics society

Senior Treasurers