Second-Year Learning Communities: Physics

By joining the Physics Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as a physics student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.

For more information about physics, visit the Physics website

Apply to a Physics SLC

Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are open until August 11.

Apply here

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Physics SLC you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following physics programs:

  • biological physics specialist: advanced physics stream (science program)
  • biological physics specialist: biochemistry stream (science program)
  • biological physics specialist: immunology stream (science program)
  • biological physics specialist: physiology stream (science program)
  • physics and philosophy specialist (science program)
  • physics specialist (science program)
  • physics major (science program)

SLC Course Overview

Students in the Physics SLC will meet at a welcome session during the week of September 9, 2024, and then every other week starting the week of September 16, 2024.

Time: Every other week on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: TBD

Your SLC Team

Department: Physics

Title: Professor and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies

Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: 34

Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Mathematics and Physics, University of Toronto

Hometown: Helsinki, Finland

Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: Enjoy working with students

One piece of advice for a second-year student: Get to know your professors!

Hobby or interest: Cabinetry

Headshot of Hala Larizza-Ali, Physics SLC staff advisor

Department: Physics

Title: Undergraduate coordinator

Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Three and a half years with the Department of Physics, over 11 years collectively at U of T

Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Biology specialist, environmental sciences major at the University of Toronto

Hometown: Montreal, QC

Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: I am excited to serve as staff advisor, to be part of the SLC team to help support our second-year students and welcome them to their program of study and departmental community.

One piece of advice for a second-year student: Get involved in activities to make the most of your university experience. Whether that is joining a student group, going to a workshop or attending a departmental event! It serves as a nice break from your studies and provides you with opportunities to meet people.

Hobby or interest: Hockey and spending time with my family.

Headshot of Alex in front of an indoor plant garden

Program: Mathematics and physics specialist. I'm applying for a computer science minor and taking relevant courses.

Year: Three

College: Trinity College

Hometown: Ajax, ON

An interesting fact: I have a collection of lightsabers and can do a lot of tricks with them. I'm a big fan and I love talking about Star Wars.

Studies: I really enjoy quantum physics, hearing about quantum computing and learning about the mathematical basis for computer science in my rigorous courses.

Hobby or interest: I play basketball, chess and monopoly with friends and currently work as a tutor for Tutorax as well as an inclusion councilor for my home town.

Selfie of Aditya outdoors

Program: Physics specialist, mathematics major, computer science minor

Year: Four

College: St. Michael's College

Hometown: New Delhi, India

An interesting fact: I do stand-up comedy!

Studies: Physics helps us learn a lot about our world and particularly particle physics gives us insight into the fundamental fabric of the universe. The theories we have are quite elegant and successful and the intersection of math and physics never ceases to amaze me.

Hobby or interest: Stand-up comedy, improv, running, learning how to play the guitar, hanging out with friends and peers, struggling on problem sets (the usual).