Walk through the Duane Physics building on any ordinary Saturday, and you might come across a few researchers working in labs or students collaborating on a group project.   

But on one recent Saturday in September, the halls of Duane were buzzing with undergraduates from across Colorado (and beyond), presenting their research at the Undergraduate Physics Conference of Colorado (UPCC). 

Organized entirely by students, the conference featured student research talks, poster presentations, and a plenary session by Jun Ye, a JILA/NIST fellow and Monroe Endowed Professor of Physics at CU Boulder. 

Ye, who is also an alumnus of CU Boulder, spoke about life as a student and researcher at CU Boulder, and shared how his education and collaborations inspired him to pursue a successful career in precision measurement and quantum science.  

How it started

Co-founder Ben Braun (Phys’26) recalled how the conference, now in its second year, began as just a “crazy idea” in early 2025. Braun and graduate student Luke Adams wanted to give undergraduates a chance to experience a conference and give a research talk in a low-stakes environment.  

“It was meant to provide a taste of what a large-scale, national conference feels like, without the same, large-scale sacrifice—financial, academic or otherwise,” Braun said.  

The first conference was held last October, and it was a rousing success. 

Growing the scientific community

This year, physics students Jeremy Goodkin and Zack Larter organized and directed the conference, with Braun and physics professor Colin West serving as advisors. With over 230 attendees, 30 poster presentations, and 30 talks, this year’s conference was another hit. New this year, the event featured a career and opportunities fair with representatives from Xairos, Infleqtion, UROP, and Quantum Scholars. One of the organizers’ goals is to grow the scientific community, and by all accounts, they have succeeded. 

Attendees came from institutions across Colorado and beyond, including the University of Denver, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Colorado College, Colorado Mesa University, Front Range Community College, University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Anschutz, and Ohio State University. 

“The interest from attendees all across Colorado in their peers’ research was amazing to see,” said Goodkin. “It demonstrated the necessity for the conference and how providing this opportunity to undergraduates allows them to flourish as scientists.” 

Larter added, “it was an honor to showcase the incredible undergraduate research from across Colorado (and beyond) and celebrate these up-and-coming physicists. With UPCC, we’re building up the next generation of this nation’s physics researchers and fostering a stronger undergraduate physics community for everyone.” 

A conference by undergraduates, for undergraduates

West emphasized the enormous effort required to organize a conference. “I think every faculty member knows what an undertaking it is merely to attend a conference or to organize a panel at one, let alone what it takes to put on an entire conference itself,” said West. “A conference by undergraduates for undergraduates is an incredibly compelling idea, but much easier said than done. What these students have accomplished for two years in a row now is nothing short of astonishing.” 

The organizing team also credited the undergraduate, graduate student, and faculty volunteers who helped make this year’s conference a success, and CU Boulder’s Department of Physics for providing breakfast and lunch for all attendees. 

Goodkin, Larter, and West have already begun planning next year’s conference, including recruiting new student leaders and building a sustainable framework, in hopes of making the UPCC a regular, ongoing event. 

“A project like this has so many benefits for both the students who attend and the students who organize it,” said West. “We owe it to the future physics students of our state to keep it going as long as we can.”

Follow the Undergraduate Physics Conference of Colorado on LinkedIn or check out their website for updates on next year's conference.