Plasma Research within the Small College Plasma Consortium (SCPC)

Establishing research programs at smaller schools offers the plasma community a chance to increase exposure of plasma science throughout the country, particularly to a diverse undergraduate population. This presentation describes a personal experience in joining and starting an experimental plasma research program at a primarily-undergraduate institution. The talk also provides an overview of the Small College Plasma Consortium (SCPC), an organization whose aims are to create a community for existing and future plasma researchers at small schools, in addition to providing a platform for shared resources and collaboration amongst small schools and with larger academic institutions. It concludes with a handful of recommendations for what the plasma community and funding agencies can do to support the growth and development of these unique research programs.