The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will host the 2026 meeting of the Tennessee Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (TAAPT) on March 27-28, bringing high school teachers, university faculty and students to campus for a statewide conference.
Organized by the UTC Department of Physics and Astronomy in collaboration with the UTC Quantum Center, the statewide meeting is designed to support physics educators through professional development, research exchange and networking opportunities.
“This is the first time in 30-plus years that this annual conference is coming to UTC and Chattanooga,” said UC Foundation Professor of Physics and Associate Department Head Tatiana Allen, who serves as the 2026 president of TAAPT. “Participants will have unique opportunities to learn about the quantum science and technology initiatives in Chattanooga and interact with fellow physics teachers and university professors from all over the state.”
The conference program includes oral and poster presentations, a student poster competition, a Society of Physics Students projects workshop and the TAAPT business meeting and elections.
Participants will also have opportunities to tour the Clarence T. Jones Observatory, UTC’s Quantum Node Lab, EPB’s commercial quantum network and the IonQ quantum computer.
A conference dinner will feature a keynote presentation by UC Foundation Assistant Professor of Physics Tian Li, who is also the chief technology officer of the UTC Quantum Center.
Allen said the conference encourages strong participation from high school physics teachers across Tennessee, with a particular emphasis on educators from the Chattanooga region.
Registration is required for all attendees, including those not submitting abstracts. Registration fees cover conference activities, meals, transportation to tours and parking on campus. The registration deadline is March 15, and the abstract submission deadline is March 9.
For more information and to register, visit the TAAPT website at taapt.org/meeting
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