Past Orientations
Here you can find out more about the types of orientation events offered by PhySU in the past.
Orientation Week 2024-25
List of Events:
Keynote (Monday, August 26th | 11:00- 12:00 | MP102)
We begin our orientation on Monday August 26th with a brief Keynote by the PhySU execs. We will introduce the Physics Student Union, what we do, the events we run throughout the year and how you can get involved! We will also give a brief outline of the orientation events and answer any questions you may have!
*MP Tour (Monday, August 26th |13:00- 15:00 | MP Lobby )
The McLennan Physical Laboratories are the heart of our department. Even if you are not a physics student, you are likely to spend quite a bit of time in the building taking classes, attending tutorials, hanging out in the PhySU lounge and most importantly our social and academic events. This tour will get you acquainted with the key points of interest in the building (the Physics Library, PhySU Lounge, Observatory telescopes, good study spots etc.). Most importantly will get a chance to see some of the research labs and get advice from the numerous faculty in the department.
PhySU Talk (Tuesday August 27th | 11:00 - 12:00 | MP102)
The staple PhySU Prof Talks are back for another year! Join us in MP 102 to hear from Professor Erica Rosenblum talk about her research on the Earth’s cryosphere and oceans, as well as her path in academia. Don’t miss this opportunity to find out more about UofT’s EAPP group and the variety of physical systems studied in Physics. There will be tea and timbits in the PhySU lounge after the event.
Café Trip (Tuesday, August 27th | 15:00 | Leave from MP Lobby)
Join PhySU’s trip to the café [location TBD] on August 27th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and enjoy a great time with other first-year students! Please note: We'll start assembling in the McLennan Laboratories lobby at 3:00 p.m. and leave together by 3:10 p.m.
Student Panel (Wednesday, August 28th | 12:00-13:30 | MP102)
Confused about the rules and requirements for your program? Interested in learning more about the courses available beyond their website descriptions? Or do you just want some common advice on what are the best places to eat and study? Then the PhySU Orientation Student Panel is just the event for you. You will have a chance to ask advice from students enrolled in a variety of physics programs on how to succeed at UofT.
Exact list of panelists TBA.
Trivia Night (Wednesday, August 28th | 17:00 - 19:00 | MP102)
Think you know it all about physics, UofT, or any other sort of trivia? Or just looking to learn a few fun facts to impress your friends? Come down to MP102 for a trivia competition. Minds will be blown, questions will be posed and fun will be had. Note that at the beginning, participants will be split into teams, so bring along as many friends as you can. Snacks and drinks will be available!
Meet the Execs (Thursday, August 29th | 15:30-16:45 | Graduate Lounge, MP110)
Get a chance to meet your Physics, Astronomy, and Math Execs over pancakes, cotton candy, snack and drinks! Make friends with your Execs, learn more about them, ask them questions or just come for some food and drinks to energise yourself before the scavenger hunt. The Graduate Student Lounge is located behind the lifts of Mclennan.
Scavenger Hunt (Thursday, August 29th | 17:00-19:00 | Bahen, McLennan and Astronomy & Astrophysics)
Get a chance to get to know the Physics, Astronomy, and Math Departments better by participating in the PhySU x Math Union x AU scavenger hunt! The scavenger hunt will take place across McLennan Physical Laboratories, the Astronomy and Astrophysics building, and the Bahen Centre for Information Technology. Participants can get acquainted with these three buildings and learn a bit about their histories.
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Sale (Friday, August 30th | 13:00 - 15:00 | St. George Street)
PhySU will be holding its famous annual liquid nitrogen ice cream sale on Friday August 30th! Watch as we use the power of cryophysics to create a rare treat sure to delight your taste buds. Join us for a uniquely delicious frozen dairy experience and an afternoon of fun liquid nitrogen demonstrations!
Movie Night (Friday, August 30th | 18:00 - 21:00 | MP110)
What’s better than ending Orientation Week with a Movie Night with friends? Join us on August 30th at 6:00 p.m. in the PhySU Lounge (MP217).
* - these events require a signup. All other events are walk in based.
Orientation Week 2022-23
List of Events:
Welcome Keynote (Tuesday, Sep. 6 10:00-11:00 | MP102)
We will begin our orientation with a welcome speech from the executives of the Physics Student Union (PhySU), who will tell you about the opportunities we provide throughout the year, how you can get involved and give more details on the orientation itself.
MP Tour (Tuesday, Sep. 6 15:00 - 17:00 | Meet outside St George entrance of MP)
McLennan Physical Laboratories has been the Physics Department’s home for over 50 years. The building is filled with history, secrets and of course laboratories and physics experiments. Join us, on a journey to uncover some of the building’s hidden corners, see your study environment for the next few years and of course visit labs and meet some of your future profs.
Board Game Night (Tuesday, Sep 6 17:00 - 21:00 | MP217)
Come out to the Physics Lounge to relax, chat with upper years, meet your peers and play some board games.
Campus Tour (Wednesday, Sep. 7 13:00 - 15:00 and Thursday, Sep. 8 13:00 - 15:00 | Meet in MP lobby)
Feel lost in UofT’s grand amassment of buildings? Don’t know where your classes are, or where to eat in between lectures or where all the best study spots are? Want to find out the name of that pretty building you passed the other day?
PhySU’s campus tour is just the thing for you! We will walk by all buildings with first year math & physics courses, tell you a little about campus’ history and share some of our personal tips on university life.
Trivia Night (Wednesday, Sep. 7 16:30 - 18:00 | MP102)
Come to MP 102, for an evening of fun facts, hot chocolate and puzzles. Show off your knowledge from 3 am youtube binges, learn new things and compete in a flurry to become PhySU’s kahoot champion.
Landau Blitz Chess Tournament (Thursday Sep. 8 17:00 - 19:00 | Lichess.com)
Welcome to the Landau Blitz, a 1.5 hour blitz chess tournament (time control 5 minutes +3 second increment) held over on our lichess club (see poster on instagram)!
Join our lichess club to participate:
Club Name: UofT PhySU
Passcode: physu
Liquid Nitrogen Ice-Cream (Friday, Sep. 9 14:00 - 16:30 | Outside MP)
We put the scream in ice cream because we are so excited to bring back a pre-covid PhySU tradition of a liquid nitrogen ice cream sale! Low prices guaranteed!
