What is the CUPC?
Held annually since 1965, the Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC) is an undergraduate conference in which students from all over Canada engage and share knowledge regarding physics and astronomy.
The conference is designed by and for Canadian undergraduate students in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP). Attendees will have an excellent opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals. Keynote speakers will highlight exciting Canadian physics research while panel discussions explore physics careers and the opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian physics community. Most importantly, student oral presentations and poster presentations will celebrate the best of Canadian undergraduate physics research! The Graduate Studies and Industry Fair is an excellent opportunity to explore post-graduate opportunities for Canadian students.
Where is this year’s CUPC?
The 2026 Canadian Undergraduate Physics Conference (CUPC), will be taking place at McMaster University, otherwise known as Canada’s Nuclear University for its complete suite of nuclear facilities, including an open pool research reactor, a set of 5 interconnected hot cells, a high-level laboratory facility, and much more. In addition to this, McMaster supports a vast amount of physics research from modelling the dynamics of single molecules inside biological systems to exploring the fusion reactions taking place in our sun. Across campus, students are connected to research in materials physics, medical physics, elementary particle physics, laser physics, and quantum optics, supported by facilities such as crystal growth laboratories, the McMaster Alignment Diffractometer, and medical imaging resources through the hospital located on campus. Beyond physics, McMaster is surrounded by beautiful natural spaces, most notably Cootes Paradise, where students and visitors can enjoy hiking trails and walks through nature just steps from campus. We are so excited to welcome you to McMaster from October 22 to 25 for a weekend of physics, community, and exploration.
Stay tuned for more information about CUPC 2026. In the meantime, check out our announcements by clicking the announcements sidebar.