ICPE-EPEC 2013
The International Conference on Physics Education [ICPE-EPEC 2013] will be held from 5 – 9 August 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic.
The general focus of the conference is “Active learning – in a changing world of new technologies”. Keynote speakers have been invited to discuss this topic: Eugenia Etkina, Rutgers University, USA; Josip Slisko, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico; Kyoko Ishii, University of Fukui, Japan: Pratibha Jolly, University of Delhi, India…
Featured in EPN
Most recent highlights from EPN:
Opening a new window on the Universe: the future Gravitational Wave detectors by Michele PunturoMy amazing experience by Ofri KahanaInspiring learning environment, the school as a three-dimensional text book by Mirjana BožićBeauty in disguise – the physics behind the power grid by Christian Ohler
The Pathway to teaching science by inquiry
The Pathway project, financed under the 7th Framework Programme [FP7] is exploring new approaches to inquiry-based science education [IBSE]. Based on the examination of best practices in IBSE, Pathway aims to promote the effective widespread use of inquiry and problem based science teaching techniques in primary and secondary schools in Europe. Running from 2011 to the end of 2013, the project consortium – the European Physical Society included – organizes workshops and events all over Europe and develops guidelines and resources.Amongst the Pathway tools, the ASK-Learning Design Tool [ASK-LDT] has been designed for teachers…
Promoting photovoltaic energy in Kenya through training
The number of these technicians is small compared to the demand for installation as observed from the PV system sales. This scenario creates a situation where laymen and semi-skilled people exploit the shortfall of skilled installation professionals and claim to be PV installers. As a result, there are many cases of poor system installation, leading to malfunctions, and even complete breakdowns. The need for training people in PV system installation and maintenance cannot be over emphasized.The Department of Physics at the University of Nairobi has started a training centre for the education…
International Cosmic Day 2013
The International Cosmic Day is a worldwide event inviting school students to conduct experiments relating to cosmic rays. Following the success of the first International Cosmic Day last year, DESY, Fermilab, QuarkNet and Netzwerk Teilchenwelt are organising the 2nd edition on 25 September 2013.
After an introductory talk on research in the field of cosmic rays and their discovery, the participants will conduct a cosmic particle experiment themselves. They will make measurements, analyse the data, and present their results…
Pathway summer school
In the framework of the PATHWAY project, a workshop for science teachers will be organised in Crete, Greece, from 30 June to 5 July 2013.
The course’s main objective is to introduce teachers to inquiry-based science teaching techniques with the view in to adopting them in classroom practice. Participating science teachers will be immersed in the process of science-inquiry via their interaction with collections of open digital educational resources…
Editorial – Horizon 2020, opportunities for research and commitment to society
In a not so remote past, scientists were a close-knit society, spending much of their time in isolated laboratories or academic institutions, sometimes referred to as ivory towers. Now however, on a par with globalization and the emergence of the information-based society, there is a growing commitment of scientists to share knowledge and opinions with society in general. And indeed it is a duty to explain how public funds are employed in the development of basic science and technology for the advancement of society…
Stimulating Physics Network
The drastic shortage of specialist physics teachers in England ( ~ 40%) has been getting worse for most of the last 20 years, largely due to low levels of recruitment.
Happily, as a result of recent changes in policy following years of lobbying by the Institute of Physics, recruitment is now healthy. However, it is still the case that many children up to age 16 are taught physics by non-specialists, usually biologists, and will be for at least the next decade…
PhysHOME 2012
Physics by Hands-On Minds-on Experiments [PhysHOME] was held at the Department of Physics Education, Charles University, on 20-23 June this year. During the workshop, educators and teachers shared ideas and projects; compared viewpoints; and made steps towards possible future collaborations.
The event was attended by 17 participants from across Europe. The workshop – organised in an informal manner – consisted of 12 individual sessions, each lasting for 90 minutes, with 30 minutes for discussion following…
Physics Education Division releases position paper
A new position paper, developed by the EPS Physics Education Division and approved for distribution by the Executive Committee of the EPS during its June 2012 meeting in Mulhouse, is intended to bring to public attention certain key points affecting the present state and future development of European physics education:
- physics education in schools and universities,
- physics education as a research field…
Marisa Michelini elected new president of GIREP
Marisa Michelini was elected the new president of the Groupe International de Recherche sur l’Enseignement de la Physique [GIREP] during the World Conference on Physics Education, which was held on 1-6 July this year.
Michelini – a professor of Physics Education at the University of Udine’s Faculty of Science of Education – has a long standing relationship with physics education. The founder of the Centre for Teaching Physics Laboratory at the University of Friuli, Michelini has also been a director…
Naples/Uganda education collaboration
Gulunap is an educational-scientific collaboration between the University of Naples “Federico II”, in Italy, and the University of Gulu, in Northern-Uganda.
Northern Uganda has major problems with food, health and education, having been devastated by a twenty-year long insurgence by the Lord’s Resistance Army: with over 100,000 people dead, 20,000 children abducted, and 1,200,000 Ugandan citizens left in internally displaced person camps. The Gulunap project focuses on…
