News
News Archive
Capturing Carbon Picture Competition
The British Carbon Group invites entries into the 2008 “Capturing Carbon” Picture Competition. Entries are welcome from all organisations and individuals (of all ages) including schools, colleges, universities, and industrial organisations. The first prize will be a certificate of merit and a cash prize of £150.
[Feb 2007]
Physics in Action 2006
With the help of your mobile phone, a rock guitar, ultrasound, a gherkin and even a spider, experience the importance and excitement of modern physics and take a journey from the abstract world of Superstring Theory to how physics is helping paraplegics to walk.
The Training Partnership is offering two physics study days this Autumn. These events are aimed at AS/A Level and IB Students and will be held on 22nd November and 7th December 2006. For more information please contact training.partnership@btinternet.com.
[Sept 2006]
Frontiers of Physics 2006
Teachers of Physics Annual Conference organised by The Institute of Physics in Ireland Education Group and Dublin Institute of Technology.
A day of lectures, demonstrations, and workshops for Post-Primary teachers of physics to be held on Saturday, 23 September 2006.
[Aug 2006]
A Passion for Physics from Teachers’ TV
The 1000th programme from Teachers’ TV is now available as a sneak preview on the ASE’s UPD8 website at www.upd8.org.uk.
The programme, ‘A Passion For Physics’ features Wirral-based Physics teacher and 2006 Teaching Awards regional winner Andy Smith.
Andy’s passion for his subject is infectious and inspirational. His teaching style relies on a host of interactive techniques that connect with pupils with a wide range of abilities, and many consistently perform above expectation. Last year more than 70 per cent of Andy's GCSE pupils attained A* or A grades and more than half went on to study physics at A-level.
The programme is also available as a sneak preview on the Teachers’ TV Associates website, where you can post comments and take part in an online discussion about the programme. To join Teachers’ TV Associates, go to www.teachers.tv/associates.
The programme will be broadcast on the Teachers’ TV digital channel from 24th April, and will then be available on the main Teachers’ TV website, www.teachers.tv, along with the other 1000 programmes now available to view and download online.
For more information on watching Teachers’ TV programmes online, go to www.teachers.tv/1000.
[Apr 2006]
Science in School
Science in School is a newly-launched European journal to promote inspiring science teaching. It covers not only biology, physics and chemistry, but also maths and earth sciences. The contents include teaching materials; cutting-edge science; education projects; interviews with young scientists and inspiring teachers; education research; book reviews; European events for teachers; and an online discussion forum.
Science in School is freely available and published by the EIROforum, a collaboration of European intergovernmental research organisations (www.eiroforum.org). Online articles are published in several European languages; a print version is distributed in English. More details and the first issue are available at: www.scienceinschool.org.
To receive an alert when each issue is published, send an email with the subject 'Subscribe to Science in School' to scienceinschool@embl.de. Include your postal address to receive a free print subscription (limited supply).
[Apr 2006]
Summer School in the Canary Islands
The European Association for Astronomy Education is holding its tenth Summer School for primary and secondary teachers from 3rd to 9th July 2006 in Santa Cruz de La Palma. Around sixty European teachers will attend general lectures, working groups, workshops and observational sessions in astronomy.
The event is not aimed at experts and the presentations will be in English. The closing date for registration is 30th April and the approximate cost of registration and accommodation is 750 Euros. British Council support may be available. For further information contact: Alan_C_Pickwick@btinternet.com or telephone 0161 973 6796.
[Jan 2006]
Shortage of physics teachers worse than ever
An independent report published recently links the steep decline in the number of students taking A-level physics to the shortage of expert physics teachers. With over 30% of physics teachers due to retire in the next ten years, the need to recruit more physics teachers is now more important than ever before. The full report is available at http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/education/research/ceer/pdfs/physicsprint.pdf
The Institute of Physics responded by calling on government and school heads to take urgent action before the situation worsens. In particular, the Institute recommended:
- Government should set specific recruitment targets for the individual sciences rather than science as a whole.
- Professional development for non-specialists must be seen as a priority by both schools and the government. Headteachers should encourage non-specialist physics teachers to take extra training and seek support to help them teach physics more effectively. Government should provide ring-fenced funding and incentives to allow non-specialist teachers to get the training and support for teaching physics that they need.
[November 2005]
Are you interested in becoming a specialist Network Co-ordinator?
Do you have a gift for inspiring trainee and newly qualified teachers? Want to pass on your experience? The Institute is looking to recruit specialist coordinators to help in a scheme that could radically alter recruitment and retention in the profession. Co-ordinators are required to be within easy reach of the following centres: Bath, Brighton, Keele, Loughborough, Lancaster and either Bradford, or Leeds, or Sheffield. If you would like more details please see the Physics Enhancement Project and contact the Teacher Support Manager chris.shepherd@iop.org
[November 2005]
Institute of Physics Undergraduate Bursary Scheme
The Institute of Physics has introduced a bursary scheme with the aim of encouraging more students to study physics. Bursaries of around £1000 per year will be awarded to selected undergraduates studying physics in the UK and Ireland. The scheme will be operational from 2006/07.
[October 2005]
Do you know a great teacher?
Do you know a physics teacher or primary science teacher who makes science (at the primary level) or physics (at the secondary level) astronomically exciting and challengingly cool? If so, why not nominate them for an Institute of Physics Teachers' Award.
[October 2005]
It Ain't Rocket Science - An opportunity to explore the relationship between theatre and science, through presentations, workshops and performance.
On 3rd November 2005 the Birmingham Rep is hosting an exciting conference which involves keynote speakers Mark Lawson and Dr Mark Lythgoe; a choice of workshops from Stan's Cafe, Michael Carklin, Theatre of Science and playwright Mike Kenny as well as the opportunity to see Timothy West in The Life of Galileo or the Rep's brand new production, Rosalind: A Question of Life - a play about the first lady of DNA. Prices are £50 including lunch and your performance ticket (£25 for full-time students). If you would like further information please call education on 0121 245 2092. To book your place please call box office on 0121 236 4455.
[October 2005]
Do you have a good idea for bringing science alive in schools, but need some funding to make it happen?
Maybe you're a teacher with a great idea for a science project? Or perhaps a scientist or an engineer who would like to be more involved with your local school? The Royal Society's Partnership Grants scheme could be just what you're looking for. And the scheme is now bigger than ever! Not only has the maximum grant level been increased to £3000, but projects can now involve students from 5 – 18 years old.
[July 2005]
Physics Teacher Network: Coming to a venue near you - if you want!
New Ideas? is an INSET package that has been put together to help put a little extra sparkle into your teaching. It contains 19 ideas for use in the classroom, some are based on old ideas you will have seen before but many are new ideas that you can use without causing too much budgetary pain. There's no charge for the INSET, which can be done as in an hour as a twilight session or something longer, depending how hands-on you want to get. The session was rated excellent by 17 out of 17 teachers when it ran at Warwick University and described as 'Awesome!' -amongst other complimentary phrases- by a recent attendee, while another said it was the best INSET they'd had in 10 years. All participants leave with details about how to implement the ideas in the classroom. If you'd like this INSET to happen in your school then contact your local network co-ordinator or email gary.williams@iop.org.
[June 2005]
Einstein Year CPD Rewards
To celebrate Einstein Year and the opening of the National Science Learning Centre the Institute is awarding approximately 10 teacher bursaries worth around £3000 each. The intention is to allow teachers to take full advantage of the facilities available at the National Centre to develop an idea or interest of their own. It is expected that the bursary would be used during the academic year 2005/6 and it is available to all teachers in the UK and Eire.
[June 2005]
Proof that physics is good for your wallet!
The Institute and Royal Society of Chemistry recently commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake an analysis of the benefits of different degrees. The analysis showed that there is wide variation in the value of different degree subjects and that graduate earnings grow at a constant rate during the first few years after graduation, regardless of the degree subject. However, graduate earnings show marked differences in the mid-career years, with particular growth being associated with chemistry and physics degrees when compared with other subjects.
[June 2005]
Science on Stage - (CERN 21st to 25th November)
Are you interested in new ideas for teaching science? Would you like to share your ideas with other science teachers from all over Europe? You might be one of the enthusiastic teachers we are looking for to travel to CERN in November 2005 as part of the UK delegation to this European Extravaganza of Science Teaching.
[June 2005]
Physics and Maths
Next Autumn the Institute will be running a seminar with the Royal Society to look at ways in which physics and mathematics departments might work together to mutual advantage; perhaps in joint promotions of their subjects, exploring cross-curricular issues, graphing etc. We will be looking for pairs of physics and maths teachers to attend the seminar. If you are interested please email daniel.sandfordsmith@iop.org
[June 2005]
European Physics Education Conference EPEC-1
The European Physical Society is starting a series of physics education conferences aimed at all those involved in the teaching of physics in schools and universities. The first, EPEC-1, will take place from 4th to 7th July 2005.
Lab in a Lorry
Interested in inspiring young people with real hands on science? Would you like to create a unique community event, sharing your passion for science by enthusing young people? Then why not request a Lab in a Lorry visit?
[May 2005]
School Grants
Supported by PPARC this new scheme offers awards of up to £400.
Photographic Competition - Win a digital Camera
Here's your chance to show your artistic side to the physics-teaching world, by entering our photographic competition. During 2005, two Fuji F410 digital cameras (or ones with similar specification) can be won in each issue of Physics Education. There are two categories for chances to win either an individual prize or a school's prize.
[March 2004]
An international poster competition for students aged 10 – 16 years to mark Einstein Year and World Year of Physics 2005.
[March 2004]
Changes to GCSEs in Science from 2006 - your questions answered
Following the 14-19 green paper from the Government in 2003, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) was asked by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to revise the Key Stage 4 programme of study for science. The result will be a new range of science GCSEs from 2006.
[January 2005]
GTEP Gatsby Teacher Fellowships
Gatsby Teacher Fellowships have been created to enable teachers to develop inspirational teaching methods and materials that will make a contribution to more effective education. Grants of up to £3,000 and an honorarium of £1,000 are available to successful applicants.
[December 2004]
Rolls Royce Science Prize
Rolls-Royce plc the world leading power systems company for aerospace, marine and energy markets*, today launched an initiative designed to inspire pupils to study science at school.
[October 2004]
Physics Early Professional Development (PEPD) Email Discussion List
A new email discussion list for trainee science teachers, and those in the early years of their teaching careers.
[September 2004]
Practical Physics
A new website to help teachers share their skills and experience of making experiments work in the classroom.
[September 2004]
^ To the top ^