Netzwerk Teilchenwelt

Hands On (Astro-) Particle Physics Masterclasses

in Germany

Best Practice in Sharing Authentic Science with the Public

3.8.2013 DtC-GHOU (Volos) • Michael Rockstroh, TU Dresden

1. Who we are 2. What we want3. Our Concept & Activities3.1 Basic Level: Particle Physics Masterclasses4. The network and the users community5. Potentials and Challenges of our work6. Summary

Netzwerk Teilchenwelt Hands On (Astro-) Particle Physics Masterclasses in Germany

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1. Who we are …

… a German Network of:• Scientists• (astro-)particle physics

• Students• aged 15-19

• Teachers/Trainers: • at schools, school labs, science centres ...

… in direct contact to CERN

Partners in the science education community: Discover the COSMOS, IPPOG, Quarknet …

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2. We want to let students …

• Raise and share fascination for basic questions about our universe

• Explore fundamental forces and building blocks of nature

• Obtain understanding of fundamental research as fundamental knowledge for mankind

• Come into direct contact with scientists

• Explore the scientific research process

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Special advantages of particle physics research:

Largest machine of the world

Ca. 10.000 collaborators from 85 nations

Very complex technologyFundamental questions…

Research of superlative is interesting also for students, which are (until now) not glowing for physics!

… but suitable for the classroom?

High publicity

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4 programme levels 1. Basic: introduction to particle physics2. Qualification: proliferation of knowledge3. Strengthening the experience: workshops at CERN 4. Research Projects: at research institutes, CERN & DESY

4 central elements • local projects all over Germany throughout the year• workshops at CERN• development of context material see our Poster I• scientific evaluation (basic level, students, particle physcis)

students & teachers

particle and astroparticle physics projects

3. The concept of Netzwerk Teilchenwelt

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Activities of Netzwerk Teilchenwelt

Research Projects

CERN

Qualification

Basic

StudentsTeachers/Trainers

5/year5-day

workshops: 50/year

participants’ projects: 150/year

trainings: 500/year

10/yearproject weeks, 3-day workshops:

70/yearteaching others,

term papers, projects: 120/year

Masterclasses + astro-particle-experiments:

4.000/year

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Impressions

Level 1: Masterclass participants in Dresden 2011Level 2: Astroparticle research week at DESY Zeuthen 2012Level 3: Talk with CERN general director Rolf Heuer, during CERN-Workshop 2013 Level 4: Participants at the finals of the German Competition „Jugend Forscht“ (astroparticle physics project) 2011

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• Researchers (= mostly PhD students),• go to schools, but also fairs etc. and• bring the original data (LHC, LEP) + e-science tools• to provide Particle Physics Masterclasses • mobile and local, allthrough the year, all over the country. • new: Astroparticle Physics Masterclasses

Teachers Basic Program: training in astro-/particle physics

Original Masterclasses: from UK 1996 (R.Barlow et al.)

International Masterclasses: see our Poster II

Particle Physics Masterclasses stimulate interest in science. (Physics Education 42 (2007) 636-644 )

3.1 Basic Program: Masterclasses

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Particle Physics Masterclasses …

• Target: 15-19 year-old students (teachers, general public)• Introduced and guided by scientists („masters“)• Work like scientists - (in pairs) on real data from CERN:

1. Introduction (Physics, accelerators, detectors …)2. Classify: with authentic e-science analysis tools

(Minerva, Hypathia) ~100 particle collision images3. Combine: compare abundance or plot spectra4. Draw conclusions, discuss, get insights5. Quiz or video conference or Q&A-session …

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4. The network and its users community

24 Institutes in total = almost all Particle Physics Institutes in Germany13 Inst.: Astroparticle Projects (≥ 2011)

Around 140 scientists involved40 local organizers, 100 facilitators(almost young PHD-students)

since 2010 until the end 2013: ~ 14.000 students

~ 470 qualifying 176 at CERN workshops

~ 1.200 teacher~ 400 qualifying 165 at CERN workshops

Funded by:

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People behind and in front of the scenes

… Teacher training at CERN …

The organisation team…

… 1st Meeting of student-alumni …

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5. Potentials …

• Teachers‘ + students ideas and potential to improve context materials and workshops

• Teacher could/should refresh their scientific experience (sabbaticals?)

• Teachers + stakeholders: to influence the development of curricula and other basic parameters

• More interaction between different groups

• To acknowledge: „modern science“ certificate for schools with active teachers

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Scientists

Teachers

Students

Scientists

Students

Teachers

Staff &Activities

Stake-holders

…For a lasting competence in modern science teaching!

…and Challenges …

• Universities: lack of capacities for local / outreach activities… also natural limits of (mobile) scientists availability

• Lots of changes going on in the German school system• High workload of interested teachers - we need you, long

term involved!• Rarely sabbaticals:

- general lack of physics teachers in Germany - administration problems

• Evaluation of students basic level activities shows: short-term effects in the development of interests by these events increase the integration in everyday school curricula !

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6. Summary

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The Netzwerk Teilchenwelt approach works well:• Mobile scientists activities are available all over the

country instead of limitation to isolated places• Multilevel and pyramid-like structure combines large

scale and low-threshold + specialized and binding services

Experience shows: Essential part of students and teachers which are active in the higher levels keep on course! (e.g. student-alumni, teachers round table …)

• A win-win situation for participating institutes / teachers, students and scientists

• Results (materials) may be used (translated) by others• Approach may probably be transferred to other subjects

More information: www.teilchenwelt.deMaterial: …/material

Follow us: www.facebook.com/teilchenwelt www.facebook.com/DtCosmos

3.8.2013 DtC-GHOU (Volos) • MichaelRockstroh

mail@teilchenwelt.de

Thank you for your attention!

Copyright Fotos: NASA, CERN, TUD, MPI für Physik, Jugend Forscht e.V., Netzwerk Teilchenwelt/Michael Hoch, Juliana Socher

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