Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUESECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Higher Education in Physics Higher Education in Physics in Switzerland in Switzerland

March 6, 2009March 6, 2009Martin Pohl

Président de la Section de PhysiqueUniversité de Genève

Martin PohlPrésident de la Section de Physique

Université de Genève

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Science in Switzerland : investment et impactScience in Switzerland : investment et impact

Source : Nature, juillet 2004Source : Physik Journal novembre 2008

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

0%

4%

8%

12%

Biological Sciences:Humans

Biological Sciences:Animals and Plants

Molecular Biologyand Biochemistry

Chemistry

GeosciencesPhysics and Astronomy

Applied Physicsand Chemistry

Engineering

Mathematics

Impact of scientific Impact of scientific production compared to production compared to other research other research Universities, per domain.Universities, per domain.

Source : LERU and Source : LERU and CWTS CWTS (Uni (Uni Leiden/NL)Leiden/NL)

Impact de la production scientifiqueImpact de la production scientifique

Mean LERUMean LERU

e.e.g. UniGEg. UniGE

Amsterdam • Cambridge • Edinburgh • Freiburg • Genève • Heidelberg • Helsinki • Karolinska • Leiden • LeuvenUCL (London) • Lund • Milano • LMU München • Oxford • PMC Paris • Paris-Sud • ULP Strasbourg • Utrecht • Zürich

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Student statistics for 2007/08Student statistics for 2007/08

Recent example: Recent example: +16% new science+16% new sciencestudents in 2008students in 2008at UniGeat UniGe

New peak or sustained New peak or sustained growth?growth?

Total number of physics students 2007/8: Total number of physics students 2007/8: 2180 (constant since many years) 2180 (constant since many years)of which are womenof which are women 399 399 18%18%of which have foreign nationalityof which have foreign nationality 808 808 37%37%

Total number of physics PhD studentsTotal number of physics PhD students 724 724of which are womenof which are women 154 154 21%21%

Total number of particle physics Total number of particle physics experimental PhD studentsexperimental PhD students 89 89

UniGe :UniGe :

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

The Bologna System:The Bologna System:Constructs a European space of higher education:Constructs a European space of higher education:• Mutual recognition of university degrees: bachelor, master, Mutual recognition of university degrees: bachelor, master,

PhDPhD• Free exchange of students between participating Free exchange of students between participating

universitiesuniversities• System of ECTS credits for courses, obligatory evaluationSystem of ECTS credits for courses, obligatory evaluation• Simplifies process of equivalences when one changes Simplifies process of equivalences when one changes

universityuniversity• ERASMUS program encourages this exchangeERASMUS program encourages this exchange

Swiss Universities participate in the Bologna system basically Swiss Universities participate in the Bologna system basically since its creationsince its creation

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Studying physics in Switzerland IStudying physics in Switzerland I

Bachelor in physicsBachelor in physics – 3 years – 3 years Mathematics:Mathematics: Analysis, algebra, informaticsAnalysis, algebra, informatics Basic Physics:Basic Physics: Mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, Mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics,

quantum mechanics, statisticsquantum mechanics, statisticsIntroductory courses:Introductory courses: Particles, solid state, astrophysicsParticles, solid state, astrophysicsOptional and lab courses Optional and lab courses

Bachelor in physicsBachelor in physics – 3 years – 3 years Mathematics:Mathematics: Analysis, algebra, informaticsAnalysis, algebra, informatics Basic Physics:Basic Physics: Mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, Mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics,

quantum mechanics, statisticsquantum mechanics, statisticsIntroductory courses:Introductory courses: Particles, solid state, astrophysicsParticles, solid state, astrophysicsOptional and lab courses Optional and lab courses

Master in physicsMaster in physics – 2 years – 2 yearsMaster in physicsMaster in physics – 2 years – 2 years Careers: Informatics, finance, Careers: Informatics, finance, scientific journalism etc.scientific journalism etc.

Careers: Informatics, finance, Careers: Informatics, finance, scientific journalism etc.scientific journalism etc.

Small number of students, complete palette of specialtiesSmall number of students, complete palette of specialties Excellent student/teacher ratioExcellent student/teacher ratio Exceptionally good support, personal relationsExceptionally good support, personal relations Frontier researchFrontier research

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Master in physicsMaster in physics – 2 years – 2 years

Orientations - Particle physicsOrientations - Particle physics - Condensed matter physics- Condensed matter physics - Theoretical physics- Theoretical physics - Applied physics- Applied physics - Astronomy and astrophysics- Astronomy and astrophysics

Personal project, embedded in a research groupPersonal project, embedded in a research group

Master in physicsMaster in physics – 2 years – 2 years

Orientations - Particle physicsOrientations - Particle physics - Condensed matter physics- Condensed matter physics - Theoretical physics- Theoretical physics - Applied physics- Applied physics - Astronomy and astrophysics- Astronomy and astrophysics

Personal project, embedded in a research groupPersonal project, embedded in a research group

Specialized coursesSpecialized courses

Optional coursesOptional courses

Lab coursesLab courses

Careers: Research, teaching, industry, management, finance, medical applications, meteorology, climatology, energy, environment etc.Careers: Research, teaching, industry, management, finance, medical applications, meteorology, climatology, energy, environment etc.

Studying physics in Switzerland IIStudying physics in Switzerland II

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Master in physicsMaster in physics – 2 years – 2 years

from local university or any other University participating in the Bologna system or from local university or any other University participating in the Bologna system or equivalentequivalent

Master of Advanced StudiesMaster of Advanced Studies Professionalizing Professionalizing Typically 2yearsTypically 2years Tailored course programTailored course program Individual research projectIndividual research project

Master of Advanced StudiesMaster of Advanced Studies Professionalizing Professionalizing Typically 2yearsTypically 2years Tailored course programTailored course program Individual research projectIndividual research project

PhD PhD – 3 to 5 years– 3 to 5 years Specialized coursesSpecialized courses Individual research projectIndividual research project Integrated in a research groupIntegrated in a research group Publication of resultsPublication of results Participation in teachingParticipation in teaching

PhD PhD – 3 to 5 years– 3 to 5 years Specialized coursesSpecialized courses Individual research projectIndividual research project Integrated in a research groupIntegrated in a research group Publication of resultsPublication of results Participation in teachingParticipation in teaching

Studying physics in Switzerland IIIStudying physics in Switzerland III

Careers: Research, teaching, industry, management, finance, medical applications, meteorology, climatology, energy, environment etc.Careers: Research, teaching, industry, management, finance, medical applications, meteorology, climatology, energy, environment etc.

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

UniGe+EPFL• Local programs• 3ème cycle

UniGe+EPFL• Local programs• 3ème cycle

UniBe• Local program

UniBe• Local program

ETHZ• Local program

ETHZ• Local program

CERN• School of Physics• HCP summer school• Academic training

CERN• School of Physics• HCP summer school• Academic training

CHIPP• Coordination• CHIPP School• Specialized courses

CHIPP• Coordination• CHIPP School• Specialized courses

UniZh• Local program

UniZh• Local program

ProDoc AM of CHIPP : Particle Physics in the LHC EraProDoc AM of CHIPP : Particle Physics in the LHC Era

PSI• Zuoz Summer School

PSI• Zuoz Summer School

Project: Cooperation in doctoral studiesProject: Cooperation in doctoral studies

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Awaken scientific interest: PhysiScopeAwaken scientific interest: PhysiScope190 m190 m22 conceived by TSR: conceived by TSR:

• aa seminar room seminar room• aan adjacent laboratoryn adjacent laboratory• iinvite secondary school nvite secondary school

classesclasses• mmodern audio-visuel tools odern audio-visuel tools • aattractive shows worked out ttractive shows worked out

in collaboration with school in collaboration with school teachersteachers

• ttransmit enthousiasm ransmit enthousiasm

Numerous hands-on experimentsNumerous hands-on experiments

Installation cost ~1.1 MChfInstallation cost ~1.1 MChf

Inaugurated in October 2008Inaugurated in October 2008

10001000thth visitor in January 2009 visitor in January 2009

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Enhance physics teaching in secondary Enhance physics teaching in secondary education education

• Regular fresh-up summer courses for physics teachersRegular fresh-up summer courses for physics teachers• Organised on Cantonal level (like school system)Organised on Cantonal level (like school system)• Few chairs for Didactics of Science:Few chairs for Didactics of Science:

– Geneva (Physics, LGeneva (Physics, Liife Science)fe Science)– Basel (Physics)Basel (Physics)– Fribourg (Science)Fribourg (Science)

Important for sustainableImportant for sustainable

developmentdevelopment

Martin Pohl

SECTION DE PHYSIQUE

Conclusions:Conclusions:

• Switzerland is an excellent place to do scienceSwitzerland is an excellent place to do science• Switzerland is an excellent place to study physicsSwitzerland is an excellent place to study physics• Bologna system implemented earlyBologna system implemented early• Unusually large fraction of doctoral students Unusually large fraction of doctoral students • Action to federate teaching at PhD levelAction to federate teaching at PhD level• Action towards young people, school teachers and Action towards young people, school teachers and

general publicgeneral public• Action to attract even more foreign (master) Action to attract even more foreign (master)

studentsstudents