Frontiers of Physics Workshop - Outline Updated April 2, 2009
Taught by Indiana University Physics Faculty
When: Saturday April 18, 2009, 2:00 to 6:00 pm
Where: Swain Hall West, Room 119
Time length: 4 hrs
Intended Audience: Middle to High School Science (not necessarily physics) Teachers
Introduction: Much of current physics research is difficult to understand let alone explain/teach to others who do not have a strong mathematics and science background. This workshop is intended to
(1.) Help science teachers better understand the latest findings in physics research and
(2.) Provide tools such as posters and notes which teachers can use to present these topics to their students.
Workshop Schedule
2:00 to 2:15 pm (15 min) Welcome and Overview
2:15 to 3:00 (35 min presentation, 10 min Q & A)
A Particle Physics Primer
Dr. Rick VanKooten, Experimentalist in Elementary Particle Physics and Department Chair
An introduction to particle physics at a qualitative level accessible to high school teachers and students. A review of how experimental high energy physics has helped define the Standard Model with focus on b quarks and the Higgs Boson. Discussions will cover what is, and more importantly, what is not well understood about the Standard Model.
3:00 to 3:10 Break
3:10 to 3:50 (30 min presentation, 10 min Q & A)
“The Little Bang: Physics at the LHC"
Hal Evans, Associate Professor and Experimentalist in Elementary Particle Physics
Dr. Evans will describe the progress made in starting the LHC accelerator. He will also discuss the experiments which will be performed with emphasis on the physics and work being done at IU. Finally, he will demonstrate a few of the many online educational resources CERN and ATLAS has made available for teachers.
3:50 – 4:15 Break
4:15 to 4:45 (25 min presentation, 5 min Q & A)
Research Frontiers in Biophysics
Sima Setayeshgar, Assistant Professor & Member of Biocomplexity Institute Biophysics
Dr. Setayeshgar is a physicist with interests at the interface between physics and biology. She studies phenomena on scales ranging from the molecular and cellular to the macroscopic. Powerful experimental methods, such as genetic tools, two-photon and fluorescence microscopy have made biological systems an exciting area for quantitative research. She will discuss some of her current research, what she did to prepare herself for study in the field of biophysics and perhaps give some sage advice to those who might choose to pursue a career in biophysics.
4:45 – 5:00 Break
5:00 – 5:30
Cell Phone Physics
Harold Ogren, Professor, Experimentalist in Elementary Particle Physics
Cell phones may not be quite on the frontiers of science but they are close. The number of physics principles that can be demonstrated with cell phones is truly remarkable. Dr. Ogren will take excerpts from his course of the same name and demonstrate a few of the many very neat things that can be done with cell phones to help teach physics.
5:30 to 6:00 Summary and Closing Remarks
Refreshments and Goodbyes to follow the closing remarks.
Each participant will receive a certificate acknowledging their successful completion of the workshop.