Physics Theorynet Outreach Program

物理理论网推广计划

• 批准号: 1416246
• 负责人: Tomasz Taylor
• 金额: $ 3.6万
• 依托单位: Northeastern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-04-15 至 2018-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1416246&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Physics; Theorynet; Outreach; Program

Physics Theorynet is an outreach program supported by the National Science Foundation and coordinated by the Principal Investigators since 2003. The main component of Theorynet activities is direct interaction between Boston area theorists and high school students, through lecture presentations, demonstrations, and question and answer sessions conducted during regular class hours and after classes. Presentation topics may include science in the news (such as dark energy, the Large Hadron Collider, or exoplanets), traditional subjects of interest to young science students (such as black holes, timetravel, or extra dimensions), or concepts related to the high school physics curriculum. The program aims to increase students' understanding of science and to raise their awareness of the importance of fundamental research. In particular the Theorynet program seeks to stress the importance of teaching what is referred to as the "nature of science" (NOS). Very briefly, NOS can be described as the notion that the acquisition of scientific knowledge is a collective, human enterprise which proceeds through an evolving framework of models for the physical world. Recent research indicates that students will not adequately understand NOS unless it is deliberately introduced into the curriculum. Specifically, students will not come to appreciate the true nature of science simply by learning the body of knowledge commonly taught in high school curricula. Therefore, the Physics Theorynet outreach program seeks to deliver instruction about NOS to high school students in the Boston metropolitan area.Faculty participants in the Theorynet program come from universities such as MIT, Harvard, Tufts, Boston University, Brandeis, Rhode Island College and the University of New Hampshire, in addition to Northeastern University. High school instructors in the Theorynet program represent a diversified cross-section of public and private schools in urban, suburban and rural areas, with fifteen high schools currently represented across three states. Operational costs of the Theorynet program include a nominal stipend for high school instructors who participate, compensation for the travel that instructors undertake to attend program meetings, acquisition and maintenance of lecture demonstrations and presentation equipment, and advertising at regional events aimed at physics instructors.It is estimated that 2,000 students are reached by Theorynet physicists each year, in a diversified cross-section of public and private schools in urban, suburban and rural areas. The program is highly appreciated by teachers, students and their parents. Students have had negative pre-conceived notions of science professionals corrected by direct interaction with university faculty. Students are often encouraged to learn that even some fanciful speculations can find a home in theoretical physics, where there truly are "no dumb questions." Concepts such as string theory or the Higgs mechanism are de-mystified, and the importance of fundamental science as a vocation is re-affirmed. There is even a broader impact on Boston area communities due to the coverage in high school and local newspapers, as well as to students reporting visits to their parents. A major component of the Theorynet program is promoting physics as a field of study when high school students go on to college, and suggesting theoretical physics as a plausible long-term career goal for students.

物理理论网是由美国国家科学基金会支持的一项扩展计划，自2003年以来一直由主要研究人员协调。Theorynet活动的主要组成部分是波士顿地区的理论家和高中生之间的直接互动，通过在常规上课时间和课后进行的演讲、演示和问答环节。演讲主题可以包括新闻中的科学（如暗能量、大型强子对撞机或系外行星）、年轻理科生感兴趣的传统主题（如黑洞、时间旅行或额外维度），或与高中物理课程相关的概念。该项目旨在提高学生对科学的理解，提高他们对基础研究重要性的认识。特别是理论网计划试图强调教学的重要性，即所谓的“科学的本质”（NOS）。简而言之，NOS可以被描述为一种概念，即科学知识的获取是一项集体的、人类的事业，它通过物理世界模型的不断发展的框架进行。最近的研究表明，除非有意将NOS引入课程，否则学生将无法充分理解NOS。具体地说，仅仅通过学习高中课程中通常教授的知识体系，学生是无法理解科学的真正本质的。因此，物理理论网外展计划寻求向波士顿大都会地区的高中生提供有关NOS的指导。参与Theorynet项目的教师来自麻省理工学院、哈佛大学、塔夫茨大学、波士顿大学、布兰代斯大学、罗德岛学院和新罕布什尔大学等大学，此外还有东北大学。参与Theorynet项目的高中教师来自城市、郊区和农村地区的公立和私立学校，目前有15所高中分布在三个州。Theorynet项目的运营成本包括：参加该项目的高中教师的名义津贴、教师参加项目会议的旅费补偿、获取和维护讲座演示和演示设备、针对物理教师的区域活动的广告。据估计，每年有2000名学生接受理论网络物理学家的教育，他们分布在城市、郊区和农村地区的公立和私立学校。该项目深受老师、学生和家长的好评。通过与大学教师的直接互动，学生们对科学专业人员有了负面的先入为主的观念。学生们经常被鼓励去认识到，即使是一些稀奇古怪的猜想也能在理论物理学中找到立足之地，在那里真的“没有愚蠢的问题”。弦理论或希格斯机制等概念不再神秘，基础科学作为一种职业的重要性得到了重新肯定。由于高中和当地报纸的报道，以及学生们探望父母的报道，波士顿地区社区甚至受到了更广泛的影响。“理论网”计划的一个主要组成部分是，在高中生进入大学时，将物理学作为一门学习领域，并建议理论物理学作为学生的一个合理的长期职业目标。