Comments on: Cosmology for High School Students http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:07:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Dumb Biologist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13717 Dumb Biologist Sat, 25 Mar 2006 07:06:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13717 It's stories like this that make me wish I grew up near a university (instead of way out in the sticks, though that had its charms). Kudos to you and your students for giving the kids such an invaluable experience. Any kids ask any questions that just floored you? You know, the sorts of questions that make adults boggle that kids know about this stuff? It’s stories like this that make me wish I grew up near a university (instead of way out in the sticks, though that had its charms). Kudos to you and your students for giving the kids such an invaluable experience.

Any kids ask any questions that just floored you? You know, the sorts of questions that make adults boggle that kids know about this stuff?

]]> By: macho http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13716 macho Sat, 25 Mar 2006 06:25:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13716 A friend in the town I'm visiting invited me to their high school career day last week, but we never got around to talking about careers -- by the end there was a group of about 9 students (almost 10% of the senior class) gathered around the table just talking about physics and cosmology. When we ran out of time they asked if I would come back and talk to their physics class later that week. Both times they asked the most wonderful questions and we ran out of time once again, although I did manage to spend about 10 minutes of the hour (it was hard to get them to break away form the physics) talking about what I do as a physicist (answering the direct question "what is your typical day like?). I also mentioned the range of opportunities in the field, from theoretical physics to wintering over at the South Pole to working in medical physics, museums, and teaching. It was very encouraging -- especially since their interest, questions and responses indicated that they were lucky to have a fantastic teacher (and I told them as much). The room was filled with physics toys of all kinds, which I also pointed out was the sign of a true physicist. One of the most important things we can do as physicists is to encourgage, train and then support more good high school physics teachers. A friend in the town I’m visiting invited me to their high school career day last week, but we never got around to talking about careers — by the end there was a group of about 9 students (almost 10% of the senior class) gathered around the table just talking about physics and cosmology. When we ran out of time they asked if I would come back and talk to their physics class later that week. Both times they asked the most wonderful questions and we ran out of time once again, although I did manage to spend about 10 minutes of the hour (it was hard to get them to break away form the physics) talking about what I do as a physicist (answering the direct question “what is your typical day like?). I also mentioned the range of opportunities in the field, from theoretical physics to wintering over at the South Pole to working in medical physics, museums, and teaching.

It was very encouraging — especially since their interest, questions and responses indicated that they were lucky to have a fantastic teacher (and I told them as much). The room was filled with physics toys of all kinds, which I also pointed out was the sign of a true physicist.

One of the most important things we can do as physicists is to encourgage, train and then support more good high school physics teachers.

]]> By: Aaron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13718 Aaron Sat, 25 Mar 2006 05:38:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/24/cosmology-for-high-school-students/#comment-13718 Sounds like fun! Cake makes everything fun.... :) Sounds like fun! Cake makes everything fun…. :)

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