From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Apr 04 2003 - 10:05:39 PST
----- Original Message -----
From: esonews_at_eso.org
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 12:55 PM
To: ljk4_at_msn.com
Subject: Physics and Life" for Europe's Science Teachers - Bright GRB
Dear subscribers,
the seven EIROforum organisations are today publishing a joint Press
Release, announcing the "Physics on Stage 3" educational programme,
their joint contribution to this year's European Science & Technology
Week that is sponsored by the European Commission. It follows the very
successful projects in 2000 and 2002, but has various new features and
this time also includes other sciences, in particular biology. Read
all about this exciting offer to Europe's science teachers at:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2003/pr-07-03.html
A few days ago, a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) of exceptional brightness was
detected by NASA's HETE satellite observatory. The optical afterglow
was quickly observed with the UVES high-resolution spectrograph at the
VLT KUEYEN telescope on Paranal, allowing a determination of the
distance which turned out to be "only" about 2 billion
light-years. Although detailed information is not yet available, you
may learn more about this via the "VLT Latest News" page at:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/info-events/ut1fl/news.html
With kind regards,
The ESO EPR Dept.
-------
Information from the European Southern Observatory
ESO Press Release 07/03
2 April 2003 [ESO Logo]
For immediate release
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Physics and Life" for Europe's Science Teachers [1]
The EIROforum Contribution to the European Science and Technology Week 2003
What do you know about modern science? Was your school science teacher
inspiring and enthusiastic? Or was physics class a good time to take a
nap?
Unfortunately, many young Europeans don't have the fondest memories of
science in school, and the result is a widespread disinterest and lack
of understanding of science among adults. This has become a real
problem - especially at a time when science is having a growing impact
on our daily lives, and when society needs more scientists than ever!
What can be done? Some of Europe's leading research organisations,
scientists and teachers have put their heads together and come up with
a unique approach called "Physics on Stage". This will be the third
year that these institutes, with substantial support from the European
Commission, are running this project - attacking the problem at its
roots.
EIROforum and "Physics on Stage 3"
"Physics On Stage 3" is based on the very successful "Physics On
Stage" concept that was introduced in 2000. It is directed towards
science teachers and students in Europe's secondary schools. It is a
part of the year-long build-up to the European Science and Technology
Week 2003 (3-9 November), an initiative by the European Commission,
and is run by seven of Europe's leading Intergovernmental Research
Organizations (the EIROforum) [1].
The project addresses the content and format of science teaching in
European schools, seeking to improve the quality of teaching and to
find new ways to stimulate pupils to take an interest in science.
Innovative and inspirational science teaching is seen as a key
component to attract young people to deal with scientific issues,
whether or not they finally choose a career in science. Hence,
"Physics On Stage 3" aims to stimulate the interest of young people
through the school teachers, who can play a key role in reversing the
trend of falling interest in science and current scientific research.
The goals of "Physics On Stage 3"
"Physics on Stage 3" also aims to facilitate the exchange of good
practice and innovative ideas among Europe's science teachers and to
provide a forum for a broad debate among educators, administrators and
policy-makers about the key problems in science education today.
Moreover, it will make available the considerable, combined expertise
of the EIROforum organisations to the European scientific teaching
community, in order to promote the introduction of "fresh" science
into the curricula and thus to convey a more realistic image of modern
science to the pupils.
"Physics on Stage 3" is concerned with basic science and also with the
cross-over between different science disciplines - a trend becoming
more and more important in today's science, which is not normally
reflected in school curricula. A key element of the programme is to
give teachers an up-to-date "insiders'" view of what is happening in
science and to tell them about new, highly-diverse and interesting
career opportunities for their pupils.
Theme of the activities
The theme of "Physics on Stage" this year is "Physics and Life",
reflecting the decision to broaden the Physics on Stage activities to
encompass all the natural sciences. Including other sciences will
augment the already successful concept, introducing a mixture of
cross-over projects that highlight the multidisciplinary aspects of
modern science.
Among the many subjects to be presented are radiation, physics and the
environment, astrobiology (the search for life beyond earth), complex
systems, self-organising systems, sports science, the medical
applications of physics, mathematics and epidemiology, etc.
The main elements
National activities
"Physics on Stage 3" has already started and National Steering
Committees in 22 countries, composed of eminent science teachers,
scientists, administrators and others involved in setting school
curricula, are now preparing related programs in their
countries. Through these national activities, outstanding individuals
will be selected to represent their teachers' communities at the final
international event, the "Physics on Stage 3" festival. A list of
national contact points is attached below.
International festival
The high-profile "festival" during the European Science and Technology
Week 2003 will stimulate the dissemination of successful education
tools and methods, identify the most effective ways to support
teachers and motivate novel developments in science education. It will
take place at the ESA-ESTEC site in Noordwijk (The Netherlands), from
November 8 - 15, 2003. The climax of the event will be the
presentation of the European Science Teaching Awards, in recognition
of teaching excellence, inspiration and motivation of young people.
Online Resource Archive
An online archive of the best teaching materials and practices in
Europe will be established, forming a unique 'resource centre', which
will make available all of the interesting materials identified
through the programme and provide a forum for exchange which will last
well beyond the duration of the activity.
More information
Full information about "Physics on Stage 3" is available at the central
website:
www.physicsonstage.net
>From here there is also direct connection to the national websites and
the many related activities all over Europe. Be sure to check the site
at regular intervals for new information about the developments!
Note
[1] This Press Release is issued jointly by the seven EIROforum
partners: CERN - the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, EFDA
- the European Fusion Development Agreement, EMBL - the European
Molecular Biology Laboratory, ESA - the European Space Agency, ESO -
the European Southern Observatory, ESRF - the European Synchrotron
Radiation Facility and ILL - Institut Laue-Langevin. Earlier ESO
communications about EIROforum activities have been published as ESO
PR 12/01 and ESO PR 21/02. Associated organisations in the "Physics on
Stage 3" programme include the European Physical Society (EPS) and the
European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE).
Press Contact
Richard West
ESO EPR Dept.
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49-89-3200-6276
email: rwest_at_eso.org
List of national contact points
Some URL addresses are not yet available. Check the central website at
www.physicsonstage.net for the latest information and new links.
Austria
www.teilchen.at/POS/
Christian Gottfried - christian.gottfried_at_cern.ch
Belgium
Jacqueline Hellemans - Jacq.Hellemans_at_fys.kuleuven.ac.be
Bulgaria
www.pos2003.hit.bg
Ivan Lalov - UPB_at_phys.uni-sofia.bg
Czech Republic
kdf.mff.cuni.cz/pos
Leos Dvorák - Leos.Dvorak_at_mff.cuni.cz
Denmark
www.formidling.dk/index.pl?url=/aktiviteter/pos3.htm
Mikkel Bohm - mb_at_formidling.dk
Finland
www.oph.fi/projektit/pos3
Jari Koivisto - Jari.Koivisto_at_oph.fi
France
Nicolas Witkowski - niwi99_at_aol.com
Germany
opal.physik.uni-bonn.de/~mkobel/pos/welcome.htm
Michael Kobel - kobel_at_physik.uni-bonn.de
Greece
Nicholas Tracas - ntrac_at_central.ntua.gr
Hungary
Adam Kovach - kovach_at_moon.atomki.hu
Ireland
Brendan O'Donaghue - bdono_at_o2.ie
Italy
www.pd.astro.it/eaae/POS3
Carla Romagnino -