The European program Physics on Stage gives an excellent opportunity to start working on projects which will unite the efforts of physicists and astronomers to provoke the constant interest in Physics of the whole society, and especially of students. The fulfillment of these projects is going to be of major importance mostly for young people in the current situation and in the future.

For the last few years in Bulgaria, as well as in many other European countries, there has been a decrease in young people’s interest in Mathematical and Natural Sciences. Having analyzed this decreasing interest we could point out numerous reasons for it, especially in Bulgaria. One of the main ones is the lower quality of the studied material and the low popularization of Physics and mostly of Astronomy among young people and the whole society. One of the ways to start changing this situation is by creating and carrying out specific projects like this one, which is presented to you. It aims at improving the quality of the studied material in Physics and mostly in Astronomy, the latter being a very attractive and interesting science for the youth and moreover, Astronomy provokes students’ interest in exact sciences. The presented project for popularization of Physics will unite a big group of physicists, astronomers, teachers and the media.

The project is designed mostly for students and for young people, who are going to be united in educational groups and observation teams. There will also be made interesting and attractive short educational courses in Physics and Astronomy. The scientific-research problems which are going to be discussed in the observational teams will provoke a constant interest and motivation for a future career in the field of Natural Sciences.

This project also involves working with teachers from Natural Science Schools. Several educational courses for refreshing teachers’ knowledge in Astronomy will also be carried out. The popularization of Physics and Astronomy in society will present the constant development in science as facts, hypotheses and new concepts, and also in the light of current ecological problems and connections between astronomical phenomena and ordinary men’s life.

The Educational project “Physics and Astronomy on stage” will be carried out by a team of astronomers and physicists who are currently working in the Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium “Nicholas Copernicus”-Varna. For its 35-year history the Astronomical Observatory has become one of the best schools for young astronomers, a methodic and information center for the youth amateur-astronomical society. The Astronomical Observatory-Varna has always been a partner of The Institute of higher teacher qualification.

The specialists from the Observatory teach about 200 students in the astronomy courses each year. Each month there are being organized observational expeditions with a big number of students to the branch observatory in Avren and to the National Astronomical Observatory-Rozhen. Each year the Astronomical Observatory organizes and hosts the traditional National Astronomical Youth Conference, with 250 participants altogether, also including foreign participants. Since two years the Astronomical Observatory has been organizing and carrying out the National Astronomical Olympiad. The Planetarium is yearly visited by more than 100 000 citizens and guests of the city who have the chance to listen to educational and popular lectures. The entire educational astronomical program for the primary and secondary schools not only in the city, but also in Northwestern Bulgaria, is carried out through the educational lectures given by specialists from the Observatory in the Planetarium and in schools. The popularizing and social activities of the Astronomical Observatory (http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/astro/) have always been high and the Municipality and citizens of Varna unanimously define the Observatory as one of the necessary for the city itself institutions. The specialists from the observatory work on educational, popularizing and scientific-research programs together with colleagues from the Astronomical Institute in BAS in teams with the best prepared students. Lots of the Observatory’s alumni become physicists and astronomers in Bulgaria and abroad. And most of the young people who have attended the Astronomy courses continue to be interested in Science and they continue to seek knowledge about the world around us; feeling attracted and enchanted by the sky, the stars and the most interesting science-Astronomy.

The international popularity and prestige of the Observatory’s team have helped us in the organization of the International Meteor Conference –1995, the Meeting of European Planetary and Cometary Observers MEPCO’99, the International conference for observation of the total solar eclipse-1999 and the meteor shower Perseids, and the International Conference on problems in Physics and Astronomy education –April 2000.

Since 1996 specialists from the Observatory have been working on the educational projects of the European Association for Astronomy education with groups of students. The student groups SOLARIS and COMET were distinguished in the group of the most active and excellently prepared students participating in the program Astronomy on line. The best students were awarded at the National meeting Astronomy on line. The observational teams presented the work on their projects at the 24^th National Astronomical Youth Conference. After their participation in Astronomy on line, the students were eagerly expecting the next opportunity, which turned out to be very appropriate for students living in the seaboard city of Varna. The educational program Sea and Space (http://aol.skyarchive.org/ seaspace/), which gave them diverse and interesting tasks and opportunities, once more evoked the interest of students from several schools in Varna. The students presented their work on the project in the form of posters in their schools and in the Astronomical Observatory. The poster of one of thegroups-DeepSpaceVoyagers http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/dsv/index.html was excellently presented even among the others from the country. It was also presented at the closing initiative of the Educational program Sea and Space in Spain.

The team which will carry out the Educational project is, as follows:

Ivan Ivanov - head of the team, Director of the Astronomical Observatory, astronomer (field of Astronomy research- galaxies, Pedagogical Qualification)

Veselka Radeva – physicist (field of Astronomy research – comets and asteroids, Pedagogical Qualification), http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/astro/ex02.html

Mitko Slavov - astronomer

Eva Bojurova - physicist-meteorologist (field of Astronomy research- meteors) http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/astro/meteor.html

Valya Baeva - astronomer (field of Atronomy research- Sun, Pedagogical Qualification) http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/astro/sunpage.html

For the purpose of fulfilling the different educational and observational programs students from the University of Sofia and schools in Varna will also join the program. They will work on particular programs and they will also introduce their classmates and peers to the initiatives of the program.

The team of active students and university students includes:

Galin Borisov – a student, Major in Astronomy, Department of Physics at the University of Sofia, head of the group SOLARIS from the program Astronomy on line(a student at the Mathematical School in Varna at the time), webmaster of the Bulgarian web pages Astronomy on line, Sea and Space and Physics on stage

http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/solaris/index.html

Alexander Marinov - a student, Major in Astronomy, Department of Physics at the University of Sofia, a member of the group SOLARIS from the progam Astronomy on line(a student at the Mathematical School in Varna at the time)

http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/eclipse99/index.html

Iliyan Darganov - a student at the French Language School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://www.bulgaia.com/people/photos2/index.html, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/dsv/index.html

Rossen Ralev – a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/ulysses/index.html

Yana Radeva - a student at the English Language School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/nature/index.html, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/nature/gallery.html

Svetlin Tasev - a student at the English Language School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/dsv/index.html

Nikolai Dyankov - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/starhunters/index.html

Angel Stoev - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space , http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/starhunters/index.html

Iglika Misheva - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, a participant in Sea and Space, http://aol.skyarchive.org/varna/seaspace/ulysses/index.html

Katia Nikolaeva

Elena Surbinska - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, an active meteor observer

Vladimir Krumov - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna, an active meteor observer

Margarita Racheva - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna

Toma Mihailov - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna

Nadezhda Radeva - a student at the English Language School in Varna

Raiko Raikov - a student at the Mathematical School in Varna

Nikolai Marinov - a student at the Electrotechnical School in Varna

Veselina Vasileva - a student at the English Language School in Varna

Krasimir Popov - a student at the Russian Language School in Varna

Ivan Gradinarov - a student, Major in Computer Technologies at MEI- Varna, a memberof the COMER group from Astronomy on line

Dinko Mironov - a student, Major in Computer Technologies at MEI- Varna

For the purpose of carrying out the Educational Project “Physics and Astronomy on Stage” the team of the Astronomical Observatory is going to work with the cooperation of colleagues-astronomers from the Astronomical Institute in BAS and from Department of Astronomy at the University of Sofia, with colleagues-physicists from the Institute of higher teacher qualification, with specialists from the Inspectorate of Municipality -Varna, with Physics teachers from secondary schools in Varna, with newspapers, radio stations, and private TV channels in Varna. The wide circle of specialists engaged in the Educational project will contribute to the better solution of specific problems and to the fulfillment of the end-goals.

• Provoking a greater interest and refreshing teachers’ knowledge in Astronomy, Physics, Geography and Chemistry in connection with the newest breakthroughs and discoveries in science in the form of facts, hypotheses. Creation of new concepts of science in the light of current ecological problems and the specific connection between astronomical phenomena and ordinary men’s life.
• Provoking the interest of children and pupils at primary schools in Physics, Astronomy and Astronautics through appropriate for the children “star shows”, exhibitions of children’s pictures and competitions for children’s science fiction stories and a competition for a project for a Lunar and a Martian station.
• Provoking the interest of high school students’ in Physics and Astronomy through lectures in the Planetarium and carrying out educational observational projects.
• Introducing the breakthroughs and discoveries in Physics and Astronomy to citizens through the announcement of “Days of Physics and Astronomy” during the so-called “Week of the Sea”, announcement of “Open-doors Days” in the Maritime Planetarium and carrying out night sky observations for citizens.
• Carrying out a big Media program “Physics on Stage” which will include: publishing weekly articles about specifuic issues and a series of TV and radio programs “Physics on Stage”.
• Maintaining a constant interest and a higher level of knowledge in Physics and Astronomy of children, students, teachers and citizens through a specially designed web-page Physics on Stage, which will contain, besides the scientific information, information about all public activities and presentations on the project “Physics on Stage”.

The project will be carried out in two programs: for teachers and for students. It wil be carried out during the entire year 2000
EDUCATIONAL PROJECT ”Physics and Astronomy on stage”

For students:

Goals of the project:

Educational goals

• Acquiring basic knowledge in Physics and Astronomy and developing a constant interest in Natural and Mathematical sciences
• Broadening knowledge in Physics and Astronomy and acquiring new knowledge in Physics and Astronomy.
• Developing creative skills in students, provoked by current breakthroughs in Physics, Astronomy and Astronautics.
• Stimulation of efforts for acquiring knowledge on one’s own and its application in the solution of a specific problem
• Developing a scientific approach to the solution of specific problems.
• Educating skills for analysis of the scientific problem, for specific assignments and choice of methods for their solution, for observations with astronomical instruments; skills in team work and in a research team
• Stimulating interest in acquring knowledge through the global information net - INTERNET and in the scientific methods used by well-known physicists and astronomers.
• Stimulation of interest in working in observational teams, which includes theoretical preparation, the solution of a specific observational assignment, processing and analyzing the observations and presenting the result to the team.
• Presentation of knowledge in Physics and Astronomy in connection with knowledge in Ecology which is vitally important for the future of all of us and of mankind as a whole.

• Exploration of the activity of the comet S4 LINEAR and determination of the basic parameters of the solar wind.
• Exploration of solar activity in the year of the maximum of the 11-year solar cycle.
• Studying the Messier objects with the methods of astrophotography
• Observation of NEO’s – Near and Dangerous for the Earth Objects –comets and asteroids
• Exploration of the activity of the meteor showers observed during the entire year.
• Plan for the initiatives in the fulfillment of the project
• Astronomy courses for students from the 4^th to the 12^th grade of the schools in Varna (January- December 2000)

• Weekly lectures for students about current problems in Physics and Astronomy in the Planetarium and in schools.
• An astronomy school for discussion and solution of theoretical and observational problems in Astronomy and in Physics (January- December 2000)
• Organization of first, second and third stage of the National Astronomical Olympiad (January-June 2000)
• Organization of the 26-th National Astronomical Youth Conference with foreign participants 1^st-3^rd April 2000
• Organization of an Astroschool “Physics on stage” –Rozhen2000-(July-August 2000)
• Organization of 2 summer schools to the Observatory in Avren-(July and August 2000)
• Carrying out an observation program “The bright comet S4LINEAR in the year of high solar activity” –January-August 2000
• Creating and carrying out an observation program –NEO’s 2000 and start of observations with 50/70 Schmidttelescope and CCD at NAO-Rozhen –(January- December 2000)
• Creating and carrying out a program for observations of the Sun- visually and photographically(January-December 2000)
• Creating and carrying out an observation program Meteors-2000 for observations of meteor showers during the entire year (January-December 2000)
• Organizing a competition for a children’s picture and an essay on topic “The Universe- near and remote” for students up to the 8th grade- 4.10.2000
• Organizing a competition for projects and models of a Lunar and a Martian station for students up to the 10-th grade -4.10.2000
• Organizing a competition for a computer picture and animation on topic: Exploration of the Space; for students up to the 11-th grade-4.10.2000
• Creating a webpage –Physics on Stage with a scientific and educational purpose and with information about the Observatory’s activities on the program

The astronomical courses for students broaden their knowledge in Astronomy and in Physics immensely, and they also stimulate a higher interest in these sciences. The program of these courses includes topics in the following two aspects: Visual and real locations and movements of celestial bodies; Nature of the Solar System’s minor bodies; Stars and Star evolution; Structure and origin of the Universe; Instruments and methods of Astronomy; Space Astronomy.

The series of Astronomy lectures were created according to the Program for Physics andAstronomy education for secondary schools in Bulgaria. The lectures presented to students correspond to the idea of an attractive, interesting and provoking the imagination way of presenting factual information. The lectures are given in schools and in the Maritime Planetarium, all conditions which are appropriate for work with children are being used. This education includes discussions which give students the worthwhile opportunity to present their own point of view on the discussed topics, to learn how to defend their position and to be tolerant to the rationality in the suggestions and ideas of others involved in the discussion. One of the best opportunities for provoking the stronger interest of students is participation in the traditionally held 26^th National Astronomical Youth Conference which also includes foreign participants. At this conference students present their observations, calculations and analyses; exhibitions of astrophotographs are made; programs for teamwork are discussed. The National Astronomical Conference, which is organized by the specialists from the Astronomical Observatory- Varna, is the only forum for students and university students who are interested in Astronomy. Education in Astronomy and Physics will develop and it will be carried out according to two programs: amateur research observations and active preparation and participation in the three stages of the National Astronomical Olympiad. The preparation for participation in the Astronomical Olympiad is an interesting and attractive for students creative activity. It is carried out through students’ instruction in a school for Astronomy problems. For the solution of these problems theoretical knowledge is necessary but not enough. Besides knowledge in Astronomy and Physics which is acquired in high school, students also have to acquire the so-called complex astronomical knowledge. It is acquired practically, in the process of solving many and different problems, depending on the student‘s observational skills and theoretical knowledge of Astronomy, including solution of problems in Astronomy. This complex knowledge allows students to understand what an Astronomy problem is, how its solution begins, and what the essence of its solution is. Fundamental concepts in Astronomy, which definitely have a methodological character, are the basis of complex astronomical knowledge. In fact, amateur research observations are more attractive for students, who create special observational programs for these observations. Students work together with teachers and develop a scientific approach to different problems. They also learn how to analyze the scientific problem, they are given specific problems and they choose methods for their solution. A significant part of this education is connected with work with observational equipment and with skills in teamwork. Astroschools “Physics on stage” for students in NAO- Rozhen will be organized in July and August. An interesting educational and observation program will be carried out together with astronomers and university students. Astroschools for students from Varna will also be organized in the small Astronomical Observatory –Avren, which is near Varna.

For the purpose of maintaining a constant interest in astronomical knowledge, the global information net- INTERNET will be used. In it a wider range of theoretical and observational information could be found, as well as processing and analyzing computer programs.

The theoretical education includes: creating an observation program – carrying out this program- processing and analyzing the results- publications in amateur astronomical magazines- presentation of activities during the year at the National Astronomical Youth Conference – April 2001; activities on the observational programs will be presented in the web-page of the Educational program “Physics on stage”; presentation of all activities at the traditional Astronomical Youth Conference- April 2001. There will also be a methodical part in each educational and observational program, and it will include methodical explanation of the observational problems as well as methods for their solution, results and analysis. The activities on each observation program will be presented in a small booklet. It will be given to Astronomy and Physics teachers for the purpose of working on the Program for high school education and extracurricular activities in Astronomy for the 12^th grade. On the basis of all observation programs an additional textbook in Physics and Astronomy will be created: “Practical problems and observations for high school Astronomy”.

For the purpose of provoking interest among younger students a competition for a picture and an essay will be organized. The competitions for a picture and an essay aim to provoke children’s interest in specific knowledge about near and remote Space, which they are going to present in their own works of art. Older students from the Arts schools will be attracted to the idea of the program Physics on stage thanks to the competitions for a model of planetary stations and computer space animation. These competitions will require from older students additional preparation and skills, they will contribute to the understanding of connections of Physics with other sciences, to the application of knowledge in Astronomy and Physics for the solution of particular problems. A group of astronomers, pilots, physicists and artists will choose the best among them. On October 4^th (23 years ago on that day the first Earth satellite was launched) a Physics and Astronomy show will be organized. The best projects, pictures and essays will receive an award. Astronomy and Astronautics lectures will be given, and observations with telescopes for students and citizens of Varna will be organized.

Activities on the Educational project Physics on stage have already started in the beginning of year 2000. It is then that the educational course in Astronomy at the Astronomical Observatory began, and it includes about 200 students who attend theoretical and observation courses. During the first five months they attend the theoretical part of the course. During the months June, July and August students attend the observational part of the Astronomy courses. They are organized in teams and they choose to work on preferred by them observation programs, which are offered by the specialists.

A team of students has been actively working on the program for observation of solar activity since the beginning of the year. Lots of students interested in the Sun and in Solar activity join it during the summer. Every sunny day visual observations of the Sun are carried out, and results are sent to the center in Belgium and to the center for Sun observations in Canada. The observed and photographed by a team of students Aurora Borealis in April, 2000 from Bulgaria was one of the most interesting observations of Solar activity and it was a real success. The results from the observation were presented at the conference in Zaichar, Serbia. The poster for the Aurora Borealis, which was created for the program Physics on stage, will be presented on the 27^th National Astronomical Youth Conference in the year 2001 in Varna. It will also be presented in the web page of the program Physics and Astronomy on stage and in the web-page of the Astronomical Observatory in Varna.

The program for observation of the comet S4 LINEAR started in March when a team of students made the first astrometric observations of the comet. These observations were sent and published in MPC. The following astrometric observations of the approaching to the Sun comet were made by the team of students in April and May. In June they made the first photometric observations of the comet. Images of the comet for the program Physics on stage were immediately published in the comet page of JPL:http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov and in the page of Austrian comet observers: http://cometLINEAR.com. The students made the first visual estimations of the comet’s brightness and the first astrophotographs of the bright comet. Working on this project gave them new knowledge about small bodies in the Solar System and worthwhile experience with observational equipment. We have been working on the program for NEO’s –Near and Dangerous for the Earth Comets and Asteroids since the beginning of this year and a team of well-prepared students and university students is carrying it out. They are being taught how to work with big professional telescopes with CCD cameras. They are also taught how to operate the necessary software and processing programs. They are working under the directions of specialists from the Astronomical Observatory- Varna with the 50/70 Schmidttelescope in NAO-Rozhen. Results from the observations are sent and published in The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars contain information about unusual minor planets and routine data on comets. They are published on behalf of Commission 20 of the International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. The activities and the results from these observations will be presented as a poster at the 26^th National Youth Astronomical Conference in Varna.

The program for observation of objects from the Messier catalogue has been carried out since June. Working on this program gives students knowledge about the brightest and most interesting nebulae and galaxies. Such images will be put in a poster which will be given to teachers as a school appliance. The student team will learn how to work with the Schmidtteleskope+ST8 and with the camera’s software. The use of UBVR filters will give students the chance to participate in the image processing together with the astronomers who explore the observed objects.

The program for observation of meteor showers has also been carried out since the beginning of the year and all major and minor showers are being observed. These observations will be presented at the International meteor conference in Roumania. The results from each observational program will be presented in posters, which will be presented at the 27^th National Astronomical Youth conference and they will be put in the program’s web-page.

The observational programs for the summer observation expeditions to the Astronomical Observatory- Avren and to the National Astronomical Observatory- Rozhen have already been created and they are being carried out.

The 26^th National Astronomical Youth Conference was held in Varna from April 1^st to April 4^th. It was organized under the guidance of the specialists from the Astronomical Observatory- Varna. The participants were about 250 students and university students from the Astronomical Observatories, from schools from all over the country and the Department of Physics in the University of Sofia. About 60 papers, lots of posters and 4 astro-photoexhibitions were presented. The fourth stage of the Astronomical Olympiad was held on April 4^th and there were about 50 students- participants.

For teachers:

Goals of the project:

• Giving a higher qualification in Physics, Astronomy, Geography and Chemistry to teachers
• Exchange of methodical experience and information about the newest breakthroughs in Physics and Astronomy
• Presentation of the educational programs in Physics and Astronomy in other European countries, the problems of these programs and of these ways of teaching
• Presentation of European and American programs on the INTERNET for Astronomy and Physics teachers, which could be used in the process of teaching Physics and Astronomy
• Supplying better equipment and up-to-date information to Physics and Astronomy teachers

1. A discussion for presenting to teachers the opportunities to work together with specialists from the Observatory and the Maritime Planetarium for giving lectures during the year 1999-2000.
2. Consulting teachers before lectures for provoking students’ interest in Astronomy and Physics in the Planetarium
3. Holding an International conference on the problems of education in Physics and Astronomy –April 4^th 2000.
4. A five-day course for education of high school teachers in Astronomy, Physics, Geography and Chemistry. Giving lectures according to the educational program, practical experience, night observations, presentation of the possibilities to use INTERNET in Physics and Astronomy teaching- September 5^th -19^th 2000
5. A three day course for primary school teachers for presentation of the lectures and discussion of Astronomy knowledge in the subject Natural Sciences; Astronomy and Mathematics shows for children –September 10^th- 12^th .2000.
6. A program for teachers for extracurricular activities in Astronomy for the 12^th grade with a practical guide -September 15^th .2000.

During the instruction of Physics and Astronomy teachers, except for sticking to specific educational problems, there will also be additional discussions about new concepts and methods for improving the quality of education given to students.

It will also be offered to abandon previously used non-effective methods and models because they lead to automatic remembering of the information, which students cannot really use. A new method for Astronomy and Physics teaching will be offered to teachers. Education in Physics should allow students to afterwards use this knowledge in everyday life. It is necessary that students understand a number of physical laws and concepts which are necessary in everyone’s life. Interest in Physics will definitely grow if Physics education reveals the importance of such knowledge in the following two aspects:

Knowledge in Physics is knowledge about the world in us and around us. It is the basis needed to understand the connection between animate and inanimate Nature and it is connected with global issues nowadays such as depletion of natural resources, energy needs, preservation of the environment. Knowledge in Physics is an essential part of universal culture. Its absence narrows the knowledge of a young specialist in any field because firstly, one cannot comprehend the information contained in lots of scientific terms and concepts, most of which are Physical and are studied at school. Physics gives us knowledge about the rational utilization of natural energy resources.

Knowledge in Physics is humanitarian in its nature because it has a not only specific but also universal aspect. Physics also determines one’s outlook Education of the type “I study Physics in order to create” will be offered. This concept aims at helping students to acquire knowledge on their own at different stages so that they could use this knowledge for the solution of problems. Students will be stimulated to ask questions, solve problems, put forward hypotheses and determine methods for finding a proof; they will also learn how to use astronomical equipment. They will have to learn how to show initiative and responsibility when they use their knowledge in Physics for the solution of domestic, production, social and other problems. These educational principles will be supported with specific examples from the pedagogical practice in teaching Astronomy of the specialists from the Observatory. Training of Physics teachers aims at making them competent in the application of knowledge in Physics. They become more skillful in the processes of understanding and analyzing scientific information and data and in the future professional orientation of young people, as well as in the explanation of applications of technical devices, and processes in animate and inanimate substance. Training teachers will also involve presentation of information and knowledge, which could make Physics education more attractive, interesting, intelligible and pragmatic, more emotional and applicable in life. This way Physics which is taught in school could become a more interesting and attractive subject. And after the reforms in Bulgarian education, when students will have the opportunity to choose which subjects to study in high school, Physics will not be ignored as it has always been up to now.

The realization of the educational project for teachers requires a very good preparation from the specialists from the Astronomical observatory. For this purpose detailed plans of training programs, lectures, practical training and the methodical part of observations, will be designed and these plans will be carried out together with teachers. It will also be offered to organize space shows providing basic Physics knowledge to children from primary schools. The team from the observatory in Varna has been working on this part of the project since the beginning of year 2000. In the beginning of the year teachers were introduced to the possibilities to work together with specialists from the Observatory and the Maritime Planetarium, who offered to give lectures during the year 1999-2000. The result was a good coordination between teachers, specialists from the Astronomical Observatory and the Planetarium of the Maritime School. The opportunity to use the biggest Planetarium in the country for Physics and Astronomy classes provoked the interest of teachers and students. Discussions with teachers were made before each educational lecture in the Planetarium. Besides the information given according to the curriculum, interesting new information was given to students with the purpose of provoking a more serious interest in Physics and Astronomy.

In the days when the National Astronomical Youth Conference was held, an International Conference on the problems of Physics and Astronomy education “Physics on stage“ –April 4^th .2000 was held. In the conference participated about 50 Physics and Astronomy teachers, teachers from Poland, Roumania, Germany, specialists from Astronomical Observatories in Bulgaria, lecturers from the Department if Astronomy, representatives from the Ministry of Science and Education and students from the Department of Physics of the University of Sofia. About 12 basic papers were presented. The guests of the conference were introduced to the methods of extracurricular education of the Polish teacher Vlodimej Klata, and with Astronomy education in Roumania. Specialists from the Ministry of Education and The Institute of higher teacher qualification in Varna presented the problems in Astronomy teaching in high schools. In the discussion after the presentation of the papers lots of problems connected with the Physics and Astronomy curriculum were discussed, as well as problems with the new plans of the Ministry of Education for drastic limitations of Physics classes and for elimination of Astronomy in the high school program. The Conference took place in the Conference hall of the Municipality building- Varna and state officials in the field of education also accepted the Organization Committee’s invitation to the conference.

The realization of the plan and the initiatives of the educational project for teachers will provoke the stronger interest of teachers and students in Physics and Astronomy, and this will be the teachers’ motivation for finding a better method of teaching. Thus, education will be of a higher quality.
 
 

The educational project “Physics and Astronomy on stage” aims at popularizing Physics and Astronomy discoveries and breakthroughs among students and citizens of Varna. This popularization of Astronomy and Physics will be carried out in the Planetarium of the Maritime School and with the help of the Media in Varna. The project attracted newspapers in Varna such as “Cherno more”, “Chernomorie”, “Narodno delo”, the radio stations Varna, Channel Com, Atlantic, Darik Radio, Radio Alfa; the private TV channels Mustang, VarnaCabel, Varna TV, Heros. The project’s goals will be fulfilled in the year 2000. It will provoke students’ and citizens’ interest in Astronomy, Physics and Geography through a series of publications in newspapers and radio and TV programs. Provoking high school students’ interest in Physics and Astronomy will be achieved through lectures in the Planetarium. Another goal is provoking society’s interest in newest achievements and breakthroughs in Astronomy and Physics through the announcement of Physics and Astronomy “days” during the “Week of the Sea”. This is a week- holiday of the city of Varna – which is rich in cultural and sports activities. In this week “Open doors” in the Maritime Planetarium will be announced, and lots of night observations for citizens will be carried out. A Media program Physics on Stage is already being carried out. It includes publications of weekly articles on particular topics and a series of TV and radio programs “Physics and astronomy on Stage”.

1. A video tape “Physics on stage- Bulgaria 2000”

2. A poster: “Physics and Astronomy- Bulgaria 2000”

3. Poster: “The bright comet S4 LINEAR, in the year of high Solar activity”

4. Poster: CCD observations and astrophotographs of galaxies and nebulae “Miracles of the Universe”

This poster will include the images of the objects from the Messier catalogue which were taken with the Schmidttelescope at NAO-Rozhen

5. Poster: “Aurora Borealis from Bulgaria”

This poster includes the observation of Aurora Borealis from Bulgaria in April 2000.

6. Poster: ”Near Earth Objects “

This poster will include the observations of the most interesting comets and asteroids, passing near the Earth

7. Poster: “Meteor showers- 2000”

This poster will include photographic observations of meteor showers- results of the meteor expeditions during the year.

8. An exhibition of children’s paintings on topic “The Universe- near and remote” and models of a Lunar and a Martian station
9. Webpage “Physics and Astronomy on Stage” with a scientific and educational purpose and with information about the Observatory’s activities according to the program

Activities on the programs in the presented project “Physics and Astronomy on stage” will require very good and effective material and technical foundation. For the realization of the project all available at the Observatory equipment will be used. However, for the full and high-quality realization of the project more resources and equipment will be necessary. They will enable the more effective and far better fulfillment of all goals.

For the purpose of giving a series of educational and popular lectures and for the National Astronomical Conferences, as well as for the theoretical education of students in courses, a video-рrojector for computer presentations will be needed. Its use in the Planetarium and for giving lectures will make them much more attractive and easy to understand. It will be possible to present new images, computer animations and films. Thus, students will be able to learn the new information quickly and they will have a really sound knowledge. The visual perception of information is essential for sound knowledge and for the maintenance of a strong constant interest in Physics and Astronomy.

For the realization of the observational programs a new telescope with bigger capabilities and a CCD-camera, sets of filters, software and a computer for the telescope’s operation and processing of the data is needed. The ambitious observational-research programs in the Educational project aim not only at provoking a constant interest, but also at young people’s preparation for the difficult and responsible profession of the astronomer. Having in mind the obsolete observational equipment of the Astronomical Observatory- Varna, better and up-to-date technique will immensely improve the educational and observational work of students and specialists. Moreover, due to the fact that the telescope MEADE Meade 16" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope is a very good optical instrument, it will be used for conducting a wide range of observational educational programs. Supplying the telescope with a CCD- camera will introduce students to the newest observational methods in Astronomy. The preparation for working as well as working with this excellent observational equipment will enable the fulfillment of all observational programs and assignments from the Educational project “Physics and Astronomy on stage”. The students, who will be grouped in observational teams, will learn how to operate the equipment and how to work with the software and with practical programs for data processing. Thus, students who are interested in observations of lots of astronomical objects will have the chance to do this. Providing the resources for the purchase of a video-projector, a telescope with a CCD camera and a computer, will immensely help the team of specialists from the Astronomical Observatory- Varna in the educational work. Their activities have always been directed to the Physics and Astronomy education of students and to the popularization of Physics and Astronomy among the citizens of Varna.

2. A Meade 16" LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope - 5500 EVRO

3. A set of solar, UBVR-filters and comet filters - 1 000 EVRO

4. CCD SBIG – ST9E - 3 950 EVRO

5. A portable computer - 1500 EVRO