About Physics on Stage

Physics on Stage

A joint programme by the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory(ESO) for the European Week for Science and Technology 2000

Physics on Stage is a unique initiative that we believe will have significant impact on the public understanding of physics in general and on the teaching of this subject in Europe's schools. Physics on Stage is being supported by the European Commission as part of the 5th Framework Programme. A contract between the Commission and the organisers is currently under negotiation and we expect a formal agreement at the beginning of January 2000.

We take this opportunity to approach you, with regard to an agreement between EPS, ESA, CERN and ESO, since you have already been engaged with great success in activities towards improving the public understanding of science in your country. With this letter, we would therefore like to invite you, as primary contact, to join this exciting project at this early stage, and in particular to establish a National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Physics on Stage activities to be undertaken in your country. It is essential for the success of the programme that this committee plays an active role in the promotion and organisation of the associated events, along with the NSCs in other European countries. You will find full project details and some related suggestions for national activities in the attached documents.

A key element of Physics on Stage is a 5-day meeting of approx. 400 experts on physics teaching and popularisation, held at CERN in Geneva in November 2000. At this unique event, delegates from 22 European countries will present their ideas and techniques, generating creativity and collaboration amongst physics educators from all over Europe.

The festival in Geneva, however, will be the culminating event of previous wide-ranging activities in each of the 22 participating countries. The national programmes will play a crucial role in the Physics on Stage programme.

The main objectives are:

To catalyze a debate on physics teaching amongst educators, the media and politicians.
To identify the most effective, exciting and innovative methods for teaching physics. These methods can be of almost any conceivable type; demonstrations, lectures, innovative teaching materials, hands-on activities, theatre, video, Web applications etc. etc.

Physics educators should be invited to show their best and a selection process, perhaps a national competition, will identify the people to be invited to Geneva to present their projects to the other national representatives at the Physics on Stage festival. We note in this context the possibility of providing some direct support to particularly worthy "performances", as outlined in the accompanying document (Physics on Stage Guide plus annex).

A concerted European-wide initiative will inevitably draw greater attention to the goals of Physics on Stage. We are convinced that the process of encouraging new effective teaching methods in all of the involved countries will generate a wealth of ideas and techniques which will also ensure an outstanding success of the "showcase" event at CERN in November 2000.

We trust that you will be equally excited by the Physics on Stage project as we are. It is most clearly an unrivalled opportunity to channel existing European expertise and creativity in physics education towards stimulating a renewed interest in physics, especially among young people in European countries.

We will send copies of the present letter with enclosures to a few other persons in your country (see attached list), who are known to take a particular interest in the goals of Physics on Stage, as well as to the delegates of ESA, ESO and CERN. We believe that it may be useful to consider taking up contact with these colleagues for an early discussion on how the various activities with in Physics on Stage may be carried out in your area. We would like to inform you that you may access a private FTP where you will find more information about Physics on Stage. To access the private FTP you need

• the host name: ftp://ftp.estec.esa.nl

• the user name: admrensc

• the password: nsc_2000

We look forward to hearing your opinions and comments on the Physics on Stage project and to generate momentum we would be delighted with a reaction by 1 December.

Yours sincerely,

Prof Frank Close (CERN), Prof. Wubbo Ockels (ESA), Dr. Richard West (ESO)