Available Projects (Hons/MSc/PhD)

We are developing programs for introducing exciting modern physics topics to students aged 7-15, using toys, activities, games and group learning, out of school STEM clubs, and hackathons. Each topic requires students to develop deep intuitive understanding of one or more fundamental topics, and then to imagine, brainstorm, and trial engaging ways of introducing the topic to school students. All the topics are intended to be calculus free, but include Maths for Einstein’s Universe, which introduces vectors, powers of ten estimation and curved space geometry.

Students interested in promoting a deep understanding of the Universe, and in science communication have an opportunity to pursue topics they find interesting, to work with a team, and to create valuable and inspiring education products and research papers reporting trial results.

Currently we are interested in developing activities for learning about the following topics:

• • Quantum computers
  • Universal constants and Planck units
  • Quantum spin and applications
  • Bosons, fermions, and the standard model
  • Quantum physics in biology, such as photosynthesis
  • Quantum physics in climate science
  • Life in the Universe and Fermi estimation
  • The history and evolution of the Universe
  • The history and evolution of the Earth’s climate
  • The quantum information paradox of black holes

Masters, Honours, and PhD projects can include one or several of the following components: developing a program on a particular topic, trialling it with a school class or a STEM club, creating a teacher background document to explain it to teachers, creating short videos to train teachers on the activities you propose, designing tests for measuring student responses, analysis of results from trials, presenting workshops on the topic for school teachers, and writing papers for publication.

You will be part of an enthusiastic, passionate team.

Specific Focus Areas for Possible Projects

Quantum Spin and quantum science

• • Develop activities that teach quantum spin in high school (building off current primary modules)

Database and statistical analysis of schools test results

• • Develop statistical analysis software and guidelines/backend

Science Writing (Teacher backgrounds)

• • Create a detailed and well-researched teacher background sheet for a chosen topic. Evaluate effectiveness with teachers.

Video creation for chosen topics

• • Develop new training videos for teachers and evaluate their effectiveness.

Workshop outcomes

• • Evaluate new activity effectiveness from single workshop sessions
  • Develop activities for full school trials

Tests development and analysis

Assessing a mathematics curriculum to support physics education

Develop approaches to teaching climate science which take climate anxiety into account

• • Incorporate existing research and best practices into the climate science curriculum
  • Evaluate impacts of the program on climate anxiety

PhD Projects (all of the above with broader focus and more topics)

Teacher Training (primary and secondary)

• • Evaluate results from teacher training micro-credential courses
  • Compare training methods and student outcomes across trials

Longitudinal tracking of the Einstein-First program

• • Evaluate student knowledge/attitude outcomes from 3 consecutive trials (e.g. year 3, 4, and 5)
  • Compare to past single-trial data

Developing and assessing a secondary mathematics curriculum to enhance physics education

Climate to Cosmology: a year 10 lesson sequence encompassing the history of the universe, the climate of planets and the past and future climate of the Earth

• • Evaluate student knowledge/attitude outcomes
  • Compare to past single-trial data