QuarkNet Symposium at Rutgers
University
May 2003
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The Quarknet Symposium of
May 17, 2003 began with a discussion session among Quarknet participants
about the past present and future of the Quarknet project now in its 3rd
year. The Quarknet project is an NSF funded program designed to promote
the teaching of modern physics in the physics classroom with a particular
emphasis on high energy physics and the development of the "Standard
Model" and its interpretation of the nature of the universe. This
Quarknet Symposium was brought to Rutgers through the actions of Dave
Maiullo, demonstration expert for Rutgers University, and Dr. Steve
Schnetzer of the Rutgers High Energy group.
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Dr. Steve Schnetzer
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1:00 PM
The formal program began at
1:00 PM with an introduction by the head of the Rutgers University Physics
Department. This was followed immediately by the first presentation by
Jordan Goodman of the University of Maryland on "Neutrinos, Dark
Matter and the Cosmological Constant - The Dark Side of the
Universe". This discussion by Dr. Goodman centered around the
"missing matter" in the universe: why we believe that matter is
missing and what that missing matter might be. IF you are working from a
fast connection clicking HERE will bring up the PowerPoint presentation as
presented by Dr. Goodman.
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Dr. Jordan Goodman
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Dr. Eugenia Ektina
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3:00 PM
The second part of the program consisted of a series of
brief presentations by Quarknet members discussing how they had introduced
the Quarknet principles into their classrooms.
The first of these
presentations was by Andria Erzberger where she discussed and demonstrated
the cosmic ray detector she had built and then used in her
classroom.
This was followed by a
presentation by Thomas Jordan of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
on the online cosmic ray detector and how anyone with internet access can
download data from the detector. Input from the audience was also sought
regarding what kinds of changes in the information available would be
useful to the typical classroom teacher.
The third presentation
was by Ken Cecire of Hampton University on techniques that can be used to
simulate the types of collisions that go on in high energy accelerators.
The premier of these devices was the "Cookie Crusher".
The final presentation of
this portion of the program was by Dr. Eugenia Ektina. This discussion
centered around the new teacher preparation program at Rutgers which has a
VERY strong emphasis on the strong development of content. The program
seems to be attracting an astonishing number of new recruits at the
graduate level and there are plans for the beginning of an undergraduate
program as of the fall of 2003.
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7:30 PM
The evening dinner
meeting was highlighted by physicist and writer Leonard Mlodinow who spoke
eloquently about his experiences with noted physicist Richard Feynman. The
title of the program, "The Human Element in Physics - Reminiscences
of Feynman and the Birth of String Theory", expresses quite clearly
the extent of the presentation. Dr. Mlodinow described in detail his many
personal experiences with Dr. Feynman and related clearly the human side
of Dr. Feynman.
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Dr. Leonard Mlodinow
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Dave Maiullo
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Saturday, May 17 , 9:30 AM
Another brainstorming
session was held regarding what approaches would best enable teachers to use
the ideas of the Quarknet Project into their classrooms. Much of the
discussion centered around what kind of program will attract teachers and
keep their attention focused on the modern ideas in physics. Discussion
included: online web resources, the Top Quark Activity, teacher grants,
membership in AAPT, how do we see what we see, and the techniques involved
in building your own cosmic ray detector.
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10:30 AM
The next to last session
was presented by Dr. Dick Plano of Rutgers University. The title of the
session "Thirty Years of Particle Physics at Rutgers" say it all.
Dr. Plano reviewed the history of the particle physics program at Rutgers
from its beginning to the present - all from his personal experience!
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Dr. Dick Plano
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Dave Maiullo
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11:00 AM
Finally, Dave again
presented his soon to be famous demo show. Dave is going to be videotaped
and his demos are to be included on CD's distributed with a number of text
books! As always Dave's show was terrific and full of ideas that all physics
teachers can appreciate.
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I would like to thank
Dr. Steven Schnetzer and Dave Maiullo for their promotion of this symposium.
Without them it would not have happened!
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