The Challenge
The past decades’ discoveries and technologies of astronomy, astrophysics, and space science are remarkable, engaging, and rich in physics. This summer there will be a workshop at University of Nebraska, Lincoln to explore ways to use these materials to enrich college and university physics instruction. This is a challenging task. Do you want to help?
Stars orbiting a black hole at the center of our Galaxy (shown at right), exo-planets, and quantitative cosmology – and the technologies that underlie them – such as IR detectors, multi-mirror telescopes, long baseline radio interferometry, orbiting x-ray and gamma-ray telescopes – are only a few examples of topics that are both exciting and rich in physics. They engage students.
These and other discoveries shape our understanding of humanity’s place in the universe. Every student should know this story. And every physics student should know the physics that supports this modern version of Newton’s System of the World.
The challenge of the UATP workshop is to find practical ways to encourage the effective use of astronomy to enhance college and university physics instruction. By participating in the workshop you can help define the challenge and meet it.
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln will host the workshop on the UNL campus from July 27 to July 30, 2011. AAPT is handling the registration details and their registration website should be open very soon. The registration fee is $250 which includes the welcome dinner the evening of July 27. The registration fee for non-participating companions is $50. Links to lodging arrangements may be found below. There is a dormitory option as well as a convenient hotel with special rates for workshop participants.
Contact Charles H. Holbrow (cholbrow@colgate.edu) or Kevin Lee at UNL (klee6@unl.edu) for more information or if you wish to be invited. The capacity of the workshop is limited, so it is a good idea to inquire soon.