Physics Outreach & Education (O)

3 ch (3C) (W) · Undergraduate

Role within programme and connections to other courses. This course is meant to help us develop the skills needed to communicate with non-specialists concerning physics. Given that most physics research is ultimately paid for by the public, it behooves physicists to communicate effectively with those who are funding their work, for the benefit of both parties. The goal of such communication is two-fold: (1) to insure that the general public is physics literate and therefore able to enter into a discourse about the science, and (2) to insure that the next generation of university students is exposed to physics in such a way that they can make an informed choice about whether or not their academic and career paths should include physics. Content. Topics may include: science journalism, science museums and exhibits, outreach to schools and other groups, physics education and physics education research.