1. PPHYSICSHYSICS OOUTREACHUTREACH GGROUPROUP
Dr Lynn Moran
Presenters: Jennie Bullock & David Miller

2. What is the Physics Outreach Group?What is the Physics Outreach Group?
• Background
(Set up to encourage students to be more interested in
science and physics in particular)
• Aims
• Method – How it is run
• What we do
• Benefits/Difficulties for
– Department
– Schools
– Students

3. What is the Physics Outreach Group?What is the Physics Outreach Group?
• Group of students & graduates
• Supported by 1 academic
• Design & develop workshops &
presentations
• Deliver these in schools & on
campus

4. BackgroundBackground
• BSc projects in schools
• Requests from schools for follow-up activities
• Requests from Educational Opportunities
• Golden Handshake for new Physics Teachers

5. How we got started?How we got started?
Before 2009
• Recruit volunteers on an ad-hoc basis
Summer 2009
• Regular group of volunteers emerges
New Academic Year
• Group set up
– Posters & e-mail

6. AimsAims
• Quality outreach to schools
• Skills development for students
• Develop a resource for the department
– Experienced students
– Tested materials & workshops
• Long-term: to increase the uptake of Physics

7. Weekly ActivitiesWeekly Activities
• Meet twice weekly usually lunch time
– Discuss new ideas & plans
– Create new workshops
– Participate in communications workshops
– Practice in front of an audience
• Non-credit bearing

8. What We Do – On CampusWhat We Do – On Campus
Educational Opportunities
- Taster sessions
- Science Olympics
AS-level taster days/work exp/Nuffield students
Science Week events in conjunction with the
SchoolsLab in the Chemistry Department

9. What We Do – In SchoolsWhat We Do – In Schools
Yr7-10: Photons in the Classroom
AS-level:
Festivals:
The
Electromagnetic
Spectrum
National
Schools
Observatory
What can you do with a
Physics Degree?
Why
Science?

10. Design & DevelopmentDesign & Development
• Principles of good practice
• Findings from commissioned research
– Science is boring
– Science is difficult
– Science is irrelevant in their lives
– No jobs in physics
– What is Physics?

11. Tackling the IssuesTackling the Issues
• Science is stimulating & fun
(props & interactivity)
• Science is challenging & important
(new technologies & improving the quality of life)
• Science is all around in every part of their lives
• There is a huge variety of jobs available to those
with a degree in physics

12. Tackling the ImageTackling the Image
• Pairs of students
• Build a relationship over 3 visits
• Each design a section of the workshop
• Slick design of slides
• Good quality props

20. Example (Displays - 3D)Example (Displays - 3D)

21. Example (Displays - 3D)Example (Displays - 3D)

22. Evaluation of 3DEvaluation of 3D
• Theory of 3D images was well received

23. SchoolsSchools
• Target schools with low record of university
attendance
• Grammar & independent schools tend to approach us
Workshop Astro
EM
Spectrum
Science is Cool AS-level
Number of
Classes
20 7 15 9
Visits Per Class 3 3 1 1
Average Class
Size
30 25 30 15
Total Students 600 175 450 133
October 2009 – June 2010:

24. EvaluationEvaluation
• A-level: Increased number of students
continuing from AS physics to A2 from 68% to
80%
• 97% of evaluation forms from Electromagnetic
Spectrum Workshop gave positive feedback
“Most interesting physics lesson ever. Brilliant!”
“Really enjoyed the session, changed my view on Physics”
“It was made fun and enjoyable. Physics is a fun thing to me now”
“It showed us how exciting physics can be”
“We couldn’t live without physics!”

25. Benefits to the DepartmentBenefits to the Department
• Can offer a range of outreach activities
• Can agree to more requests for University
visits
• Potential recruitment – some evidence
• Resource

26. Benefits to the SchoolsBenefits to the Schools
• Trained students can visit the classes more than once
• Students are closer in age, particularly relevant for
GCSE & AS-level students
• Teachers better prepared to use National Schools
Observatory software
• More on offer both on and off campus
• Resources available online

27. Benefits to the StudentsBenefits to the Students
• Increased confidence
• Experience (for CV/PGCE application)
• Opportunity to see if they would enjoy teaching
• More enthusiasm for subject
• Difficulty: time pressure on students

28. Member & GraduatesMember & Graduates
Final year students
• 2 first choice of PhD place
• 5 first choice of PGCE place
Members Total Male Female Int
Yr 1 2 1 1 1
Yr 2 5 3 2 1
Yr 3 5 3 2 1
Yr 3 (of 4) 1 0 1
Yr 4 2 1 1
Graduates 3 2 1
Graduates:
• 2 first choice PGCE place

29. Dr Lynn Moran nominated by students and received:
Careers and Employability Award: ‘Outstanding Contribution to Employability’

30. Future PlansFuture Plans
Revision Residential (Easter)
Master Classes (Summer)
Ogden Trust sponsored residential
Ogden Trust Science Officer for Physics & Chemistry
(Dr Shane Lo Fan)
SchoolsLab in Chemistry (Dr Helen Aspinall)
Science Enhancement Programme

31. Activity GroupActivity Group
• New Activity Group recognised by the Guild of
Students
• Freshers’ Week events in the Department
along with PhySoc and AstroSoc/Freshers Fair
• Bid for funding for science communications
events/social events

32. The Physics Outreach Group are:The Physics Outreach Group are: