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The AIP Travelling Scholarship
The AIP (Vic Branch) Education Committee provides one scholarship worth up to $2000 each year for a teacher to attend an overseas physics conference.
Teachers interested in applying for the scholarship should send i)details of the event they wish to attend ii) a statement about their contribution to physics education and why they should be selected and iii) a letter of recommendation from their school to reach the AIP at PO Box 304, Glen Waverley VIC 3150 by the end of the first week in March each year.
It is expected that the successful applicant will give a presentation at a Physics Teachers Conference and other suitable events upon return.
In 2009 the scholarship was awarded to Barry Homewood form Braemar College, whoc attended the 'EinsteinPlus' workshop at The Perimeter Institute in Toronto, Canada. This is an annual event and teachers may wish to attend it or other conferences.
The Perimeter Institute, among many things, runs workshops for Canadian and international physics teachers and they cover all costs within Canada, that is, workshops costs, accommodation, travel and meals. A person just has to get to Toronto.
The workshop "EinsteinPlus" is on the teaching of modern physics including quantum physics, special and general relativity, and cosmology and runs in early August. Participants need to register by the end of March.
However there is a catch. The Institute won't accept anyone. Applicants need to show evidence of innovative teaching, to be active in professional development and to be prepared to conduct activities for other teachers on return as well as having something for 'Show and tell’ at the workshop.
Check their website for information and the application form. Their application process includes the teacher’s form, a letter of interest by the teacher and letter(s) of recommendation.
The scholarship can be used for any overseas conference on physics education.
Other international Conferences include:
- American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) National Meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA from 17 - 21 July, 2010. This website will give some details about this event, but details about their February meeting will give a better idea of what to expect.
- GIREP, the International Research Group on Physics Teaching, will have their 2010 conference in Reims, France from 22 - 27 August 2010. Their website has details about the conference and proceedings of other conferences to give you a sense of what is normally on offer.
- International Commission on Physics Education (ICPE) 2010 Conference will be in Mexico City, date unknown at this stage. Check this website for details of previous conferences.
- Association for Science Education (ASE) Conference in UK during January 2011. Check this website for details of the ASE Conference for January 2010.
The successful teacher is expected to actively participate in the event, if possible by offering a workshop, and to also present a session about the experience at a following Physics Teachers Conference.
Applications for the scholarship should show evidence of innovative teaching and activity in professional development and be supported by a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s school. The applications should state the chosen international conference and indicate how the applicant might participate.
Scholarship applications should reach the AIP at PO Box 304, Glen Waverley VIC 3150 by the end of the first week in March each year to enable the Committee to make a quick decision, so that the successful applicant can begin planning.