1. PHYSCON 2025 - Making a Quantum Leap: Last Day for Call for Presenters. Registration opens next Monday
                       
Vicphysics Teachers’ Network Inc is excited to announce that “PHYSCON 2025 – Making a Quantum Leap,” a hybrid conference for all teachers of Physics, will be taking place on Friday, 21 February online and at Swinburne University of Technology’s Hawthorn Campus with the support of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

2025 is the international “Year of Quantum” and we are very fortunate to have Professor Nicolas Menicucci from RMIT giving a keynote address at the conference.  He is an outstanding communicator who is leading the Australian national campaign to raise awareness of the ubiquity and importance of quantum phenomena as well as the opportunities that quantum technologies present for those who have physics knowledge and skills.

The other keynote speaker is Prof Manjula Sharma from the University of Sydney.  Prof Sharma is a professor of Science Education and is active in STEM and teacher enrichment.

Program features:

• Inspiring keynote speakers: quantum physicist, Prof Nick Menicucci and physics education expert, Prof Manjula Sharma, see details above.
• Four sessions encompassing more than 40 workshops relevant to secondary Physics teaching and learning, many livestreamed and available post event on demand,
• Presentations by the VCE Physics Chief Assessor and the VCAA Science Curriculum Manager,
• Includes networking opportunities, exhibitors, cutting-edge laboratory tours and Saturday excursions.

Click here of a copy of the flyer.
Presenting: If you want to share your expertise and knowledge with your colleagues by presenting a workshop, either in-person or online, please click here by this Tuesday.
Conference Fees.

	Early Bird before 18th Dec
	Student/Retired	School member	Individual member	Non-member
in person	$120.00	$310.00	$290.00	$330.00
online	$80.00	$140.00	$120.00	$160.00
	Regular
	Student/Retired	School member	Individual member	Non-member
in person	$150.00	$340.00	$320.00	$360.00
online	$110.00	$170.00	$150.00	$190.0

Registrations will open next Monday.

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2. A Framework for Teachers of Physics
The UK Institute of Physics (IOP) has produced a booklet that provides a framework for teachers that supports their professional learning by providing a structure that can be used to evaluate, reflect on and improve their own practice.

The document identifies four stages of development with many examples for each. 

Foundation Knowledge: Teacher’s theoretical background knowledge.  It includes, but is not restricted to, the subject matter knowledge of physics required to teach the subject.  Two examples are

• A physics teacher can articulate their subject knowledge to their peers and to students. They understand the underlying structure of their subject and not simply a collection of facts about the subject.
• A physics teacher is aware that the way in which they teach physics will leave a lasting impression of the subject. They know how to represent physics in a way that leaves students with an enduring positive view of the discipline and trust in its ideas, explanations and practices.

Transformation Knowledge: focuses on knowledge-in-action. It describes the ability of a teacher to transform their subject matter knowledge into a form that is accessible to the learners.

• A physics teacher knows of a range of books and other educational resources relevant to the area being taught/studied and is able to match these to specifications/courses being taught as well as ensuring they are suitable in their setting
• A physics teacher carefully chooses a series of numerical problems which gradually become more complex in a progressive way to minimise the cognitive load on their students, and to ensure they experience a good level of success as they progress through the problems

Connection Knowledge: is about the development of coherence in the teaching. It supports learners in applying their knowledge, understanding and skills in physics across their learning.

• A physics teacher anticipates the likely confusion learners have in distinguishing between Newton’s First and Third Laws and when pairs of forces are balanced and acting on one object or are acting on two objects when these objects interact, and therefore approaches the teaching of a topic in a way that clearly distinguishes between the two.
• When teaching different topics a physics teacher draws the attention of learners to the concept of conservation, and that this can apply to different quantities such as energy, momentum, and charge.

Contingency Knowledge: The ability to make cogent, reasoned, and well-informed responses to unanticipated and unplanned events during teaching.

• A physics teacher recognises from questions and comments from students that they hold misconceptions about a concept taught in a previous year. The teacher abandons the intended lesson plan and spends the remaining time in the lesson addressing the misconceptions from previous years that are likely to prevent effective learning of the topic intended.
• A physics teacher develops a knowledge of the hinterland of the relevant physics curriculum enabling discussion or investigation of topical or interesting extra-curricular physics topics as and when these arise during normal curricular teaching

The examples are intended as prompts to help teachers of physics use their own professional judgement.

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3. New Scientist: Festival of Ideas and Discoveries, 12th and 13th October
The festival has four stages covering the big questions in science. Students can explore

• the secrets of the cosmos on the Universe Stage,
• the mysteries of being human on the Mind and Body Stage,
• the wonders of nature on the Our Planet Stage and
• the science of tomorrow on the Future Stage. 

There are presentations (50 min) on each, simultaneously throughout each day, over 40 speakers.  
The festival is held in UK time, which means their morning sessions happen in the evening Melbourne time on Saturday and Sunday. The online tickets give on demand access for 12 months to the later presentations and those across the four stages.

Cost: £36 for access to 40 presentations.

For more details and to purchase an online ticket, click here. 

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4. Hannah Fry, Engaging Videos
You may have caught an episode of Hannah Fry's TV series 'The Secret Genius of Modern Life' on SBS, in which she 'highlights the stories of invention, the sparks of genius and the people developing the technologies'. She is irreverent and witty, while keeping true to the science and stories of innovation.
She also has a Youtube series called 'The Future' in which she looks at Quantum Computing, AI.and Nuclear Fusion.

Hannah is also part of the team producing Stand Up Maths videos.  A particularly fun episode to watch is her attempt to determine the radius of the Earth from the inclination of the horizon from the Shard, a 310 m building in London.

 Dr Fry, is the Professor in the Mathematics of Cities at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis in Faculty of the Built Environment of University College London. 

• The duration
• What you need
• Instructions
• Results and explanation

7. Events for Students 

a)  Quantum Computing for students: 2pm - 5pm, 24th November, University of Melbourne
    Enter the QUANTUM COMPUTING WORLD - learn to code the new FRONTIER.
As part of the international conference “Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning 2024” to be held at the University of Melbourne from 25th to 29th November, Lloyd Hollenberg is running an activity for students on the Sunday afternoon before.
The 3-hour activity is specifically designed to introduce you to the world of quantum computing. Students will be guided through the concepts underpinning how information is represented and processed in a quantum computer. 
Using the interactive web-based Quantum User Interface (QUI) system, they will gain first-hand experience in visualising quantum logic and coding quantum computers to carry out basic programs.

Who: VCE students and those who enjoy mathematical thinking
What: Students will need to bring a laptop with access to the Chrome browser.
Where: The University of Melbourne, Room G18 – G21, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry St, Carlton
Click here for a copy of the flyer.
Click here to register, which close on 10th November.

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8. Events for Teachers 

a) Shaw-IAU Workshop by the IAU Office of Astronomy Education, 12-14 Nov, Free online conference 
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) have been running this three-day workshop for several years. Sessions are held at times to suit most of the global community.  For example looking at last year's program, Sessions were held in the following Melbourne times: 6pm - 7pm, 7pm - 8:30pm, 9pm - 10:30pm, 10:30pm to 12:00am until 3:00am.  So four of the seven sessions are accessible.
The session titles from the last Workshop were: Teaching methods and tools, Astronomy Education in Practice, Planetary Climate, etc with sessions repeated at different times over the three days.
This year's program has not been released yet but you can register here.
Robert Hollow from Parkes Radio Telescope and Jackie Bondell from OzGrav are the Australian Coordinators of this international event.

b) Out-of-Field PD for Science Teachers: Wyndham Vale (Forces and Motion), Hamilton (Light and Sound),
The next PD events are:

• Wyndham Vale on Weds, 6th November and Friday, 15th November, 9:30am to 3:30pm. Morning tea and lunch provided.  Forces and Motion: at Manor Lakes P-12 School
• Hamilton on Wednesday, 13 November and Tuesday, 19th November, 9:30am to 3:30pm. Morning tea and lunch provided. Light and Sound at Monivae College
• Kew High School Light and Sound has been postponed to 2025

Check here for details for these events and to book.

Costs: Hamilton ($220 per participant), Wyndham Vale ($330 per participant).  Discounts available for teachers from Government schools and for teachers from schools with a low ICSEA rank. CRT coverage is available for teachers from Government schools.


c) AIP Congress 2024: Teachers' Day, Weds, 4th December, Melbourne Convention Centre
The Australian Institute of Physics Congress is running from 2nd-5th December at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will have a focus on education in the program running on Wednesday 4th December.
The program will start with a physics in education breakfast on the topic of 'AI in Physics Education', followed by a plenary presentation from Professor Majula Sharma, Professor of Science Education at the University of Sydney and Director of the STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy.
A focus session on 'Bridging High School and Tertiary Physics' will bring together secondary and tertiary educators with lightning talks and table discussions on laboratory learning and university-secondary outreach programs in physics.
After lunch, a series of invited and contributed talks will look at effective approaches to physics teaching and physics education across settings.

Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: Weds, 4th Dec
Cost: $130
To register: AIP Congress 2024 website
Stay tuned for more detailed program information.

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11.   Physics News from the Web
Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.
a) Ambipolar electric field helps shape Earth’s ionosphere
A drop in electric potential of just 0.55 V measured at altitudes of between 250–768 km in the Earth’s atmosphere above the North and South poles could be the first direct measurement of our planet’s long-sought after electrostatic field. 
b) Air-powered computers make a comeback
Electronic computers rely on transistors to control the flow of electricity. But in the new air-powered computer, the researchers use tiny valves instead of transistors to control the flow of air rather than electricity. “These air-powered computers are an example of microfluidics, a decades-old field that studies the flow of fluids (usually liquids but sometimes gases) through tiny networks of channels and valves,”.. By combining multiple microfluidic valves, the researchers were able to make air-powered versions of standard logic gates.
c) Fusion’s public-relations drive is obscuring the challenges that lie ahead
“For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled.” So stated the Nobel laureate Richard Feynman during a commission hearing into NASA’s Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986, which killed all seven astronauts onboard.

Those famous words have since been applied to many technologies, but they are becoming especially apt to nuclear fusion where public relations currently appears to have the upper hand. Fusion has recently been successful in attracting public and private investment and, with help from the private sector, it is claimed that fusion power can be delivered in time to tackle climate change in the coming decades.

 

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1.  Benefits of Vicphysics Membership and Access to the Teachers Resources on the website.
Vicphysics has changed its membership structure, benefits and fees.
Membership benefits are:

• access to teacher resources section of the website
• discounts to attend conferences, in-services, etc,
• certification for attending each PD event,
• PL certificate for committee meetings supplied at the end of the calendar year and
•  voting rights.

Membership fees are:

• Individual: $60                                            
• Retired: $40
• Student (tertiary): $40                                       
• School: $120

Vicphysics also offers a Resources Access Only option without the discounts and other benefits listed above. The fees for this option are the same as above.
Existing subscribers currently receive the discounts, which will cease when the subscription expires.  At which point subscribers will need to choose between the two options above for continued access to the Teachers resources.

By linking the discounts to the Membership, we hope to encourage more teachers to be more involved in the extensive range of Vicphysics activities.
Members can:

• contribute to reviews of VCE exam papers,
• assist with assessing competition entries,
• participate in curriculum discussions,
• introduce presenters at conferences

 

2.   VCE Physics Revision Lecture, School bookings are now available. Sunday, 15th September, On-line and at Swinburne University of Technology
Update: Some schools wish to pay for the students to attend the revision lecture by EFT, rather than by credit card.  Booking on the Students webpage only accepts credit cards. So in the Teachers section behind the paywall, a Revision Lecture: School Bookings webpage has been set up that accepts EFT payment as well as credit cards.

Also teachers who accompany their students, either online or in person, do not have to pay.  If you have already paid, a refund will be issued.  Also check the information below on the Government support for attending revision lectures.

This year's Revision Lecture will be held on Sunday, 15th September from 10:00am until 2:50pm.
It will be offered as a hybrid event, on-line and in person at the Hawthorn campus.
The presenter will be Colin Hopkins.  The on-line chat room will have experienced teachers available to answer questions.
Lunch will be provided by Swinburne University for the students.
Swinburne University will also provide campus tours and their Astro tour at lunchtime. These can be booked at Registration on the day.
The cost is $27.50 inc GST and participants will get access to revision material.
Students can book at this webpage on the Students of the Vicphysics website, where there is additional information.

State Government Initiative: Revision Lectures
The VCE Revision Lectures initiative recognises that rural and regional students face unique barriers in attending VCE revision lectures due to additional travel and accommodation costs.

Targeted funding is available to support rural and regional students from government schools to access VCE revision lectures and other exam revision supports across Victoria. Click here for information for schools.

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5. Events for Students 
a) National Science Week (NSW) Events
This is a list of some NSW events in Victoria.  Check here for details of this and many others.

• Dark Matter road trip  6:30pm, 30th August, Carlton

b Gymnasium Lectures (in person and online): 6pm Wednesdays, fortnightly in Term 3, University of Melbourne
This popular series is back in 2024, the remaining lectures are listed below.

• September 4: Light and Matter (Prof. Harry Quiney)
• September 18: Special Relativity (Prof. David Jamieson)

All lectures will be held in the Hercus Theatre at the School of Physics, University of Melbourne and will begin at 6 pm sharp, with snacks beforehand.  Whilst this is an in-person event, a Zoom link will be sent out to all participants in the hour before the lecture.

To register, click here.

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6. Events for Teachers 
a Lab Tech Workshops on Years 7 - 10 Physics,  17th September
Vicphysics is again running an in-service for lab technicians on practical activities for Years 7 to 10 Physics. There are nine workshops to choose from. There are workshops on improving skills with CROs, Ruhmkorff coils and Van de Graaff generators, as well as workshops by Harvey Edwards, Ciderhouse, Modern Teaching Aids, Haines Educational and Man Lam from Lyndale Secondary College.
Cost: $85 includes lunch and morning tea.
To register and for more details of the program: click here.


b) Global Hands-On Universe Conference 2024, Online 23 - 27 September
This international conference is online from anywhere in the world.  Sessions will be offered in three time zones.  The cost to participate is only 10 €.  The program has not been finalised nor keynote speakers announced, but topics include: Astronomy education research, Best practices in Astronomy education, Citizen Science, Research in the classroom with robotic telescopes, etc.  The program will be announced in early September.

It plans to offer:

• astronomy/data activities that are ready for the classroom
• a chance to join a group of similar innovative educators who want to help you
• an opportunity for your students to use networks of remote telescopes around the world, to measure the characteristics of planets around other stars and undertake well-developed and tested activities, such as measuring the mass of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way, from genuine data.

To register an expression of interest and for more detail, click here.
This link to the 2023 conference will give you some idea of their program

c) PHYSCON 2025 - Making a Quantum Leap: Call for Presenters
Next year's Physics Teachers' Conference will be held on Friday, 21st February, 2025.  It will again be a hybrid event, online and in person at the Hawthorn campus of the Swinburne University of Technology.  We invite teachers to present a workshop at the conference.  It can be on Senior School Physics or Middle School Physics.  Your format can be in person, online or pre-recorded.  You can have a co-presenter.
Both you and your co-presenter will get free registration for the conference.  If you would like to present a workshop, please complete this google form.
The closing date for lodging workshops is Friday, 20th September.
We are looking forward to another conference of innovative ideas, inspiring speakers and invigorating conversations.  We welcome your contribution.  If you have any queries, please get in touch.

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9.   Physics News from the Web
Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.

 

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