1. PHYSCON 2023: Victorian Physics Teachers' Conference: 24th February, 2023.
Vicphysics Teachers' Network will be presenting PHYSCON 2023 with the support of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Swinburne University of Technology.  PHYSCON 2023 will be held at their Hawthorn Campus in Burwood Rd on Friday, 24th February.

The conference will be a hybrid conference offering both face to face and on-line sessions.  
The Conference website is now live and registrations are open.

The conference program includes:

• Live-streamed keynote addresses,
• 3 sessions with over 40 workshops in person and online,
• Access to exhibitors
• Round table activities on course planning of Units 3 & 4 for 2024,
• Networking lunch,
• In-depth review of the 2022 VCE Physics exam, with Andrew Hansen, the Chief Assessor
• VCAA presentation by Maria James, Science Curriculum Manager,
• Laboratory tours of cutting-edge facilities and visits to the Virtual Reality theatre,
• Saturday morning Excursion Tasters and Peter MacCallum Medical Physics In-Service.

Conference fees:

Type	Early Bird	After 18th Dec
In Person	$300	$330
Online	$240	$270

Discounts:

• Individual Vicphysics Subscribers: $50
• Student and Retiree Subscribers: $100
• School Vicphysics subscribers: $10

For information about the workshops on offer, please click the link above or download a pdf of the conference program here.

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2. Nobel Prize in Physics: Experiments with entangled photons
This year's Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for 'experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science'.
The Nobel Committee produces two explanatory articles, a popular science version (7 pages with diagrams and without equations) and an advanced science version (16 pages with diagrams and equations)

Useful journal articles include:

• Physics Today
• Physics World podcast on 'The weird and wonderful history of quantum entanglement that led to this year’s Nobel prize'
• Physics World article on Bell's inequalities

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3.  Vicphysics Website: Preparing for 2023
Over the holidays the webpages for the Unit 1 Areas of Study have been updated to reflect the course starting next year. There is still some finetuning to do.
A request: These webpages need more examples of assessment tasks.  If you have any tasks you would like to share, can you please send them to Vicphysics.  Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged on the website, if you wish.
Work on the Unit 2 Areas of Study, including all the options will start at the end of October.

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4. DART: An opportunity for problems Article from The Physics Teacher.
The last newsletter had details of  NASA'a DART spacecraft crash landing into the small asteroid, Dimorphos, to see if its course could be altered.

To promote their journal, 'The Physics Teacher,' the AAPT regularly makes some articles freely available. 
This month it includes an article on DART which provides a full analysis of the collision. The link is here.


 

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5. Australian Synchrotron Open Day: 9:30am- 4:00pm, Sunday, 16th October
If you have visited the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron with your school, now you have the chance to bring your whole family!

The PrimeSCI! Team will be out in force on Sunday 16th October hosting Diffraction/ Refraction Shows (children 12+ and parents), Light and Colour Shows (children 13 & under and parents). In addition the Labrats Science Club will be running hands-on science activities and raising funds for future projects and excursions selling BBQ sausages!

The event is free to attend, so make sure you register to attend the free introductory presentation (30min) and VIP Tunnel Tour (ages 8+).

For more information, and to register to attend, click here. 6. Secondary Science and Maths Initiative : Fully funded post graduate qualification for DET teachers.  EOIs by 28th Oct.
The Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative is designed for current out-of-field mathematics or science secondary teachers to support them to further their knowledge in the field, including their pedagogical content knowledge and practical teaching skills.

Participants will complete either a Graduate Certificate of Mathematics or Graduate Certificate of Science by engaging with contemporary, research informed approaches to teaching and learning mathematics or science that is aligned to Victorian Curriculum Levels 7–10. The course is offered part time over two years.

Graduates expand their career opportunities with a qualification recognised by DET for teaching Years 7-10 Mathematics or Science. These Graduate Certificates provide credits towards and a pathway into a Master of Education.

Funding is provided for DET schools and participants to support time release for class attendance, study, and associated costs.
Check this flyer for promotional information and check their website for details of course structure, dates, etc.

Expressions of interest close 28th October. 7.  Next Generation Victorian Curriculum F - 10, Reference Panels. EOIs sought
VCAA is seeking expressions of interest to join Curriculum Area Reference Panels in providing advice on the scope and revisions required to ‘adopt and adapt’ the revised Australian Curriculum into the next generation of the Victorian Curriculum F–10.  Application close COB 20th October.

VCAA strongly encourages all interested teachers to submit an expression of interest to be a part of one of the panels.

This review process and the establishment of the panels presents the opportunity for you to help ensure the next generation of the Victorian Curriculum F–10 continues to provide a high-quality, relevant curriculum that effectively meets the needs of students and teachers across the state.

The panels will consider recent research in curriculum discipline areas and reflect on the current Victorian Curriculum F–10 and Australian Curriculum Version 9.0. The input from practicing teachers and discipline experts from each curriculum area is essential to this process.

The work of these panels is expected to take place from November 2022 to July 2023. Panel meetings will be held regularly at a set time and place (including options for online meetings) according to a schedule, established by mutual agreement. The meetings may be a combination of after-school or all-day meetings and will usually be held every 4–6 weeks.

CRT payments are available to schools for the release of panel members to attend meetings during school hours.

For further information about the panels and the Expression of Interest process, please contact the VCAA on 9032 1629 or vcaa@education.vic.gov.au. 

8. Vicphysics Competitions: Entries due

• Poster Competition for Unit 2 Practical Investigation   The Poster Competition is designed to award quality student work and to provide exemplars of quality investigations. Entries due 2nd Friday of Term 4. Check this webpage.

9. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
The Vicphysics Teachers' Network has a Job Ads page to assist schools in finding a physics teacher.
There are seven (7) schools are seeking a physics teacher: The Vicphysics webpage above has a link to the Government schools jobs website. The following Gov't Schools are seeking a physics teacher:

• Mount Ridley P - 12 College (closes 23rd Oct)
• Highvale Secondary College (closes 18th Oct)
• Hume Central Secondary College (closes 18th Oct)
• Upwey High School (closes 18th Oct)
• Sale College (closes 10th Oct)
• Euroa Secondary College (closes 16th Oct)
• Scoresby Secondary College (closes 11th Oct)

The webpage is updated every weekend.  The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service. 11. Events for Students

a) STEAM Careers Online Forum: Emerging Tech. Monday, 10th Oct. 12:30 - 2pm or watch later
Students will hear not only about career journeys and industry connections from practitioners in the field, but how these professionals work across science, technology, engineering, arts and maths and use a range of transferable skills in the ways they work to make a difference in the world.

In this third STEAM Careers Forum, the focus is on transdisciplinary careers relating to some of the emerging technologies , e.g. artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and coding.
To register and for more details click here.

b) Prof Brian Cox. Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey, 7:30pm, 15th October
For details of his show, click here.
Venue: Plenary Hall, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Cost: Full time students $56
To Book: click here

 

c) Science Delivery Roadshow 21st Nov - 2nd Dec
University students travel to schools in low SES and regional areas to deliver exciting workshops to inspire students to follow a career in STEM.
To register and for more details click here

d) Physics Days at Luna Park.  2023 Dates: Monday, 6th March and then Wednesday, 8th to Friday, 10th March
There was a prior booking for the Tuesday 7th, hence the different dates for next year.  To make a booking with Luna Park, click here. You can make a tentative booking this year with indicative numbers.  Once your timetable for next year is confirmed, please advise Luna Park if there is a change of date or if there is a change in the number of students coming.  This should be done at least two weeks before the event.

Luna Park tallies your number of students on the day and then invoices the school accordingly.  An aerobatic display has been requested, but this is not confirmed until about February next year.

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12. Events for Teachers and Lab Techs
a) New Scientist Online Event: Space, Time and Motion. 20th October and On demand
'Where, when and how?’ are some of the most fundamental questions we can ask, and knowledge of space, time and motion has been central to the biggest discoveries in physics.

Join Sean Carrol as he explores deep questions about the nature of space, time and change, laying out the framework of classical physics from Galileo and Euclid to Newton and Einstein. Starting with ideas that are centuries old, Sean will be your guide to the equations that revolutionised physics, leading to the theory of relativity and the prediction of black holes.

Time and date: 6pm, 20th October (British Summer Time), which is 4:00am on Friday, 21st local time. On demand gives 12 months access.

Bio: Sean Carroll was a Research Professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology and now at John Hopkins University. He is the author of several books, most recently Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime. He has been awarded prizes and fellowships by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Sloan Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the American Physical Society, the American Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of London, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

To Book: click here.  Cost £15.  Closes on 13th October. Bonus of related New Scientist articles.

b) Units 1 and 2 Course Planning Day: 21st November.  Monash Tech School and Online
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network is holding a one-day hybrid in-service to assist teachers with their planning of Units 1 and 2 of new VCE Physics Study Design, which commences in 2023.
Date:  Monday, 21st November
Venue: Monash Tech School, Clayton Campus, Monash University and online.

The program will include:

• Putting the Unit 1 energy theme to work: elaboration, classroom strategies and resources to effectively combine old and new content  with Dr Barbara McKinnon.
• Small Group Discussion on planning Unit 1 with a focus on the teaching order of the Areas of Study, amount of class time for each and possible trimming of the content to fit the semester
• Managing Multiple Options with Jane Coyle including assessment and the new dot points on ‘Communicating physics’
• Content Briefing: Supporting inclusion of Indigenous science in VCE Physics, Emma Barnett, VSSEC
• Assessment Tasks and logbooks A presentation by Maria James, VCAA Science Manager, followed by small group discussion on what to consider when choosing your assessment tasks for 2023.

All these sessions will be available on-line.
Cost: On site at Monash Tech School: $65 for subscribers, $75 for others, Lunch is provided. On-line: $40 for subscribers, $50 for others.
To Register: Go to Vicphysics website

b)  Special Relativity course for Teachers Fully Booked, but repeated in Term 2 2023
As part of its program of PD support for Out-of-Field teachers, Vicphysics is running a course on Special Relativity during Term 4 this year, it will consist of 6 two hour sessions delivered weekly on Thursdays from 20th Oct to 24th November starting at 4:30pm.  They will be delivered on line.  The intensive module steps you through the key concepts and skills to successfully teach the relevant content in VCE Physics.

Why participate:

• Deepen your understanding of key concepts in special relativity
• Engage in key simulations and activities that you can directly deploy in your classroom
• Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
• Improve your ability to differentiate curriculum and assessment student achievement
• Access materials to support your classroom practice prepared by experienced teachers and science education academics associated with the Vicphysics Teachers' Network
• Become part of a network like-minded teachers who are striving to improve their practice

Cost $240 per participant.  A discount is available for teachers from low ICSEA schools.
The module will be presented by Theo Hughes, assisted by Colin Hopkins.
For more details click here.  To go on the waiting list for the repeat in Term 2 next year, please email Vicphysics

c)  Supporting out-of-field teachers of Physical Science: Forces and Motion in Hamilton and Bendigo
Vicphysics is preparing intensive PD for out-of-field year 7 - 10 science teachers. The first module covers the teaching of forces and motion.  It runs after school for two hours per week for six weeks  The first program at Kew High School has finished and will be repeated in Term 4 at Monivae College in Hamilton from 26th October to 30th November and in Bendigo at the Bendigo Senior Secondary College from 27th October to 1st Deecmber.

• Do you have colleagues in your Science Faculty who find the teaching of the physics aspects of Year 7 - 10 challenging?  then this course will be of value to them.

The course will be presented by Dr Barbara McKinnon, an experienced science teacher, regular conference presenter and Vicphysics President.  The cost is $240, with a discount available for schools with a low ICSEA rank.
For more details including registration, click here.  Some reviews from the recently completed program at Kew High School are:

• Really engaging sessions with lots of opportunities to get involved and try new activities ourselves. Makes me excited to teach physics! 
• This has been an excellent PD to take part it in. It has addressed multiple misconceptions and I feel significantly more confident in teaching about forces. 
• Was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, despite the fact of having to engage with work related content for two hours after work each Thursday, it was something I looked forward to in the week! 

Other courses are being prepared on other Years 7 - 10 topics: light rays and waves, electric forces and electricity and sources of electricity.  These will be progressively offered over 2023 in metropolitan Melbourne and regional centres.

d)  Lab Techs' Workshops on Years 7 - 10 Physics, 1st Dec, Camberwell Grammar School
The program of workshops for Lab Techs returns.  It will be on Thursday, 1st December and held again at Camberwell Grammar School.  The program includes:

• Learning new skills
• Setting up demonstrations
• Quick Tests on Equipment to see it is working or not plus a few hints on fixing stuff with Harvey Edwards from Principles and Practice
• Electronic data methods with Doug Bail from Ciderhouse, and
• Laboratory management hints

The cost is $70 and includes lunch.
For more information and to book click here.

e) International Conference for Physics Education (ICPE 2022) 5th - 9th December
This year's conference will be an online conference based in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, which mean it will be held in our time zone. 

It is an event for physics teachers both secondary and tertiary, teacher educators and teaching researchers.  As an online conference, the registration fee is quite low, $60 and $50 early bird.  Currently the program features many speakers including Dr Derek Muller with details of workshops to come.  

The conference proceedings will be available prior to the event so that you can decide which lectures and workshops to attend that fit around your working day.  Local academics are on the planning committee so there will be sessions relevant to Australian Physics Curricula.

For more details and to register, click here.

13.   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) Life after the leak: Lessons from the closure of the Brookhaven Reactor.
In 1997 a small leak of low level, short-lived tritium became a media storm of fake news predicting Chernobyl-like consequences, which resulted in the closure of the plant. Robert P Crease reviews 'The Leak: Politics, Activism and the loss of trust at the Brookhaven National Laboratory' and discusses the lessons that can be learned.
b) Breaking boundaries: How the physicist Ernest Rutherford won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Quite why Rutherford, the eminent physicist, should then have received a chemistry Nobel prize has been examined in detail by going through the Nobel archives, which is quite good for someone who never studied Chemistry, as he said at the time “I have dealt with many different transformations…but the quickest that I have met was my own transformation in one moment from a physicist to a chemist.”
c) Breaking boundaries: how physicists won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
Physicists have always had an interest in biological and medical physics, with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins famously sharing the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for elucidating the structure of DNA (along with the biologist James Watson).  But two other huge breakthroughs in medical physics – the introduction of X-ray computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – also won their inventors a physiology or medicine Nobel prize.