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1. Physics at 5. An opportunity to network
Wanting to bounce around some lesson ideas, mull over a tricky question, or unpack a physics concept?
Vicphysics is hosting a weekly, half-hour online Zoom drop-in session commencing this Tuesday, 1st August at 5:00pm. Great opportunity to check in with other colleagues about any aspect of Physics teaching and learning! The discussions will be moderated by members of the Vicphysics Committee.
This is the zoom link. The Meeting ID is 815 1456 7258 and the Passcode: 459295. The Waiting Room will be used.
The same link, ID and passcode will be used for future Tuesday gatherings.
Each meeting is planned to go for about 30 minutes.

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2. PHYSCON 2024: 23rd February, 2024. Call for presenters

Victorian Physics Teachers' Conference Friday, 23rd February, 2024 at Swinburne University of Technology

Call for Sessions:

Vicphysics invites teachers to share their ideas with their colleagues. You can register a workshop by completing this form.
Closing date for submitting workshops is Monday, 28th August.

Check our PHYSCON 2024 webpage for more details about the conference.

The keynote speakers at the conference will be:

Dr Liam Hall from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. He will be speaking about the rapidly developing field of quantum technologies and innovative approaches to teaching quantum concepts in secondary schools.

Bio: Dr Liam Hall is an Associate Investigator with the ARC Centre for Excellence in Exciton Science. Hailing from a complementary background in quantum and condensed matter physics, Liam brings with him new expertise in the field of quantum sensing, with the potential to enrich research programs at the interface of chemistry and physics. He has spent the last decade working with Professor Lloyd Hollenberg and Dr David Simpson at the University of Melbourne School of Physics to develop diamond-based ‘quantum sensors’ that use the quantum properties of crystallographic defects in diamond as sensors of magnetic resonance signals.

Dr Sara Webb from the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology. She will be speaking about bringing the Universe into the Classroom

Bio/Abstract: Dr. Webb is an astronomer who is passionate about applying novel machine learning techniques to large astronomical datasets, and exploring how it can be transferred to different disciplines. When Dr. Webb isn’t researching she is actively communicating science to the wider public via traditional and social media, and leading as mission director the Swinburne Space Challenge School programs. She’ll cover all the resources available to begin teaching astronomy in the classroom, and the speciality programs Swinburne runs to give high school students even greater insight into the future of space applications and experimentation. Sara was a 2022 Superstar of STEM.

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3. Veritasium: Why Oppenheimer deserves his own movie
Derek Muller has produced a youtube video (32 min) on Oppenheimer. It is a very comprehensive coverage of the physics-related aspects of his life. It would be worth showing to Year 11 students.

It covers aspects such as:

His difficulties with experimental work at Cambridge
His move to Gottingen to focus on theoretical physics with Max Born
Discoveries of radioactivity and the initial understanding that the process was random and passive and not a useful energy source
Discovery of the neutron and the possibility of a chain reaction
Manhattan Project
Description of the bomb designs for U235 and Pu 239
Trinity Test, Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Post War and his push for Arms Control.

Other videos are:

Why America Betrayed Oppenheimer (26 Min) Mainly focuses on the history of physics before and during WW II. The last two minutes is worthwhile, it is an extended argument by Oppenheimer of the importance of openness in society and the need for 'free and uncorrupted communication'.
Atomic Expert Explains "Oppenheimer" Bomb Scenes | WIRED (10 mins)
J Robert Oppenheimer on his HOPES FOR SCIENCE | Panorama | Classic Interviews | BBC Archive (0.58 min)

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4. VCAA's Northern Hemisphere (NHT) VCE Physics Exam paper and Vicphysics solutions are now available
VCAA has now released the NHT exam paper held in May this year. A draft of the Vicphysics solutions is available here. Their purpose is to assist teachers and students when using this exam paper as a revision exercise. Additional questions using the stem in some exam questions are also provided.

5. Image Bank for Girls in Science and Technology (GiST)

The GiST website is an Australian initiative. One of its recent features is an Image Bank of hundreds of images, which can freely downloaded and use for educational purposes. As the webpage says 'The GiST image bank is here to help you actively challenge stereotypes about who belongs in STEM. Visibility matters and you can’t be what you can’t see! Display these images around your classroom, use them in presentations, encourage your students to incorporate them into their projects.'

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6. Events for Students

Girls in Physics Breakfasts in 2023
Below are the dates and venues for the remaining Term 3 Breakfasts with the speakers and their topics.

11th August, Wodonga. Speaker: Emma Dyce, Medical radiation physicist, Topic: Treating skin cancer with radiotherapy
16th August, Traralgon. Speaker: Prof Rachel Webster, Melbourne University, Topic: Geothermal: vast energy reserves beneath our feet
25th August, Ballarat. Speaker: Dr Taissa Danilovich, Monash University, Topic: Molecules in Space
1st September, Bendigo. Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories

The cost this year is $20 per student, the first teacher attends for free. There is a discount to $5 for low ICSEA schools, you need to contact Vicphysics to request the discount.
For more details and to book go to the Vicphysics website.

Swinburne Innovation Challenge
Swinburne University of Technology’s Innovation Challenge gives high ability students in years 10 to 12 an opportunity to extend their learning in Applied Innovation through an eight-week challenge and on-campus experience.
To start the program, students will form multidisciplinary teams (STEM, sociology, media, etc) of 4-6 and select a challenge to address related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.(Examples not provided)
After forming their teams and selecting the challenge focus, students will attend a half-day on-campus experience at Swinburne’s Hawthorn Campus (13th Sept).

After the on-campus experience, students will return to school and work in their teams to refine their idea and create a final pitch. Final pitches are submitted in the form of a 1-2 min video and a panel of Swinburne experts will evaluate them and award prizes in a range of categories. Swinburne support is available.

Cost: There are no details, but it seems to be free to Gov't school teams. The program is repeated later in the year.
For more information and to register click here. This flyer has more details.

Revision Lecture: Sunday, 10th September. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology
The Revision lecture this year will be delivered on-line and in person. The presenter will be Colin Hopkins, with chat room support for online participants from Sandor Kazi and Paul Cuthbert.
The program will run from 10:00am until 2:50pm with two 50 min morning presentations and a 10 min break in between, followed by a 60 min lunch break, with two more 50 min sessions in the afternoon.
Swinburne University is not only providing lunch, but also offering 25 min Astro Tours and campus tours at lunch time. They will also have Course Advice booths in the lunch area.
Notes will be available in a digital format.
Cost: $25, payment by credit card only. If schools wish to book a large group, please contact Vicphysics.
Venue: Level 2, AMDC Building, Swinburne University of Technology, Burwood Rd, Hawthorn.
Students can register for the lecture and the tours at the Students webpage on the vicphysics website.
Getting there: Glenferrie railway station, Six tram routes (16, 48, 70, 72, 75 and 109). Free car parking across Burwood Rd in the council car park.

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7. Events for Teachers

Talk, Dinner and Catching Up: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend or Foe? , 6pm, Weds, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel

The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network invites physics teachers and others interested in physics education to gather in an informal setting for a series of dinners with a guest speaker. The guest speakers will address diverse topics touching on curriculum, pedagogy and the discipline itself. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and network with colleagues over dinner.

The next occasion will be Wednesday, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel at 85 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn starting at 6:00pm.

Topic: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend of Foe?
Speaker: Prof Andrew Greentree from RMIT, Andy is a theoretical physicist, with a background in quantum optics and quantum information.

The cost is $45 ($40 for Vicphysics subscribers) and covers a main course and drinks.

For more details and to book click here. To download the flyer, click here. For some background, check this video and this article:
16 min video , How ChatGPT can help physicists in their daily work

Lab Techs Workshops, Weds 13th September, Camberwell Grammar School
The Workshops are on again this year, back in the last week of Term 3.
The program offers a range of workshops including:

Learning new skills e.g. repairing a multimeter, using a CRO, using a Ruhmkorff coil,
Soldering: An introduction to the Art with Harvey Edwards from Principles and Practice
Electronic data method in the Physical Sciences with Megan Simkins from Ciderhouse
Electronic data collection with Amanda Lovett from Modern Teaching Aids
Physics Demonstrations for Open Days and Using Science Toys with Man Lam from Mount Alexander College (to be confirmed)
Safe handling of ionising radiation and storage of radioactive sources with Dan O'Keeffe, Vicphysics
Tour of lab and prep room facilities including animal house plus Laboratory management hints with Svetlana Marchouba, Camberwell Grammar School.

Cost: $75, lunch is included.
For more details and to book, click here.

The Force and Motion Workshop: John Monash Science School
The intensive module steps you through the key concepts and skills to successfully teach the relevant Year 7 - 10 curriculum content.

Why your colleagues should participate:

Deepen their conceptual understanding of key concepts in electric circuits
Engage in practical activities that they can directly deploy in your classroom
Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
Improve their 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

This event is next term. It will be six two-hour sessions on Thursdays from 26th October, starting at 4:30pm.
Cost $240 per participant for each workshop. A discount is available for teachers from low ICSEA schools.
For more details and to book click here.

Course Planning Day for Units 3 and 4 in 2024, Friday, 10th November. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology.
Vicphysics is organising a Course Planning Day for Friday, 10th November, the day after the Physics exam and the day before the assessors' meeting. It will be held at Swinburne University of Technology and also online. The program is expected to include presentations and small group activities. Lunch will be provided for in-person participants.
Cost: $90 non-subscribers, $80 subscribers in person. $50 non-subscribers, $40 subscribers online.
Vicphysics is currently finalising the program. Registrations are open at the Vicphysics website.

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8. 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 three (3) schools 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.

Scoresby Secondary College (closes 9th August)
Virtual School Victoria (closes 7th August)
Sunbury College (closes 9th August)

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.

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9. Vicphysics matters

i) Vicphysics Forum: Tips and Questions for the Physics Teaching Community

The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has set up an online Forum for teachers to raise issues, seek ideas, offer suggestions, etc. The link is on the top line of our website’s home page: https://www.vicphysics.org/ We hope it will be an opportunity for mutual professional development.

The forum is open to all teachers. If you are a subscriber you can login in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber you can register to just use the forum at ‘My Account’. Given the purposes of this Forum, we ask that you use your real name when generating a topic or a lodging a post.

We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for the exchange of ideas as we begin planning for the new study design.

ii) Subscriptions: A Vicphysics subscription gives you access to the Teachers section of the website. The subscription will last for a year from the day payment is received. Both individual and school subscriptions are available. Check the homepage for subscription link.

iii) Tutor Listing Service: The website has a Tutor Listing Service. There are now six tutors listed. If you tutor and wish to add your name to the list, please check the website.

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10. 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) Why it would be better if everyone thought like a scientist
Solving our political polarisation problem could be possible with one single, simple but very hard step.
It is disturbing, then, that a significant portion of the public deny scientific evidence on a wide range of topics from climate change to the safety of vaccines and even the shape of the Earth. This science scepticism is highly selective. Few doubt or distrust science when it brings flatscreen TVs or smartphones, but some draw the line when it conflicts with their cherished preconceived notions. For many, their views on vaccines or climate change are fixed in stone – unwavering no matter how much evidence or logical arguments are presented to contradict their opinion.
b) Positioning system uses cosmic muons to navigate underground
Cosmic muons could provide a practical alternative to global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) in places where radio signals cannot reach.
c) Energy-efficient fabric helps wearers beat heat waves and cold snaps
A new thermoregulating textile keeps its wearers comfortable with a minimal amount of energy input thanks to a conductive polymer that can be modified to adjust how much infrared radiation it sheds. According to the textile’s developers, the new “wearable variable-emittance device”, or WeaVE, could be used to make next-generation smart thermal management fabrics. The new WeaVE device consists of three layers: an active layer made of a conducting polymer called polyaniline (PANI); metallized nylon; and a semi-solid electrolyte.

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