SHAPE
Symposium on Horizons in Astronomy and Physics Education
Department
of Physics and Astronomy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Since 2008 the UNC-BEST program has invited North
Carolina physics (and other) teachers to join us for a symposium on current
advances in physics, astronomy, and the teaching of these subjects in secondary
schools. The symposia feature talks by leaders in the field about
astronomy and physics research, the application of physics in a variety of
contexts, and physics and astronomy pedagogy. There are
also hands-on activities and sometimes tours of research labs in the UNC-CH Physics
& Astronomy Department or activities at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
Teachers who come to SHAPE have the opportunity
to share ideas and learn from other teachers from across North Carolina in an
informal atmosphere. Those who attend the entire symposium are eligible to
receive Continuing Education Unit credits.
To see list of speakers and hands-on activities from recent symposia, look here.
The list of speakers for the 2020 symposium includes:
- Prof. Andrew Mann (UNC-CH) Exoplanets Across Space and Time
- Prof. Gokce Basar (UNC-CH) The Big, the Small, and Unity in Physics
- Dr. Stephanie Sedberry (UNCG) Improving Student Success in STEM with Classroom Interventions: Self-Efficacy, Growth Mindset, Belonging, and Motivation
- Dr. Chris Bower (XDisplay) Physics: Preparation for Life in a High-Tech Startup
After lunch there will be a hands-on workshop Making Lights Blink and Performing Physics Experiments: Microcontrollers for Fun and Profit by Dr. Stefan Jeglinski (UNC-CH).
The symposium will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the Department of Physics and Astronomy on
the campus of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the activities will
end at 5:00 p.m. The registration fee of $20 (payable in advance or at the
start of the symposium) covers all symposium materials as well as lunch.
We look
forward to seeing you at SHAPE 2020!
To register for the symposium, follow this
link. Detailed information about the symposium logistics will be sent to
all registrants.