I received this Email yesterday from Kendra Redmond, Program Coordinator of the
Society of Physics Students at the
American Institute of Physics:
Registration is open for fall Adopt-a-Physicist!
Adopt-a-Physicist connects high school physics students to real physics graduates who are eager to share their stories. Working in areas ranging from particle physics research to freelance writing, the participating physicists embody a huge range of careers, backgrounds, interests, and educational levels. Adopt-a-Physicist connects classes with the physicists of their choice through online discussion forums that are active for a set three-week period. Each physicist can only be "adopted" by up to three classes, making lively, in-depth discussions possible. Learn more at Adopt-a-Physicist.
Fall 2010 Schedule
*Teacher Registration: Now - September 28 (or until full)
*Physicist Registration: September 29 - October 4 (or until full)
*Teachers adopt physicists: October 5 - October 15
*Discussion forums open: October 19 - November 9
Years ago, when I worked at a state environmental agency, I participated in a program with a similar idea:
Science-by-Mail. At that time, I was "adopted" by several classrooms of gradeschoolers. The kids worked through a specific set of problems and sent me their findings. I wrote back and tried to be encouraging and helpful. One year, they worked on pinhole cameras, which I remember distinctly because I knew next to nothing about the subject and had to hit the reference books. Another time, we discussed the science behind making gingerbread houses. It was a fun and worthwhile project. I'm sure that
Adopt-a-Physicist will be a rich and rewarding experience for physicists and students alike.
Who knows? You could connect with the next
Benjamin Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton, or Albert Einstein!Photo credit:
Jeremy Banks, via flickr //
CC BY 2.0
