news | 2010-05-25

EXPEKT - Support from the European Union

The European Union invests in the development of the Photonics Explorer.

The European Commission has granted 550 000 Euros for EXPEKT, a project dedicated to the development and testing of the Photonics Explorer. The EU will thus support teachers in their efforts towards the common goal of better, and more up-to-date science education.

The acronym EXPEKT stands for "Photonics Explorer - Developing a photonics educational kit for Europe's secondary schools" and for a project that will make exactly that happen. It runs for 30 months and includes not only the development work for the kit itself, but also an extensive testing and scientific evaluation of its educational value.

The EU grant will finance the translation of the Photonics Explorer from English to Bulgarian, Dutch, French, German, Polish, and Spanish. Furthermore, it allows for professional video productions which will support the hands-on lessons by presenting real-world applications that cannot be shown in the class room. This grant is part of the seventh framework program (FP7), the EU's chief instrument for funding research in the years 2007 to 2013.

The Photonics Explorer team is looking forward to work with the European Commission on this exciting program. Along with secondary school teachers, scientists in both pedagogy and in photonics, several partner organisations and the support of companies, the program thus brings together all the key stakeholders to really make a difference in secondary level science education.

Fast Answers

What is it all about?

The Photonics Explorer program will equip Europe’s secondary schools with up-to-date educational material on topics related to light and its technical use. The Photonics Explorer provides teachers with a class-set of components for hands-on experiments together with an inquiry-based didactic framework. It will be distributed free-of-charge and support teachers to engage, excite and educate students about the fascination of working with light.

What is photonics?

Photonics is the art of making light work for you. Just as electronics has changed the world by turning electrons into our every-day workhorses, photonics has changed our way of living by harnessing photons, small energy-units of light. We use them to carry information around the globe (e.g. for the internet), to generate electric energy, to detect diseases and heal, to cut and weld metal, to measure without touching or simply to read when it's dark outside. From the generation and shaping of light, to the transportation to its destination and its exactly controlled impact, photonics encompasses all aspects of handling electromagnetic radiation.

Why is it needed?

As more as teenagers like to possess and use the latest technological gadgets, as less they seem to be interested in what actually happens behind the user interface. At the same time, our society and everyone individually becomes increasingly dependent on science and technological progress. This raises the questions: Who is going to work on the scientific answers to the challenges we face as a society? How can we motivate young people to engage in the informed discussion about steering the efforts of scientists and the responsible use of technology?

The best place to raise young people’s interest in sciences is at school. Teachers play a key role in encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Photonics Explorer program therefore aims to support teachers in their efforts to make science an exciting and fun subject, while giving students a clear understanding of physical concepts and showing their relevance to the student’s every-day life.

For whom?

The work in this program is done for school kids. To make them experience the fascination of working with light first-hand, the Photonics Explorer will equip teachers for more engaging and exciting science lessons.

Who are we?

The Photonics Explorer program is teaming up teachers, scientists in pedagogy and experts in photonics to design an intra-curricula educational kit for secondary schools. More than 30 educators from 10 countries volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a high educational value and an easy integration of the material into the regular teaching.

This educational program is actively supported by sponsoring companies from several European countries.

The program is coordinated at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) and scientifically evaluated by the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education in Kiel (Germany).

How can I get involved?

The Photonics Explorer program builds on the enthusiasm of many volunteers that donate their time and expertise to improve science education in Europe. There are several ways you too can get involved, and each support is appreciated: