Photonics at school

The Photonics Explorer is an European initiative for better science education and does not pursue any commercial interests. It will equip teachers with the material needed to teach science classes about light and its applications in an engaging way. Special emphasis lies on teaching research skills, as they are increasingly needed in our society.

Although this program is supported by several industrial sponsors, we will not make any advertisement for a specific product, company or technology. However, the components that are donated by the companies enable us to present the rapidly growing field with 'real-world' items at the state-of-the-art. The lessons thus become more applied and your children can recognize how these topics relate to their own life.

Why it is important to learn about photonics

Photonics - the art of making light work for you - is a rather young, but extremely fast growing field. When some 50 years ago the first laser operated in a laboratory, nobody could have imagined that this technology would be so soon ubiquitously present in CD players, smoke detectors, at the supermarket cashier or in medical and industrial devices. And the laser is just but one example of a photonics technology we all use every day. Just think of different types of displays - whether LCD, plasma or OLED - or of various light sources for illuminating and signaling, photovoltaic, or optical telecommunication and so on... It has been often said, that just as the 20th century was the century of the electron, the 21th century is the century of the photon (a photon is a tiny portion of light).

Since the development of this field is that fast, schoolbooks and curricula simply did not keep up with the technological progress. However, there are two important reasons why photonics has to be taught at schools:

First of all, it is essential to have a fundamental understanding of the technologies we all use every day. Such an understanding is needed to handle technologies safely and responsible. As an example: you can make as many warning sticker on a laser pointer as you wish - a clear idea of what damage it can cause in an eye will make a by far stronger impression on a child.

Secondly, along with the progress in technology, there is a rapidly growing industry offering a wide variety of career options for people that are interested in working with light. Actually, although there might be a crisis at the moment in many other industrial sectors, in the field of photonics there is a growing need for skilled workers. Many companies would like to employ new staff but cannot find the right people - too few students are currently graduating in photonics subjects. This is one of the main reasons why companies and industry associations support the Photonics Explorer program.

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: