Get involved!

The Photonics Explorer will be designed "by teachers for teachers". It is very important to us that this material proofs to be a real asset and support to you as a science teacher. Only if it makes your job easier while yielding better educational results, it will be used time and again.

To achieve this ambitious goal, it is essential to have the support of many teachers. Several of your colleagues already contribute in the development team as members of the Educaitonal Advisory Panel. Every support is appreciated. There are different ways to contribute to the Photonics Explorer program:

Is there an experiment with light that you have made very good experiences with? Maybe you encountered a misconception with some of your students that we should keep in mind when developing the material? Or maybe you are working on a related project you think we should be aware of? Please then, do not hesitate to contact us and let us know.
If you are teaching in either Bulgaria, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Spain or the UK, you can also apply to become a pilot teacher for the international field tests. These test will be taking place between September and December 2011. Pilot teachers will receive a special training at a local university. These training courses are given by professional teacher instructors in the local language, and explain how to apply the didactic concepts of the program. Pilot teachers then receive one Photonics Explorer and can test one or more of the modules in their class. What would you improve? What is missing, what should be better explained? Your opinion really matters to us.
Last but not least: If you like the idea of the Photonics Explorer, please spread the word!

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: