Physics Outreach Workshop Caitlin Watson Head of Public Engagement, Institute of Physics Outreach & Widening Participation in Practice 2 November

Outline l IOP activity l Image of physics and gender awareness l Participants’ Post-its l What do you think about…? l 60 second soap box l Opportunity to tell everyone about your ‘thing’

Image of Physics l Semiotics research l What are people’s existing perceptions of physics? l What deeper symbolism underpins these images? l What can we take away from this to make physics intriguing and attractive to students?

Symbolism of Physics l A triumph of enlightenment l Reverence l Makes us see the world anew l Order/Chaos l ‘Theory of everything’ l Pure intelligence l Mystery and mastery l Infinite progress

Physics in Popular Culture l Mad scientist l Cold, calculating, contemptuous l Not athletic / not sexy / not hip l Rogue hero l Geek chic, outsider, mythbuster l Power with responsibility l Entrepreneurial / free

Branding Physics l Don’t pretend it’s easy – intellectual rigour l Differentiate the world of physics from other study l Offers challenge and intrigue l Creative energy l Imagination, radical, courageous, future l The everyday and the infinite; big and small l Universe is a strange place l Mind expansion

Gender awareness l Post-16: only 22% of girls choose physics l Physics has a highly gendered image l Messages may need to be more nuanced for girls AS Physics entries

Top five items boys and girls would like to learn about in science (English ROSE data) Boys l Explosive chemicals l How it feels to be weightless in space l How the atom bomb works l Biological and chemical weapons l Black holes, supernovae and other spectacular objects Girls l Why we dream and what the dreams may mean l Cancer – what we know and how to treat it l How to perform basic first aid l How to exercise to keep fit and strong l STIs and how to protect against them

Managing Groups l Think about whether single sex or mixed groups are most appropriate for the activity l Assign roles to people and change during the activity if possible l Think about whether groups take account of ability or are deliberately mixed ability l Think about group size – does it allow for all to actively engage?

Role model guidelines l Ensure role models have adequate prior info l Allow students to interview them l Encourage role models to personalise experiences and be open to questions related to having a family l Discuss the nature and purpose of scientific research as well as details l Don’t over-simplify l Use accessible language, images, examples and analogies

Girls continue post-16 when… l Activities are managed to ensure active participation by all l Focus is on learning is ideas rather than unconnected facts l Students understand the contribution physics makes to society and their lives l Expectation that anyone can do physics

Engaging with Girls Action Pack l Increasing the participation of girls in physics - an action pack for teachers l Action research booklet l Resources sheets l Learning activity sheets

IOP careers materials physics.org/careersmyphysicscourse.org

Further resources l Ashfield Music Festival l Physics in the Field l Lab in a Lorry l Posters l SOS Network

For physics ● For physicists ● For all

Participant Post-its l One idea/thought per Post-it note: l Good examples you know/want to copy l Bad examples of things to avoid l What do you wish you knew? l What barriers do you face?

Participant Post-its l One idea/thought per Post-it note l Good examples you know/want to copy l Extract bits to copy l Bad examples of things to avoid l Extract bits to learn from l What do you wish you knew? l Extract answers from the group l What barriers do you face? l Extract solutions from the group

For physics ● For physicists ● For all

60 second soapbox l What do you want to tell us all about? l Promote an activity / resource l Ask for / offer help l Pose a question l Make a suggestion

For physics ● For physicists ● For all