PhysicsQuest Expands Online with Help from the Eucalyptus Foundation

“We have been taking a lot of input from teachers, the [APS] Committee on Informing the Public, and others to find out what online resources they use and what gaps there are in the PhysicsQuest program,” says APS Public Engagement Manager James Roche. “We want to use online resources to bolster—not replace—the other parts of PhysicsQuest.”

A new online suite for PhysicsQuest will be designed to complement the teacher and student guides that classrooms already receive, with resources for teachers and students. Eventually, according to Roche, the online component of PhysicsQuest will include content such as lesson plans, experiment videos, and other educational tools.

“We’re early in the process of coming up with the best ways to provide resources, but we will start releasing content online with the 2020 kit,” says Roche. “It might not be the full suite of resources we’re working on, but it’s an exciting first step.”

The 2020 PhysicsQuest will feature NASA scientist Katherine Johnson in the activity guide, giving students an opportunity to learn more about her life while conducting experiments on force and motion. The online component will feature videos of other scientists who are currently doing related research who can share their personal stories to inspire the next generation.

“Thanks to the Eucalyptus Foundation grant, we are able to continue offering the PhysicsQuest program while making it even more accessible to a broader audience,” says Roche.

Signups to receive a 2020 PhysicsQuest kit will open online this summer. In the meantime, all past activity guides—including PhysicsQuest 2019 featuring “First Lady of Physics” Chien-Shiung Wu—are available online and include experiments that can be done with household items.

For more about the PhysicsQuest program visit the PhysicsQuest page.