Physics education under the microscope in Argentina

A warm welcome from Argentina.

By James Dacey in Córdoba, Argentina

I’m writing this blog entry from the heart of Argentina, following a marathon 30-hour journey from my home in Bristol, UK. It was a trip that included two planes, a few buses, a couple of taxis and several long walks, but I’m finally here in Córdoba – Argentina’s second largest city – to attend this year’s International Conference on Physics Education (ICPE).

The meeting’s all about bringing together people to discuss the latest developments in education – including lecturers, teachers, trainers, students and educational researchers. It’s an event with a global outlook, accompanied by a satellite meeting where local high-school teachers will be discussing issues more focused on their day-to-day experiences. At the registration session, things already took a welcome Argentine twist as we were treated to a performance from some local musicians (see picture above).

My particular interest is in finding out how information and communication technologies (ICT) can help to raise the standards of education in the country. Two recent reports produced as part of a UNESCO study on mobile learning have identified several initiatives in the region that have the potential to improve access, equity and quality.

Naturally, I will be particularly interested to find out how such initiatives apply to physics education. In principle, this use of ICT could help students and educators in nations such as Argentina to stay connected with cutting-edge physics and world-leading facilities to inspire a new generation of scientists.

Keep an eye on this blog over the next week to see what I discover. Right now, I’m going to get some rest!