Pedro Abreu, IPPOG co-chair, attended the 3rd African Conference on Fundamental and Applied Physics in George, Western Cape, South Africa, from September 25 to 29, 2023.
The event centered around the theme "Engaging teachers for informal education in modern physics" and Pedro presented a statement on behalf of the IPPOG Collaboration.
The focus of the presentation was the International Masterclasses Programme (IMC), launched in 2005 by IPPOG during UNESCO's World Year of Physics. Over the years, the program has expanded significantly, involving nearly 14,000 students across 220 institutes in 52 countries.
The essence of IMC is to allow students to "Be a scientist for a day...with hands-on particles," engaging in training, data analysis, and international videoconferences to discuss results.

The strategy to enhance the quality of particle physics education in Africa has evolved to focus on engaging with educators, notably through CERN's Portuguese Language Teachers Programmes. These programs were launched in 2009. Pedro's presentation delved into a comprehensive review of these initiatives, emphasising the significance of actively involving educators to inspire student engagement. The objective is to close educational disparities and cultivate a deeper comprehension of modern physics among African students.

 

 

During the masterclass session led by Kenneth Cecire (IMC co-coordinator), there was a power outage, and for a few seconds, it seemed like all the students' work had been lost. However, science knows no boundaries, and neither does creativity. As seen in the photo below, the students and the team of facilitators improvised and created a results chart using sticky notes. Excellent work!

 

 

In the spirit of collaborative outreach, Pedro's presence at the Inkcubeko Science Centre took on added significance. The challenges faced during the masterclass, as mentioned in the earlier statement, underscored the need for innovative solutions. By engaging teachers and addressing technical hurdles head-on, the IPPOG team aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and enriching educational experience in modern physics for students across the African continent.