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HIGHER EDUCATION AND

THE SITUATION OF THE PHYSICS STUDENTS

J. Dolejší Charles University in Prague,

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

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The education system

Teachers

Chances for interested students

Getting closer to particle physics

Towards the professional career

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

This is the framework, influenced by many

unpredictable events

… have enormous positive or negative effect on

attractivity of the subject

… Students should decide: e.g. Physics or Law

Is it better to study particle physics or biophysics???

There are many offers for an interesting work, but is the career in physics compatible with the family?

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The education system: where is physics?

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

Basic school:age 6-15

High school:age 16-19

University

Physics

Physics

Statistical Yearbook of the Czech Republic 2006

Physics

About 0,1 Mpupils/grade

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Pupils (students) and teachers:

Basic school: about 100 000 pupils/grade 63 000 teachers

(53 000 women … 84%)

Secondary schools with general orientation (and with leaving examination):about 26 000 students/grade 13 000 teachers

(8 500 women … 65%)(+Secondary technical schools:about 55 000 students/grade)

Universities:321 000 students92% at public universities about 15 000 educators…1752 doctoral graduates in 2006

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

5R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

Population projected to 2010:

6R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

Universities relevant for physics study

kstudents Phys. Teach. P or TCharles University in Prague 47 + + +Univ. of South Bohemia, České Budějovice 9 + + -University of J. E. Purkyně, Ústí nad Labem 8 + + -Masaryk University, Brno 32 + + +Palacký University, Olomouc 17 + + -University of Ostrava 8 + + -University of Hradec Králové 7 + + -Silesian University in Opava 4 + + +Czech Technical University in Prague 23 + - +University of West Bohemia in Pilsen 16 + + -Technical University, Liberec 8 + + -Brno University of Technology, Brno 19 + - -VŠB - Technical University, Ostrava 19 + - -Tomas Baťa University in Zlín 8 + - -

no private university, no state university (Univ. of Defence?)

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Universities relevant for physics study

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

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Teachers: good teachers attract students

• educated separately from physics students

• usually specialized in two sciences, best case being physics-

mathematics

• no centralized “quality control“

• no systematic in-service training

• possibly have heard something about particles, but probably

didn’t digest it

• …

Instead of complaints, let’s help them!

… active teachers form an appreciative audience!

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

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It is easier to deal with active teachers - Heureka

Seminars should help in basic orientation in given field, they should enhance the qualification of teachers, stimulate the contacts and

bring fun.

Nuclear Physics in Czech manner: Teachers measure the decay law of the beer froth ...

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Some of the Heureka seminars are quite special – here Physics and Climbing

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Excursions for Heureka teachers

From Prague via Munich to Geneve

… and Chamonix

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Physics (Science) on Stage

Geneva 2000 Communication & Collaboration

Dept. of Physics Education, Charles University

Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences

Teachers

PhD Students

Inst. of Particle and Nuclear Physics, Charles University

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Chances for interested students:

Jiří Rameš will speak about outreach activities dedicated to

particle physics,

but there are many opportunities for high school students to

meet with physics (and with people from universities and

institutes of the Academy of Sciences) in general:

• old Physics Olympiad

• seminars, public lectures, summer camps

• open days

• … illustrations

R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

Kurzy matematiky a Kurzy matematiky a fyzikyfyziky

- malé skupiny- aktivní práce

- 1 hodina dopoledne- tři různé úrovně a zaměření

Práce v laboratoři a Práce v laboratoři a dílnědílně

16R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

Getting closer to particle physics

Introductory lectures bachelor thesis selection of the

specialization of the master study

master thesis deciding whether

to stay for PhD studies, …

17R-ECFA meeting in PragueMarch 9.-10., 2007

“Summary”

• Reasonable numbers of students• Reasonable rate of newcomers to the particle physics,• Reasonable balance with retired colleagues,• Low chance to attract people after postdoc positions

from outside