Drew QuarkNet Center

QuarkNet is an NSF-supported teacher professional development program that provides science teachers the means to develop their skills and bring authentic research experiences into the high school classroom. It is a collaboration between Fermilab, the University of Notre Dame, and more than 50 universities and laboratories across the US, including Drew University. QuarkNet unites science teachers and university investigators in active research projects of contemporary physics. Teachers also work with physicist mentors, staff, and fellows to learn about particle physics and develop or engage with pedagogy that gives students a research-like experience by working with authentic data from particle physics experiments. Teachers and students will also have the opportunity to participate in the international Masterclass program which provides focused, hands-on workshops covering a variety of physics topics and using real data prepared for student use. Additionally, through the Cosmic Ray, CMS e-labs and other projects, teachers will be provided with web-based applications to guide students through in-depth inquiries using real data from major scientific experiments.

QuarkNet has a variety of universities and laboratories participating in high-energy physics experiments, but each center has its own unique program. For example, the center that we are building at Drew University will involve high school teachers, with the help from undergraduate students and faculty members of the particle physics group at Drew University, and we will build/use portable muon detectors that can be operated by high school students and teachers at their respective schools during the regular school year. We think that this is a great opportunity for us to work together and bring the excitement of physics research into the high school. A group of selected teachers will have the opportunity to visit Fermilab, one of the biggest particle physics laboratories in the US, look at real experimental data, participate in data analysis, and more than anything, appreciate how a complex particle accelerator experiment works. They will then have the possibility to bring some of the tools and knowledge they gained into their classroom. The QuarkNet program will provide not only opportunities for teachers and their students to participate in research in particle physics, but it will also provide a daily stipend of $120/day for teacher workshops at Drew University and teachers selected to attend Data Camp or Coding Camp at Fermilab. Depending on funds availability, more teachers may be supported to attend the summer Camp at Fermilab. In addition, teachers will earn professional development hours to use toward recertification via DrewTEACH program.

To move forward, the Drew QuarkNet program has identified one lead teacher, Tom Smock, and we are searching for a second lead teacher to join our team. Soon, we will be looking to add associate teachers to our group. Associate teachers will have the option to participate in a Data-Camp at Fermilab, Chicago, IL during the summer and will be asked to attend workshops hosted at Drew University that requires a 3–4-day commitment. We hope to build a strong, rewarding program for both teachers and high school students. If you would like to join our program do not hesitate to fill the registration form. If you would like to read more about QuarkNet, please visit the official QuarkNet website.

— Drew QUARKNET Director

Kamal Benslama