Welcome to the Wayne State University Physics & Astronomy Outreach Web Page!
We give general space science and instructional programs for K-12, Community College and Math & Science Center students, and provide instructional programs for astronomy lab students. In addition, we offer presentations for the WSU community of students, faculty/staff, the general public, and special clubs & interest groups.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a rich history in the area of public outreach. Over the years, we have run summer camps for middle school science students, held open houses for high school students and their families, worked actively with the Detroit Metropolitan Area Physics Teachers organization, and presented our dazzling Phantastic Physics Phenomena to K-12 students visiting our Wayne State campus.
In addition, visitors of all ages find inspiration and delight as they explore the cosmos in the WSU Planetarium!
Members of our faculty regularly volunteer to share their excitement about physics and astronomy with the general public at Detroit Cultural Center institutions such as the Detroit Science Center, at science teacher conferences, and with students at schools and math and science centers across the metropolitan area.
We hope you enjoy browsing our web page and using the links we have provided. Feel free to get in touch with us and share your ideas about science outreach activities.
And please take the opportunity to come to our department to see why we love what we do.
ACTIVITIES:
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)
Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and Rosa Parks Visiting Professor Program
WSU Planetarium
Presentations, both general space science and instructional, K-12, Community College and Math and Science Center students; instructional programs for astronomy lab students; presentations for the WSU community of students, faculty and staff; shows for the general public and special clubs/interest groups
Presentations of “Phantastic Physics Phenomena” - demonstrations are regularly given by faculty in conjunction with planetarium presentations to visiting groups from outside the university.
Science Teachers Organizations
We advertise our programs at conferences for the Michigan Science Teachers Association (MSTA), the Metropolitan Detroit Science Teachers Association (MDSTA), and the Michigan section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (MI-AAPT).
Our faculty present exciting topics in physics at science teacher conferences!
DMAPT (Detroit Metropolitan Area Physics Teachers)
Our faculty attend meetings; contribute to events; and we also hosted the 50th anniversary celebration!
K-12 Schools and Math and Science Centers
Our faculty visit schools and Math & Science centers to advertise programs and to inform and inspire students.
Collaborations with Detroit Public Library; Detroit Science Center
Faculty presentations are given at general public lectures.
QuarkNet
Summer 2009: A DPS (high school) science teacher was a resident at CERN for one month and worked on theCMSexperiment.
Summer 2008: 8An 8-week summer program in particle physics was held at WSU with four Detroit high school students and one teacher.
