A Glimpse of Nuclear Physics Educational Meeting Held at Academy of Talents in Kamennoostrovsky Palace

09/07/2024

Summer vacations provide not only an opportunity for children to rest, but also an active time for teachers to plan the upcoming school year, reflect on the previous one, and refresh their expertise in the subject.

On June 17, 2024, the RITVERC team took advantage of the summer break and, at the invitation of the St. Petersburg Academy of Talents, hosted an educational meeting in the Kamennoostrovsky Palace entitled A Glimpse of Nuclear Physics for chemistry and biology teachers from St. Petersburg secondary schools.

The meeting aimed to discuss the potential for studying radioactivity in the core curriculum and in supplemental education, and to show how the RadLab training kit may be used to do so in a way that is safe, engaging, and — most importantly — understandable.

The participating teachers observed alpha particles in a Wilson cloud chamber and reviewed the essential techniques for recording ionizing radiation on a radiometer-dosimeter. Teachers had a lot of questions, both concerning the kits’ composition and general topics like how to organize such activities in the classroom, how many children can participate, etc. All of them received extensive responses that will assist the teachers in their future work.