Physics for pupils

Looking for ideas

Physics is all around us: it is reflected in the colour of the sky, keeps us in balance when cycling and is in every mobile phone. And yet physics is one of the least popular school subjects. We, the German Physical Society and the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation, want to change this - with your help, provided you fulfil one of the following criteria:

• You teach physics or another technical science subject at a school in Germany or an official German school abroad and would like to inspire pupils, design an experimental lesson in such a way that it is not only on the cutting edge thematically but also in its implementation, realise a project in a study group or a course for which the funds have been lacking up to now, promote physics in the school building or schoolyard, make the school subject of physics more attractive in general.
• You are involved in an extracurricular place of learning such as a student research centre and would like to carry out a project there, e.g. a competition project.
• You work at a university and would like to organise an event for pupils with the aim of promoting physics as a subject.

We support you

Submit an application for funding. This should include:

• Project title and duration, your address with telephone number and e-mail address as well as the name and address of the educational institution
• The educational and didactic objectives of the project
• Timing and organisation of the project
• Cost plan, as detailed as possible, with specific product and manufacturer details
• Letter of approval from the school management for school projects
• Information on how the project is to be documented
• Information on when the project will be completed and can be invoiced
• Declaration of consent that the final report may be published on the DPG website as an example of a successful project (including image rights)

Please note:
Applications for student projects must be submitted before the end of the project, all other applications (especially for events) at least four weeks before the start.
Equipment can only be approved if it can be clearly assigned to the requested project. For this reason, computers, projectors, smartboards, tablet PCs and digital cameras are generally excluded, as are devices that are part of the basic equipment or standard collection for which the school authority is responsible.
School trips are only funded if the school makes an appropriate contribution and if they are embedded in a larger project or are intensively prepared and followed up in class.
Funding is limited to 5000 euros per individual project.
As a rule, the funding programme only supports applications from public educational institutions or non-profit associations with close links to schools.
Applications are assessed by a jury of experienced teachers and specialised didactics experts.
Upon completion of a project, documentation and a financial report must be submitted.

Examples of funded projects

• Launch of a stratospheric balloon
• Working on a GYPT/IYPT problem using a special spectrometer
• Solar energy and digital measurement technology in the classroom
• Project week on climate change
• School camp on the GYPT/IYPT
  Student camp on laser physics
• In-school workshop on vibrations and waves
• ‘Physics on Saturday’ lecture series at universities

Note: The topics listed are for overview purposes only and are not intended as a guide. Therefore you can give free rein to your own ideas for your own project.

Applications

Please send applications for the funding programme to

Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft e. V.
Geschäftsstelle
Hauptstraße 5
53604 Bad Honnef

Phone: 02224 / 9232-0
fax: 02224 / 9232-50
e-mail:

 

---

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.