Alberta Physics
Enhancing Physics Education and Teaching in Alberta
We are the Alberta section of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Our aim is to provide effective professional development workshops and sessions for the high school Physics and Science 20 and 30 teachers of Alberta as well as at the post-secondary level.
We hold an all-day teachers' workshop in the late Fall and 2 to 3 free evening sessions each year. Our members are high school science teachers and university/college professors with a deep interest in physics and physics education.
We meet as a group for the PD sessions and the executive meets on an irregular basis. There is no membership fee, just come to our PD sessions. For more information please contact us at the email address below.
News and Upcoming Events
Our next Wed Physics and Pizza Night
You are welcome to attend in-person or virtually
April 24, 2024 5:00pm
Some Revolutions in Physics
Some Revolutions in Physics
(or A Very Brief History of Astronomy)
Dr. Orla Aaquist, PhD, BEd, retired
Wednesday April 24 at 5:00pm
Department of Physics, Univ of Alberta
CCIS L1-047 or connect virtually.
This presentation involves a telling of a few historical milestones that led to our current understanding of the universe, starting with the ancient Greek model builders, and ending with the big bang. The presentation is forged from 12 years of teaching the course ‘Revolutions in Physics’ to second year university students at MacEwan University. The focus will be on astronomy, and it will include three musical interludes.
About Orla
Dr.Orla Aaquist is a retired physics educator. He received MSc and PhD in astrophysics from the University of Calgary. His PhD and subsequent research involved observations with the Very Large Array Radio Telescope to study compact planetary nebulae at radio continuum wavelengths, modelling their complex visibilities, and measuring their angular expansion rates. During his teaching career, he taught and developed a variety of undergraduate courses in physics, astronomy, Earth Science, engineering, mathematics, and computer science at Grant MacEwan University, Keyano College, College of New Caledonia, and the University of Manitoba. In addition, he also taught physics and mathematics at the junior and senior high school level and worked at the Calgary Centennial Planetarium where he operated their public observatory, developed and delivered public astronomy lectures and a course in telescope mirror making.
Throughout his career, he has been involved in numerous educational community outreach activities include involvement with Edmonton’s Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Young Scientist Conference of Alberta, various Scientist in the School programs, the British Columbia provincial Partners in Science Awareness Program, the Fraser-Fort George Regional Museum, and the construction of the Prince George Astronomical Observatory.
You are welcome to attend in-person or virtually.
The cost of pizza is $10/person
Executive 2023/2024
President: Dion Skitsko Dion.Skitsko@ecsd.net
Secretary: Mark Freeman Mark.Freeman@ualberta.ca
Treasurer: Laura Pankratz laurapankratz@uniserve.com
AAPT Section Rep: Terry Singleton tsingleton@ualberta.net
Contact Information
E-mail AlbertaAAPT@gmail.com