IOP Education Conference comes to Birmingham to promote physics

The IOP’s Education Conference was held today at the University of Birmingham with nearly 200 teachers from across the West Midlands and beyond coming together to discuss classroom trends, new ideas and how to encourage students from every background to study physics.

A packed auditorium at the university’s Poynting Building, which houses its School of Physics and Astronomy, was welcomed by Professor William Chaplin, head of the school, before hearing an opening keynote address from Professor Louise Archer of University College London on supporting equity and inclusion in physics.

The day’s conference also heard keynotes from James de Winter, from the University of Cambridge, on knowledge transformation and from Dr Judith Hillier, of the University of Oxford, on the topic “what does physics education research tell us about ensuring that physics is for everyone?”.

Research sessions were also hosted by Jackie Flaherty of The Ogden Trust, Dr Wonyong Park of the University of Southampton, and the IOP’s Dr Jessica Hamer, on various themes around the support for students and physics teachers.

The day, facilitated by the education team from the IOP, wrapped up with a plenary and feedback session.

_{Teachers from across the Midlands gather for the IOP’s 2022 Education Conference in Birmingham}

_{The first keynote of the IOP’s conference is addressed virtually by Prof Louise Archer}

_{Delegates listen to presentations during the conference}

_{Prof Bill Chaplin from the University of Birmingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy welcomes IOP members and teachers to the conference in the Poynting Building}