Articles | Volume 4, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-169-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-169-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
“Thanks for helping me find my enthusiasm for physics”: the lasting impacts “research in schools” projects can have on students, teachers, and schools
Martin O. Archer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London,
London, UK
now at: Space and Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, Imperial
College London, London, UK
Jennifer DeWitt
Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
Independent Research and Evaluation Consultant, London, UK
Related authors
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The boundary of Earth's magnetic field, the magnetopause, deflects and reacts to the solar wind - the energetic particles emanating from the Sun. We find that certain types of solar wind favour the occurrence of deviations between the magnetopause locations observed by spacecraft and those predicted by models. In addition, the turbulent region in front of the magnetopause, the foreshock, has a large influence on the location of the magnetopause and thus on the accuracy of the model predictions.
Niklas Grimmich, Ferdinand Plaschke, Benjamin Grison, Fabio Prencipe, Christophe Philippe Escoubet, Martin Owain Archer, Ovidiu Dragos Constantinescu, Stein Haaland, Rumi Nakamura, David Gary Sibeck, Fabien Darrouzet, Mykhaylo Hayosh, and Romain Maggiolo
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In our study, we looked at the boundary between the Earth's magnetic field and the interplanetary magnetic field emitted by the Sun, called the magnetopause. While other studies focus on the magnetopause motion near Earth's Equator, we have studied it in polar regions. The motion of the magnetopause is faster towards the Earth than towards the Sun. We also found that the occurrence of unusual magnetopause locations is due to similar solar influences in the equatorial and polar regions.
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Educational research highlights that improved careers education is needed to increase participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Current UK careers resources in the space sector, however, are found to perhaps not best reflect the diversity of roles present and may in fact perpetuate misconceptions about the usefulness of science. We, therefore, compile a more diverse set of space-related jobs, which will be used in the development of a new space careers resource.
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Martin O. Archer
Geosci. Commun., 4, 189–208, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-189-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-189-2021, 2021
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An evaluation of the accessibility and equity of a programme of independent research projects shows that, with the right support from both teachers and active researchers, schools' ability to succeed at undertaking cutting-edge research appears independent of typical societal inequalities.
Martin O. Archer, Natt Day, and Sarah Barnes
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We show that integrating evaluation tools both before and after a drop-in engagement activity enables the demonstration of change and, thus, short-term impact. In our case, young families who listened to space sounds exhibited changed language and conceptions about space in their graffiti wall responses afterwards, exemplifying the power of sound in science communication. We suggest that evaluation tools be adopted both before and after drop-in activities in general.
Martin O. Archer
Geosci. Commun., 3, 147–166, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-147-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-147-2020, 2020
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The Space Sound Effects Short Film Festival integrated near-Earth space environment research into culture through independent film. By running a film festival challenging filmmakers to incorporate the sounds of space, creative works were produced which have gone on to be screened at numerous established film festivals and events internationally. These events introduced non-science audiences to this area of research which affects their everyday lives, having several unanticipated impacts on them.
Minna Palmroth, Heli Hietala, Ferdinand Plaschke, Martin Archer, Tomas Karlsson, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, David Sibeck, Primož Kajdič, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Markus Battarbee, and Lucile Turc
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Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity plasma structures that are commonly observed within the Earth's magnetosheath. Previously, they have mainly been investigated with spacecraft observations, which do not allow us to infer their spatial sizes, temporal evolution, or origin. This paper shows for the first time their dimensions, evolution, and origins within a simulation whose dimensions are directly comparable to the Earth's magnetosphere. The results are compared to previous observations.
Tomas Karlsson, Ferdinand Plaschke, Heli Hietala, Martin Archer, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Primož Kajdič, Per-Arne Lindqvist, Göran Marklund, and Daniel J. Gershman
Ann. Geophys., 36, 655–677, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, 2018
Short summary
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We have studied fast plasma jets outside of Earth’s magnetic environment. Such jets are small-scale structures with a limited lifetime, which may be important in determining the properties of the near-Earth space environment, due to their concentrated kinetic energy. We have used data from the NASA Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) satellites to study their properties in detail, to understand how these jets are formed. We have found evidence that there are at least two different types of jets.
M. O. Archer, T. S. Horbury, P. Brown, J. P. Eastwood, T. M. Oddy, B. J. Whiteside, and J. G. Sample
Ann. Geophys., 33, 725–735, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-725-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-725-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The first in-flight results from a new design of miniaturised magnetometer (MAGIC - MAGnetometer from Imperial College), aboard the first CINEMA (Cubesat for Ions, Neutrals, Electrons and MAgnetic fields) spacecraft in low Earth orbit, are presented. Not only can this sensor be used for determining attitude, but it is also able to detect the extremely small (20-40 nT) magnetic field signatures of field-aligned currents at the auroral oval. Thus, there are science capabilities with such sensors.
M. O. Archer and T. S. Horbury
Ann. Geophys., 31, 319–331, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-319-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-319-2013, 2013
Niklas Grimmich, Adrian Pöppelwerth, Martin Owain Archer, David Gary Sibeck, Ferdinand Plaschke, Wenli Mo, Vicki Toy-Edens, Drew Lawson Turner, Hyangpyo Kim, and Rumi Nakamura
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2956, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2956, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The boundary of Earth's magnetic field, the magnetopause, deflects and reacts to the solar wind - the energetic particles emanating from the Sun. We find that certain types of solar wind favour the occurrence of deviations between the magnetopause locations observed by spacecraft and those predicted by models. In addition, the turbulent region in front of the magnetopause, the foreshock, has a large influence on the location of the magnetopause and thus on the accuracy of the model predictions.
Niklas Grimmich, Ferdinand Plaschke, Benjamin Grison, Fabio Prencipe, Christophe Philippe Escoubet, Martin Owain Archer, Ovidiu Dragos Constantinescu, Stein Haaland, Rumi Nakamura, David Gary Sibeck, Fabien Darrouzet, Mykhaylo Hayosh, and Romain Maggiolo
Ann. Geophys., 42, 371–394, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-371-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-371-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In our study, we looked at the boundary between the Earth's magnetic field and the interplanetary magnetic field emitted by the Sun, called the magnetopause. While other studies focus on the magnetopause motion near Earth's Equator, we have studied it in polar regions. The motion of the magnetopause is faster towards the Earth than towards the Sun. We also found that the occurrence of unusual magnetopause locations is due to similar solar influences in the equatorial and polar regions.
Martin O. Archer, Cara L. Waters, Shafiat Dewan, Simon Foster, and Antonio Portas
Geosci. Commun., 5, 119–123, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-119-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-5-119-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Educational research highlights that improved careers education is needed to increase participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Current UK careers resources in the space sector, however, are found to perhaps not best reflect the diversity of roles present and may in fact perpetuate misconceptions about the usefulness of science. We, therefore, compile a more diverse set of space-related jobs, which will be used in the development of a new space careers resource.
Martin O. Archer, Jennifer DeWitt, Charlotte Thorley, and Olivia Keenan
Geosci. Commun., 4, 147–168, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-147-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-147-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We explore how best to support school students to experience undertaking research-level physics by evaluating provision in the PRiSE framework of
research in schoolsprojects. These experiences are received by students and teachers much more positively than typical forms of outreach. The intensive support offered is deemed necessary, with all elements appearing equally important. We suggest the framework could be adopted at other institutions applied to their own areas of scientific research.
Martin O. Archer
Geosci. Commun., 4, 189–208, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-189-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-189-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
An evaluation of the accessibility and equity of a programme of independent research projects shows that, with the right support from both teachers and active researchers, schools' ability to succeed at undertaking cutting-edge research appears independent of typical societal inequalities.
Martin O. Archer, Natt Day, and Sarah Barnes
Geosci. Commun., 4, 57–67, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-57-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-57-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We show that integrating evaluation tools both before and after a drop-in engagement activity enables the demonstration of change and, thus, short-term impact. In our case, young families who listened to space sounds exhibited changed language and conceptions about space in their graffiti wall responses afterwards, exemplifying the power of sound in science communication. We suggest that evaluation tools be adopted both before and after drop-in activities in general.
Martin O. Archer
Geosci. Commun., 3, 147–166, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-147-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-3-147-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The Space Sound Effects Short Film Festival integrated near-Earth space environment research into culture through independent film. By running a film festival challenging filmmakers to incorporate the sounds of space, creative works were produced which have gone on to be screened at numerous established film festivals and events internationally. These events introduced non-science audiences to this area of research which affects their everyday lives, having several unanticipated impacts on them.
Minna Palmroth, Heli Hietala, Ferdinand Plaschke, Martin Archer, Tomas Karlsson, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, David Sibeck, Primož Kajdič, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Markus Battarbee, and Lucile Turc
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1171–1182, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1171-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1171-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity plasma structures that are commonly observed within the Earth's magnetosheath. Previously, they have mainly been investigated with spacecraft observations, which do not allow us to infer their spatial sizes, temporal evolution, or origin. This paper shows for the first time their dimensions, evolution, and origins within a simulation whose dimensions are directly comparable to the Earth's magnetosphere. The results are compared to previous observations.
Tomas Karlsson, Ferdinand Plaschke, Heli Hietala, Martin Archer, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Primož Kajdič, Per-Arne Lindqvist, Göran Marklund, and Daniel J. Gershman
Ann. Geophys., 36, 655–677, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We have studied fast plasma jets outside of Earth’s magnetic environment. Such jets are small-scale structures with a limited lifetime, which may be important in determining the properties of the near-Earth space environment, due to their concentrated kinetic energy. We have used data from the NASA Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) satellites to study their properties in detail, to understand how these jets are formed. We have found evidence that there are at least two different types of jets.
M. O. Archer, T. S. Horbury, P. Brown, J. P. Eastwood, T. M. Oddy, B. J. Whiteside, and J. G. Sample
Ann. Geophys., 33, 725–735, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-725-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-725-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The first in-flight results from a new design of miniaturised magnetometer (MAGIC - MAGnetometer from Imperial College), aboard the first CINEMA (Cubesat for Ions, Neutrals, Electrons and MAgnetic fields) spacecraft in low Earth orbit, are presented. Not only can this sensor be used for determining attitude, but it is also able to detect the extremely small (20-40 nT) magnetic field signatures of field-aligned currents at the auroral oval. Thus, there are science capabilities with such sensors.
M. O. Archer and T. S. Horbury
Ann. Geophys., 31, 319–331, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-319-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-319-2013, 2013
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Short summary
The impacts upon a diverse range of students, teachers, and schools from participating in a programme of protracted university-mentored projects based on cutting-edge physics research are assessed. The lasting impacts on confidence, skills, aspirations, and practice suggest that similar
research in schoolsinitiatives may have a role to play in aiding the increased uptake and diversity of physics/STEM in higher education as well as meaningfully enhancing the STEM environment within schools.
The impacts upon a diverse range of students, teachers, and schools from participating in a...
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