A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Can a one-day event trigger interest in quantum physics at the university level?
Authors: Anttila, Daria; Lehtinen, Antti; Koskinen, Pekka
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Publication year: 2024
Journal: European Journal of Physics
Journal name in source: European Journal of Physics
Article number: 045708
Volume: 45
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0143-0807
eISSN: 1361-6404
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6404/ad4f33
Web address : https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-6404/ad4f33
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/457144523
The ongoing second quantum revolution and the growing impact of quantum technologies on our society and economy are making quantum physics education even more important. Consequently, there is a lot of research on quantum physics education for university students and even the general public. However, studying quantum physics or any other topic is primarily voluntary and thus a matter of personal interest—and it can only grow from a seed planted earlier. Here, we describe and test how a one-day event designed to trigger interest and change perceptions about quantum physics among physics and mathematics students at the University of Turku, Finland succeeded in meeting its goals. The data was collected from participants through questionnaires and complementary interviews. We found that the event made attitudes and views toward quantum physics more positive, versatile, and realistic. Although the event was too short to notably or permanently elevate the phase of interest when evaluated externally on a four-level scale, self-evaluations still reported an increased interest for most participants. Thus, it appears that even a short event can cultivate the ground to make it fertile for maintaining and developing interest further, for example, by well-designed and -timed quantum physics curriculum.
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