Friday Flyer - January 15, 2016

Spotlight on International Masterclasses 2016: They are amazing—the chance for your students to become "particle physicists for a day"—and they are coming. International Masterclass videoconferences will run February 11 to March 23 at CERN and February 25 to March 19 at Fermilab. You can find schedule information at the Masterclass Library Videoconferences page. Masterclass Orientations and Orientation Updates start this coming Monday.

This year, we are adding a twist to International Masterclasses. Students can be active before, during, and after their masterclasses on Twitter: @physicsIMC and #LHCIMC16.

QuarkNet centers and other institutions can join up for all of the above. Contact Ken Cecire to learn how or to ask any questions. 

News from QuarkNet Central: Congratulations to QuarkNet friend Spencer Pasero, former leader of the QuarkNet leadershio fellows, on becoming the manager of the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach. Marge Bardeen steps aside to devote her time to her work as QuarkNet spokesperson. 

The CERN High School Teachers program applications are upon us! QuarkNet teachers, check your e-mail! (Here is the application, all the same; it is due by January 31.)

Physics Experiment Roundup: Symmetry reports that astrophysicists searching for dark matter have found some big science in little galaxies. At CERN, the LHC takes a healthful winter break. And in the "inverse-of-this-department" department, one might say a theory without experimental evidence is sort of like "all hat and no cattle"—or is it? A physicist-turned-philosopher seeks to understand.

Resources: How about something easy? Perhaps a little quantum field theory? Don Lincoln keeps it simple and interesting.

Just for Fun: Some biochemistry that physics teachers can use: coffee and your brain!

QuarkNet Staff:
Mark Adams: MarkRAdams74@gmail.com
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Shane Wood: swood5@nd.edu