New Mexico QuarkNet - 2023 Annual Report

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Submitted by ShaneWood on Wed, 02/14/2024 - 13:30
University of New Mexico QuarkNet Center

New Mexico QuarkNet - 2023 Annual Report

New Mexico QuarkNet teachers with cosmic ray muon detectors at Sandia Peak in July, 2023.

 

The New Mexico center hosted a teacher workshop July 26-29, 2023 at three locations: the Sandia Peak Tramway, University of New Mexico Physics Department, and Q Station in Albuquerque. QuarkNet staff member Shane Wood worked with QuarkNet Cosmic fellows Nathan Unterman and Nicole Preiser and artist/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educator Agnes Chavez to facilitate this 4-day workshop. Andrew Gentry, UNM physics graduate student, gave a talk entitled, "Progress in an Unexpected Direction: Exciting Challenges in Fundamental Physics." During the workshop, teachers learned about cosmic ray muons, worked together to design and conduct an experiment at (and on!) the Sandia Tramway comparing cosmic ray muon flux rates at different elevations, experimented with AR (augmented reality) technology and how it can be applied in the classroom, worked through several activities from QuarkNet's Data Activities Portfolio, and discussed ways to bring 21st century physics to the classroom. 

A full agenda for the four-day workshop can be found here: https://quarknet.org/https%3A//quarknet.org/content/unm-2023-cosmic-steam-quarknet-workshop, and there are several pictures from the workshop posted below:

2023 workshop participants on the tramway to collect cosmic ray data.
Teachers discussing classroom implementation in small groups.
UNM student Andrew Gentry giving his talk.
Teachers analyzing cosmic ray muon data using the QuarkNet Cosmic Ray e-Lab.
STEAM educator Agnes Chaves bring augmented reality technology to the teachers.