The field of geometrical optics features a broad knowledge base concerning conceptual learning difficulties and student conceptions. However, in contrast to other areas of physics, no widely used standard test instrument exists to assess middle school students' conceptual knowledge of geometrical optics. This is even more true for other areas of…

The European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing & Training (EU-REST) study aimed to collect and analyse workforce availability, education, and training needs to ensure quality and safety aspects of medical applications involving ionising radiation and to develop staffing and education/training guidelines as well as conclusions and…

The teaching of the phenomenon of radioactivity is considered a key ingredient in the path towards developing critical thinking skills in many secondary science education curricula. Despite being one of the basic concepts in general physics courses, the scientific teaching literature of the last 40 years reports a great deal of misconceptions and…

Background: Late side effects of head and neck cancer treatment commonly affect swallowing function. Late radiation-associated dysphagia (late-RAD) often presents years post-treatment when patients have been discharged from their multidisciplinary team. Timely symptom management may provide important physical and emotional support, potentially…

A number of diverse arguments have been proposed by researchers of science education regarding the reason science should be taught in schools. These arguments inevitably play a crucial role in the curriculum designed by policymakers. The present study turns its attention to the democratic argument. It explores its validity through a special…

As part of their third-year general chemistry program, students at the University of the Côte d'Azur are taught the basics of radioactivity. The view that third-year university students have of the periodic Table of the Elements is often reduced because it ignores the vast majority of isotopes. As part of this program, a practicum devoted to the…

This paper presents the case for how students can be helped to increase their scientific vocation by experimental work and the introduction of particle physics into pre-university studies. These two ideas are the two main lines of work of the ADMIRA initiative, which has been created by individuals belonging to different and complementary…

This article considers to what degree the UK depends on nuclear power for the generation of electricity and examines the problems, environmental and technical, associated with radioactive waste. Historical failings, the waste backlog, classification, modern handling techniques and with decisions about final disposal are outlined to provide an…

This article presents the Polish project entitled 'Detektory dla Szkol' ('Detectors for Schools', throughout the paper referred to as 'the programme'). It was developed at the Education and Training Division of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (Narodowe Centrum Badan Jadrowych, NCBJ) in Poland. The programme allows the schools to borrow…

Background: Japan has recently begun introducing educational programmes on cancer as part of health and physical education (HPE) classes in schools. In support of this work, the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology has developed an educational video to enhance children's understanding of cancer and radiotherapy. Objectives: This study examined…

Every substance is associated to emission of electromagnetic radiation whose peaks are essentially influenced by temperature. Hot bodies (i.e., at T >700 °C) emit electromagnetic radiation in the field of visible light (incandescent light). The radiation emitted by cold bodies (i.e., at normal ambient conditions) in the visible light range is…

Practical work as observation and experimentation are vital parts of science education. One way to accomplish this is by applying inquiry-based learning in laboratory activities. Inquiry enhances the development of scientific skills as well as the learning of the scientific concepts. In the present article, a laboratory activity was developed to…

Concerns about the health effects of frequent exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted from mobile towers and handsets have been raised because of the gradual increase in usage of cell phones and frequent setting up of mobile towers. Present study is targeted to detrimental effects of EMF radiation on various biological systems mainly due…

In Vietnam, nuclear physics is a fundamental part of the national curriculum for physics. However, due to a lack of experimental apparatus (detectors, radioactive sources, etc) at most of the schools, the majority of students do not have opportunities to experience the phenomena behind the concepts. Moreover, safety is another major concern when…

Radon is a dangerous radioactive gas that is always present in the environment. It is important that students and society in general are aware of radon as a health hazard. This study describes a simple experiment to measure the variations of radon gas concentration outdoors. We compared the concentration of radon gas in the environment in dry and…