Teachers receive a cosmic education for Dark Matter Day
In the lead up to Dark Matter Day, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics (CDM) will join forces with CERN Laboratory in Geneva and European Southern Observatory (ESO) Supernova in Germany to give educators the tools to teach their students about dark matter.
Teachers and dark matter scientists from across the globe are expected to participate in the Dark Matter Day Teachers’ Symposium on the basics of dark matter and how this fascinating topic can be adapted to the classroom from 7.30pm tonight.
Dark matter is believed to constitute about 84 per cent of the matter of the universe, according to astrophysical and cosmological observations. As it cannot be seen and does not emit light, this mysterious substance is termed ‘dark matter’.
At the CDM, scientists from universities across Australia are working with their international collaborators to understand the nature of this substance.
Dark Matter Day on Thursday, October 31 provides the opportunity for scientists worldwide to celebrate the search for dark matter.
CDM Senior Education and Public Outreach Manager Jackie Bondell helped organise the Dark Matter Day Teachers’ Symposium, while CDM researcher Theresa Fruth from The University of Sydney will be a panelist.
She said the event offered teachers access to global experts in dark matter research to ensure they had the latest knowledge to educate their students on dark matter.
“We know that students love hearing about dark matter and how scientists right here in Australia are part of the search to understand this mysterious particle, which is passing through everyone of us all the time,” Ms Bondell said.
“Through this Dark Matter Day event we want to ensure that teachers have the tools to provide school students with an understanding of dark matter science, and its role in the universe.
“Ultimately, we hope that these teachers can inspire their students to consider pursuing careers in science so they can take a place as the next generation of scientists at the forefront of scientific exploration.”
Members of the public will also have the opportunity to learn about dark matter in a webinar featuring CDM Director Professor Elisabetta Barberio.
Professor Barberio said the Dark Matter Day webinar by MDPI journal publisher was a chance to share the excitement of the search for dark matter.
“Fundamental research like the search for dark matter can be a source of inspiration, fascination and pride for Australians, whether they are living in a rural community or a metropolitan centre. Australian scientists are at the forefront of the search for dark matter and are working alongside scientists from around the world to help solve this mystery.
“We want to share our advances in the search for dark matter with the wider community to show the potential of this research to make an impact beyond the scientific world – in the areas of medicine, industry and more.”
Registration for the webinar is available at https://sciforum.net/event/MDMDW2024.