Paris, 26 March 2002
Physics on Stage 2 is a festival for physics teachers, taking place at the European Space Agency's Space Research and Technical Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands from 2 to 6 April.
Four hundred teachers and educational experts from 22 European countries have been selected through national events as the most motivating individuals with the most innovative projects for teaching physics. They will come together for a week at ESA/ESTEC to exchange ideas, discuss teaching aids and make recommendations for ways to inject more excitement and motivation into today's physics education.
Physics on Stage 2 follows up the success of the first Physics on Stage, held at CERN in Geneva in November 2000. It is being hosted by ESA and supported by five other European research organisations: CERN, ESO, EFDA-JET, EMBL and ESRF.
Various distinguished visitors will be at the festival during the week, including Gerard t'Hooft, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize for Physics, His Excellency Dr Louis Hermans, Minister for Research, Culture and Science in the Netherlands, and directors from Europe's leading research organisations and the European Commission.
The week-long festival consists of four main elements: special performances, presentations by delegates, workshops on topical themes, and a fair at which exhibitors will showcase their projects and learn about those of their European colleagues - a lively forum for information exchange, cross-fertilisation and inspiration.
On Friday 5 April, media representatives are invited to visit the festival, join the press conference and tour the ESA/ESTEC facilities. The programme is as follows:
Physics on Stage 2 festival - 5 April 2002
10:30 - Welcome to Physics on Stage 2 festival by Jean-Pol Poncelet, ESA Director of Strategy and External Relations
11:00 - Tour of Physics on Stage 2 international fair
12:30 - Addresses to the participants and questions from the media
13:00 - Lunch
Visit to ESA's Space Research and Technical Centre (ESTEC)
14:30 - Welcome and introduction to ESA
15:00 - Tour of ESA Test Centre with the spacecraft Integral, Rosetta and ATV, guided by senior ESA staff
15:45 - Transfer to Erasmus building
16:00 - Tour of User Information Centre for the International Space Station, including virtual reality demonstration
16:45 - End of visit
To reach ESTEC from Amsterdam, take the A4 in the Den Haag-Rotterdam direction, then at the fork follow the A44. Take the Noordwijk-Voorhout exit, continue to Noordwijk and from there follow the ESTEC signs.
For more information on Physics on Stage 2 contact the Executive Coordinator: Helen.Wilson@esa.int tel. +31-(0)71-565-5518