TEACHING @school
it's a quantum world
It is more than one century since Quantum Theory, with its postulates and innovative content, burst into our representation of reality, causing a scientific and technological revolution whose impact is huge. However, despite quantum mechanics strongly influences our daily life through the most diverse applications (from processors to nuclear magnetic resonance, from microwave ovens to laser therapies) a process leading to a shared understanding of the theory's fundamental concepts doesn't seem to have started yet.
Quantum Mechanics is still considered a surreal theory, based on principles whose comprehension is precluded to most people, and whose consequences are so far from the usual experience to make any attempt of popularization, beyond the historical or even anecdotal narration, useless. This situation causes a dangerous schizophrenia: on the one hand we are refined users of sophisticated technologies, on the other we are ignorant players of a mysterious reality with utterly obscure foundations.
In a sense, we are back to the stone-age, when human beings stared at fire without understanding, not even barely, the essence of that amazing natural phenomenon. It might seem that actual obstacles in triggering the above process of diffuse comprehension follow from the complicated formalism needed, that makes it difficult to regularly teach quantum theory in high schools. To be honest, classical physics does not seem to us neither simpler nor necessarily more intuitive, and yet it is taught since the very first year of most high-schools.
In this general framework, aim of the project is that of providing high-schools students with some tools of analysis that can turn useful in processing the concepts, and understanding the multifaceted consequences, of quantum mechanics, not only as far as scientific phenomena are concerned but also regarding logic and philosophy.
Meetings and lessons are specifically designed for presenting essential concepts of quantum theory free from the paradoxical masque imposed by whatever comparison with its classical sibling.
We will present practical drawbacks, and discuss the relevance, of the above concepts as far as our interpretation of reality is concerned. Examples and simple experiments will put us in touch with a wonderful theory, representing the most profound representation of the universe that mankind can boast. At least until the next scientific revolution.
Quantum Mechanics is still considered a surreal theory, based on principles whose comprehension is precluded to most people, and whose consequences are so far from the usual experience to make any attempt of popularization, beyond the historical or even anecdotal narration, useless. This situation causes a dangerous schizophrenia: on the one hand we are refined users of sophisticated technologies, on the other we are ignorant players of a mysterious reality with utterly obscure foundations.
In a sense, we are back to the stone-age, when human beings stared at fire without understanding, not even barely, the essence of that amazing natural phenomenon. It might seem that actual obstacles in triggering the above process of diffuse comprehension follow from the complicated formalism needed, that makes it difficult to regularly teach quantum theory in high schools. To be honest, classical physics does not seem to us neither simpler nor necessarily more intuitive, and yet it is taught since the very first year of most high-schools.
In this general framework, aim of the project is that of providing high-schools students with some tools of analysis that can turn useful in processing the concepts, and understanding the multifaceted consequences, of quantum mechanics, not only as far as scientific phenomena are concerned but also regarding logic and philosophy.
Meetings and lessons are specifically designed for presenting essential concepts of quantum theory free from the paradoxical masque imposed by whatever comparison with its classical sibling.
We will present practical drawbacks, and discuss the relevance, of the above concepts as far as our interpretation of reality is concerned. Examples and simple experiments will put us in touch with a wonderful theory, representing the most profound representation of the universe that mankind can boast. At least until the next scientific revolution.
pianeta Galileo
"Pianeta Galileo is a project sponsored by the Consiglio della Regione Toscana for positively contributing to the public understanding of science. Since 2004 it promotes reflections upon our scientific culture, as essential element of common knowledge and fundamental tool for constructing human communities."
(translated from the institutional site)
(translated from the institutional site)
My contribution to pianeta Galileo has so far consisted in offering a short version of the above project "it's a quantum world", via a two-hour lesson enriched with videos and simple experiments.
So far requested by, and presented @, more than 25 schools all over Tuscany
So far requested by, and presented @, more than 25 schools all over Tuscany