EVENTS
AND ACTIVITIES
The Coalition for Plasma Science has initiated and carried out a number of events and activities directed toward its goal of increasing public awareness and understanding of plasma science and its many applications and benefits for society.
Below is a brief list of some of those efforts, some completed as
well as some underway or planned. The audience for these activities
and events includes the media, the education community and government
policy makers. Our goal is to represent a broad range of plasma
science interests and to have a significant impact on the public
and congressional awareness of plasma science.
CURRENT EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS
Capitol Hill Educational Presentations
CPS presents educational talks to governmental representatives and their staffs to help them understand the every day presence of plasmas in their lives, and the possibilities this state-of-matter holds for the future.
- October 2007: The Origins of Magnetism
- January 2007: Computer Chip Manufacturing
- May 2006: Lightning
- October 2005: Fusion
- May 2005: Aurora Borealis
- October 2004: Plasma TV
- March 2004: Environmental Applications
- September 2003: Plasma and the Digital World
- January 2003: Understanding Plasma
- March 2001: Plasma Propulsion in Space
- March 2000: K-12 Education
These two-page introductions to various types of plasmas and applications are written for nontechnical audiences. Completed topics in this series can be found on the CPS Publications page.
INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair Prize
Beginning in 2005 CPS established a presence at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair, sponsoring a $1000 Plasma Science Prize for the best plasma-related project. For a report on CPS's involvement with judging the fair and awarding the prize, see CPS Plasma Page, May 2006.
A Teacher's Guide to Plasma Science Resources
The CPS Education Web Site features a comprehensive list of plasma education web sites, each rated against national science standards, that can help K-12 teachers integrate a study of plasmas into their curricula. Students will enjoy it as well!
Science Teachers Day And Plasma Sciences Expo Co-sponsor
CPS and its members annually participate in the American Physical Society - Division of Plasma Physics Science Teachers Day and Plasma Sciences Expo - for middle and high school teachers and their students. The free teacher training workshops typically support about 100+ participants, while the Expo, filled with hands-on demonsration of plasma-related physics, attracts 1000 - 2500 students. The most recent events were held in Philadelphia, 2006.
This semiannual newsletter reports about recent and future CPS activities, with occasional features about specific plasma science and applications. The complete archive can be found under CPS News.
National Research Council (NRC) Plasma Science Committee
The CPS Steering Committee has been working to coordinate with and complement the NRC Plasma Science Committee activities. CPS has suggested to the NRC a symposium on plasma science to improve the interaction of industry with universities, laboratories and government programs. They have also suggested a study of the economic significance of plasma science and technology.
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