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Sydney University Physics Education Research (SUPER) Group
Examining the complex ways people go about understanding physics
We are a group of physicists with common interests in the issues of teaching and student learning and since 1992 we have undertaken physics education research in the School of Physics.
Our aims
Established in 1992, our group aims to carry out research into tertiary physics education and to improve how we teach physics at the University.
SUPER Group Manifesto
When the SUPER group was formed, the original members put together a document outlining their argument for pursuing physics education research in an academic physics context. That text lives on today as the SUPER Group Manifesto.
Our research
SUPER students/collaborators bring in their own ideas for research, ranging from science communication, the use of multimedia, conceptual development, interactive pedagogies, critical thinking, affective learning, inquiry based learning, and professional development, to the impact of the changes in the new HSC syllabus.
As methods specialists the SUPER group members enable the delivery of these research projects, producing high quality publications and resources.
All SUPER graduates are trailblazers, some exceptional SUPER stars are: Derek Muller of Veritasium fame; Helen Georgiou, a researcher in science education drawing on the legitimation code theory (LCT) framework; Simon Crook, transforming the teaching of school science in NSW through Crooked Science.
The SUPER group has an extensive and expanding research program and is always looking for new ideas, students and collaborations.
Our people
- Professor Manjula Sharma, Professor of Science Education
- Dr Helen Johnston, First year Physics Coordinator
- Tom Gordon, Outreach, PhD candidate
- Dr Vicky Tzioumis, Senior Project Officer, ASELL Schools
- Dr Scott Cornish, Postdoctoral research fellow
- Associate Professor Ian Johnston, Honorary Associate Professor (past Head)
- Ian Sefton, Honorary Senior Lecturer
- Associate Professor Brian McInnes, Honorary Professor (founding Head)
- Gabriel Nguyen, PhD candidate
- Petr Lebedev, PhD candidate
- Srividya Kota, MPhil candidate
- Aesha Bhansali, PhD Candidate
- Dr Helen Georgiou, Honorary Associate
- Dr Simon Crook, Honorary Associate
- Jeff Stanger, Honorary Associate
- Dr Derek Muller, Honorary Associate
Opportunities
SUPER is currently undertaking projects in the following areas of research:
- Inquiry in the laboratory and at university
- The use of multimedia for teaching and learning physics
- How to learn physics better from science communication and outreach
- Misconceptions of physics and how to address them
SUPER has an extensive and expanding research program and are always looking for new ideas, students and collaborations.For information about opportunities, please contact Professor Manjula Sharma.
Group lead
Manjula Sharma
Principal Fellow, UK Higher Education Academy; Australian National Teaching Fellow; Head, Sydney University Physics Education Research (SUPER) group
Address
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School of Physics (A28) University of Sydney NSW 2006