PhD on Astronomy Education in a Planetarium - Leuven, België - KU Leuven

Beschrijving

Requirements:

• You hold a master's degree in Physics, Astronomy, Psychology, or Educational Sciences with very good study results (at least level 'cum laude'), or will obtain this soon
• A teacher's degree from a university with a focus on physics education is a plus
• You have a strong interest in both education and science
• You have an excellent knowledge and command of English
• A good knowledge of Dutch is an asset for data collection with students
• You are meticulous, systematic, and persistent, but also sociable and focused on cooperation

About the Position:

Planetariums are science centers that showcase the fascinating world of the (night) sky through immersive projections on the planetarium dome. These venues often offer educational services, including visits by schools as part of the science curriculum. This project aims to investigate the impact of planetarium visits on student learning, particularly regarding the apparent motion of the Sun and stars. Research shows that students at both secondary school and university levels struggle to explain these motions accurately. The project's goal is to explore student difficulties and evaluate the effectiveness of planetarium visualizations in enhancing student understanding. The selected candidate will work closely with the Brussels Planetarium as part of a multidisciplinary team, contributing to the field of Astronomy Education Research.

Research Themes:

The research, supervised by Professors Mieke De Cock, Hans Van Winckel, and Wim Van Dooren, will focus on conceptual understanding, the relationship between mathematics and physics, the role of representations in learning, and the Nature of Science. Collaboration with Professor Rodrigo Alvarez from the Brussels Planetarium is central to the project.

Benefits:

• Full-time fixed-term employment as a doctoral fellow (1 year, renewable for up to 4 years) with an attractive fellowship
• Member of Arenberg Doctoral School, offering numerous opportunities for professional development
• Part of a young research group with regular participation in international scientific conferences and interaction with global colleagues