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Microscopy: Schools to gain remote access to Oxford University-based SEM Canada: Perimeter Institute calls international applicants to its 2005 summer school ASE: ASE 2005 refreshes the teaching parts that other conferences cannot reach Scotland: Glasgow hosts Kelvin exhibition Climate Analysis: Met Office sets up project to predict climate change Wales: Welsh teachers meet at Christ College, Brecon ESERA: ESERA 2005 unveils its conference programme Higher Education: Educators address school–university transition Christmas Lecture Series: Royal Institution supports Christmas Lecture series with interactive CD-ROM Events: UK's Science Week kicks off in March Grants: PPARC and IOP to provide grants worth up to £400 Camera Competition: Congratulations go to camera winners Teachers' TV: Teachers' channel hits the small screen Physics and Music: Foster and Liebeck presentation combines physics and music Science on Stage: SOS gears up for Geneva festival Nanoworld: Hirsch lecture at Oxford focuses on the nanoworld GIREP: GIREP conference aims to raise physics' profile Course: STELAR offers free radio-communication course

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Politicians give 'chalk and talk' a bashing, but who is to blame?Gary Williams

In this article the author considers the two main forms of electron microscopy—scanning and transmission—what limits their resolution, and how they are being developed to explore the nanoworld through imaging and spectroscopy.

The persistence of students' misconceptions about motion illustrates the enormous difficulty that teachers face in their attempts to overcome these with traditional physics instruction. An understanding of students' ideas about motion and ways to incorporate them into successful instructional approaches can be obtained from an analysis of historical evidence about certain aspects of dynamics previously held. Inquiry-based instruction can proceed effectively within a context that provides familiar situations to students, where teachers have an awareness of the origin and role of difficulties that inexorably lead to misconceptions about certain properties of motion. What appears as a bewildering array of views about motion can make sense when seen with a historical perspective on the evolution of human understanding about dynamics.

The 'shell effect' can be used to play music with a pleasant and characteristic timbre. If you place a sensitive microphone at the rim of pipes of suitable length and diameter to obtain resonance frequencies, ambient noise will produce musical notes. The corresponding optical effect, i.e. extracting visible light from ambient radiation considered dark by the human eye, is also discussed.

Problems in the general validity of the lens equations are reported, requiring an assessment of the conditions for correct use. A discussion is given on critical behaviour of the lens equation, and a sign and meaning scheme is provided so that apparent inconsistencies are avoided.

A new type of ammeter (PikoPikoII) has been developed which indicates the measured current by the movement of a spot of light and the voltage by the colour of the spot. Since this tool can make students feel as if they are observing a visual image of electricity, it is easy to prepare schematic explanations on electric circuits that match the students' observations using the PikoPikoII. From such a viewpoint we used a restaurant model with a PikoPikoII in a trial lesson for junior high school students, and found that such a combination is much more helpful to them than explanations using ordinary fluid-flow models.

A British team attended the 35th International Physics Olympiad in South Korea. In the competition, a team of five, along with candidates from over 70 other nations, answered five-hour theoretical and experimental papers. In addition the candidates, together with their leaders and observers, were able to attend an extensive scientific, cultural and social programme.

A classroom demonstration is described that shows a method for detecting nonmagnetic metals. The demonstration uses the simple and sensitive beat oscillations technique and employs off-the-shelf equipment usually available in most physics laboratories. More than 80 years ago, the beat oscillations technique was used to design the first electronic musical instrument, the famous Theremin. The demonstration set-up also serves as a Theremin. Metal detection and the Theremin are attractive topics for student projects.

WORLD YEAR OF PHYSICS Physics around the world: AsiaShinjiro Ogawa, Mak Se-yuen and R Subramaniam

INTERVIEW Weather forecasting: a bright outlook with high chance of using your physicsDavid Smith talks to Will Lang

BIOGRAPHIES Let me introduce you: more members of the extended Physics Education familyClare Thomson and Alan Evans

WE RECOMMEND

Modeling Reality: How Computers Mirror Life A great read, this book is perhaps more suitable for mathematicians.

Masterworks of Technology Recommend this book to students considering a degree in engineering.

Demonstration Experiments in Physics A collection of several hundred experiments, this book is a classic.

Big Bang This mixture of gripping stories is thought-provoking and informative.

Hand Spectroscope This simple piece of laboratory kit allows you to compare spectra.

Pluglok Fitted over the prongs of a plug, Pluglok renders equipment unusable.

Enginuity A museum at Ironbridge, Enginuity is educational and good value.

WORTH A LOOK

Physics Concepts CD-ROM Physics Concepts is ideal to use as a revision tool for KS3 pupils.

Atomic Microscope A worthwhile piece of software, but a bit pricey for most pockets.

Air Motors Run on compressed air, these engines have no obvious teaching use.

WEB WATCH Molecular Expressions delivers a host of information on microscopy, and more

Simplification of gravitational model Vitor Teodoro replies Equipment for Rwanda A trick of the light

The making of a physics teacherSteven Chapman