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Program

Scientific Program & Topics

An overview of the scientific program from the 2nd World Conference on Physics Education, held in São Paulo, Brazil in July 2016.

Overview

Structure of the Program

The 2016 program was organized around invited talks, oral presentations, and poster sessions focused on physics teaching and learning at all educational levels.

Working language: papers and oral presentations were required to be made in English. Simultaneous translation was provided for some activities directed to high school teachers.

Contributions were reviewed against the criteria published in the Review Criteria section, with accepted work assigned to one of the supported presentation types.

Presentation Types

Three Tracks for Contributions

O

Oral Presentations

Delivered in English in plenary or parallel sessions as part of the main scientific program.

P

Poster Sessions

Displayed posters allowed extended discussion with attendees during dedicated sessions.

W

Workshops

Hands-on sessions aimed at physics teachers, with simultaneous translation into English where appropriate.

Presentation Topics

Subject Areas

Submissions were grouped under thematic areas spanning research, curriculum, teacher training, and outreach in physics education.

ThemeFocus
Research in Physics TeachingEmpirical studies and learning theories applied to physics classrooms.
Curriculum & InstructionCourse design, instructional materials, and assessment practices.
Teacher EducationPreparation and continuous development of physics teachers.
Outreach & Public EngagementPrograms that connect physics with schools and the broader public.
Educational TechnologiesUse of digital tools, simulations, and laboratory resources.

The World Conference on Physics Education brings together educators, researchers, and practitioners from around the globe to share insights on how physics is taught and learned. The conference program is structured around multiple presentation formats that allow participants to engage deeply with current thinking in the field. Invited talks by leading figures set the stage for discussion, while oral presentations and poster sessions provide opportunities for detailed exploration of specific research findings. The program covers all educational levels, from introductory through advanced university study, reflecting the broad scope of physics education as a discipline. This inclusive approach ensures that insights from different teaching contexts can inform and enrich one another.

A key feature of the conference is its commitment to accessibility across language barriers. While the working language for papers and oral presentations is English, simultaneous translation is provided for selected activities directed toward specific audiences such as high school teachers. This arrangement acknowledges the international nature of physics education research and practice, allowing participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds to fully engage with the proceedings. The conference thus serves as a genuine forum for cross-cultural exchange of ideas about effective teaching strategies, curriculum design, and assessment methods in physics, fostering collaboration that extends well beyond the event itself.

All contributions to the conference undergo a rigorous review process based on clearly published criteria. This ensures that the work presented meets a high standard of quality and relevance to the field. Accepted contributions are assigned to one of several supported presentation types, each designed to showcase different aspects of physics education research and practice. The review criteria cover dimensions such as theoretical grounding, methodological soundness, practical implications, and originality of the work. This structured approach to selection helps maintain the conference's reputation as a venue for meaningful scholarly exchange about physics teaching and learning at all educational levels.

The conference program offers three distinct tracks for oral contributions, allowing participants to tailor their experience to their specific interests and needs. These tracks provide a framework for organizing the diverse range of topics that fall under the umbrella of physics education. Whether focused on classroom practice, educational technology, curriculum development, or theoretical frameworks for learning, each track offers a coherent pathway through the conference proceedings. This structure helps attendees navigate the program efficiently, ensuring they can access the sessions most relevant to their work while also having opportunities to explore adjacent areas of interest.

The modular, card-driven aesthetic of the conference materials reflects the structured yet accessible nature of the program itself. Generous spacing and clear visual hierarchy make information about sessions, speakers, and schedules easy to navigate. The use of a bright orange accent against clean white backgrounds creates an energetic but professional feel appropriate for an academic gathering. Typography throughout is clean and legible, with bold uppercase headings providing clear signposts for different sections of content. This thoughtful design approach mirrors the conference's own values of clarity, accessibility, and engagement, supporting participants in making the most of their experience.

Review Criteria

How Submissions Were Evaluated

The review committee assessed abstracts and papers on clarity of aims, soundness of methodology, relevance to physics education, and originality of contribution.

Notification and acceptance decisions followed the Important Dates schedule published for the July 2016 event.

Featured Speakers

Browse the keynote speakers who shaped the scientific program of the 2nd WCPE.

View Keynote Speakers