Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter Education   (ESO Supernova)

Connecting Astronomy Research and Education: Insights from the CORE project

Aishwarya Girdhar, Raphael Cera, Christoph Hoyer, Jochen Kuhn
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

The Centre for ORIGINS Research in Education (CORE) aims to bridge cutting-edge research and education by systematically integrating discoveries from the ORIGINS Cluster of Excellence into schools, teacher education, museums, and public engagement. CORE develops curriculum-aligned learning modules in astrophysics, particle physics, cosmology, and artificial intelligence, enabling students to engage with authentic research questions and methods. Consequently, the main target group is Physics school students from grade 7 to 13. Using innovative technologies such as AI, virtual and augmented reality, and adaptive learning environments, CORE aims to create interactive educational experiences that make complex scientific phenomena accessible to students. Educational materials and teacher-training programmes are developed within this context and evaluated ensuring both scientific accuracy and educational effectiveness. This talk will provide an overview of CORE and present two exemplary projects. The first investigates students’ conceptual understanding of the seasons, a topic characterised by persistent misconceptions across age groups. The second focuses on ALICE, a particle detector at CERN, and explores how contemporary research can be meaningfully adapted for classroom learning. Drawing on methods from educational research and immersive visualisation technologies, both projects examine how authentic research contexts can support conceptual understanding and promote more effective learning in Physics.