26th Australian Institute of Physics Congress and the Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics

Session

AIP PEG: Laboratory and Quantum Education

PEG

9 Dec 2026, 11:00

Belinda Hutchinson Building (The University of Sydney )

Conveners

AIP PEG: Laboratory and Quantum Education

• Clare Kenyon (Monash University)

468. Effectiveness of Virtual Labs in Quantum Information Science General Education

Hongbin Song (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen)

09/12/2026, 11:00

AIP | Physics Education (PEG)

Invited talk

Abstract

Quantum information science and technology have been revolutionizing daily life, attracting the curiosity of younger generations from diverse backgrounds. However, owing to the abstract and counterintuitive nature of quantum mechanics, the teaching and learning of quantum information science is challenging in the context of non-physics majors. As an essential resource in quantum...

797. The Struggle for Productive Struggle: Redesigning a Second Year Physics Laboratory

Dr Mohammad Z. Rafat (The University of Sydney)

09/12/2026, 11:30

AIP | Physics Education (PEG)

Contributed Oral

Physics laboratories should be where students learn to think like experimental physicists: ask questions, design experiments and perform reliable measurements, critically evaluate evidence, troubleshoot problems, and communicate results clearly. In practice, many labs can evolve into something closer to recipe-following. Over years of well-intentioned refinement, often to remove ambiguities,...

333. Demonstrating quantum phenomena with LEDs and solar cells

Laurence Campbell (Flinders University)

09/12/2026, 11:45

AIP | Physics Education (PEG)

Contributed Oral

Solar cells and LEDs can be used to demonstrate quantum phenomena by their apparent bandgap in both the detection and production of light. The bandgap and the wavelength of emitted light can be used to calculate Planck’s constant. As part of Quantum Enrichment days (sponsored by an IYQ grant$^1$ from the AIP) a circuit was developed to allow both the measurement of Planck’s constant and...

311. Quantum Weaving: Advancing quantum science AND Indigenous Māori knowledge

Katharina Ruckstuhl (University of Otago)

09/12/2026, 12:00

AIP | Physics Education (PEG)

Contributed Oral

For 20 years New Zealand has been at the forefront of broadening concepts of science and innovation to include Māori knowledge, people and places. This has been more than rhetoric, with Te Whai Ao, Dodd Walls Centre of Research Excellence for photonic and quantum technologies contributing to this direction.

In this presentation, we report on a novel project that brings together quantum...

745. Challenging project or assignment work involving creativity and impact on long-term learning of physics and research skills

Timo Nieminen (The University of Queensland)

09/12/2026, 12:15

AIP | Physics Education (PEG)

Contributed Oral

Research work is often difficult, and often involves significant levels of creativity and novel problem-solving. These levels of difficulty, creativity, and novelty can be difficult to incorporate into traditional exam-type assessment tasks. Project-oriented courses are generally far better suited for learning and evaluating the learning of these skills. Thus, honours projects and one- or...