ASTROPHYSICS, EXOPLANETS AND SIR ISAAC NEWTON

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September 8, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Notre Dame Prep physics teacher spends part of her summer at a University of Cambridge seminar on astrophysics.

Oxbridge Academic Programs, based in Virginia, founded the Teachers Seminar Program 30 years ago because, as they say, "we believe there is no group more deserving, harder working, or more responsive to this kind of learning opportunity than teachers."

Count Notre Dame Prep upper school physics and science teacher Jennifer Pakkala as one of those hard-working teachers who took advantage of one those learning opportunities this past summer — in Cambridge, England, no less.

"Last spring I applied and was admitted to the astronomy and astrophysics section of the Cambridge Teachers Seminar," she said. "It was eight days in length and included teachers from all over the U.S. and Canada." 

The program, which is part of Pakkala's ongoing professional development regimen, was held at the University of Cambridge's Jesus College. 

Expanding and accelerating universe

According to Oxbridge, the astronomy and astrophysics seminar's main goals were twofold: (1), expose educators to the latest research in fields as varied as the Big Bang, exoplanets, dark matter and the formation of galaxies; and (2), discuss the best approaches through which to convey these often abstruse concepts and theories into their classrooms. 

"For my section, there were four students and one instructor who took us from the year 1920 through the year 2024 in terms of major developments in physics," Pakkala said. 

"Along with the main topics in the astrophysics class, which was taught by Dr. Matthew Bothwell, we talked about the fact that we know that the universe is expanding and we know it is accelerating as it does so, but the central question remains 'will that go on forever?'" 

Class discussions also sought to answer questions about how technology is fueling the number of experiments that astrophysicists undertake to find answers to what the future of the universe might look like or whether humans will be a part of it. 

Big questions, to be sure.

But while busy with such existential issues during class time, Pakkala and her seminar mates did manage to venture outside of the university campus for some unwind time. 

Scones and Sir Isaac Newton

"Every day between morning classes and afternoon group adventures, we were on our own in the city of Cambridge," she said. "Some days I grabbed lunch at the market in the middle of town, which offered a wide variety of food from all around the world, and other days I would have lunch with fellow teachers in various cafes in the area."

Pakkala added that on the last day, her group walked from the north end of Cambridge down to Grantchester in south Cambridge where they enjoyed proper English scones.

Now back at conducting class at NDP, Pakkala hasn't had much time to discuss her trip and what she studied with her students — she says the first few weeks of school are devoted solely to getting students off to a good start in their coursework.

"But I plan to soon share the wonders of Cambridge, its history and the Wren Library (Trinity College) in particular," she noted. "To be surrounded by the texts that are housed there — the letters of St. Paul written on animal skin and Sir Isaac Newton's Principia — was truly magical and I know that I have students who would feel the same way if they were standing in that space."
 

 

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.