A talk on how to use the study of the Sun and space to teach key physics concepts. Educational resources from NASA will be presented to help explore astronomical phenomena in the classroom.
- Date: Feb. 24, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Downtown Campus - Auditorium - Cuareim 1451
The study of the Sun and its influence on Earth and the solar system provides a fascinating setting for teaching fundamental concepts in physics.
Helio-physics provides a particularly enriching framework for exploring concepts such as motion, electromagnetic radiation, and magnetic fields from an integrated, context-based, and highly engaging perspective for students.
This talk will present NASA’s Framework for Heliospheric Education, which organizes this content into nine thematic areas and includes teaching recommendations and suggested activities designed to promote conceptual understanding, enrich physics instruction, and encourage teachers to develop new teaching approaches.
The study will explore how solar phenomena can serve as a central theme for teaching physics curriculum content at various educational levels, providing specific tools for their implementation in the classroom.
This event is part of the project “Space Science, Astronomy, and Contemporary Physics for the Classroom,” funded by the U.S. Embassy Fund, with support from the Uruguayan Physics Society, the Uruguayan Astronomy Society, and the Astronomy Inspectorate.
Exhibits
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Dr. Rebecca Vieyra
Director of Global Initiatives for the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Previously, he directed the Inter-American Network for Teacher Education at the Organization of American States (OAS) and served as Secondary Education Manager at the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
She trained as a secondary school physics teacher and has been recognized for her excellence in teaching with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science (PAEMST) in 2013 and the Albert Einstein Fellowship for Distinguished Educators (AEF) in 2014. She earned her Ph.D. in science education from the University of Maryland.
Together with her husband, she developed Physics Toolbox, one of the world’s leading apps for teaching experimental physics using smartphone sensors, which is widely used by teachers and students around the globe.
It promotes education in heliophysics through the AAPT project in collaboration with NASA.