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University science education has been undergoing great amount of change since the commercialization of Internet a decade ago. Mobile technologies in science education can encompass more than the proximal teaching and learning environment. Podcasting, for example, allows audio content from user-selected feeds to be automatically downloaded to one’s computer as it becomes available online, and then later transferred to a portable player for user’s consumption at a convenient time and place. Enjoying a phenomenal growth in mainstream society, podcasting are asynchronous and could be provided at a distance from a classroom. This paper reports a case study from the University of British Columbia that implemented podcasting for physics content. It presents the rationale for, technical details and step-by-step guide to creating podcasts in the sciences.

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D-Wave — Quantum computation is based on a very compelling idea: that physics, and physics alone, ultimately determines what can be computed, and how efficiently. Changing the laws of physics relevant for a computing device can open up new possibilities for manipulating information, allowing better algorithms that could transform the way we live. Quantum computation has, up until very recently, been the province of basic research. It is clear that the extreme difficulty and complexity of converting this basic science into useful technology cannot occur within a basic research environment. Here I will describe the conceptual framework behind D-Wave’s organization and technology development model, and compare and contrast this approach to other possible models.

Our goal in physics courses is to teach students to think about and solve physics problems like a physicist. But what does that really mean? I will discuss research on identifying those unique components of how a physicist thinks that distinguish their thinking from that of mere mortals. I will also discuss how these particular components of thinking can be better measured and taught. Audio begins at minute 09:10

Nuclear theory today aims at a comprehensive understanding of properties of nuclides in the whole nuclear chart. A number of challenges are encountered by theorists along the road of accomplishing this goal. Recent progresses in many fronts lead to a renaissance of nuclear physics. Advances in effective field theory provide us with a tool to derive nuclear forces starting from the fundamental theory of Quantum-Chromo-Dynamics: two- and three-body forces among nucleons arise naturally and consistently with each other. This complex nature of the nuclear force generates a broad diversity of phenomena, especially in nuclei far from stability. A fascinating example is the arising of halo nuclear structures leading to extremely large radial extensions. Owing to their short lifetimes, most of these nuclei do not naturally exist on Earth. To be studied they must be synthesized in the laboratory, at the so-called radioactive beam facilities, like TRIUMF. Measurements provide a test of the predictive power of theoretical models. Nowadays, thanks to the advent of high performance computing, new ab-initio methods for the solution of the quantum many-body problem become available. Exotic properties of nuclei can be derived directly from the interaction among protons and neutrons. Furthermore, the investigation of astrophysical implications of nuclear processes, e.g. in the nucleosynthesis of elements is another key aspect in nuclear theory. This synergy between nuclear physics and astrophysics makes the scenario even more exciting. I will discuss some advances in the field with emphasis on future perspective. Audio begins at minute 45:38

Dark Matter and Dark Energy are accepted as legitimate constituents of our Universe. In this talk I will review the numerous observational evidences supporting the existence of the dark side of the Universe, which is why cosmologists claim shamelessly that 95% of the Universe is made of something they do not know the nature of. I will then discuss many of the hypothetical physical origins for Dark Matter and Dark Energy and outline the major research directions now undertaken in order to test the various possible ideas. Audio begins at 01:19:30.