International Commission on Physics Education (ICPE) Newsletter, Issue 48

This is the October 2004 issue of the International Commission on Physics Education (ICPE) newsletter. It announces the upcoming World Conference on Physics and Sustainable Development in Durban and the ICPE-sponsored 2005 International Physics Education Conference in New Delhi, marking the International Year of Physics. The issue features an article on the glitter path phenomenon, illustrating how everyday observations can connect physics with art and literature, and another on skills needed for physics and those developed through physics education, emphasizing cognitive, experimental, and collaborative competencies. It also includes the ICPE Chair’s report on global initiatives and the citation for the ICPE Medal awarded to Professor Laurence Viennot for her pioneering contributions to physics education research.