Resonating with physics: Science education for Bildung and a life well-lived
Studying unconventional paths into tertiary physics studies, we have identified how physics can act as a source of resonance in students’ lives. A life well-lived has by sociologist Hartmut Rosa been theorized as built on relations of resonance, establishing enduring and mutual connections.
Drawing from a set of interviews with 21 undergraduate physics students, Professor Danielsson's research finds that a number of them have experienced physics as providing resonant experiences and that this has been life-changing for a few of them. Resonant experiences with physics have provided a contrast to an alienating everyday life, as well as alienating school teaching.
Danielsson will present the stories of two students, and show how for them, physics became crucial for a well-lived life, both in formal, informal and unconventional science contexts, and eventually at university. In these contexts, the students experienced epistemic agency. This can be considered as an inspiration for a ‘slow science education’, drawing on ideas of Bildung, that is not only student-oriented but also relation-oriented. She argues that science education can be empowering and counter alienation by building meaningful, resonant, relations to the world.
About the speaker
Anna T. Danielsson is Professor of Science Education at Stockholm University and head of the section of science education. Her research focuses on issues of gender and identity in the context of teaching and learning science, with a particular interest in higher education physics. She recently published the co-edited book Physics Education and Gender: Identity as an Analytic Lens for Research (together with Allison J. Gonsalves) and her work has also been published in numerous international journals, including International Journal of Science Education and Physical Review Physics Education Research. She is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy’s standing committee on education and during 2019-2024 she was member of The Swedish Young Academy. Prior to her appointment at Stockholm University, she has held positions at Uppsala University, King’s College London, and University of Cambridge.
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