GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: biology or highenergy physics? Subtitle: Ways to teach the fundamental question, “What are we made of and what holds us together?” Why should we teach it and if so, when? | GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: biology or high-energy physics? Subtitle: Ways to teach the fundamental question, “What are we made of and what holds us together?” Why should we teach it and if so, when? Gordon P. Ramsey Loyola University Chicago gpr@ Why study particle physics? Addresses the fundamental philosophical questions: What are we made of and what holds us together? Particle physics is fundamental to understanding the basic structure of matter. It encompasses the studies all of the known forces in nature using conservation laws. It gives insight on how we investigate the smallest known scales in physics. Why study particle physics? With the ongoing research at accelerators around the world, the LHC going online and planned future accelerators (NLC & VLHC), it is state-of-the-art research. The unrelated benefits reaped from past study of nuclear and particle physics (nuclear medicine and accelerated particle treatments of cancer) are of interest to everyone. . | GUTs, TOEs and stringy things: biology or high-energy physics? Subtitle: Ways to teach the fundamental question, “What are we made of and what holds us together?” Why should we teach it and if so, when? Gordon P. Ramsey Loyola University Chicago gpr@ Why study particle physics? Addresses the fundamental philosophical questions: What are we made of and what holds us together? Particle physics is fundamental to understanding the basic structure of matter. It encompasses the studies all of the known forces in nature using conservation laws. It gives insight on how we investigate the smallest known scales in physics. Why study particle physics? With the ongoing research at accelerators around the world, the LHC going online and planned future accelerators (NLC & VLHC), it is state-of-the-art research. The unrelated benefits reaped from past study of nuclear and particle physics (nuclear medicine and accelerated particle treatments of cancer) are of interest to everyone. Particle physics has strong connections to cosmology and astrophysics, at the opposite scale of physics. It is therefore “all inclusive”. Use as an introduction to the role of engineering in science. Why study particle physics? On the more advanced level, it is a culmination of mechanics (Lagrangians & Hamiltonians), E&M (accelerator physics; QED), statistical physics (QCD field theory) and modern physics (20th century). Good capstone course for undergraduates It illustrates the interplay between theory, phenomenology and experimentation. Elements of particle physics in the curriculum Particle physics in the curriculum should include instruction on the basic foundation of matter, introduction to the known fundamental forces, problems addressed by each sub-area of particle physics and the current experimental research to test the models proposed by theorists. It should include theoretical, experimental and phenomenological aspects of the field. The excitement of doing HEP as a physicist should
