Motivation and needs of informal physics practitioners

TL;DR

This study explores the motivations and needs of physicists involved in public engagement, using personas and self-determination theory to inform better support strategies for informal physics practitioners.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of user-centered design and personas methodology to understand physicists' motivations and needs in informal physics engagement.

Findings

Identified three distinct personas of informal physics practitioners.

Highlighted key resources needed, such as training and community support.

Provided insights for institutions to better support physics outreach efforts.

Abstract

Physicists engage with the public to varying degrees at different stages of their careers. However, their public engagement covers many activities, events, and audiences, making their motivations and professional development needs not well understood. As part of ongoing efforts to build and support community in the informal physics space, we conducted interviews with physicists with a range of different experiences in public engagement. We use personas methodology and self-determination theory to articulate their public engagement motivation, challenges, and needs. We present our set of three personas: the physicist who engages in informal physics for self-reflection, the physicist who wants to spark interest and understanding in physics, and the physicist who wants to provide diverse role models to younger students and inspire them to pursue a STEM career. Needs covered a range of resources including science communication training, community building among informal physics practitioners, and mechanisms to recognize, elevate and value informal physics. By bringing user-centered design methodology to a new topical area of physics education research, we expand our understanding of motivations and needs of practitioners in physics public engagement. Therefore, departments, organizations and institutions could draw upon the personas developed to consider the ways to better support physicists in their respective environment.