Informal Education is Essential to Physics: Findings of the 2024 JNIPER Summit and Recommendations for Action

TL;DR

This paper advocates for recognizing informal physics education as an essential part of physics practice, emphasizing its role in societal relevance, trust-building, and researcher development, supported by a summit and strategic recommendations.

Contribution

It presents a compelling case for cultural change in physics to integrate informal education as a core practice, with concrete strategies and recommendations from the 2024 JNIPER Summit.

Findings

IPE enhances societal trust and relevance of physics.

IPE serves as a gateway for new physicists.

Strategies for promoting IPE include structural support, stakeholder engagement, and research integration.

Abstract

In order to reach the full civic and scientific potential of physics, this white paper calls for a culture change in physics to recognize informal physics education (also referred to as public engagement or outreach) as an essential disciplinary practice. That is, engaging in informal physics education (IPE) is part of what it means to ''do physics.'' In June 2024, we hosted a summit with forty-two members of the Joint Network for Informal Physics Education and Research (JNIPER) to discuss concrete steps for fostering this cultural shift in physics. We present key findings from the Summit to motivate this culture change: IPE makes the work of physicists relevant; fosters trust and supports a society where everyone benefits from science and technology advances; serves as a gateway for entering into the physics discipline, and for staying once there; and improves physicists' skills and research. We identify three levers for promoting the culture change: structures supporting IPE; engagement of interested, influential, and/or impacted parties; and integration of research-based IPE practices. Each lever is accompanied by associated recommendations for action directed at individuals, departments and institutions, topical groups such as JNIPER, and funders and (inter)national organizations. Our clarion call is for members and supporters of the IPE community to choose one recommendation per lever to prioritize and to set forth a roadmap for implementation. Together, we can establish IPE as a central physics practice, ultimately leading to a deeper connection between physics and society, strengthening our mutual potential and impact for good.