A research associate at JILA (Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics), Dr. Andrew Kortyna has made discoveries that have culminated in monetary awards from the National Science Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Andrew Kortyna is an active member of the Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA).
ALPhA promotes education in experimental physics. Several years ago, the association published an article regarding the dire need for redesigning physics lab education in the United States. The 2017 article in "Physics Today" discussed the antiquated conditions of many teaching labs and the outdated experiments practiced in middle schools and high schools.
Funding is at the core of the problem, with a large number of schools reporting a collapse in funding for lab courses. More important is the lack of fresh lesson plans relevant to today’s physical world.
ALPhA held its initial “Beyond the First Year” conference in 2015 as a showcase for educators to see the latest ideas in teaching lab experiments and to participate in instructional workshops. Attendees then went back to their schools and passed these lessons on to other instructors, which provided the foundation for advancing physics education.
