A Decade of Plasma Camp

To engage high school physics teachers in plasma physics, The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), established The Plasma Science and Fusion Energy Institute, or Plasma Camp, in 1998. Plasma camp is an intensive summer professional development workshop aimed at introducing teachers and their students to physics topics relevant to fusion plasma research and developing ways to integrate plasma physics into existing curricula. Plasma Camp has been evaluated by several different measures. Results have shown that high percentages of alumni have intertwined plasma physics throughout science curriculum across all disciplines and demographics, including demonstrations, lessons, and activities. Evidence has also shown that plasma camp promotes high pedagogical value, as many alumni have gone on to present at conferences, publish articles, conduct research, obtain advanced degrees, and win prestigious awards.