Joe Brock, Head of Faculty for Science and Maths at Collyer's, is returning to Tanzania this week where he has been working as a volunteer for the Institute of Physics (IOP) Physics for Development programme for the last three years. Joe, who has taught Physics for 22 years, will be visiting Morogoro teacher training college, located 4 hours drive west of Dar Es Salaam, the financial centre of Tanzania. He will be collaborating with fellow teachers Sally Miller and Mike Branfield, also from Collyer's.

Since 2009, Joe has helped Morogoro to refurbish and develop a Physics laboratory on the college premises and to give teachers a better understanding of hands-on experiments and Physics applications. The college, which primarily works as a training centre for people wishing to enter the teaching profession, is also a resource centre for continuous professional development for existing teachers from nearby schools.

Practical experience of science is in great shortage in Tanzania, as in many other parts of Africa. To address this, Joe has also recently been involved in setting up a technician training scheme for talented students.  Joe says: “It is so important for students to learn Physics in a practical way, so they can fully understand how it is related to everything around them and it is not just an academic qualification of no use. The skills Physics can develop in students really can help Tanzania to fully develop the potential of its bright young minds.”

Morogoro is one of several resource centres located throughout sub-Saharan Africa that have benefited from the work and expertise of volunteers like Mr Brock, with support and investment from IOP.

The IOP Physics for Development programme, which is supported by a fundraising campaign – IOP for Africa – challenges the obstacles to Physics education in various sub-Saharan countries, aiming to support local communities towards greater opportunities for the future. 

For more information on the work of the Institute of Physics’ international volunteers, visit www.iop.org/international.
You can also make a donation to help the Institute of Physics sustain its education projects in Africa by donating to the IOP for Africa campaign. To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/iopforafrica/donate

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