Overview
Background
As a lecturer and First-Year Teaching Director in Physics at the University of Queensland, Dr Margaret Wegener teaches both aspiring physicists and physics service courses; she is interested in the educational problems of contextualising physics, and the transition between school and university.
Her PhD was awarded for laser diagnostics of a Superorbital Expansion Tube, by multiple holographic recordings. As well as holography showing the rupture process of a light diaphragm in an expansion tube, this included holographic interferometry of high-speed gas flows around models, and analysis of the resulting images to yield quantitative information about the gas flow structures.
She pursued an interest in physics education by completing further study in Tertiary Teaching. A major concern of her work is to effectively engage students in order to make physics fundamentals meaningful. This includes developing experiments for undergraduate learning.
She is also deeply interested in the interrelationships between science and the arts.
Availability
- Dr Margaret Wegener is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Margaret Wegener’s works on UQ eSpace
2014
Book Chapter
Laser beams with phase singularities
Heckenberg, N. R., McDuff, R., Smith, C. P., Rubinsztein-Dunlop, H. and Wegener, M. J. (2014). Laser beams with phase singularities. Optical angular momentum. (pp. 155-166) edited by L. Allen, Stephen M. Barnett and Miles J. Padgett. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press.
2013
Journal Article
Development of threshold learning outcomes for Australian graduates in physics
Wegener, Margaret (2013). Development of threshold learning outcomes for Australian graduates in physics. Australian Physics, 50 (3), 89-93.
2013
Conference Publication
More than the sum of its parts: Evaluating a model of teaching and learning
Drinkwater, M., Gannaway, D., Sheppard, K. and Wegener, M. (2013). More than the sum of its parts: Evaluating a model of teaching and learning. HERDSA Annual International Conference, Auckland New Zealand, 1 - 4 July 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Manipulating Space and Time for Active-Learning Lectures
Wegener, M., Drinkwater, M., McIntyre, T., Gannaway, D., Sheppard, K., McGrath, D. and Cody, A. (2013). Manipulating Space and Time for Active-Learning Lectures. International Conference on Physics Education, Prague, Czech Republic, 5-9 August 2013.
2012
Journal Article
Developing a virtual physics world
Wegener, Margaret, McIntyre, Timothy J., McGrath, Dominic, Savage, Craig M. and Williamson, Michael (2012). Developing a virtual physics world. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 28 (3), 504-521. doi: 10.14742/ajet.847
2010
Journal Article
Student experiences of virtual reality: A case study in learning special relativity
McGrath, D, Wegener, M, McIntyre, TJ, Savage, C and Williamson, M (2010). Student experiences of virtual reality: A case study in learning special relativity. American Journal of Physics, 78 (8) 015007AJP, 862-868. doi: 10.1119/1.3431565
2010
Conference Publication
Teaching physics using virtual reality
Savage, C., McGrath, D., McIntyre, T., Wegener, M. and Williamson, M. (2010). Teaching physics using virtual reality. International Conference on Physics Education, ICPE-2009, Bangkok, Thailand, 18 -24 October 2009. College Park, MD United States: American Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1063/1.3479848
2008
Conference Publication
A Century After A Nobel Prize: The Legacy of Lippmann's Colour Photography
Wegener, M. (2008). A Century After A Nobel Prize: The Legacy of Lippmann's Colour Photography. 18th Biennial Australian Institute of Physics Congress, Adelaide, South Australia, 30 November-5 December 2008. Australian Institute of Physics.
2008
Conference Publication
Teaching special relativity using virtual reality
McGrath, Dominic, Savage, Craig, Williamson, Michael, Wegener, Margaret and McIntyre, Tim (2008). Teaching special relativity using virtual reality. National UniServe Science Symposium, Sydney, Austalia, 2-3 Oct 2008. University of Sydney, Australia: UniServe Science.
2008
Conference Publication
Learning special relativity through virtual reality
Wegener, Margaret, Savage, Craig and McIntyre, Tim (2008). Learning special relativity through virtual reality. GIREP (International Research Group on Physics Teaching) International Conference/13th Multimedia in Physics Teaching and Learning Workshop, Nicosia, Cyprus, 18-22 August 2008.
2008
Conference Publication
Teaching physics using virtual reality: Special relativity
Savage, C., Wegener, M., McIntyre, T., McGrath, D. and Williamson, M. (2008). Teaching physics using virtual reality: Special relativity. AIP 18th National Congress, Adelaide, South Australia, 30 November- 5 December 2008.
2008
Conference Publication
Undergraduate research experiences: Bridging the gap between teaching and research in a research intensive university
Myatt, Paula, Farrand, Kirsten, Wegener, Margaret and Blanchfield, Joanne (2008). Undergraduate research experiences: Bridging the gap between teaching and research in a research intensive university. 31st Annual HERDSA Conference 2008, Rotorua, New Zealand, 1-4 July, 2008. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia.
2005
Conference Publication
Contemporary service course students: Who are they?
Wegener, M. J. (2005). Contemporary service course students: Who are they?. Blended Learning in Science Teaching & Learning, The University of Sydney, 30th September 2005. The University of Sydney: UniServe Science.
2005
Conference Publication
Gravity measurement via a rolling pendulum for embedded learning of fundamental lab skills
Wegener, M. (2005). Gravity measurement via a rolling pendulum for embedded learning of fundamental lab skills. 2nd International Pendulum Conference, Sydney, Australia, 13-15 October 2005.
2003
Journal Article
Physicist in the art gallery: Summary of a workshop presented at CONASTA 2003
Wegener, M. (2003). Physicist in the art gallery: Summary of a workshop presented at CONASTA 2003. The Queensland Science Teacher, 29, 9-10.
2001
Conference Publication
Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows
Wegener, Margaret, Sutcliffe, Mark, Morgan, Richard, McIntyre, Tim and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2001). Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows. 39th AIAA Aeropspace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, USA, 8-11 January, 2001. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2001-304
2000
Journal Article
Optical study of a light diaphragm rupture process in an expansion tube
Wegener, Margaret, Sutcliffe, Mark and Morgan, Richard (2000). Optical study of a light diaphragm rupture process in an expansion tube. Shock waves, 10 (3), 167-178. doi: 10.1007/s001930050003
2000
Conference Publication
Fundamental Skills in Physics: Embedded Learning
Wegener, Margaret (2000). Fundamental Skills in Physics: Embedded Learning. Effective Teaching and Learning Conference 2000, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 9 - 10 November 2000. Brisbane, Australia: TEDI (Teaching & Educational Development Institute), University of Queensland.
1999
Other Outputs
Animation file of diaphragm rupture process
Wegener, Margaret (1999). Animation file of diaphragm rupture process. PhD Thesis, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/c70c4b0
1999
Other Outputs
Diagnostics of a superorbital expansion tube by multiple holographic recordings
Wegener, Margaret (1999). Diagnostics of a superorbital expansion tube by multiple holographic recordings. PhD Thesis, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/b7adf6c
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Margaret Wegener is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
New research project
Details
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Margaret Wegener's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: