Contact information Physics Teacher Education, Department of Physics P.O. Box 64 (Gustaf Hällströminkatu 2) FIN-00014 University of Helsinki Phone: +358 9 161 50652 Fax: +358 9 161 50662 E-mail: ismo.koponen (a) helsinki.fi

Current position
University Lecturer (physics teacher education)
Department of Physics, University of Helsinki

Other Academic Positions
Adjunct Professor of Physics: University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä and Helsinki University of Technology

My research area has since 1988 been materials science and 1995 onwards it has focused on surface science and statistical physics, in particular to surface growth. During 1988-1995 most of my research was connected to modelling materials modifications by energetic ion beams, blended with some interest to anomalous random walks. The theme of my research from 1995 has been the modelling of the surface growth. The most recent completed theme has been the atomistic simulations of growth of stepped surfaces and the origin of certain peculiar growth instabilities, which lead to growth of ordered surface structures. I have recently extended these results and methods in describing growth in hyperthermal deposition (HTD) techniques such as ion beam assisted growth (IBAD) and low energy ion deposition (LEID).

The general methodology I have been developing gradually during 1995-2003 to deal with growth phenomena - often giving rise to scale invariant growth - seems to be useful and versatile method for description of diverse phenomena. At present, I am developing the methodology further and extending it to new areas such as growth processes with reversibility and hierarchically coupled growth processes.

In the Physics department I have taught physics from 1986 onwards, first as an assistant in laboratory courses. Later, in years 1995-2000 I lectured several times the courses in introductory physics. In 1998-1999 I held a position as a high school teacher in Ressu high school in Helsinki. In the fall 1999, I started in my current position as a University Lecturer in Department of Physical Sciences, teaching physics for pre-service physics teachers. Since then, I have been teaching advanced level courses on physics education.

In side of research, the challenges of physics teacher education has been to create a truly research oriented basis for its development and evaluation of learning results. As a result, research is now an integral part of teacher education's development. The research which I have guided since 2000 have now promises to become a novel and appreciated approach on physics education research.

Physics

Physics Education Research