University of Colorado Boulder
Bringing Science and Math to Life
PhET Interactive
Simulations
“PhET is the best physics simulation software I have ever encountered.”
Paul Doherty
Co-Director of the Teacher Institute
at the Exploratorium in San Francisco
Bringing science and math to life for students –
Locally and Globally
Those fortunate enough to have had excellent teachers
may remember hands-on experiments—dropping a heavy
and light ball from the same height and watching them
land at the same time, or combining two liquids to form
a solid. But what if we could bring those moments, in
which science was brought to life, to more students and
to more classrooms?
PhET Interactive Simulations do just that.
Founded by Physics Professor and Nobel Laureate Carl
Wieman in 2002, the PhET Interactive Simulations project
at the University of Colorado Boulder provides over 125
free interactive simulations. Based on extensive education
research, the simulations support more effective and
engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math) education.
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PhET Interactive Simulations
PhET’s Impact to Date:
• Over 125 simulations in physics, chemistry, biology, earth
science, and mathematics
• Over 90 million simulation uses worldwide
• Over 3,500 translations across 67 languages
• Over 30 publications on the effectiveness and use of
PhET simulations in STEM learning
• Recipient of The Tech Awards—Technology Benefiting
Humanity—2011 Microsoft Education Award
• Partner in the 100Kin10 national network—“Answering
the Nation’s Call” to fundamentally change STEM teaching
and learning
Help support PhET, an influential educational platform that
is working to bring science to life and to educate the
next generation.
phet.colorado.edu
“We need to make science education effective and relevant for
a large and necessarily more diverse fraction of the population.
An effective education will leave students valuing, understanding,
and using science more like scientists.”
Carl Wieman
Founder of PhET and 2001 Nobel Laureate
Help PhET improve
STEM education
In the coming years, PhET hopes to create even more
simulations and reach an even wider range of students.
With your support, PhET will meet these goals. Your gifts
to PhET will help in key ways:
• Provide the resources to keep its simulations free of charge
• Enable PhET to create the new simulations needed by
teachers and students
• Allow PhET to adapt to the latest technology by bringing
PhET simulations to iPads and other platforms
PhET simulations are especially useful in developing countries where lab
equipment is scarce.
What makes PhET simulations unique?
Engages students with a
game-like environment
Shows changes
in real time
Makes the
invisible visible
Builds connections
to everyday life
Enables free and easy exploration
phet.colorado.edu
University of Colorado Boulder
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A student uses the Pendulum Lab simulation
on an interactive whiteboard during class.
Contact Us:
Kathy Perkins
Director, PhET
kathy.perkins@colorado.edu
Kathy Dessau
Assoc. Director, Marketing
& Development, PhET
kathryn.dessau@colorado.edu
Barb Perin
Senior Director, Development
University of Colorado Foundation
303-541-1447
barb.perin@cufund.org
Help PhET educate the next generation
In 2009 the Programme for International Student Assessment ranked the
performance of 15-year-old students around the world. Out of 34 countries,
the United States ranked 17th in science and 25th in math—far behind South
Korea, Finland, Singapore, China, and Canada.
As the U.S. continues to lag in STEM education and as demand for qualified STEM
workers increases, the importance of accessible, effective STEM education is
vital. We invite you to invest in PhET and help develop the critical forward-looking
skills needed by our workforce. Please make a gift today to ensure that the PhET
Interactive Simulations program continues to expand its impact and reach.
Make a gift online:
cufund.org/PhET
Stay in touch:
Facebook.com/PhETSims
Twitter.com/PhETSims
phet.colorado.edu/blog
PhET™
Interactive Simulations
All gifts should be made payable to the University of Colorado Foundation, specifying PhET Interactive Simulations Project Fund #0123247.
April 2013 | JS/CC | UCB12052