August 31, 2020
A former Kingaroy school teacher has co-authored a study guide for the new Queensland physics curriculum.
Dr Gary Turner, who taught at St Mary’s Catholic College from 2008-2011, is now Head of Science at Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay.
Along with Stephen Pinel, the Head of Science at Unity College in Caloundra, Dr Turner was commissioned by Cambridge University Press to create the study guide.
Dr Turner said the aim was to create a book to assist private study at home by students as they work through the two required assignments, and also to provide extra sets of questions as revision of the materials studied at school.
“Creating such precise, technical material brought back memories of my years as a research physicist many years ago,” Dr Turner said.
“I had published about half-a-dozen physics research-papers 30 years ago.”
Dr Turner worked remotely with his co-author, commissioning-editor, and editing staff without ever having to meet anyone.
“The experience was good practice for online teaching in Term 2 of this year,” Dr Turner said.
Dr Turner grew up in Cooroy before studying at the University of Queensland and the University of Auckland.
He also founded the Kilcoy Sentinel newspaper in 1985, which he sold in 2000.
- External link: The Physics Study Guide
