Socratic Roots – AI Wings: Transforming Physics and Engineering Education

The 13th Physics Teaching in Engineering Education (PTEE) Conference was held in Poland from 27–29 May 2026, bringing together more than 50 participants from across Europe. Hosted by Katarzyna Rutkowska and Paweł Zabierowski from Warsaw University of Technology, the conference programme was built around the theme “Socratic Roots – AI Wings: Transforming Physics and Engineering Education.”

The event opened with an informal social gathering at a local pub, where Uwe Zimmerman (Uppsala University) set the tone for the conference with a presentation on the use of Manim to generate simulations for physics teaching. On the following day, Katarzyna Potęga vel Żabik from the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw delivered the opening plenary lecture, exploring the role of AI in STEM education and its relationship with instructional design. The programme then continued with parallel sessions covering a wide range of topics, including AI applications, curriculum development, and laboratory teaching. On Friday, Thomas LePetit (Polytech Nantes) delivered a plenary presentation on large-scale project-based learning, providing further inspiration for participants. Across both days, afternoon workshops, poster sessions, and a guided tour of the university campus fostered lively exchanges and stimulating discussions among attendees. Overall, the conference was highly successful, combining a strong academic programme with excellent organisation and a welcoming, collaborative atmosphere that encouraged networking and the sharing of ideas.

Arjan Lock, Rutkowska Katarzyna and Zabierowski Paweł