Preface

The proceedings present contributions from the international GIREP-EPEC Conference 2023, held from July 3 to 7, 2023, in Košice, Slovakia, the country´s second-largest city and the economic and cultural center of its eastern region. This prestigious conference was organized by the International Research Group on Physics Teaching (GIREP), the Physics Education Division of the European Physical Society (EPS-PED), the Faculty of Science at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, and the Slovak Physical Society. The event was particularly significant as it marked the first time the GIREP conference was hosted in Slovakia, with Košice - designated the European Capital of Culture of 2013 - proudly serving as the venue in the facilities of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University. The conference theme, “Physics learning promoting culture and addressing societal issues,” was explored in a blended format, enabling participation both on-site and online. The conference attracted 396 contributors from 24 countries around the world, with 217 actively participating either through live, face-to-face contributions or via hybrid formats in Košice. Most participants represented universities, while others came from research institutes and schools. The scientific programme offered a diverse range of 172 contributions reflecting the rich and multifaceted nature of physics education research and practice. Of these, 33 were in a hybrid format and 139 were in person in Košice. The six invited plenary speakers contributed unique perspectives relating to the conference theme. Additionally, the program featured 108 oral presentations (31 hybrid), 5 symposia (1 hybrid), 14 workshops (1 hybrid) and 39 poster presentations. List of Scientific Advisory Board, Local organizing committee are available in this pdf.