From smashing eggs to smashing particles, Easter treats for physics teachers

The largest single delegation of UK secondary school teachers recently visited CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN), in Geneva, to view the largest experiment in the world.

The Teacher Scientist Network (TSN) in collaboration with the Science Learning Centre East of England and Science Learning Centre South West arranged for 45 teachers (22 from the East of England; 23 from the South West) to visit the Laboratory in advance of the switch-on of the particle smashing Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its experiments later this year.

“The science is exciting, as is the scale of the experiments but the very nature of over 80 nations working together on collaborative projects is a great example of the multinational character of modern scientific experiments and illustrates wonderfully how large scale science works” remarked Dr Phil Smith, coordinator of TSN. “TSN recognised the significance of the LHC experiments to modern physics teaching some time ago, and have worked tirelessly together with colleagues at two of the regional Science Learning Centres and the education teams at the Science and Technology and Facilities Council and CERN to bring this trip off – I am sure it will be a tremendously inspiring for all the teachers.”

Teachers of ‘A’ level particle physics leapt at the opportunity to visit CERN, despite having to give up 3 or 4 days of their Easter holiday. Each centre ‘sold-out’ its places within hours of advertising. “Such cutting-edge science is exactly what the Science Learning Centres should be offering our teachers,” commented Alison Redmore, Director of the Science Learning Centre East of England. “Each teacher is being generously subsidised by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, for which we are extremely grateful,” she added.

Charles Golabek from University of East London (link opens in a new window)|, who accompanied the teachers on their trip commented, “CERN is such an inspiring place - we learned lots and experienced even more. Getting the opportunity to go down into the tunnel to see the accelerator and the ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) detector was … wow! It really was a once in a life time experience which will really impact on teaching back in the class room.”

The programme of support for modern physics teaching at CERN reflects the multi-national nature of the science, with over 600 teachers from the 20 CERN member states expected to participate in residential education programmes in 2007. These programmes will be delivered in at least 10 different languages. Mick Storr, CERN’s Physics Teachers @ CERN co-ordinator commented “The UK is being very active in taking advantage of our increased capacity to support modern physics teaching. Almost 100 UK teachers will have taken part in residential visits to CERN since November 2006, reflecting the strong interest in the LHC and the commitment of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and CERN to supporting the education of tomorrow’s scientists’

Inside the LHC, which is situated in a circular 27km underground tunnel, two beams of protons will be collided at close to the speed of light. Four detector experiments will study the new particles created when the collisions take place. Two general purpose detectors, Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) and ATLAS will search for new physics whilst the other two will look at specific phenomena. Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) will investigate the difference between matter and antimatter and ALICE (a large ion collider experiment) will study the quark gluon plasma that existed in the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang.

The UK is one of the 20 member states of CERN and the UK subscription to CERN is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Scientists and engineers from 22 UK institutes, including Bristol University (link opens in a new window)|, are involved in the LHC. Further details about the LHC can be found on the LHC website (link opens in a new window)|:

Notes for editors

Contacts

• Gill Ormrod – Science and Technology Facilities Council Press Office
  Tel: + 44 (0)1793 442012
  Mobile: + 44 (0)7818 013509
  
  
• Phil Smith – TSN Coordinator
  Tel: + 44 (0)1603 450304
  Mobile: + 44 (0)7908 900713
  
  
• Mick Storr – Physics Teachers @ CERN co-ordinator
  Tel: + 44 22 7678484

Websites

• UK Science Learning Centres (link opens in a new window)
• CERN (link opens in a new window)
• UK Large Hadron Collider (link opens in a new window)

Images and captions

• Image - The UK teacher delegation at CERN 
• Image - The ATLAS detector
• Image- Observing the ATLAS detecto

The Teacher Scientist Network is an educational charity that has been working to enhance science teaching across Norfolk and North Suffolk since 1994. Every year they arrange several unique and high-quality cpd opportunities for teacher that involve close links with active researchers. For further details view the TSN website (link opens in a new window)|. TSN is funded by the Gatsby Charitable Trust and generously hosted by the John Innes Centre, Norwich. 

The national network of Science Learning Centres, set up by the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) and Wellcome Trust, is providing the highest quality Continuing Professional Development for everyone involved in science education, at all levels. With nine regional Centres and a national Centre, access to innovative and inspiring courses is within reach across the UK. The Science Learning Centres (link opens in a new window)| website.

Science and Technology Facilities Council

• The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge-exchange partnerships.
  
  
• The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council will manage and operate three internationally renowned laboratories:
  • The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
  • The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
  • The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh
  
  
• The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

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