In this issue...
-
Coordinating European outreach activities in Particle Physics
-
ASPERA arrives
Coordinating European outreach activities in Particle Physics
Twenty-five particle physicists, teachers and science communicators met in Lisbon on May 29-30 as ‘EPPOG’ (European Particle Physics Outreach Group). The Chair is Prof Erik Johansson (Sweden) and CERN’s communications group provide a secretariat.
The agenda and presentations can be found here (link opens in a new window)|.
European (and National) Masterclasses were strongly represented on the agenda, with positive feedback from all those who are engaged in Masterclasses. Several improvements were suggested to make the existing ‘European’ format more accessible, attractive and enjoyable. One suggestion was the need to update the activities by adding in LHC (Large Hadron Collider)-based exercises. The technical problems of this year will be addressed, and the European ‘live’ event may be held an hour earlier. A Masterclass advisory group will meet at CERN towards the end of July to decide which modifications to implement in the next Euroclasses. A principal organiser at CERN is David Barney of the CMS project.
The group reviewed and refined two presentations to be given by EPPOG (European Particle Physics Outreach Group) members to the Ecsite conference, which followed the EPPOG meeting. Ecsite is the network organisation for European Science Centres and Museums. An Ecsite session was dedicated to considering the science communication opportunities provided by the LHC and, following the presentations from EPPOG, Ecsite members recognise, and are keen to exploit, LHC-related science. A collaborative LHC exhibition may be developed (the UK stated that a professional evaluation report on the LHC exhibition at the Science Museum will be made freely available).
EPPOG agreed to set up a Wiki as a common resource for sharing information on particle physics and LHC outreach activities.
Ray Mathias and Robin Clegg described the progress of the UK's outreach activities on the LHC and particle physics generally. As 'switch on' approaches several CERN member states are now launching significant LHC communications strategies.
ASPERA arrives
ASPERA is an FP6 funded network of European national government agencies responsible for coordinating and funding national research efforts in Particle Astrophysics.
The first ASPERA newsletter is available on the ASPERA website (link opens in a new window)| and you can also receive it by email by subscribing (link opens in a new window)| on the website.
Each newsletter contains the latest events and news in particle astrophysics. New edition coming very soon!
