Every science teacher should visit the greatest experiment on Earth. That is why every year I have made sure that my science teacher (pre) trainees have the opportunity to visit CERN.
Taking the 6.45 flight from London Gatwick to Geneva we landed in the cool and overcast airport that is extremely close to the Swiss-French border. Twenty eight of us arrived to catch two buses to CERN near the quiet Swiss village of Meyrin.
Approaching on the bus, a large rusty looking sphere grows on the horizon, signaling the entrance to CERN reception. This is known as Gate 33. The visitor centre itself is a smart building that is surrounded by portacabins. It is clear that the bulk of the money is spent on the super equipment hidden deep underground.
Microscosm is the main static exhibit that explains what we know about the universe and sub atomic particles, how we got to know these things and how CERN is trying to bash particles apart to understand the fundamentals of the Universe.
The rusty looking sphere is opposite Reception and is in fact an attractive wooden structure that contains an exhibition centre. Inside the large space inside there is an impressive exhibition ‘Universe of particles’. The space is darkened with white spheres hanging mysteriously around the space with a blue UV glow. Each sphere contains an exhibit or touch screen information about the universe or CERN.
When you book as a group (you need to do this about six months in advance), CERN put on an excellent educational tour for you. We spent the morning at the exhibitions, then met our guides for a lecture, tour of ATLAS and an above ground visit to a warehouse that contains an exhibition of the amazing technology and science that goes into building the particle accelerators.
Not only is the incredible cutting edge research and technology involved with CERN mind-blowing, but the huge numbers of countries and scientists that collaborate to design, build and analyse the experiments illustrate that it is not just the 27km long experimental laboratory that makes it the biggest experiment on Earth, but the number of people involved. It's the largest experiment ever to discover and understand the smallest particles of the Universe.
You may think that sub atomic particles are beyond the secondary curriculum. However, CERN delivers their work in an accessible way. Just a focus on How Science Works would meet so many curriculum demands: things science can't yet answer, collaborative working, creative thinking, experimental design and analysis, asking scientific questions and using models to explain scientific concepts.
Content wise, CERN technology uses charged particles, deflected by huge electromagnets, at extremely low temperatures (colder than space!) at speeds near the speed of light. These are all tangible things for a Key Stage 4 or 5 student and awe inspiring!
The tour at CERN is free. If you want to visit or get a group of students to go, this is my check list for you.
- Get in touch with CERN with some dates you have available about 6 months ahead.
- Once a date has been confirmed, book flights (we go on a very cheap airline).
- If going for a day, get an early flight out (you need to arrive at CERN for 10am).
- Get the bus (pick up a free ticket from the airport) to CERN from the airport (Number 57 to Meyrin, then Number 58 or Y to CERN).
- Organise a coach via CERN or organise a private hire coach for the CERN tour. If you can afford it get a coach to collect you from the airport to go CERN, do the tour and back again.
It is exhausting to do a round day trip. If you can do an overnight stay, it is well worth it. Geneva is a beautiful city.
Every science teacher should go - see what is happening there - come back enthused and share CERN's wonders with their students. Just do it!
AC-G
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