Beamline for Schools Competition 2015 Launches Today

CERN is famous for the Higgs boson discovery and the invention of the World Wide Web, but there’s much more to the laboratory than that. A large part of CERN’s research and development is carried out at so-called fixed-target beamlines. These projects range from investigating the inner workings of protons to probing the mysteries of antimatter. In 2015, CERN will once again be making a fully equipped beamline available for schools. Beam time will be allocated to the one or more teams that win the 2015 beamline for schools contest.

The competition is open to high-school students aged 16 or older, in teams of up to 30 students, nine of whom would – if their team wins – come to CERN to run their experiments.

Teams may be composed of students from a single school, or a number of schools working together. Proposals will be pre-selected by a committee of CERN scientists, with the short list being sent on to the SPS and PS experiments Committee (SPSC), the committee that validates all proposals for experiments at the laboratory’s SPS and PS accelerators.

The first step is to register your team and tell us why you think you should win time to conduct your experiments on the beamline. Registration closes at midnight CET on 31 January 2015.

The second step involves submitting a two-part proposal: a written proposal and a 1-minute video about your proposed experiment. The deadline for submitting the experiment proposals is midnight CET on 31 March 2015.

For more information about how to apply and to read about the winning teams from 2014 see the beamline for schools website.

The beamline for schools team will hold a Google+ hangout in English on 4 December 2014 at 5pm CET on CERN’s YouTube channel. Researchers from CERN as well as last year's winning teams will be on hand to answer questions.

Good luck!

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.