CERN 2018

From Friday 21st September until Sunday 23rd September 2018, a group of sixth formers were able to enjoy a trip to CERN.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, is a European research organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Established in 1954, the organization is based in a northwest suburb of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border, and has 22 member states.

Here is their report…

Following a very early start we landed in a very sunny Geneva on Friday 21st September. By 11am we had dropped off our bags at our accommodation and set out to explore the city. Mr Whalley gave students some photo challenges, including cannons and the world’s longest bench. After some sight-seeing and some much needed lunch, we spent the afternoon touring the European headquarters of the UN.

As there was a conference going on we had the special privilege of seeing delegates from across the globe in action.

Friday evening saw students sampling some local restaurants of their own choice enjoying everything from pizza to burritos and apparently some of the best cookies, ever!

On Saturday the excitement was building as we boarded the tram to CERN and on arrival the sight of the famous globe ensured everyone was looking forward to the day ahead.

Our tour started off with a talk from Dr Peter Ford and afterwards we were driven to a different part of the CERN complex where we were fortunate enough to see the main control room for all the colliders.

Our next stop in CERN was the CMS experiment where we had to wear hard hats (and very flattering hair nets) to travel 300 m underground to have a closer look at the work going on.

After our tour we viewed the CERN exhibits including seeing the machine where the world wide web was created and finding out more details on how the scientists at CERN are trying to understand the fundamental structure of our universe.

On Saturday evening we descended into the old town where all 17 of us sat down to a lovely meal alfresco.

Sunday morning was spent on a boat around Lake Geneva seeing the sights along the shore line.  These included a mermaid and the house where Lord Byron lived and Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein.

After a spot of lunch, it was time to make our way back to the airport for the flight home.

A wonderful time was had by all!

School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018
School Trip
CERN 2018