CERN is best known for its fundamental research into the smallest building blocks of matter and the laws of nature. To do this, it uses state-of-the-art particle accelerators, among which the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) stands out. It is here that some of the most fundamental particles have been discovered, helping scientists to better understand how the Universe works.
The Czech Republic has been a member of CERN since 1993, when it became the successor state of the former Czechoslovakia. Czech scientists are actively involved in research and development of new technologies and are involved in key projects such as ATLAS and ALICE. The Czech Republic's membership of CERN is provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), which also provides funding for contributions.
During the excursion, pupils were introduced to the activities and objectives of CERN through dozens of interactive presentations and models. They had the opportunity to see how the facilities work, learn about current projects, the basics of particle physics and personal stories of CERN staff. The excursion was not only inspiring but also very informative and broadened the horizons of all participants.
The excursion included a visit to interesting places in Switzerland, namely the Rhine Falls, the historic town of Gruyeres, the town on the shores of Lake Geneva Montreux, Geneva and the Glacier 3000 alpine centre.
This experience will surely contribute to the pupils' further interest in science and technology and perhaps to their future involvement in international science projects.
(Ing. Jiří Vastl)
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