Lunch n’ Learn is back! This week, we had an exciting talk by students Alisa, Summer and Minty. About three months ago, the A Level Physics students and a handful of GCSE students went to CERN for three days, exploring Geneva and learning about the world of Physics. They spoke about the history of CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as well as some of its key discoveries, such as the Higgs boson. The students also learned about, and were able to create, cloud chambers, which observe tracks left by negatively charged ions. 

Some of CERN’s current projects include new things like dark matter and dark energy and, generally, finding out more about the universe we live in. Summer said that during the trip, she realised that “there are a lot of questions about the standard model”, and this uncertainty leaves room for more to discover. 

In addition to the wonderful scientific side to the trip, free-time was spent at the UN, on a walk around tour of Geneva led by Mr Clements and on a visit to the International Museum of the Red Cross. When asked about their favourite parts of their visit to CERN, Minty and Summer agreed that the interactive demonstrations at the exhibition and the sheer size of CERN were the most memorable and impressive, while Alisa mentioned that this trip reinforced her desire to take Physics A Level. 

Join us next week at Lunch n’ Learn for yet another inspirational lecture!  

Gaby da Silveira Pinheiro, STEAM Prefect and Lower Sixth Student