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About the Particle Physics Masterclass

Particle physics is a very interesting field in science. The recent discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the particle that is thought to be responsible for giving mass to the particles that form the matter we’re made of, l ed to a huge media echo and large public interest. Lund University is at the forefront of this field of research, with groups of researchers in the ATLAS and ALICE LHC collaborations, as well as in theoretical particle physics. It is these researchers that work with high-school students who become scientists for a day in the International Masterclasses, designed and coordinated by The International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG). The students analyse recent data from the LHC experiments, under the supervision of physicists who work with these data daily.

This is an activity that is as international as the field of particle physics: IPPOG has organized Particle Physics Masterclasses since 2005 in the framework of the program “International Masterclasses”. Each year in spring, universities and research labs in more than 50 countries worldwide open their doors and invite high-school students to experience life at the forefront of basic research. In 2017, IPPOG launched Masterclass activities for the first time to support and promote the access of women and girls to science education and research activities.

What happens on February 11th?

During the masterclass activities, students will:

  • Learn the basics of theoretical and experimental particle physics
  • Participate in discussions with international researchers, such as Dr. Deepak Kar (University of Witwatersrand, South Africa).
  • Discuss research and career prospects with Master's and PhD students at Lund University, as well as with international students and partners wtihin the EU-funded MSCA International Training Network INSIGHTS
  • Examine the products of collisions between elementary particles that travel through the 27-kilometre accelerator at close to the speed of light.
  • Connect to the CERN laboratory in a videoconference together with other institutes all over the world.

Speakers and helpers

Deepak Kar

Senior Lecturer, University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)

Johan Rathsman

Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics, Lund University

Caterina Doglioni

Senior Lecturer, Lund University

Nathan Simpson

PhD student from the INSIGHTS International Training Network, Lund University

Oliver Matonoha

PhD student, Lund University

Emelie Olsson

Master's student, Lund University

Preliminary schedule

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Welcome and introductions

Everyone

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Introduction to the theory of particle physics

Prof. Johan Rathsman, Lund University

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Introduction to particle physics experiments

Dr. Caterina Doglioni, Lund University

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Coffee break

Everyone

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Discovering the Higgs boson

Dr. Deepak Kar, University of Witwatersrand

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Inroduction to the Masterclass exercise

TBC, Lund University

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Discussion with PhD students from Lund University and INSIGHTS network

Eleni Skorda, Nathan Simpson and others

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Lunch break and mingle

Everyone

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Practical introduction to the ATLAS data analysis

Everyone

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LHC data analysis

Everyone

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Coffee "to-go"

Everyone

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Discussion of data analysis results over coffee

Everyone

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Videoconference with CERN and institutes worldwide

Everyone

Event FAQs

The Masterclass will be held in Lund University, in the Astronomy building (Sölvegatan 27, 223 62 Lund, Sweden). We will meet in the foyer and then move to Lundmarksalen. See at the end of the page for a map.
Of course not! We will provide fika and a sandwich lunch.
Contact Caterina Doglioni and Johan Rathsman.

Event Location

Astronomy building, Lund University
Sölvegatan 27, 223 62 Lund, Sweden