I participated CERN International High School Programme on 7-20 July 2019 in Geneva. Let’s read my blog…
When I received that e-mail, informing about my admittance for the International High School Teacher’s Workshop in fortnight CERN, I felt so happy. As a teacher, who had already taken part in many educational organizations around the world before CERN, I had always found it really exciting to visit CERN someday. At the end of the workshop, I expectedly concluded that it was not unavailing.
After flying to Switzerland, I arrived in CERN, in the afternoon, the 7th of July. This great experience for a fortnight began with Jeff Weiner, the supervisor of the program, and his assistant Anja Horvat’s warm welcomes and smiling faces. CERN, a very big campus established in a wide area, shares its border both with France and also with Sweden. Though it looked so complex at first view, I had an opportunity to discover the giant laboratory of CERN through a game called treasure hunt.
I had some furthermore information on programs CERN organizes for teachers, thanks to Jeff’s presentation. The program included lectures and focus group trainings in the class, workshops and trips to laboratories or units of the collider. We all had lectures on specific subjects such as particle physics, particle accelerator, errors and uncertainty factor in particle physics, particle detectors, exploration of The Higgs Boson, medical practices, The CMS (The Compact Muon Solenoid) Detector, data centre and computer applications, anti matter and engineering applications during the program. The lectures were delivered by important and respectable scientists who serve both in particular units of CERN and at some prestigious universities around the world. Since I had already read some articles on particle physics in Turkey, I could comprehend subjects easily in CERN.
I would love to mention something about The LHC (Large Hadron Collider). The most giant machine ever made so far, this is also the biggest and most powerful particle collider that follows a line along 27 km, 100 meters below the ground. And now there is another really huge machine, The FCC (Future Circular Collider). When completed, it will follow a circular line of exactly a hundred kilometres length and a part of it will cross under the Lake of Geneva. All these things they plan and do there in CERN are just fascinating. When thinking about our planet’s future, it was really encouraging for me to meet people talking about science every corner, even in the cafeteria.
The most significant moment I had during the program was our trip to The CMS Detector. This giant detector I saw by going down under the ground in 100 meters depth, was really fascinating. The exploration of The Higgs Boson, probably the most important scientific event in this century, was once reexamined here. This trip was actually like reliving that moment somehow. To meet some respectable scientists there, who contribute to this project from METU, Boğaziçi and Çukurova Universities, also made me so proud. Just before this trip to The CMS, David Barney, who devoted his all life to this Project and also found his life partner there, gave a presentation on this collider. The last reflection of the presentation was truly significant: “It’s been 25 years and there are still many things to learn and do. As teachers, you all can make difference for humanity by educating young engineers and scientists. “Yes! We all must contribute to the development of humanity and that story fairly impressed me.
There was not only education, in CERN. There were also bowling and pizza days, swapping traditional gifts from different countries, treasure hunt game around Geneva, relaxing with live music, cheese fondue and talking about educational issues of different countries… It was a great program organised carefully with all details. And one more thing I should not skip that is Dave and Laura, a couple coming from Canada for us. The founders of Perimeter Institute, this lovely couple organised workshops during a whole day. I lost track of time while participating in the workshops. Those workshops were actually inspiring for us, as teachers. If we could teach like that in our classes, I don’t think any student would feel bored. I would love to appreciate them for their contribution to the program and teaching materials and resources they brought us. Those workshops, organized perfectly to provide a great environment for learning, were held in S’cool Lab where, Jeff said, was his dearest.
Although the main mission of the CERN Project is actually conducting research in particle physics, there have also been some unique inventions and discoveries so far. For example, invention of “web” by Tim Berners- Lee and touch screen innovation are just some of these achievements. As someone who has breathed the air in CERN, I know there is no surprise to that these milestones have been found there.
The 45 teachers, from 6 different continents were gathered into 9 different focus groups. Each group prepared a report on their specific subjects and submit it at the end of a 70 hours training program. We presented arguments for teaching methods in each of our fields. My group presented “anti matter” subject. As an IT teacher, I also gave a brief speech on how to teach anti matter subject to students by using information technologies. The program came to an end with a certificate ceremony. Now I also have that exclusive competence to be an ambassador of CERN. I would profoundly love to express my appreciation for this perfect experience to everyone in CERN beginning with Jeff, the creator of the program. Finally, the excellent colleagues from all over the world, I hope to see you again. I will miss you much. If you want to participate this amazing programme, you can apply until 13 January 2020. For more information please visit: https://teacher-programmes.web.cern.ch/international-teacher-programmes
National Press: Https://www.sabah.com.tr/egitim/2019/07/10/turk-ogretmenler-cern-yolcusu
https://meslegimhayatim.meb.gov.tr/haber/turk_ogretmen_cern_de
https://theworldnews.net/tr-news/turk-ogretmenlerin-buyuk-basarisi
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