Syllabus 2019

- Teens will build handmade particle detectors and Cloud Chamber to see Cosmic Rays, use Bubble Detector like Canadian astronauts (“Investigate the sources of neutron radiation, how it interacts with matter, and its potential impact on human space travel”), learn about the subatomic world and made some experiences in optics, see why mathematics are important (translation, symmetry, data analysis etc.).

- Girls are encouraged to participate (there are not many girls in this field...).

- I will give a certificate of participation if teens participate at all workshops (10 in total/1 hour by week).

- Twenty students maximum.

We will use American, Canadian, French and Swiss resources. Students will learn why international collaboration is important in research.

It's free! Participants must only provide safety glasses + old tshirt (which can be soiled).

ASTROPARTICULES AND INSTRUMENTATION

Goals: To build a bilingual French-English scientific culture (for example the official languages of CERN are these two languages), and to learn how to organize his work; learn more about the subatomic world; learn not to trust appearances and try to go further in his reflection.

Sequence 1:

• "Cosmic Times": Evolution from the first Einstein's theory to actual research on the black matter (reading and preparation for other sequences; it's not the sequence more funny but it's essential to understand the other sequences).

Sequence 2: 

• Montessori activity: Black ribbon. Visualize the time since the Big Bang to the appearance of life on Earth (outside activity) + introduction to particles and matter (microscopic and macroscopic level) + Periodic table of the elements and Standard model of elementary particles (Atom building game).

• Difference between Big-Bang and Big-Crunch: Balloon experience + Hoberman Sphere Original - Universe Glow in Dark.

Sequence 3:

• Model matter and subatomic particles with Lego (inspired by Dr. Ben Still). Understand the different combinations, the difference between matter and anti-matter, current research etc.

Sequence 4: 

• Mystery box. To put yourself in the shoes of a CERN researcher.

• Tests in optics with Google Pixel: Take photos inside plasma lamp (free electrons), moles (atoms), Newton's prism (photons) etc.

Sequence 5:

• Cloud chamber: DIY to see muons, protons, electrons in action! Learn about patterns (Feynman diagram).

Sequence 6:

• Bubble Detector like Canadian astronauts (“Investigate the sources of neutron radiation, how it interacts with matter, and its potential impact on human space travel”). Outside activity + Data Analysis (collect, sharing, analysis).

Sequence 7: 

• Camera obscura, imprison photons with a tin can. Development in Darkroom (if we can... I have the material but we need a room without light inside and I think also the authorization...). It's not because we don't see something that it does not exist...

Sequence 8: 

• Particle detector simulation (magnetic marbles and iron metal powder) + Data Analysis on zooniverse.org (Chromebook).

Sequence 9:

• Brainstorm. Teens will try to build a mind map of everything they have learned so far and organize their ideas. They will have to make a collective poster (5 per team) and present their work.

Sequence 10: 

•  IceCube South Pole Neutrinos Observatory (presentation about this project and the South Pole Experiment Contest for students).

• SLAC Stanford.