The 18th edition of the International Masterclass on Particle Physics, the initiative that involve thousands of high school students from all over Italy and the world in a journey to discover the infinitely small, got underway on 24 February last. Almost 2000 high school students from all over Italy are participating this year in the international initiative, which is coordinated in Italy by the INFN.
During the Masterclasses dedicated to CERN, each location organises one or more days of lectures and seminars on the fundamental topics of particle physics, followed by computer exercises in which students analyse data from the LHC particle accelerator experiments (ATLAS, CMS, ALICE or LHCb). At the end of each day, just like in a real international research collaboration, the Masterclass participants discuss, connected by videoconference with the other countries, the results emerging from the exercises.
In addition to data from CERN experiments, some of this year's Masterclasses are dedicated to the BELLEII experiment at the KEK laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan. Since last year, a number of Italian locations have also been participating, in collaboration with CNAO – National Centre for Oncology Hadrontherapy, in the Masterclasses on Particle Therapy, in order to introduce students to the medical applications of particle physics.
The initiative, now in its 18th edition, is part of the international Masterclasses organised by IPPOG (International Particle Physics Outreach Group). The Masterclasses take place simultaneously in 60 different countries, involving more than 200 of the most prestigious research institutions and universities worldwide and more than 13,000 high school students.
Information on the International Masterclasses: http://physicsmasterclasses.org/neu/
