[Interactions News Wire] #55-07 - STFC: New Resource - Particle Detectives on the Trail of a Time Machine

Interactions News Wire #55-07
12 October 2007

http://www.interactions.org
*************************************************************
Source: STFC
Content: Press Release
Date Issued: 12 October 2007
*************************************************************

Particle Detectives on the Trail of a Time Machine
New resources to teach the biggest Science

In 2008 the biggest experiment in the world will start operations,
creating conditions last seen only fractions of a second after the Big
Bang. Called the Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, this huge machine will act
as a time machine allowing scientists to look back at the start of the
Universe and answer many questions that remain in physics. To help
teachers share the excitement and challenges of a project of this
magnitude with their students, the Science and Technology Facilities
Council (STFC) has produced an on-line educational pack.

Gareth James, Schools Manager of the STFC said "Cutting-edge science
offers a great opportunity to explain how science works and share with
students the excitement of discovery. The Large Hadron Collider will
change our understanding of the early Universe as it confirms some
theories, rejects others and no doubt throws up new and unexpected
phenomena. Particle Detectives allows students to share in the discovery
process and meet the people, not so different from them, that are changing
our view of the physical world."

Available at www.particledetectives.net , the materials are aimed at the
14-19 age groups. Resources include ready-made presentations for teachers
and students to give, an online simulator of the LHC, a latest news
section and study guides for older students. Users can access video clips
of students asking, and scientists answering, questions about the LHC
project. There is also information on how the materials relate to the
curriculum in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The LHC will accelerate protons and collide them at high energies to
explore the conditions of the early Universe. Scientists working on the
LHC hope to learn about anti-matter, gravity, mass, extra dimensions and
even discover new particles. Using the LHC simulator, students can explore
the challenges of building of such a massive machine and the even bigger
task of analysing the data that comes from it.

Caitriona McKnight, teacher at the Saffron Walden County High School in
Essex said "I have tried it and love it. Particle detectives is a really
exciting resource with a lot of high-quality materials that both teachers
and students can use. The video clips of students asking scientists
questions about the LHC 'humanise' this huge scientific endeavour, the
curriculum map makes it easy for the busiest teacher to see where the
particle detectives resources can be used across their science teaching
and the LHC simulator captures the essence of the scientific process and
the excitement of discovery".

The Science and Technology Facilities Council produces a range of
materials to support science teaching, details of other projects can be
found at http://www.scitech.ac.uk and clicking on 'Public and Schools'

Notes for Editors

The Large Hadron Collider is being constructed at CERN, near Geneva. The
UK is a major participant in the project, funded by the Science and
Technology Facilities Council. To learn more about the LHC, visit
www.lhc.ac.uk

Images
Print quality images of the LHC are available from
http://www.so.stfc.ac.uk/imagelibrary/
And
http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/910381

Contact
Julia Maddock
Press Office
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Tel +44 1793 442094
Julia.maddock@stfc.ac.uk

Mrs Caitriona McKnight
Saffron Walden County High School
Audley End Road
Saffron Walden
Essex, CB11 4UH
School Tel. 01799 513030

Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its
leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science;
accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative
technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research
through effective knowledge exchange partnerships.

The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle
Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science,
Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition
the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned
laboratories:
-The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire
-The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire
-The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh

The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds
the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory
for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European
Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for
Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European
Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes
overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI
National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank
Observatory.

The Council distributes public money from the Government to support
scientific research. Between 2007 and 2008 we will invest approximately
£678 million.

To unsubscribe from the Interactions News Wire, please email bergen@interactions.org with "remove" in the subject line.