From August 4 to 14, a total of sixteen students aged 16–18 from all over Germany will gather at the Gutenberg Campus of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) for a special holiday experience. For ten days, the 16 young people, under the guidance of scientists from the Institutes of Physics and nuclear physics, as well as the cluster of excellence PRISMA⁺, as part of the Mainz Particle Physics Academy, will delve deep into the fascinating world of elementary particles, get to know the university and the city, and independently conduct experiments at the Mainz MAMI particle accelerator.

The academy’s schedule first includes lectures by teaching staff of the JGU on the topics of Particle Physics (Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Gradl), Detector Physics (Prof. Dr. Niklaus Berger), Accelerator Physics (Prof. Dr. Kurt Aulenbacher), Experimental Physics (Prof. Dr. Achim Denig), and New Physics (Prof. Dr. Sebastian Böser), as well as introductions to data acquisition at accelerators using oscilloscopes and digitizers. In five small groups, participants then experience the work of a particle physicist firsthand by observing five specialists in their subject in workshops and getting hands-on experience.

The core of the Particle Physics Academy is the construction of their own particle detector: The young people develop a plastic scintillator, which is then used at the “Mainz Microtron” (MAMI). Here, the students independently conduct a physics experiment and evaluate their results.

The event is rounded off by a varied supporting program with a Film evening, city rally, barbecue parties, pizza evening, as well as the opportunity to meet physics students at the JGU and learn about study opportunities.

The Mainz Particle Physics Academy is funded by the federal ministry for Research, Technology and Space Travel (BMFTR) as part of the Netzwerk Teilchenwelt and organized in cooperation with the Institutes of Physics and nuclear physics, as well as the cluster of excellence PRISMA⁺.

“This is a globally unique program for students who can gain unique research experience at this early stage,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Achim Denig from the cluster of excellence PRISMA⁺. “The enthusiasm and commitment of the participants are always great and an incentive for us to continue and expand this unique program.”

The Mainz Particle Physics Academy takes place annually during the summer holidays at the JGU’s Gutenberg Campus and is aimed at high school students. Due to high demand, participants are selected through an application process. Participation, travel, meals, and accommodation in Mainz are free for the students.