From August 7 to 12, 2017, the second Particle Physics Academy will take place at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). During a week of research, students will gain initial theoretical insights into Particle Physics, detector technologies, data evaluation and programming through lectures. The experience gained in this way can be applied directly in project work in the afternoon. The aim is to construct their own particle detector, which will then be tested at JGU’s particle accelerator MAMI. The data measured there will be analyzed independently by the participants and compared with theoretical predictions.

This year, a total of 20 pupils from all over Germany are taking part in the Mainz “Particle Physics Academy”, having applied in a competitive procedure. “It is a unique opportunity for the pupils to experience Particle Physics at first hand and learn more about the work of a researcher,” says Prof. Dr. Matthias Schott, who initiated the project last year.

The Particle Physics Academy is being held for the second time this year, following on from the very successful program in 2016. “So far, a comparable program only exists at the CERN research center in Geneva,” said Schott. The physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) want to inspire school students to take up a program of study in physics at JGU and make an important long-term contribution to the recruitment of young researchers.

The Mainz Particle Physics Academy is funded by the PRISMA – Precision Physics, Fundamental Interactions and Structure of Matter Cluster of Excellence, in which mainly particle and hadron physicists work together. With its PRISMA cluster of excellence and the MAINZ graduate school, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz is one of the international research elite in the fields of particle and hadron physics and materials science.

Media representatives interested in visiting the Particle Physics Academy next week are welcome to contact Dr. Christian Schneider (Tel. 06131 39-26362, e-mail: c.schneider@uni-mainz.de) in advance to arrange an appointment.