Particle accelerator physics for the masses

A University of Oxford outreach project about accelerator physics was conceived to inspire young minds in Oxfordshire but has gone much further than anyone could have hoped.

How do you teach children the fundamental concepts of science? Describe to them where the universe came from? Or even explain why some things feel heavier than others?

Dr Suzie Sheehy, from the University of Oxford’s department of physics, found the answer over a coffee with her colleague from CERN. They noticed a distinct lack of physics outreach projects that used practical demonstrations to explain the concepts behind particle accelerator physics, which can answer exactly these sorts of questions. So, with the help of an £8,000 grant, Sheehy created Accelerate! to fill that gap.

Aided by several DPhil students, she devised a 45-minute science show designed to capture the imagination of GCSE and A-level students around Oxfordshire. It combined classic demonstrations, involving Van der Graaf generators and cloud chambers, with Sheehy’s own innovative crowd-pleasers. One section, for instance, used a Mexican wave and giant beach balls to demonstrate how waves can move particles.

The show was more successful than anyone could have hoped. During the course of its two-year funding period, it was performed 63 times – the initial target being a mere 20 – to audiences of over 400 people. Popular demand took the show across the UK, as far as York, Leeds and Kent, and it was even performed at the British Science Festival and the Big Bang Fair. Over time, the show also evolved to suit the needs of a wider audience: from children as young as 11 years old, to parents and teachers.

The outreach project hasn’t just inspired young minds, though. It has become part of a particle physics masterclass, developed by academics in the physics department for schoolchildren, and it is now also used as part of a teachers’ workshop in the university. Sheehy even presented the project at the International Particle Accelerator Conference, and has since been informed that it is inspiring similar initiatives around the globe. You don’t need a DPhil in particle physics to measure how massive that kind of impact is.

Funded by: The Science and Technology Facilities Council.