UK news from CERN Issue 11: 18 December 2012 In this issue: UK physicists share world’s biggest science prizes Observer status for CERN – new UN role for CERN Mastering particle physics – six of the best come to CERN Seeing behind the scenes – Edinburgh Principal visits experiments that put University in spotlight Evangelical old boy returns to roots – 11 talks, five schools, three days, one Yorkshireman Dates for the diary UK News from CERN is taking a festive break and will be back on 15 January 2013. We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! UK physicists share world’s biggest science prizes UK physicists are among the recipients of two Jim Virdee special $3M prizes awarded by the © STFC Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation. One of the prizes has been awarded to Professor Stephen Hawking (University of Cambridge) for his discovery of Hawking “Bravo to the CMS collaboration for their radiation from black holes, and his deep dedication to make the experiment one of the contributions to quantum gravity and quantum most beautiful scientific instruments ever. The aspects of the early universe. prize not only celebrates fundamental science but also recognises the audacious undertaking The other prize has been awarded to seven of the many scientists, engineers and senior scientists instrumental in the design, technicians from around the world who, over construction and operation of the Large Hadron many years came together to build a powerful Collider (LHC), ATLAS and CMS experiments, detector, one that will still have the potential to and whose leadership led to the discovery of the produce remarkable physics for years to come.” new Higgs-like particle. The group includes Jim Virdee and Michel Della Negra (Imperial College Project Leader of the Large Hadron Collider London) and Lyn Evans (CERN). accelerator during the construction period, Lyn Evans said, “It’s fantastic news. We have been Jim Virdee was one of the five physicists who acknowledged as the team that led the design, first proposed the CMS experiment. He was the construction and commissioning of the LHC spokesperson for the collaboration from 2006- project. In the LHC collider, the accelerator, and 10. Commenting on the award, Jim said, “In the ATLAS and CMS experiments are so inter- conceiving, constructing and operating the CMS related that it has required close cooperation experiment, and with the discovery of the Higgs- throughout the whole 16 years of construction. like boson, we have advanced science. For me, During that time, we have faced many it is an honour and privilege to be associated challenges that we have overcome together. with this advance. The tremendous performance of ATLAS, CMS Page 1 Written and edited by Stephanie Hills, STFC Communications and Innovation Officer @ CERN [email protected] or [email protected] and the LHC is witness to the skill and with a view to promoting the essential role of dedication of our many collaborators which we basic science in development". are very proud to represent”. CERN will participate in actions by the UN for sharing science. For its part, the UN can more broadly disseminate the knowledge developed Lyn Evans © CERN at CERN, particularly in developing countries. Mastering particle physics An innovative collaboration between University of Southampton and STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is enabling six of the brightest The prizes are funded by the Milner Foundation. students on Southampton’s Masters of Physics (MPhys) degree course to spend a year at Observer status for CERN CERN. On 14 December, the United Nations General Southampton’s MPhys course is aimed at first Assembly in New York adopted a resolution class students who are likely to go on to study granting CERN observer status. for a PhD, and the year at CERN is intended to give them skills and experience that will put The resolution was submitted by Switzerland them ahead of their peers. This is the fifth year and France, CERN’s two host nations, and was of the scheme and so far every student who has supported by the 18 other Member States taken part has achieved a first class degree, (including the UK) as well as several non- and all those that wanted to go on to do a PhD member states. have done so. Researchers from 629 institutes and universities During the year, each student focuses on a in 84 countries collaborate at CERN. It has single project that is the subject of his or her become a model for international collaboration thesis. They become active members of the with scientists and engineers coming together in ATLAS, CMS or LHCb collaborations and their pursuit of a shared goal, sometimes despite research contributes to the success of the diplomatic differences between their countries. experiment. But as Southampton does not participate in any of the experiments at CERN, the students are supervised by researchers from Ban Ki-Moon, RAL during their year in Geneva. Secretary General of the UN with Rolf “My project would be impossible without the Heuer, DG of CERN support and contacts that I have here at CERN”, says Nicola Skidmore. Nicola is analysing © UN physics in LHCb, and she is already planning to Photo/Evan Schneider go on to do a PhD. Rhys Owen is working on the ATLAS L1 calorimeter trigger and hopes that this year is "The granting of observer status demonstrates just the start of a long association with CERN, the importance that the UN attaches to science “it’s been a steep learning curve – I’m being and to its role in society", says CERN Director exposed to physics that hasn’t made it to the General, Rolf Heuer. "CERN looks forward to text books yet.” offering the General Assembly and the other UN bodies the benefit of its expertise in the field Page 2 Written and edited by Stephanie Hills, STFC Communications and Innovation Officer @ CERN [email protected] or [email protected] Other projects are looking into the unknown - Seeing behind the scenes Ben Sowden is working on ATLAS and his project is looking beyond the Standard Model, “If Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal of the we find a new particle, that could mean that the University of Edinburgh visited CERN on 18 Standard Model is wrong. If I’m honest, I think December. The visit marks the end of a year it’s unlikely, but you never know!” that has put Edinburgh firmly in the scientific spotlight – Professor Peter Higgs is Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University. Professor O’Shea was accompanied by two of the University’s Vice Principals, the Heads of the schools of Physics and Astronomy, Informatics, and Engineering, and Professor Higgs himself. The visit gave the group the chance to see where the discovery of the Higgs-like boson was made, and to meet many of the Edinburgh researchers who are involved in the LHC. Alex, Chris, Declan, Rhys and Nicola (Ben was unavailable) © CERN The year at CERN has also opened the students’ eyes to the realities of a career in physics. Declan Millar is also working on ATLAS, but his project is focused on detector physics, “I’d really like to become a theoretician, but I’ve realised that there are more job opportunities as an experimental physicist – and I need to have job.” For Chris Mintram, the time at CERN has had a Dr Fabiola Gianotti (centre) with Professor O’Shea and colleagues rather different effect, “I’m really enjoying this © CERN year, but it has made me realise that a long- term career in physics is not for me.” Chris It was a busy schedule, with tours of the main plans to use his skills in industry. LHC control centre, ATLAS, LHCb and the Computer Centre. There was even the chance Alex Pearce would definitely like to come back to take a quick look at the LHC tunnel. to CERN - he’s working on LHCb with Nicola, “This is a fascinating place to work. Sometimes you get so involved in your work that you forget Evangelical old boy returns to what’s going on beneath your feet - I’d love to Yorkshire roots spend more time here and see more of the experiments.” “You don’t have to be Stephen Hawking to work at the frontier of science.” This was one of the There is no doubt that Southampton’s approach key messages that Mick Storr, Head of CERN’s is putting its students on the fast track – the Teacher Programme and Visits Service, used results speak for themselves. during a recent trip back to his old school in Yorkshire. Page 3 Written and edited by Stephanie Hills, STFC Communications and Innovation Officer @ CERN [email protected] or [email protected] Mick’s whistle-stop tour took in five different educated in our area, in Pudsey, and is now schools in West Leeds where he talked to nine working for CERN. He lives the dream to work in groups of students and gave two public lectures; probably the most prestigious physics institution that’s 794 people in just three days. but was seen by our pupils as someone both approachable and enthusiastic.” Mick’s intention was not just to talk about the LHC and the search for the Higgs boson, he Another important aspect of Mick’s trip was that also wanted to demonstrate to the students that it has acted as a catalyst to bring the science they too could work at CERN. As well as teachers at the five different schools together, showing the students CERN’s LHC in 10 opening up the possibility of joint student visits minutes film, Mick talked about his own career to CERN and promoting the teacher path - he was born and brought up in the same development programme.