A laboratory in Harwell has hosted 40 students from seven schools to take part in an annual particle physics session.
The students who visited Rutherford Appleton Laboratory were part of Big Data: ATLAS, an award-winning collaboration between the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS), the University of Oxford and the laboratory, aimed at giving young people the skills and confidence to explore particle physics.
Dr Eimear Conroy, a post-doctoral researcher for the Oxford ATLAS group, and Professor Alan Barr, involved in the ATLAS experiment since 1999, led the masterclass.
The ATLAS experiment, one of the four major experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, is a particle physics experiment run by an international collaboration to explore the collider's full discovery potential.
Professor Alan Barr said: "It’s so uplifting to see what the students are able to do, and to hear their enthusiasm for the science."
Dr Conroy explained the complexities of the universe’s fundamental particles, setting the stage for the students' hands-on research.
The students then engaged in a coding session, led by Rutherford particle physicists, learning techniques to analyse ATLAS data and contemplating their own research avenues as part of Big Data: ATLAS.
Laboratory tours, including those of the Particle Physics Lab and ISIS particle accelerator, provided the students with an inside look into advanced research and technology.
A careers panel provided insights into the diverse pathways within particle physics, inspiring the students to pursue their scientific interests.
Throughout the day, students and teachers engaged with researchers, asking questions and fuelling their enthusiasm for science.
Dr Jo Foster, director at IRIS said: "It’s refreshing to see so many young women taking part in the masterclass.
"Even better that this is only a fraction of the girls working on Big Data: ATLAS this year.
"Taking part in research projects like this really allows young people to create science knowledge, which builds their confidence in their abilities to understand subjects.
"We look forward to the day when every young person has the opportunity to engage in STEM subjects in this way."
The participants hailed from across the UK, representing The King's Academy in Middlesborough, Highcrest Academy in High Wycombe, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys in Birmingham, Cirencester College, Leeds Mathematics School, Tiffin Girls' School in Kingston and Sevenoaks School in Kent.
The Institute for Research in Schools is a UK-based charity offering free research opportunities to state schools.
It aims to change the culture of education in the UK to allow every young person to engage in authentic research and innovation while at school.
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