SPS Students Experience Cutting-Edge Science on CERN Trip 2025

Published on 25 April 2025

From Sunday, 13th April to Thursday, 17th April 2025, 30 undergraduate students from the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics embarked on an unforgettable educational trip to Geneva.

Organised by the SPS Enhancement Team, with exceptional support from Alice Cartridge, President of the Physics Society, and one of our fantastic students, the trip was a remarkable opportunity for academic growth and inspiration.

The selected students took part in a two-day deep dive into the world-renowned European Organisation for Nuclear Research—CERN. During their visit, students were given exclusive, comprehensive tours of CERN’s state-of-the-art facilities, guided by second-year PhD student from the School of Physical Sciences, Sinead Eley, who is currently on a year-long placement at CERN. Sinead’s insight and infectious passion for particle Physics truly brought the experience to life, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Beyond the science, this trip was designed to inspire and broaden horizons. Students had the opportunity to network with CERN researchers, gaining invaluable insights into life at one of the world’s most prestigious scientific institutions.

The impact of the trip was immediate and profound. Many of our students took to LinkedIn to share their experiences, reflect on what they learned, and express their gratitude.

First-year Physics with Mathematics student Evie Thorp wrote: 'One of the most valuable takeaways was seeing how collaborative the work at CERN is. It’s not just Physics — it’s engineering, computing, statistics, and international teamwork, all working together toward some of the biggest open questions in science. I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the researchers who took the time to explain their work and answer many questions.'

Third-year Chemistry student Patrick Fielding wrote: 'I would say I most enjoyed visiting the antimatter department and ISOLDE, as I found the research there to be very intriguing. The study of radioactive nuclei is quite chemistry-related in a Physics-dominated institute like ISOLDE. The potential applications in areas like radiotherapy for cancer treatments are exciting. I have learnt a lot, not just about Physics, but also about myself and how much working in research interests me. It also gave me the opportunity to travel and experience the beautiful city of Geneva.'

This trip was not only a success in terms of academic enrichment but also a brilliant example of cross-department collaboration, showcasing the incredible outcomes that arise when staff and student-led initiatives come together.

Here’s to more inspiring journeys like this in the future!