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From 23–27 March 2026, 17 undergraduate students took part in an educational trip to Geneva organised by the School of Physical Sciences (SPS) Enhancement Team. The visit marked the second SPS student trip to CERN, following an idea originally proposed by the Physics Student Society.
The centrepiece of the trip was a two-day visit to CERN, where students explored world-leading research facilities with University of Liverpool PhD student Paraskevi Alexaki, who is currently carrying out her research at the institute. During their visit, students toured ELISA, ISOLDE and ATLAS, as well as the Synchrocyclotron and Antiproton Decelerator.
Alongside the tours, students met professionals from a range of fields, gaining insight into scientific careers and the collaborative culture at the heart of CERN. A careers and networking session encouraged students to explore opportunities in research and information services, providing valuable employability experience.
Second-year Mathematics student Phoebe shared her reflections on LinkedIn, writing: “From standing beneath the ATLAS detector to exploring the Antiproton Decelerator and stepping into the very spaces where particle physics history was made, every moment at CERN was a reminder of what happens when curiosity meets collaboration.”
She added: “The trip has been a week blending hands-on science, cultural exploration and invaluable professional insight.”
Third-year Physics student Charlie Bamber described the visit as “a truly unique experience” and said that he hoped “to return to CERN at some point in the future”. Read Charlie's full post on LinkedIn.
The trip highlighted the impact of cross-departmental collaboration and student-led initiatives in enriching the student experience.