Particle accelerator experts meet at ALBA
On 15-16 April 2019, the ALBA Synchrotron brought together the members of the advisory board of the Joint Universities Accelerator School (JUAS), a training programme delivered in partnership between CERN and 16 European universities, including the University of Liverpool.
JUAS is world-wide unique in that the school comprises two five-week specialization courses addressed to university students that are focused on the science and technology of particle accelerators and their applications.
QUASAR Group leader Professor Carsten P Welsch connected the University of Liverpool to this programme in 2008 and has since been the representative of this university in the JUAS advisory board. He contributes his experience from establishing a final year undergraduate course in accelerator physics in Liverpool, as well as a decade of experience in coordinating European training networks. The board meets annual and reviews school implementation, student feedback and discusses possible improvements. Prof Welsch said: "The JUAS team needs to be commended on the excellent quality of the school. Student feedback was - once again - excellent and we focused our discussion on future directions, including massive open online courses, use of social media to help promote accelerator science and new approaches to teaching and learning".
During the meeting, the members of the advisory board discussed and analysed this year's course and proposed improvements for future editions. They have also had the opportunity to visit the facilities of the ALBA Synchrotron, including its accelerators' tunnel, taking advantage of a planned shutdown.