QuarkNet2025
Lab hosts 2025 ‘Physics in and Through Cosmology’ Workshop for high school teachers and students
August 21 — Laurie Kerrigan
Berkeley Lab Physics Division News
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The LBNL Physics Division hosted its nineteenth “Physics in and Through Cosmology” workshop for QuarkNet Leadership teachers and high school students. This one-week, in person workshop held the week of June 16th, 2025, at Berkeley Lab. Six physics teachers and 43 students participated. The Standard Model of particle physics, neutrinos, quantum physics, dark matter, dark energy, CMB, quantum computing, and pixel detectors are some of the topics explored. |
2025 Physics in and Through Cosmology Workshop participants. Credit: Thor Swift, Berkeley Lab |
Maria Mironova “Discovering the Invisible: Tracking Detectors for Particle Physics.”Credit: Tony Spadafora, Berkeley Lab |
Workshop participants’ expressed how much they expanded their knowledge of the Universe in the following major take-aways. The diverse range of speakers, their enthusiasm, unique perspectives, and the in-depth nature of their presentations were highly appreciated, covering various topics and providing insights into potential future paths in science. The ALS tour, lab visits, and activities like the cosmic particle detector were valuable, offering real-world experiences and opportunities to see machines and learn about research. Meeting, interviewing, and asking questions to researchers and physicists was insightful and inspiring. The opportunity to collaborate with diverse experts, colleagues, and students, and to learn about current research in cosmology and particle physics was fantastic. |
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Highlights of the program were a drop in visit by Nobel Prize winner, Saul Perlmutter, small group interviews of Scientists in their labs, and a round table panel discussion with the Scientists on the last day Workshop Coordinator Laurie Kerrigan, a retired high school physics teacher and one of this workshop’s original designers, has co-organized this workshop with Tony Spadafora since it was launched in 2006. Special thanks to Erica Hall for all of her administrative assistance and Ingrid Peterson for her oversight of the group activities. |
After Nobel Prize laureate Saul Perlmutter’s drop-in visit, students followed him to continue their discussion. Credit: Tony Spadafora, Berkeley Lab |
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