At the Frontiers of Physics: Sixth Form Explore CERN and Geneva
Posted on: 06 Mar 2026
From smashing particles at near light speed to sampling Swiss chocolate, our Sixth Form students enjoyed an extraordinary half-term adventure packed with science, culture and discovery in Geneva, including a once-in-a-lifetime visit to CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Posted on: 06 Mar 2026
From smashing particles at near light speed to sampling Swiss chocolate, our Sixth Form students enjoyed an extraordinary half-term adventure packed with science, culture and discovery in Geneva, including a once-in-a-lifetime visit to CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a 27-kilometre circular tunnel buried deep underground, where scientists accelerate tiny particles to almost the speed of light and smash them together. By studying the results of these collisions, researchers can uncover the fundamental building blocks of matter and gain insight into how our universe began, bringing to life many of the complex ideas our students encounter in their A-level studies.
During the tour, students visited the ALICE detector (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), one of the LHC’s major experiments. Here, scientists recreate conditions similar to those just moments after the Big Bang by colliding heavy ions. The detector tracks thousands of particles produced in these collisions, helping physicists understand how matter formed in the early universe. Seeing this extraordinary research environment first-hand was both inspiring and thought-provoking.
The group also explored CERN’s vast data centre, where the results from billions of particle collisions are processed and analysed. The sheer scale of the computing power required to manage such enormous quantities of data was truly eye-opening and highlighted the vital links between physics, mathematics and computer science.
After lunch in the CERN Restaurant, a café where countless brilliant minds have debated groundbreaking theories, students explored the brand-new visitor centre and museum before attending an inspiring talk. In true EHS style, our students were the first to volunteer when audience participation was required, representing the school with confidence and enthusiasm.
The day concluded with bowling and pizza, a well-earned opportunity to relax after an intense and inspiring day of scientific discovery.
The second day offered the chance to explore Geneva itself, beginning with a chocolate workshop at La Bonbonnière. Wearing chef’s hats and aprons, students created and decorated their own chocolate slabs and, of course, sampled plenty of delicious treats along the way.
Later, the group visited the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Through powerful and interactive exhibitions, students explored humanitarian work around the world and learned about the history of the Red Cross movement. The visit provided a meaningful and reflective contrast to the cutting-edge science experienced the previous day.
In the evening, students enjoyed traditional Swiss food and entertainment at the Edelweiss Restaurant. Live music featuring the Alpine horn and yodelling, alongside a surprising rendition of Katy Perry, ensured a memorable cultural experience. There was certainly plenty of cheese enjoyed… perhaps enough to last a little while!
On the final morning, there was just enough time to take the cable car up Mont Salève to enjoy spectacular views over the city. After a short (and rather icy!) hike, the hoped-for glimpse of Mont Blanc remained hidden behind cloud, but spirits were quickly restored with hot chocolate in the café.
This trip was a truly fascinating and fun-packed start to half term, combining academic enrichment, cultural exploration and unforgettable shared experiences. We are incredibly proud of how our Sixth Form students embraced every opportunity with curiosity, maturity and enthusiasm.
