From the Danube to Lake Geneva

38 Hungarian teachers took part in the very first session of the new-look programme for secondary school teachers, which took place in Hungarian from 20 to 26 August.



A studious atmosphere reigned in Building 593's auditorium, the venue for the first session of the new programme for secondary school teachers organised by CERN's Education Group. Held from 20 to 26 August, it was attended by 38 teachers from all over Hungary.

For a week, the teachers alternated between physics lessons, experiments, visits of the Laboratory and outings to discover the local area, all of which took place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Szilvia, a young teacher from Budapest, was enthusiastic: 'It's great to be here! Particle physics is something very new for secondary school teachers. It's going to be very exciting!'. Happy to have discovered so many new things at CERN, she is determined to pass on all she has learnt about the mysteries of modern physics to her pupils.

Several times during the week the teachers were given the opportunity to divide up into small groups to take stock and discuss some key questions amongst themselves, such as what they had learned, which material they could use with their pupils, and what they hadn't understood. As a result they will go away with ideas and ready-made course contents enabling them to re-use what they have learned at CERN. 'I hope we will manage to stay in contact with each other after this week full of new experiences here', added Szilvia, who was very happy to have met other teachers from all over her country.

Keeping the lines of communication open and staying in touch with the participants is also one of the organizers' main goals. 'It's like one big family', says Mick Storr, the Programme's coordinator. Since 1998, a three-week session has been held in English every July, which has allowed a network already 400 or so teachers strong to be built up. The coming weeks should see the inauguration of a web portal for exchanges between teachers. Designed to facilitate the sharing of tools between them, it should also help the community to develop.

New this year is the introduction of a shorter programme held in the participants' mother tongue. By increasing the number of sessions to between 6 and 8 a year, it should be possible to reach out to a larger number of teachers.

The aim of the programme is to promote science teaching. Organising teaching sessions for teachers plays an important role in spreading the word about particle physics. 'If we invite a student to CERN, we only get through to a single person. By inviting teachers here, we greatly increase the number of people concerned. Back home, they not only teach their pupils but also pass the message on to their colleagues', explains Mick Storr.

Many volunteers from various CERN services were involved in organising the programme with the support of local organizers in Budapest, Csaba Sükösd, Vice President of the Eötvös society, Beáta Jarosievitz, and physicists able to give classes in Hungarian. The next sessions will be held in Swedish, Danish and German. Any volunteers?!