Past Outreach Events

On November 17th, 2025, SCIPP researchers visited the Harbor High School AP Physics classes to lead a run-through of the “Big Analysis of Muons in ATLAS” activity. Students gained hands-on experience in particle physics and learned about the careers and experiences of SCIPP mentors.

Approximately 30 high school students joined scientists from the Santa Cruz Institute from Particle Physics for the annual Particle Physics Masterclass at UCSC on March 15. The educational event introduced students to special relativity concepts, data analysis techniques, and experimental detector technology.

Jason Nielsen, SCIPP Director and Professor of Physics, highlighted the international nature of the masterclass. “The data analysis activities were developed by the International Particle Physics Outreach Group,” he said, “and they use actual data from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland.”

Students in the Masterclass learned to identify the particles arising from Higgs boson decay and to calculate the invariant masses of particle pairs. This followed a lecture by SCIPP postdoc Sarah Geller on the mathematics of special relativity. One high school student said, “I think the material was simple enough so that anyone could learn to do it but also challenging enough for those who feel the need to see what physics is like.” The participants discussed their results in a videoconference with Fermilab scientists in Illinois and other Masterclass sites in southern California.

On March 9th 2024, SCIPP hosted a group of local high school students who participated in the annual International Masterclass in Particle Physics, lead by Quarknet. Alongside SCIPP faculty, students analyzed data from the LHC, getting the chance to be particle physicists for the day! As always, the day concluded with a videoconference with scientists from CERN and Fermilab, however, this year we also had the opportunity to collaborate with students at Oklahoma State University, who were participating in the Particle Physics Masterclass as well. A special thanks to all the students who participated, and the faculty at SCIPP who made this happen!

On March 4th, 2023, high school students from Santa Cruz county as well as the Bay Area traveled to UC Santa Cruz for the annual SCIPP/Quarknet Particle Physics Masterclass. Over 50 students were in attendance, working alongside SCIPP faculty to analyze data from the ATLAS experiment and experience what it is like to research Particle Physics. The event concluded with a videoconference alongside scientists from CERN and Fermilab where students had the chance to present their data and receive feedback. Thanks to all our mentors and student attendees who showcased their passion for physics and research! We are excited to host more events like this in the future.

On October 26th, 2023, SCIPP researchers visited the Santa Cruz High School AP Physics classes to lead a run-through of the “Big Analysis of Muons in ATLAS” activity. Students gained hands-on experience in particle physics and learned about the careers and experiences of SCIPP mentors.

High school student visitors and SCIPP researchers participated in the 2022 Quarknet Particle Physics Masterclass on March 5. Students learned about the fundamental forces and particles, and they analyzed data from the ATLAS experiment at CERN. Students also visited a working cloud chamber detector and joined a videoconference with researchers from Fermilab and Berkeley Lab. Thanks to all of the students and our wonderful mentors!

“For innovations in mentoring, such as the Lamat Program, all of which have demonstrated how members of historically marginalized populations can thrive, lead, and advance scientific enterprise in astronomy and related fields.”