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Three science teachers went to CERN, world’s leading laboratory
Macarthur Anglican School science teacher, Paul Looyen, won the chance to fly to Geneva last July for the
International High School Teacher Program at CERN. The opportunity connected him with some of the best scientists
in the world, together with its best science infrastructure.
CERN is a world-renowned facility on the frontier of nuclear physics research; it is home to the Large Hadron
Collider (LHC).
Access to CERN’s International High School Teacher Program follows funding from the Australian Nuclear Science
and Technology Organisation and the Australian Science Teachers’ Association.
Paul accompanied two other Australian science teachers, Rachel Alison Schnitzerling from Brisbane and Chris
Bormann from Coffs Harbour, as part of the special two-week program, that brought together teachers from across
the globe to participate in lectures, on-site visits, hands-on workshops and Q&A sessions, to discuss how to bring
physics into the classroom.
CEO of ANSTO, Dr Adi Paterson, congratulated the teachers on their achievement, stating that the program will be
a professional development opportunity like no other. “They should be very proud to have been selected into this
program, and will gain extraordinary insight into the best ways of bringing modern physics into the classroom,” Dr
Paterson said. “By being part of this incredible program, they will benefit Australia’s classrooms well into the future,
and will be able to share what they learned with the wider science community.”
Paul said that the opportunity to learn this science first-hand from the experts translates to teaching it better in the
classroom. “Science isn’t about learning facts, it’s about exploring the frontiers of our understanding of the world
we live in, and doing it in a way that shows integrity,” he said. “That is the science that occurred at CERN. The
experience helps me provide students with deeper understanding of true science. “As I share my experiences, I
hope it encourages my students to develop a love for science, and it provides them with the tools to investigate their
own scientific questions,”
The CERN laboratory sits on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, where physicists and engineers use the world‘s
most complex scientific instruments to study everything from the basic components of matter to the earliest moments
of the creation of the Universe.
The CERN program ran from Sunday 7 th July to Saturday 20 th July, 2019, with flights, accommodation and meals all
fully funded for the duration of the two weeks.
Media Contact: Phil McCall 0438 619 987
About ANSTO
ANSTO leverages great science to deliver big outcomes. We partner with scientists and engineers and
apply new technologies to provide real-world benefits. Our work improves human health, saves lives,
builds our industries and protects the environment.
ANSTO is the home of Australia’s most significant landmark and national infrastructure for research.
Thousands of scientists from industry and academia benefit from gaining access to state-of-the-art
instruments every year.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 3