ATLAS masterclass 2017

The VISPA ATLAS group hosted its 6th Masterclass on 8 April 2017, with 18 keen students from seven High Schools from the Victoria area and from Ladysmith.  The students gathered at the University of Victoria for a one day crash course in particle physics, experiencing what it's like to be an ATLAS scientist. 

The program included three presentations from UVic ATLAS researchers on particle physics theory and cosmology, on the Large Hadron Collider and the ATLAS detector, and on the analysis of collision data.  The students interacted with cool physics demonstrations, connected to a live video tour of the ATLAS control room in CERN, and experienced hands on analysis of actual ATLAS data to find Z and Higgs bosons.  Results were shared via video conference with other teams in Vancouver at TRIUMF and Simon Fraser University.  A group from Calgary also joined on the control room tour!  Many thanks to the High School teachers and students for their participation, to all the VISPA members and UVic staff involved in organizing this event.  Special thanks to graduate students Graeme Niedermayer and Kate Taylor for leading the event's organization.