Students from Kingsbridge Community College, (KCC) have visited Geneva this term.

The A-Level physics students went to the Swiss city on an educational trip that included a visit to the United Nations headquarters. The United Nations Office at Geneva is housed at the historic Palais des Nations, originally built for the League of Nations in the 1930s, overlooking Lake Geneva, the Palais is the largest centre for conference diplomacy in the world.

The group also visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN.At CERN, scientists probe the fundamental structure of the particles that make up everything around us using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments.

KCC students watch a demonstration at CERN
KCC students watch a demonstration (Education South West)

The students toured the cutting edge facility and got to see the world’s largest physics experiment - levitated magnets on superconductors in liquid nitrogen - up close.

Practical experiments at CERN for KCC students
Practical experiments at CERN (Education South West)

Tina Graham, Principal at Kingsbridge Community College, said:

“At Kingsbridge Community College we are committed to providing a stimulating, engaging and intellectually challenging learning environment to enable all our students to develop scientific consciousness.

We aim to give all students a strong understanding of the world around them whilst acquiring specific skills and knowledge.

“This trip to Geneva is something we think adds real value to the studies of our physics students.

“Taking them right to the heart of the biggest scientific action in Europe is certainly something they won’t forget.”

Following the formula at CERN
Following the formula at CERN (Education South West)

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said:

“It’s great that these physics students had the opportunity to visit Geneva and take in so many important sights.

“We want learning to come alive and for young people to understand how what they learn in the classroom can be used in the real world.

“This trip is a strong example of how to do this and I hope the students both enjoyed their visit and learned a lot.”