In April, 35 young people representing 39 nationalities joined us at the lab to participate in the CERN-Solvay student camp: a week-long residential camp for high-school students who are curious about STEM, made possible as part of the CERN-Solvay Education Programme.

The camp enables young people to try hands-on science experiments, visit CERN facilities, explore possible STEM career paths and crucially, collaborate with their peers from across the globe. Through exposure to science in an international environment, it teaches students about particle physics, while also encouraging curiosity, innovation and future involvement in global scientific research.

Surrounded by some of the world’s most advanced technologies, students are challenged to think boldly, ask big questions and imagine solutions to some of humanity’s biggest problems. From exploring the mysteries of the universe to collaborating across cultures and disciplines, the camp demonstrates science not only as a subject in a classroom, but a living force for progress and possibility.

In the words of the students themselves:

“One thing I will definitely remember about CERN is its complexity. I would describe CERN as vast through its experiences, through its knowledge, through everything I got to live through.”

“I didn’t expect I would get accepted into a camp like this, but I was so happy and I am so glad that I got to experience this. I learnt a lot about how CERN works and how each detector does what job and that was interesting to dive deep into because it is not things that you hear about on an everyday basis.”

The CERN-Solvay student camp is made possible by the generous support of the Fonds Ernest Solvay through the CERN & Society Foundation. Read more about educational projects you can support here.