STEM - CERN
This resource focuses on three videos below, based on interviews with Scientists and Engineers at CERN, including the Director of Technology and Accelerators, Steve Myers, who is originally from Northern Ireland. They are accompanied by teachers’ notes and are to be used as stimulus material. They are intended to provide teachers with ideas for developing further activities on the Key Stage 3 topics of Forces and Energy and the Earth and Universe.
What is CERN?
CERN is the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. It is host to Scientists and Engineers from around the world who are engaged in a range of experiments in elementary particle physics which aim to improve our knowledge and understanding about the Origins of the Universe.
This first video is based on interviews with Steve Myers (CERN, Director of Technology and Accelerators), Professor Nicholas Gisin, Dr Alison Lister (University of Geneva) and
Dr Conor Henderson (CERN, Research Fellow). It introduces pupils to CERN and the type of research and work that is undertaken there.
CERN is an international scientific community engaged in the world’s largest scientific experiment to investigate the origins of the Universe.
Scientists and Engineers talk about how they are trying to recreate what happened when the Universe came into existence around 14 billion years ago. They use instruments such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to investigate the elementary particles which result from collisions between protons. By analysing the results of their experiments scientists hope to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of how the Universe works. Work at CERN has also led to the development of ‘spin off’ technologies including the Internet.
So you want to be a scientist?
The video is based on interviews with Steve Myers (CERN, Director of Technology and Accelerators), Dr Alison Lister (University of Geneva) and Dr Conor Henderson (CERN, Research Fellow). The video explores what inspired the interviewees to become involved in Science and Engineering and interviewees discuss the rewards and challenges of a career in research. Both Steve Myers and Connor Henderson come from Northern Ireland and make reference to the local schools and University they attended.
What are sub-atomic particles?
This is an animation video which helps to explain elements and compounds and makes reference to the periodic table. The animation illustrates the simple atomic structures of Hydrogen and Helium. It shows how the atom is composed of sub-atomic particles such as electrons, protons and neutrons and how protons and neutrons are each comprised of three quarks.
Teacher Notes
The teacher notes are intended to provide you with ideas for using the CERN video resources. Each video lasts around 3 minutes and is designed as stimulus material which can be used as the basis for developing further activities mainly within the Science and Technology and Learning for Life and Work Areas of Learning. Depending on how the activities are structured and developed they might be used to provide pupils with opportunities to acquire and develop skills. There are also opportunities to use the Curriculum Key Elements to enable pupils to make learning connections across Areas of Learning and to explore issues.
The teachers’ notes provide a summary of the content in each of the videos and offer suggestions for planning and developing enquiry based activities which are infused with the Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities and address important messages around some Key Elements.