Belgian Teacher Programme

25 Apr 2027, 17:00 → 30 Apr 2027, 14:00 Europe/Zurich

CERN

Francois Briard (CERN), Aurelie Lawaree (CERN), Anja Kranjc Horvat

For about 20 years, CERN has organized National Teacher Programmes that bring together secondary-school physics teachers from all its Member States, Associated Member States, and selected Non-Member States. Through lectures, on-site visits, exhibitions, and hands-on workshops, participants are introduced to cutting-edge particle physics, enabling them to return to their countries as ambassadors who inspire the next generation of physicists, engineers, and IT specialists.

Following the success of the 2026 edition, Belgian Teacher Programme 2027 will take place from 25-30 April 2027. The programme offers a unique opportunity to discover CERN, explore the latest developments in particle physics, and exchange ideas with physics teachers from across Belgium, building on the strong connections and positive momentum created in 2026.

Registration will open on 1 November 2026. Do not hesitate to have a look at the eligibility conditions and practical information before submitting your application.

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Belgian Teacher Programme 2027: 
https://indico.cern.ch/e/BETP27

Teacher Programmes Manager:
Anja Kranjc Horvat: 0041 75 411 4460

In case of emergency:
CERN Fire & Rescue Service: 0041 22 76 74444

BETP2027-Promotional material-Deutsch.zip

BETP2027-Promotional material-Francais.zip

BETP2027-Promotional material-Nederlands.zip

CERN Belgian Teacher Programme 2027 - Promotional document.pdf

Sunday 25 April

17:00 → 21:00 Welcome to CERN!

Monday 26 April

09:00 → 12:30 Lectures

09:00 Film Discover CERN

The whole group will leave from the Main Building, in front of the UBS branch (500/R-004), at 08:45.

08:45-09:00 Walk to the conference room
09:00-09:15 Film "Discover CERN"

09:15 Introduction to CERN

Speakers: Aurelie Lawaree (CERN), Francois Briard (CERN)

09:45 Coffee break

10:00 The Standard Model of Particle Physics

11:15 Break

11:30 Introduction to the Physics of Accelerators

12:30 → 13:45 Lunch break

13:45 → 17:45 Visits

13:45 Synchrocyclotron

The whole group meets in front of UBS branch (500/R-004), at 13:45!

13:45–14:00 Walk from the CERN Main Building to the SC
14:00–14:30 Synchrocyclotron

Speaker: Patrick Geeraert (CERN)

14:30 Antimatter factory

14:30–14:50 Walk from the SC to Antimatter factory
14:50–16:00 Antimatter factory

16:00 CERN Control Center

16:00–16:10 Transport to CERN Control Center
16:10–17:00 CERN Control Center
17:00–17:15 Transport to CERN hostel

Speaker: Django Manglunki

18:00 → 19:30 Social event

18:00 Meet & Greet with CERN Belgian community

Tuesday 27 April

09:00 → 12:30 Lectures

09:00 Magnets - An essential component of particle accelerators

Group will leave from Main Building in front of UBS Branch at 08.30 to go to building 180.

Speaker: Frederic Savary (CERN)

10:00 Visit of the Large Magnet Facility

Speaker: Frederic Savary (CERN)

11:00 Coffee break

11:15 Introduction to Particle Detectors

Speaker: Pieter Everaerts (University of Wisconsin (US))

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch break

14:00 → 17:30 Visits

14:00 Cloud Chamber Workshop & Science Gateway Exhibitions

The whole group meets in front of UBS branch (500/R-004),at 13:45.

13:45-14:00 Walk to Science Gateway
14:00-15:30 Cloud Chamber Workshop

15:30 ELISA Proton accelerator demonstration

15:30-16:00 ELISA Proton accelerator demonstration

Speaker: Serge Mathot (CERN)

16:00 Science Gateway exhibitions

16:00-17:00 Science Gateway Exhibitions

19:30 → 21:00 Social Events: Film screening

19:30 Particle Fever

Film by Mark Levinson (USA), 2013
In English, subtitled in French

Synopis:

Imagine being able to watch as Edison turned on the first light bulb, or as Franklin received his first jolt of electricity…

For the first time, a film gives audiences a front row seat to a significant and inspiring scientific breakthrough as it happens. Particle Fever follows six brilliant scientists during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider, marking the start-up of the biggest and most expensive experiment in the history of the planet, pushing the edge of human innovation.

As they seek to unravel the mysteries of the universe, 10,000 scientists from over 100 countries joined forces in pursuit of a single goal: to recreate conditions that existed just moments after the Big Bang and find the Higgs boson, potentially explaining the origin of all matter. But our heroes confront an even bigger challenge: have we reached our limit in understanding why we exist?

Wednesday 28 April

09:00 → 10:30 Lectures

09:00 Radiation and radiation protection at CERN

Group will leave in front of CERN Hotel at 08.30.

Speaker: Pierre Carbonez (CERN)

09:45 North Area experimental hall

Speaker: Sebastien Evrard (CERN)

10:30 → 12:30 Visits

10:30 Neurtrino Plateform + Calibration Laboratory

10.30 – 11.30 Visits of Neutrino Platform (Group 1) + Calibration laboratory (Group 2)
11.30 – 12.30 Visits of Neutrino Platform (Group 2) + Calibration laboratory (Group 1)

Speakers: Pierre Carbonez (CERN), Sebastien Evrard (CERN)

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch break

14:00 → 21:30 Social Events

14:00 Discover Geneva Treasure Hunt

We will provide you with your personal treasure hunt brochure. Please prepare 8 CHF to buy the "Tout Genève 9h" ticket. Once you successfully finish the treasure hunt there will be a delicious cheese fondue waiting for you!

19:30 Official Dinner of the XXXXX Teacher Programme XXXX

Although it's the formal dinner of the programme, please wear clothes that you feel comfortable in. The treasure hunt will lead you directly to the XXX.

Thursday 29 April

09:00 → 12:30 Lectures

09:00 Research with radioactive ion beams at ISOLDE/MEDICIS

Group will leave from Main Building in front of UBS Branch at 08.45.

Speakers: Hanne Heylen (CERN), Sven De Man (CERN)

10:00 Visit of ISOLDE/MEDICIS facilities

Speakers: Hanne Heylen (CERN), Sven De Man (CERN)

11:00 Coffee break

11:15 Presentation IT at CERN

12:30 → 14:00 Lunch break

14:00 → 17:00 Visits

14:00 Data centre

13.45-14.00 Transport from R2 to Data Centre
14.00-15.00 Visit of Data Centre
15.00-15.30 Transport from Data Centre to ATLAS Main building

15:00 ATLAS Underground and Visitor Centre

Group will leave from Main Building in front of UBS Branch at 08.45.

15:00-15:30 Transfert from Data Centre to ATLAS building
15:30-16:15 Visit of ATLAS Underground facilities & AVC
16:15-17:00 Visit of AVC & ATLAS Underground facilities

Speakers: Francois Briard (CERN), Karolos Potamianos (University of Warwick (GB))

17:15 → 19:30 Official event organised by Belgian representatives in Geneva (TBC)

Friday 30 April

09:00 → 12:00 Lectures

09:00 The third long shutdown (LS3) of the CERN accelerator complex

Free rooms before 08:50 and ask for your luggage to be stored in luggage room at Hostel reception.
Meeting at 08:50 in front of Hostel reception. We will walk (100m) to building 40 for the presentation.

Speaker: Jean-Philippe Tock (CERN)

09:45 FCC Feasibility study

10:30 Coffee break

10:45 CERN and the environment

11:30 Careers and internship opportunities

Speakers: Lieven Vernimmen (CERN), Lore Taillieu (CERN)

12:00 → 13:00 Closing session

12:00 What's next?

Speaker: Anja Kranjc Horvat

12:30 Certificate