Geneva – Forty-seven high school students from eight schools in Friuli Venezia Giulia and eastern Veneto will participate on April 11 in the 21st edition of the International Masterclass in Particle Physics, hosted at the University of Udine.

Held at the Department of Mathematical, Computer and Physical Sciences, the program offers students a guided introduction to the world of elementary particles, including an exploration of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Located in a 27-kilometer tunnel 100 meters underground, the LHC enables near-light-speed collisions of particles.

Accompanied by researchers from the University of Udine, the students will analyze real data from the ATLAS experiment and engage in computer-based exercises, simulating major discoveries such as the Higgs boson (2012) and the W and Z bosons (1984), the latter of which earned Carlo Rubbia the Nobel Prize.

At the end of the day, they will connect via video conference with peers around the globe and present their results—just like a real international research collaboration.

Coordinated by Professor Giancarlo Panizzo, the event is organized by the local section of Italy’s National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) in collaboration with the university. The masterclasses are part of a global initiative held in 60 countries with over 13,000 students from top research institutions worldwide.