Researchers at the MSU National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory are inviting 24 high school students to learn about current research from faculty members.
The program, known as the Physics of Atomic Nuclei, begins on Aug. 5 and lasts for one week.
Students from across the country will take a tour of the cyclotron laboratory and observe professional researchers at work. Additionally, they will get hands-on practice working at the cyclotron lab and get the authentic experience of a researcher.
“Our faculty teaches the students the principles and methods of nuclear experimentation, and then they perform their own experiments,” said cyclotron laboratory outreach coordinator Zachary Constan.
PAN introduces participants to the fundamentals of atomic nuclei and their connection to astrophysics and cosmology.
One past experiment a group of students conducted was titled “You’re a Boron.”
The students used a device called an oscilloscope to observe voltage signals. They used the data they plotted to pinpoint the location of neutron interaction.
The program is designed to help students decide if they want to pursue a career in research.