We spent a few hours in the early afternoon of day one exploring the CERN Science Gateway - a place dedicated to explaining simply the how and why of science that we see both every day and in high-tech labs. We then got the chance to explore the city of Geneva, seeing sights like the church, Lake Geneva, and a four-storey co-op.

Day two began by visiting CERN itself. We learnt about data storage and how older, more out of date technology, has been developed into what we know today. Even one picture on our phone was too much data to store on the old tech! 

We then moved into what was personally my favourite part of the trip - the antimatter factory. This was where we learnt things that we just couldn’t in the classroom, including things like the creation of anti-hydrogen, which is something they’ve been working on recently. Although their main anti-proton decelerator was running, and so kept away behind concrete, we were able to see the second one, ELENA, which is the “extra low energy antiproton ring”. We also got told how the decelerators work, and shown how they form the antimatter in the labs.

We finished off the second day at the Geneva Lake Waterfront and the Swiss National Science Museum. They had some really unique artefacts within the museum exhibitions, and we even got to see Mont Blanc through a balcony telescope. 

As chaotic as it may or may not have been, the A-Level Physics Switzerland trip has given me some of my most fun and some of my most academically confusing memories, and I’m so glad I went. 

By Liv Year 12