A total of thirty-three Year 11 students from the Fiziverzum Talent Development Programme, run under the leadership of the Institute of Physics at the University of Szeged, could personally experience this at our research institute.
Launched in January with a non-repayable grant of HUF 14,700,000 from the National Talent Programme, the Fiziverzum (Physiversum) Programme aims to create a genuine connection between secondary school students interested in physics and the world of science. Through a variety of sessions, participants are introduced to a wide range of fields within physics; recently, they also came to visit our research institute.
“ELI is an institution that allows us to show secondary school students that they don’t necessarily have to leave Szeged to encounter and engage with cutting-edge science,” head of the Fiziverzum Programme Katalin Kopasz said.
The students could also spend time in Focus, our interactive visitor space and step into several laboratories, where they could see the laser equipment up close and learn about the types of research for which it is used. According to Vera Horváth, head of the Science Outreach Centre: “It is an important goal of ours to introduce talented secondary school students to the joys and challenges of a career in research, to the world of research institutes, and to help them make informed career choices by providing a realistic picture of what it entails. In addition, we are broadening their knowledge in scientific fields related to research conducted at ELI that, due to their novelty, are not yet included in the secondary school curriculum.”
The students also felt that they had had a truly special experience. According to Sára Meszlényi, “it was very exciting that during the visit we could get a glance into the work of the researchers who work here. We were able to go into the room from where the measurements are controlled and see the results, too. It was amazing to see how much data from so many different research projects is stored and monitored in such a small place. I’m really glad I got a glimpse into the world of researchers; the experience has strengthened my desire to be involved in this field myself in the future.”
Further details about the visit can be found here.