TRIUMF hosted the 2nd Junior Research School from January 2nd to 10th, 2013 for a group of 17 students and 4 teachers from the Meridian and Pioneer Junior Colleges in Singapore.This programme was jointly conceived and developed by Joe Vaz, a teacher at Meridian Junior College and a former TRIUMF researcher, together with TRIUMF scientists Marcello Pavan, Jens Dilling, and Chris Ruiz. The goal was for the student participants to build knowledge through a series of encounters with TRIUMF science and scientists.
Participants attended seminars in Accelerator Physics, Beam Transport, and Cyclotron Theory conducted by Bob Laxdal and Rick Baartman from TRIUMF. Jens Dilling provided an Introduction to ISAC Science before the team delved into TRIUMF’s research thrusts in Nuclear Physics & Nuclear Astrophysics in a 2-day session with the TITAN and DRAGON experimental groups. A highlight was a high precision atomic mass measurement of Potassium-41 with the TITAN Penning Trap.
Oliver Seltzer-Chilton and Reda Tafirout introduced TRIUMF’s particle physics activities with a presentation on LHC Physics at CERN. Students then visited the Tier-1 Data Centre to witness the computing power required to analyze just a portion of LHC data. The “Business of Science” presented by Ann Fong from TRIUMF/AAPS underscored the potential for fundamental research to be an incubator for future commercially viable ventures. The presentation and tour of the Proton Irradiation Facility by Connie Hoehr held a special significance for the Singapore students as the National Cancer Center Singapore (NCCS) is setting up a $100 million Proton Therapy Center at the Singapore General Hospital to be operational by 2017. “The timing could not be better for our students to be aware of the scientific & technical careers available in this field,” said Joe.
Teacher Mr. Har Choong Gin from Pioneer Junior College was impressed by the unwavering dedication of the TRIUMF scientists and comments, “The enthusiasm shared by the scientists about the mysteries of the universe and the technologically savvy methods to uncover them inspired some of my students to consider a career in research.”
TRIUMF Outreach Coordinator Marcello Pavan was delighted with the response of the students. “It was inspiring to be around them. Their enthusiasm was truly infectious.” Marcello remarked that the Junior College program fits in perfectly with TRIUMF’s mandate to inspire future scientists and the lab looks forward to hosting them again in 2014.
- By Joe Vaz, Meridian Junior College, and Marcello Pavan, TRIUMF