The CERN/IPPOG International Masterclass Cycle Organized by GTU Has Ended

The CERN/IPPOG International Masterclass Cycle, organized by the Center for Nuclear Engineering and Innovative Technologies of the Georgian Technical University and implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, has successfully ended.

The project, designed to promote science among the youth, was based at the Georgian Technical University and extended its reach to various regions across the country. Public school pupils and students were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the basic principles of modern physics and nuclear engineering.

According to the head of the Center for Nuclear Engineering and Innovative Technologies at GTU, the masterclass was held within the framework of the IPPOG Collaboration International Program of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which gave the participants a unique opportunity to work on real experimental data and get acquainted with current research in elementary particle physics. According to Professor Besik Kekelia, the CERN/IPPOG International Masterclass series has aroused high interest and active engagement of students. The program has made a significant contribution to the popularization of science and engineering among young people, has helped develop their research and analytical skills, and has once again confirmed the need for similar initiatives in the country’s educational space.

 “As part of the program, participants took part in interactive lectures and hands-on sessions, where they learned to analyze data from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and identify new particles. A key objective of the project was to spark an interest in science among the youth, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation to pursue research. This marks another significant step toward popularizing science in Georgia and integrating it into the international scientific community,” said

– Professor Besik Kekelia

The CERN/IPPOG International Masterclasses were held in several cities across Georgia: in Kutaisi – at Kutaisi International University; in Batumi – at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University; in Telavi – at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University; in Gori – at Gori State University; and in Tbilisi at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The final masterclass took place at the Georgian Technical University

According to the GTU Vice-Rector, IPPOG is an international initiative that brings together CERN scientists, researchers, and academic staff. Its primary goal is to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, physics, and mathematics (STEM) among adolescents and young people, and to increase motivation to pursue these fields. As Professor Tamar Lominadze explains, the program employs an interactive, practice-oriented methodology that enables participants to engage closely with the real environment of modern science.

“It is especially important for us to give young people the opportunity to become acquainted with the latest achievements in modern science from an early age. The CERN/IPPOG International Masterclass series provides a unique platform that creates an ideal environment for pupils and students to work with real data and gain insight into contemporary research processes. It is particularly noteworthy that participants had the opportunity to independently analyze real experimental data—specifically data obtained from detectors used in the ATLAS and CMS experiments, draw their own conclusions, and present their findings. At the end of each day, they joined an international online discussion, where their results were reviewed with CERN experts. This process promotes the development of critical thinking, analytical skills, and teamwork.

The masterclasses, which have been organized by the Center for Nuclear Engineering and Innovative Technologies of Georgian Technical University since 2018, have gained significant popularity among young people. Although this year’s program was initially designed for 180 participants, a total of 253 students ultimately took part in the educational activities, further demonstrating the strong interest in and relevance of the program. Georgian Technical University will continue to actively support such initiatives in the future, as we believe that the popularization of science and the integration of innovative approaches in education are essential prerequisites for the country’s development,” said

– Professor Tamar Lominadze

Participants in the CERN/IPPOG International Masterclasses took part in a one-day “Scientist Experience,” during which they were introduced to the goals of high-energy and particle physics research, as well as to experimental methods and modern technologies.