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Reflections of QuarkNet Teachers and Staff
Peter Bruecken
Quarknet Center: University of Iowa
Role: Teacher
School: Bettendorf High School
Role: Teacher
School: Bettendorf High School
I have spent these last ten summers working with the University of Iowa High-Energy Particle Physics Group on projects for CMS at CERN. In that time, I have machined parts, took shifts at CERN for experiments (see photo), written papers that are currently published at CMS Notes, brought more than 30 students and 25 teachers in contact with the research experience and argued with experts in the field about processes and data analysis. All of these activities have been rewarding, even when I lost the argument or botched the machine work!
The most rewarding part of this has been the inclusion of high school students and teachers in the research process. We have met with much success and contributed significant work to the area of particle physics research. My students and I have tested materials for radiation hardness from preparing samples to running the actual tests before and after exposure to radiation. We have successfully published papers and defended our experiments to experts in the field. We feel we are an integral part of a team of investigators who care about seeking the truth and publishing accurate information that will be used to further research into new and interesting things.
QuarkNet enabled (and continues to enable) all of these activities. The principal investigators have funded us in innovative ways that have met our unique needs so we could make these collaborations with the college research team. They funded transportation when we needed it and it wasn't in the budget. They provided support over the Internet for our students to make measurements of cosmic muons and use the equipment and process to help develop detectors for our accelerators. The two undergraduate students at the University of Iowa who began their physics major work as QuarkNet students in the summers of their high school years is probably one of the best indicators of our success. I am proud to currently work with those individuals as I bring new students to the university this summer, as I have for the past seven years.
The most rewarding part of this has been the inclusion of high school students and teachers in the research process. We have met with much success and contributed significant work to the area of particle physics research. My students and I have tested materials for radiation hardness from preparing samples to running the actual tests before and after exposure to radiation. We have successfully published papers and defended our experiments to experts in the field. We feel we are an integral part of a team of investigators who care about seeking the truth and publishing accurate information that will be used to further research into new and interesting things.
QuarkNet enabled (and continues to enable) all of these activities. The principal investigators have funded us in innovative ways that have met our unique needs so we could make these collaborations with the college research team. They funded transportation when we needed it and it wasn't in the budget. They provided support over the Internet for our students to make measurements of cosmic muons and use the equipment and process to help develop detectors for our accelerators. The two undergraduate students at the University of Iowa who began their physics major work as QuarkNet students in the summers of their high school years is probably one of the best indicators of our success. I am proud to currently work with those individuals as I bring new students to the university this summer, as I have for the past seven years.