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Making CERN regionally relevant

Making CERN regionally relevant. Steph Hills European Communications Officer. Why does this matter?. Governments have many priorities (defence, health, education etc ) and science isn’t always top of the list

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Making CERN regionally relevant

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  1. Making CERNregionally relevant Steph Hills European Communications Officer

  2. Why does this matter? • Governments have many priorities (defence, health, education etc) and science isn’t always top of the list • This is your national lab for particle physics but science budgets can be vulnerable – your funding is not guaranteed! • CERN is the flagship for national participation in international science • Create more advocates for CERN and science - elected officials everywhere rely on support from their local communities

  3. Why does this matter? • UK government agenda • Maximise economic and societal benefits of publicly-funded research • Brexit • UK subscription is approx. 160M CHF • Increase public and political support for CERN membership (a flagship for the broader UK science base) • Under-represented on CERN staff • Increase outreach

  4. Use your data • What data do you have? • What data do you need? • Postcode field added to visit booking form • Automated report

  5. Email to every school • Introduce Elizabeth Cunningham, UK Particle Physics and Nuclear Physics Outreach Officer • Free resources – films, web links, apps, animations, posters and publication on  www.stfc.ac.uk/particlephysics • Particle Physics Masterclasses • Friendly particle physics speakers • Introduction to nearest university physics department (Widening Participation agenda) • Practical information about visiting CERN http://www.stfc.ac.uk/visitCERN • Awareness of UK CERN Teacher Programme • School Grants scheme operated by STFC with the Institute of Physics and the Institution of Engineering and Technology http://www.iop.org/about/grants/school/page_38824.html. • Template press release for local media

  6. Political support • Use school postcode to identify elected representative (Member of Parliament) • Use the school connection to highlight benefits of UK membership of CERN • Offer a visit • Invite MP to tweet/talk about school visit

  7. Results • Reaching more political decision makers • 668 letters sent to Members of Parliament since 2015 • 100 MPs have responded to the letter • 50 MPs want to visit CERN • Annual political visit – try to find members of UK@CERN community from the MPs’ constituencies

  8. Black holes • Where are they? • How can we fill them? • NB just because a school isn’t interacting with CERN, that doesn’t mean it isn’t getting science enrichment from somewhere else!

  9. What next? • Investigate - is the nearest CERN university offering outreach activities? • Target local teacher and STEM networks • Offer regional/local particle physics masterclasses – talk to your IPPOG rep • Offer virtual visits (“FREE, easy to set up and guaranteed to inspire”) – set up a virtual visit team for your country • Talk to your old school

  10. Invite local radio • Visit with a local school on day 1 • Broadcast live from CERN with members of UK community from that area on day 2 • Promote a variety of interesting careers • “People like you can do a job like this”

  11. Results • The BBC has mandate for public service broadcasting and is always looking for ideas! • BBC Wiltshire • BBC Lancashire • BBC Wales • Reach ~100,000 people each time

  12. Discussion • What could you do? • Personally? • Your university? • Your funding agency?

  13. Steph Hills • Stephanie.hills@stfc.ac.uk • @Sci_of_Steph

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