Overview

Beamline for Schools is a particle physics contest for high school students. Teams are invited to submit proposals for beam experiments to be conducted at CERN in Switzerland or DESY in Germany. The winning teams receive travel and living expenses and are given the opportunity to perform their experiments on-site.

In 2024, Sakura Particles was selected as the first team from Japan to win and spent two weeks conducting experiments.

For more details, please check the official Beamline for Schools website.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

The Useful Document section provides information about beams, detectors, and sample experiments. Proposals are evaluated based on two main factors: “feasibility” (whether the experiment can realistically be done) and “creativity” (how original and interesting it is). Make sure to thoroughly research and understand the available beams and detectors. For example, the types of beams provided differ between CERN and DESY, so you must determine which facility can support your proposed experiment.

3. Learn From Past Examples

You can review past experiment proposals on the Beamline for Schools website. For example, visit BL4S Edition 2024 to see the proposals from 2024. Take note of how they demonstrate “feasibility” and “creativity.”

4. Participate in Online Events

Consider joining online events where you can learn about the beamlines at CERN and DESY and ask questions to the local support staff.

5. Receive Support

Accel Kitchen acts as the National Contact for Beamline for Schools in Japan and provides support to high school students who are considering participating. If you would like support, please apply through the application form. Here are the groups we have supported so far:

2020
- Cancer fighters: Waseda University Honjo Senior High School, Huechulafquen Science Club (Argentina) 🏆Shortlist
2021
- Cancer STOP: Waseda University Honjo Senior High School, Huechulafquen Science Club (Argentina) 🏆Shortlist
2022
- Volcanoes: Toshimagaoka Girls’ School 🏆Shortlist
- CHEREN5: Toshimagaoka Girls’, Junten, Kisarazu Technical College, Chiba Keiai 🏆Shortlist
2023
- Enlighteners: Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong
- Sakura Particles: Kawagoe Girls’, Toshimagaoka Girls’, Hiratsuka Secondary, Joshi Gakuin, Kawawa, Rikkyo Girls’ School 🏆Shortlist
2024
- Particle Healers: Waseda University Honjo Senior High School, Huechulafquen Science Club (Argentina)
- Sakura Particles: Joshi Gakuin, Kawagoe Girls’, Kawawa, Kitano, Junten 🏆Winner

Q and A

The 2024 team Sakura Particles answered questions about their proposal and experiments on-site. Please also refer to the Beamline for Schools Q&A for more information.

Participating high school students
- 5–9 members. *You can register with more than five members, but only up to nine can travel to the site.
- Must be 16 years old or older by the first day of travel. *Students younger than 16 can register but must meet this requirement to travel.
- Must apply before entering university. *If you are taking a gap year or attending a technical college, please contact us for clarification.
Coaches
- 1–2 coaches. *Typically, school teachers are expected, but university students can also serve as coaches.

For more details, please refer to the Introduction and Q&A pages.

Application for 2025

First, please pre-register through this link. You will then start receiving information about Beamline for Schools by email.

The application deadline is April 10, 2025. By this date, please prepare and upload your experiment proposal and a one-minute video.

The results will be announced around June. Two teams will be selected to experiment at CERN in Switzerland, and one team at DESY in Germany. Up to 60 additional groups will be awarded as part of the Shortlist, and there are also special prizes such as the Best Video Award and telescopes from Star Shine for Everyone.

How to Prepare an Experiment Proposal

It is very challenging for high school students to independently write a beam experiment proposal. Here are some steps to help you prepare:

1. Review the Guidelines

Check the guidelines in the Introduction and Guideline. They include word limits, required content, and evaluation criteria.

2. Learn About the Beamline