Queens To Host Large Hadron Collider

The Big List was incredibly excited this morning to read the following headline – THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER COMES TO NORTHERN IRELAND. Not only that but the man whose name is now synonymous with the whole venture, Peter Higgs, will give a talk alongside two other lectures.

It all happens as part of a public exhibition being held at Queen's University Belfast from 04-10 May.

The Queens website says:
The world’s largest science experiment - the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - and the man behind the Higgs particle theory, are coming to Belfast as part of a week-long public exhibition hosted by Queen’s University and sponsored by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Over the May bank holiday weekend until the following Friday, we are inviting members of the public to walk through a life size model of part of the LHC tunnel, which is being used to answer some of the biggest mysteries of the universe by re-creating conditions just after the Big Bang. Visitors will be able to get hands-on with a number of interactive exhibits, collectively creating a feel for what it's like to be a particle physicist working on the largest science experiment of our time. The exhibition will be in the Whitla Hall on the main Queen's Campus and will be open 10 am to 4 pm each day, including the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Along with the exhibition, we are hosting a number of public events that are free of charge:

Monday 6th May - An Audience with Peter Higgs and Colleagues

Larmor Lecture Theatre, Department of Physics and Astronomy 6:30pm – 8:30pm

(Early LHC exhibition viewing at 6:00pm)

Professor Peter Higgs will be joined by Alan Walker and other colleagues from the University of Edinburgh for an evening exploring the Higgs boson. The speakers span almost four generations of particle physicists and will explain how the Higgs boson fits in with modern theories of particle physics, what it is like to work at the Large Hadron collider, and how the Higgs boson was eventually discovered. Professor Higgs will explain the inspiration leading to the Higgs boson which inspired these generations to work in particle physics. The talk will outline what the next big questions are in the pursuit of understanding the observed Universe.

Entrance is free, but seats must be registered at:

Tuesday 7th May - Science Café: Today's Astrophysics, Tomorrow's Discoveries

Whitla Hall 7.00pm – 8.30pm (Early LHC exhibition viewing at 6:30pm).

'Particle physics' and 'astrophysics' are two "big" sciences supported in the UK by the STFC. At Queen's University Belfast, young professional scientists using the best Earth-based and space-based observations to investigate our Universe. From explosions on the Sun to exploding stars; from the outer reaches of our Solar system to other Solar systems. These scientists will be on hand to tell you what they are doing today, and what they hope to be discovering tomorrow.

Come along, listen to their explanations of what they are doing, then have a cup of tea or coffee and talk to them yourself. All of this will take place amidst the LHC on Tour exhibition in the Whitla Hall, celebrating and explaining the largest scientific experiment ever built.

Entrance is free, but seats must be registered at:

Thursday 9th May - Public lecture: The Large Hadron Collider and the Discovery of the Higgs Boson

Larmor Lecture Theatre, Department of Physics and Astronomy 7:00pm – 8:15pm

(Early LHC exhibition viewing at 6:30pm)

Join Dr Stephen Myers, CERN's Director of Accelerators and Technology, as he talks about his role in the world's largest scientific experiment - the Large Hadron Collider. Dr Myers will provide a fascinating insight into the work carried out by teams working at CERN, which led to the announcement in July last year of the discovery of the elusive 'Higgs Boson'. Dr Myers is a Queen's University graduate and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and leads the exploitation of the LHC.

Entrance is free, but seats must be registered at:



nb. I tried to provide a link to the event section and the registration section but not one of the links would work. The information can be found in the School of Mathematics and Physics section of the QUB website.