On 25 March 2026, the IPPP welcomed 92 sixth form students and 7 teachers to Durham University for this year’s International Particle Physics Masterclass, organised by Jessica Turner. The event brought together students from five schools — Gosforth Academy, Cramlington Learning Village, Thirsk School and Sixth Form College, Newcastle School for Boys, and Durham Sixth Form Centre — as well as one individual parent and student who travelled from London, for a day of discovery, discussion, and hands-on science.
The morning began with a lively particle physics card game, which encouraged students to think creatively about the building blocks of matter and how physicists organise the particles of the Standard Model. This was followed by a series of introductory talks that set the scene for the day. Zara Graham-Jones spoke about Why Neutrinos Matter, Dr Ivan Martinez Soler gave a talk on What is the Universe Made of?, and Dhruv Pasari introduced the afternoon activity with a talk on the hands-on neutrino analysis. Throughout the morning, the students were highly engaged and asked many thoughtful questions, both during the talks and in the breaks.
In the afternoon, students took part in the masterclass activity using real data from the MINERvA neutrino experiment at Fermilab. Working in groups with support from IPPP researchers, they analysed events, discussed their interpretations, and experienced for themselves some of the challenges and excitement of experimental particle physics. Later in the day, Ery McPartland and Elliot Fox spoke about their experiences as PhD students, giving participants an insight into university research and life as young scientists.
A particular highlight of the masterclass was the opportunity for students to share their findings with Fermilab scientists in a live video conference, giving them a direct connection to the international research community behind the experiment. The day concluded with a farewell session, bringing to a close an inspiring and energetic event.
This year’s masterclass was made possible thanks to the support of our helpers: Dhruv Pasari, Ivan Martinez Soler, Joseph Tudor, Ery McPartland, Zara Graham-Jones, Joanne Roper and Alex Bennett. Their enthusiasm and support helped create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere throughout the day.