Last updated at 20:34, Thursday, 01 March 2012

A top physicist has spent time with students at Workington Sixth Form Centre.

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David Barney, of scientific research centre CERN in Geneva, spent the day with physics students and analysed data from the centre’s website.

Around 20 A-level students were involved and took part in a three-hour experiment using links to CERN’s online resources.

Mr Barney, a deputy project manager and out-reach coordinator at the centre, said: “The visit is about getting students to close their textbooks and use a simple experiment to find answers to things they never would have thought possible.

“We never usually actively visit schools outside the centre so this is a first for us at CERN and it’s something we hope to roll out after today.

“I’m hoping to banish the stereotypes of physicists and open the students’ minds to what can be achieved.”

Mr Barney has been a scientist at the laboratory for 18 years and has worked on one project during that time, the electromagnetic calorimeter. It is a £70million experiment which is due to go on until around 2040.

He added: “I grew up in a rural area similar to this so my visit to the sixth form centre is important to me.

“I want the students to fully understand what we do at CERN and how some of our research has led to the development of cancer treatments and diagnosis.”

Gemma Armstrong, a physics teacher at the Needham Drive sixth form, said: “We have links with CERN following a teacher’s visit to the centre last year. We got chatting to David and this visit is a result of that.

“It is aimed at bridging the gap between sixth form and industry and we’re very proud to welcome David here.”

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 01 March 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk