Abstract:

Physics is one of the excellent subjects for the extracurricular engagement of talented students in high school which supports creation of culture of excellence in education and professional work. By involvement in design of the state-of-the-art research in elementary particle physics, students can achieve various high-level knowledge, skills, and cross sectoral competences, because the students’ involvement in design of research is related to collaboration with academic staff at universities and research institutes. Concepts in elementary particle physics are very attractive to many high school students, especially to talented students in physics and other fields in natural sciences. Thus, research projects in elementary particle physics could enable talented high school students to understand key concepts and steps in research projects. In this article we have presented the engagement of a team of talented students in the extracurricular activities while designing a real research project in elementary particle physics. We have used an opportunity to participate in the international competition Beamline for schools that has been organised by CERN in Switzerland and DESY in Germany, regularly within recent 8 years. We have also discussed curriculum and a methodology for optimal enhancement of talented students taking in account their potentials, knowledge, skills, and interests.

Keywords:

Talented high school students, design of physics research, optional physics education.