On the 20th February we arrived in Geneva, Switzerland and began our trip by riding a double decker train, followed by an evening walk around Lake Geneva, enjoying the scenic view and the city’s calm atmosphere.
On the second day, we explored Geneva by taking a boat across the lake to the Old Town. We visited the St. Pierre cathedral, climbed to its top for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city, and even had time for some shopping. A highlight of the day was trying Swiss fondue, a delicious local specialty. In the afternoon, we boarded a tram to the United Nations headquarters, gaining insights into history and impact on world affairs.
On day three we had the opportunity to visit CERN, the world’s leading particle physics research center. We got to hear from physicists first-hand about what exactly it is that they do at CERN and spent time in interactive rooms that made complex scientific concepts engaging and fun. A fascinating tour introduced us to some of the smaller, linear accelerator systems and the notions behind them.
We began day four with a visit to the International Museum of the Red Cross. The permanent exhibition was a moving and inspiring opportunity to learn more of humanitarian action and its challenges. This was alongside a temporary exhibition ‘Tuning in – Acoustique de L’émotion’, an interactive collection linking humanitarian action to heritage and voices. After a fascinating morning, we headed for food. Some of us took the opportunity to try the traditional Swiss dish of raclette, which was delicious (but very filling!) In the afternoon, we walked down to Geneva’s History of Science Museum, full of not only engaging experiments, but also a rare collection of old scientific instruments. To finish the day off, we all went to a lovely Italian restaurant and enjoyed an array of flavourful cuisine.
On our final day, we headed to Geneva Airport early, and after a fairly smooth flight we all arrived back safely and made our way home. This trip was a great opportunity to broaden our knowledge in Physics as well as parts of History and Politics, and we are so grateful to our teachers for making this amazing week happen!
Emily and Anika, Lower VI
