The 2024 Across the Alps Science Tour to Italy, Switzerland, and France was a whirlwind of adventure! Three countries, 31 adventurous boys, 1 brave girl, 3 passionate science teachers, 1 gigantic particle collider, 1 breathtaking snow-capped mountain, 1 tall French iron lady, 1 famous ancient Roman road, 1 quaint Italian wine farm, and numerous flashy Ferraris and McLarens have made for an unforgettable European Summer filled with an exciting amount of science and adventure.
Our journey spanned from June 13-24, focusing on cutting-edge science at CERN in Geneva Switzerland. CERN should not be confused with the Swiss town Lucern. CERN is an acronym which stands for “The European Organisation for Nuclear Research”, in French. It was founded after the second world war under the auspices of UNESCO, by twelve founding member states. CERN’s goal has always been science for peace, meaning its technology and knowledge is not for military use. All its research is open to the public at free access. CERN is the world's largest particle physics laboratory and houses the most powerful particle collider ever built, it is the birthplace of the World Wide Web, the invention grounds of GPS navigation, touch screen technology, PET scan imaging, hadron cancer therapy, and the home of many physics Nobel laureates. It is truly an inspiring place from a scientific perspective!
On our tour we had the privilege to spend a full day at CERN, delving into particle physics. We visited two facilities: the CERN Control Centre (resembling a NASA rocket launch control room) and SM18 super magnet facility where they build and test superconducting magnets to steer the proton particle beams around the Large Hadron Collider. We also did a hands-on experiment, building our own particle detectors in CERN’s Science Gateway! While in Geneva, we also explored the world-renowned Red Cross Museum, received a guided tour to the Patek Philippe Museum - the pinnacle of watchmaking luxury - and participated in hands-on science activities at the Science History Museum along Lake Geneva. One evening we were treated to traditional Swiss Cuisine at restaurant Auberge de Saviese, indulging in Swiss meats, Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue and delicious desert! We crossed into Switzerland via Chamonix, where we summited the breathtaking Mont Blanc Mountain in the French Alps, sledding down its snow-capped slopes and hiking to the Blue Lake. So much fun!
In France, we summited the Eiffel Tower, explored Parisian landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, and immersed ourselves in military history at the Musée de l'Armée where we also visited the tomb of Napoleon.
Italy dazzled us with the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum's ancient glory, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and an exhilarating e-bike ride along the historic Appian Way in Rome. We got a lesson in wine making and had a beautiful lunch and wine tasting at Santa Benedetta wine farm in the Frascati region outside Rome – many a sommelier’s dream. In Florence, we marvelled at Michelangelo's David and traced Galileo's footsteps at the Galileo Museum. We took an exciting train trip to the Tower of Pisa and did workshops at the Ferrari Museum’s Red Campus in Maranello – a highlight for the boys! From there we continued to the fashion capital of Milan for some super-stylish shopping in the Duomo de Milano area.
Our journey blended science, culture, and adventure: the crucial ingredients that made for an unforgettable tour.
The teachers - Ms Swanepoel, Dr Stevens, and Mr Sidawu - did a fantastic job pacing, keeping everyone together and taking care of 31 boys overseas. A huge thanks to them for making this possible!