Build Your Own Particle Detector

A contest for the most original detector built with LEGO! A lot of kids participated. Around the table with about 15 kg of LEGOes we displayed pull-up ATLAS posters, and the main poster of the event (square format, 1.5x1.5 m2). We also displayed the ATLAS pop-up book to inspire people. Some kids tried indeed to replicate the ATLAS detector, in which case the result looked more like a detector than in other cases (we got some original car and spaceship constructions too). The activity was animated by DPNC master students and ATLAS members. Every participation was rewarded with an ATLAS colouring book, ATLAS stickers and an ATLAS leaflet. A positive side-aspect of the lego activity was that parents had the occasion to talk to animators of the close-by activities which were not targetting kids (e.g. the iPadPix).

Comments for the future:

We should advertise the fact that there is a gift (offer a CERN hard-hat) which could even be on display there. We should also create a poster with nice / relevant contributions such that kids get the right inspiration; otherwise they build what they know of (cars and airplanes). We need to provide more precise guidance (ideally with visual means) to make this activity a real HEP outreach activity. We also need to ask for BYOPD stickers to give away!

Activity volunteers

Sergio Gonzalez Sevilla (MER)
Marco Valente (PhD student)
Joaquin Hoya (visiting PhD student)
Julien Songeon (Master student)
Rebecka Sax (Master student)

Pictures