Astronomy and particle physics research classes for secondary school students

During a IO-day course in astronomy and particle physics, two research classes with 17-18 year old secondary school students studied the differential rotation of the milky way, the intricacies of high energy particle collisions and learned about the origin of the universe. The combination of making their own measurements of the milky way with a small radio telescope, using scientific data from high energy particle collisions, and having the big bang explained by scientists created an attractive and fascinating course in contemporary science. (C) 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.