FParticle physics research is a journey of exploration into
the mystery and beauty of the universe. A universe made up
of tiny vibrating strings and extra dimensions, filled with
dark matter and dark energy, could soon become our new reality.
Excitement and fascination have always attracted young people
to physics and science, and the questions asked in modern
particle physics are glamorous, provoking wonder and dream.
Linking these new ideas to education is essential; today’s
high school students will be the researchers on many of the
projects described in this report. By connecting science
teachers with the excitement of research, we can help them
pass on their enthusiasm to their students. Among such
opportunities, QuarkNet, for example, brings high school
students and teachers to the frontier of 21st century research
by involving them directly in the programs of the major
particle physics laboratories. Through university scientists
across the country, QuarkNet is connected to high-energy physics
experiments operating at Fermilab, SLAC, CERN and other research
centers. Working with the educational links in the laboratories
and universities, the nation’s science teachers can catalyze the
interest of our young people in today’s revolutionary science of
particle physics.
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