LAET Students Visit Inside Diamond School Open Day

Earlier this term, a group of LAET students had the exciting opportunity to attend the Inside Diamond School Open Day at the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus near Didcot, Oxfordshire. This was the first time our school had secured places at the event.

The Inside Diamond programme welcomed A-level students across the UK, allowing them to meet scientists, learn about the groundbreaking research taking place, and explore the synchrotron itself. For our students, the experience offered a chance to see the practical applications of their studies, deepen their interest in science and engineering, and consider future pathways in these fields.

Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron, is a particle accelerator that propels electrons to nearly the speed of light, generating powerful beams of light. These beams are used to study the atomic and molecular structure of materials, from viral proteins and engine components to ancient manuscripts, helping scientists uncover new insights into the world around us.

The visit proved to be an inspiring experience, giving our students a glimpse into cutting-edge science and encouraging them to think about how their studies might connect to future research and innovation.

"The trip explored applications of what you study in science from GCSEs to A-levels, but in ways many people don't know about. As A-Level Physics students we can all tell you about diffraction, reflection, etc, but it was great to see how these concepts are actually used in practice. It was incredibly inspiring and generally great to see such cool technology in use as well. Overall, the trip was very worthwhile!" - Yashwin. G, Y13

"I really enjoyed the trip and found it very informative about the Diamond Light Source. Before visiting, I knew nothing about synchrotrons, but now I understand much more and the whole day was really fun!" - Munira M., Y12