Summer Students 2003

For the period of eight weeks 87 future scientists will be working at DESY. In addition to the day-to-day work in the research groups the students will attend lectures in the fields of research with synchrotron radiation and particle physics.

Sommerstudenten 2003

Arrived from 22 Nations: Summer students 2003. They are testing DESY's research program for the next eight weeks

It is 9.30 a.m., Tuesday morning, and the first summer students are already getting together in the entrance hall of the large auditorium. Elisabeth Ptacek came from Massachussetts, USA. Timur Suleymenovs journey was equally long since he came from Kazakhstan. The welcome session starts at 10 a.m. in the auditorium, and Joachim Meyer addresses the curiously listening young researchers who are going to stay for eight weeks at DESY. “The enthusiasm and motivation of many of the young students coming here is fascinating. Many of them are staying abroad for the first time to gain practical experience” says Professor Meyer who is in charge of the summer students program for many years. After the information in the auditorium about the necessary formalities, the newcomers meet with their tutors for lunch or make first appointments with each other. Some already got to know each other via the electronic pinboard.

Elisabeth and Timur are interested in particle physics. The 22-years-old American says that she is eagerly looking forward to join the experiment and the group. For eight weeks, she will be dealing with particle physics at H1. When asked why she chose DESY, Elisabeth explains that she was motivated by the good experimental possibilities as well as by DESY’s reputation as a top-class research facility. 23-years-old Timur is going to have a closer look at the ZEUS experiment. His initiative to apply for DESY’s summer students program came through Prof. Ernst Boos, chairman of the German scientists association in Kazakhstan and collaborating in the ZEUS experiment at DESY.

This year, 87 young students of physics or related natural science disciplines coming from 22 nations are testing DESY’s research program – 15 of them in Zeuthen. This kind of program for future scientists is designed to give the students an insight into the day-to-day work of a researcher. For that purpose the students work in the research groups, participate in the seminars of the groups and thus obtain further knowledge of the particular experiment. But 6 students also have a lively interest in theoretical physics and they are given the possibility reflect on physical phenomena in the theory group. Lectures complete the teaching program. In the first week there is a presentation of DESY’s research tasks. Starting with the second week, students interested either in high energy physics or synchrotron radiation go to different lectures, which gives them the possibility to specialize in the different research fields.
Any student of physics or related natural science disciplines has the opportunity to take part in these programs offered by research institutes. Students from German universities must have passed the 'Vordiplom' examination. Applicants from other countries should have a similar qualification.

The summer students program has a long tradition. Starting on the initiative of Prof. Peter Stähelin in 1968, DESY invites students since then. The research center sees this as a fundamental building block to promote future scientists.

This year the summer students come from 22 countries:
Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgian Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Rumania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Ukraina, United States of America.