23rd IPPOG Spring Collaboration Meeting in Podgorica, Montenegro

IPPOG collaboration meeting in Podgorića, Montenegro
The 23rd IPPOG collaboration meeting was held in Podgorića, Montenegro from 11 to 13 May. The International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) is a network of scientists, science educators and communication specialists working across the globe in informal science education and outreach for particle physics. (Image: CERN)

by Fabiola Cacciatore

It is May, spring is at the height of its colours and the sun is already hot here. Did you know that at the airport Podgorica, in Montenegro, there are rose plants bigger than you’ve ever seen, and they are there to welcome you after landing? Yes, in Podgorica, the capital of this fascinating country that has just over half a million inhabitants, nature is lush and full of amazing colours.

It is here that for the 23rd IPPOG meeting (11-13 May 2022), 26 collaboration members (out of 39) met for the first time in person after 3 years of virtual meetings due to the covid-19 pandemic. In fact, it was still a hybrid meeting as some of the representatives were connected by zoom. 

Three intense days, full of news and stories that we want to share with you soon.

IPPOG
The 23rd IPPOG collaboration meeting was held in Podgorića, Montenegro from 11 to 13 May. The International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) is a network of scientists, science educators and communication specialists working across the globe in informal science education and outreach for particle physics. (Image: CERN)

First day: 11 May 2022

On the first day, we had a series of talks to present updates from our various working groups.

In these moments we feel like athletes who have reached the summit: we look behind, think back to the path we have taken and feel ready to start over. The first great news is that IPPOG’s new website is almost ready, thanks to great work by  Barbora Bruant Gulejova and Lila Mabiala.

For the first time in many years, we have someone in charge of communication: Fabiola Cacciatore. She joined the organization last February 2022 as an administrative student in order to take care of communication and IPPOG’s social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok).

 

Culture can be a trend, as communicators, we just have to find the right tone of voice with which to spread it. F. Cacciatore

 

A special welcome was extended to the new members who officially joined the international collaboration this year: India (B. Mohanti) and Cyprus (F. Ptochos).

 During the meeting we also had wonderful guests and inspiring success stories:

  • Kamiokanne: Cosmic Ray detectors in Nijmegen by Charles Timmermans.
  • I’m a scientist - Get me out of here by Uta Bilow.
  • Portuguese language advanced teacher's program online by Pedro Abreu.
  • IPPOG in Nepal by Steven Goldfarb.

Before the meeting ended, members and partners presented their reports:

Ana Godinho for CERN ECO, Alexandra Lau for APS, Zlatan Vasović for IAPS and Louie Dartmoor Corpe for the Particle Physics Baby Book.

Second day: 12 May 2022

The second day started in the best way! Dozens of high-school students from Montenegro participated in the unique escape room dedicated to particle physics.

Livia Soffi (INFN) presented HEPscape. For the first time, thanks to IPPOG, HEPscape "escapes" from Italy and lands abroad.

Test successful! The game will be available on the IPPOG resource database in various languages (we are therefore accepting volunteers from the scientific community to help us with the translations! Please let us know if you are interested in taking on the mission in your language) so that all children, but also adults, can experience the game in their own country.

IPPOG
Livia Soffi during the HEPscape (Image: CERN)

 In the afternoon, after greeting the students, all the IPPOGers ventured into a workshop that gave birth to many new ideas to improve our International Masterclasses in particle physics even more.

Third day: 13 May 2022

Not even a large group of particle physicists can escape financial meetings! This was part of the last morning of the meeting, which was dedicated to the IPPOG Collaboration Board meeting.

The most important thing to share is that we will have a scientific secretary soon. If you’re interested in applying for the position, we suggest that you keep an eye on our communication channels as the announcement will be published in the coming weeks.

Even at IPPOG the rule is "business before pleasure" and finally, once the conference was declared closed, the IPPOGers joined a wonderful excursion in Montenegro organized by a local tour operator: Montenegro Adventure.

IPPOG
Excursion in Montenegro (Image: CERN)

This would not have been possible without the organisational skills of the former representative of Montenegro, Ivana Lagator. In fact, this meeting was supposed to be held in the spring of 2020.

 Thank you very much Montenegro for the wonderful hospitality and the perfect organisation in every single detail. IPPOGers

 The next appointment for the Collaboration is in autumn. However, it will not be a normal meeting.

In fact, this year IPPOG will celebrate 25 years since the first EPPOG meeting and we look forward to celebrating this anniversary in the best way! For this reason, we have an invitation open for all students who have participated in our Masterclasses: make a short video in which you are saying: "happy birthday IPPOG.” Send it to the email address fabiola.cacciatore@cern.ch indicating your institution of origin and your country. A link to Google Drive is also fine in case the file is too heavy for the e-mail.

 

  • Rules: 16: 9 horizontal orientation – object of the email: IPPOG 25 BIRTHDAY – INSTITUTE - COUNTRY.
  • Deadline: 15 June 2022

 

General public