Beamline for Schools

Beamline for Schools (BL4S) is a physics competition for high school students from all around the world organised by CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, in Geneva, Switzerland, in collaboration with DESY, the German Electron Synchrotron, in Hamburg, Germany and other partners. Teams of high school students are invited to propose an experiment that they want to perform at the beamline of a particle accelerator. The teams that submit the best proposals win a trip to perform their experiments at a fully equipped beamline.

Beamline for Schools 2025
On 10 April 2025, the application period closed. We have received a new record number of 508 proposals (461 in 2024). The proposals came from around 3,653 students living in 72 different countries. Approximately 35% of participants are female. Right now, a large number of experts are evaluating the proposals. The winners will be announced in June. This year, both CERN and DESY will invite two teams each and one team will be invited to the ELSA facility at the University of Bonn, Germany. These five winning teams will perform their experiments in September. 
All participants who have submitted an eligible proposal will receive a participation certificate. Additional prizes will be awarded to the shortlisted teams as well as the teams who have submitted the best videos and outreach proposals. 

How to take part in BL4S?
The next opportunity for taking part in BL4S by submitting a proposal will be in 2026. The official launch of the next season will be in the autumn of 2025.

Exclusive online events
We heartily invite the teams who took part in BL4S 2025 to attend a series of online events! 

Support this project

We are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors and supporters without whose contributions the Beamline for Schools competition could not take place.  

To support the Beamline for Schools competition and other CERN projects that have an impact on society, donate through the CERN & Society website.