Launched in 2014 by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and held for the 12th time this year, the “Beamline for Schools (BL4S)” competition is an international physics contest open to high school students worldwide. For the first time, a team from Turkey has been selected among the winners. The team “PhysiCAL,” formed by students of Cağaloğlu Anatolian High School, Yaren Basman, Baran Buluttekin, Defne Zehra Çabukel, Defne Karaoğluol, Ela Nur Kırdemir, Mert Musluoğlu, and Emir Özaktaş, will travel to CERN in September 2025 to carry out their proposed experiment.
The winning students came together with Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin, National Contact Physicist of the BL4S competition in Turkey and Coordinator of Science and Technology Communication at Istinye University, to share their work and future aspirations.
In 2025, BL4S received a record number of applications: 508 experiment proposals from 72 countries.
“A remarkable achievement in the 10th year of Turkey’s associate membership at CERN”
Prof. Dr. Çetin emphasized the significance of this success:
“Our young students have achieved something that makes us all proud. In the 10th year of Turkey’s associate membership at CERN, having a Turkish team selected among the winners of BL4S is a great honor. The ‘PhysiCAL’ team of Cağaloğlu Anatolian High School is one of this year’s five winning teams out of a record 508 applications, and they will soon carry out their experiment at CERN. As the national contact person, I wholeheartedly congratulate the students and teachers who have long been involved in BL4S outreach and training activities.”
“The future of science will be shaped by our youth”
Highlighting the importance of encouraging young people in science, Prof. Dr. Çetin added:
“As in nearly every year, Türkiye once again showed the highest level of interest in the competition. Out of 508 proposals from 72 countries, 73 came from Türkiye, about 15% of the total. For the winning students, this is both an extraordinary success and a great responsibility. The experience they will gain at CERN will play a defining role in their scientific journey, and ultimately, in shaping our collective future. As scientists, our mission is not only to advance human knowledge but also to inspire young people to engage with particle physics and the technologies of tomorrow. This is an immense source of joy for us.”
“Representing Türkiye at CERN is a great honor”
Emir Özaktaş, a member of the winning “PhysiCAL” team, explained the motivation behind their project:
“Our experiment aims to reduce the radioactivity of nuclear waste, making it less harmful to the environment. By optimizing nuclear fission, our method also contributes to neutron production in the soil. We conducted this research collaboratively as a seven-member team, and it could shed light on future approaches to mitigating the effects of radioactive waste. Representing Turkey at the CERN beamline is a tremendous honor for us. To take part in science not as mere observers but as contributors at the very center of discovery is the most meaningful moment of our lives so far.”
