Securing an invitation to collaborate with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is a rare distinction for any academic. For Dr. Marlena Ćukteraš, a professor at RIT Croatia and the Classical Gymnasium “Ruđer Bošković” in Dubrovnik, this recognition became a reality. She was personally invited to the CERN facilities in Switzerland to help organize and lead the prestigious CERN Solvay Student Camp 2026. This collaboration highlights the exceptional caliber of educators at RIT Croatia and underscores the institution’s commitment to connecting local students with global scientific endeavors.
Understanding the Prestige of the CERN Solvay Student Camp
The CERN Solvay Student Camp represents the pinnacle of extracurricular scientific engagement for high school and early university students. Now in its fifth year, the camp is designed to identify and nurture the brightest young minds in the fields of physics and STEM. The selection process is notoriously rigorous. For the 2026 edition, Dr. Ćukteraš and her colleagues were tasked with mentoring a cohort of just 36 exceptionally gifted students. These individuals were chosen from a staggering pool of over 2,000 global applicants.
Such a highly competitive acceptance rate means that the students who attend are not merely passive learners; they are proven problem-solvers and dedicated science enthusiasts. For educators, being asked to guide this specific demographic requires a deep understanding of advanced physics and the pedagogical skills to communicate complex concepts effectively. Dr. Ćukteraš’s selection for this role speaks directly to her expertise and her standing in the international academic community.
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Inside the Program: Hands-On Physics at the Science Gateway
The curriculum of the Solvay Student Camp moves far beyond standard textbook instruction. During the intensive week-long program, students engage directly with the practical applications of theoretical physics. A central hub for these activities is the CERN Science Gateway, an interactive education and outreach center designed to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Building Cloud Chambers and Exploring Superconductivity
One of the most impactful hands-on experiments involves the construction of cloud chambers. A cloud chamber is a foundational particle detector that allows observers to visualize the passage of ionizing radiation. By supersaturating an environment with alcohol vapor and creating a rapid temperature drop, students can literally see the condensation trails left by subatomic particles as they pass through the gas. This experiment bridges the gap between abstract mathematical concepts and observable physical reality.
In addition to particle tracking, the students explored the principles of superconductivity. Understanding how materials conduct electricity with zero resistance at extremely low temperatures is crucial for grasping how CERN’s massive magnets operate. By interacting with these concepts in a laboratory setting, students develop a functional understanding of the engineering challenges inherent in modern particle physics.
Exclusive Access to CERN’s Most Iconic Facilities
A major component of the Solvay Student Camp is the opportunity to tour the infrastructure that makes CERN’s research possible. Dr. Ćukteraš accompanied the student cohort through several restricted and highly secure areas, providing context and academic guidance along the way.
- The LHC Tunnel: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Walking the tunnel where beams of protons are hurled at nearly the speed of light gives students a profound sense of the scale of modern experimental physics.
- ATLAS and CMS Control Rooms: These are the nerve centers for two of the LHC’s largest general-purpose detectors. Students observed real-time data acquisition and monitoring, seeing firsthand how scientists sift through billions of particle collisions to find meaningful signals.
- The Antimatter Factory: At this unique facility, students learned about the production and study of antimatter, specifically antihydrogen, which helps physicists test fundamental symmetries in the universe.
- The CERN Data Centre: The camp included a visit to the data center, which processes and stores an immense volume of collision data every year, distributing it to computing centers around the globe via the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid.
The Role of Dr. Marlena Ćukteraš at CERN
Dr. Ćukteraš spent two weeks at the Geneva-based facility working alongside Dr. Stefania Della Sciucca from Italy. Their responsibilities extended beyond chaperoning; they acted as primary academic mentors. A key outcome of their mentorship was the production of educational videos by the student teams. These projects required the students to distill complex scientific topics into accessible, engaging media. Several of the videos mentored by Professor Ćukteraś have been featured on CERN’s official website, serving as educational resources for a global audience.
This focus on science communication is a critical skill set for modern researchers. By guiding students through the process of creating these videos, Dr. Ćukteraš helped them learn how to articulate complex physics concepts to non-expert audiences, an ability that is just as important as the research itself.
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Bringing Particle Physics to Croatia: The CERN Masterclass in Dubrovnik
The international experience gained in Switzerland seamlessly transitions back to Croatia. Following her time at the Solvay Student Camp, Dr. Ćukteraš joined the organizational team for the latest edition of the CERN Masterclass in Dubrovnik. This event represents a successful local tradition of bringing high-level particle physics directly to Croatian students without requiring them to leave the country.
Analyzing Real LHC Data
The CERN Masterclass is an interactive exercise where high school students get to act like actual particle physicists. Instead of listening to lectures about the discovery of the Higgs boson—the fundamental particle responsible for giving other particles their mass—students are given authentic datasets generated by the LHC. Using specialized software, they analyze these datasets to identify specific particle decay events, effectively hunting for the signatures of the Higgs boson themselves.
This exercise demonstrates the statistical nature of modern physics. Students learn that discoveries are rarely made in a single “eureka” moment; rather, they are the result of analyzing massive amounts of data to find statistically significant anomalies. The Masterclass is hosted jointly at the Classical Gymnasium “Ruđer Bošković” and the RIT Croatia Dubrovnik campus, showcasing the strong partnership between local secondary education and higher education institutions.
Engaging the Local Community: Ask the Physicists
Science education at RIT Croatia is not limited to enrolled students. The Dubrovnik Masterclass also features a public event titled “Ask the Physicists.” This community outreach initiative is designed to demystify particle physics and make it accessible to the general public.
The format is highly interactive. Community members can submit their questions—ranging from the practical applications of antimatter to the theoretical implications of extra dimensions—via QR codes displayed at the venue. These questions are then answered live by CERN professors who travel to Dubrovnik for the event. This direct line of communication between the public and leading researchers helps foster a broader appreciation for science and technology within the local community.
The day concludes with a community “Movie Night” featuring the film Interstellar. While a work of science fiction, the film is heavily grounded in theoretical physics, particularly the concepts of general relativity and black holes. Screening the film provides an entertaining gateway for further discussion about the realities of space-time and the ongoing research at facilities like CERN.
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Why RIT Croatia Provides Unique Global Opportunities
The involvement of Dr. Ćukteraš in the CERN Solvay Student Camp is not an isolated incident; it is indicative of the broader educational philosophy at RIT Croatia. The institution places a heavy emphasis on experiential learning and global connectivity. When faculty members engage with world-class organizations like CERN, they bring those insights, networks, and elevated standards back to their classrooms in Dubrovnik and Zagreb.
The Impact of Faculty Research on Undergraduate Education
At many larger universities, undergraduate students rarely have the opportunity to interact with faculty who are actively engaged in high-level international research. RIT Croatia operates differently. The close-knit academic environment ensures that students benefit directly from the global pursuits of their professors. A faculty member who has just spent two weeks mentoring top-tier students at CERN returns with updated knowledge of laboratory techniques, current debates in the physics community, and new approaches to science communication.
For prospective students considering their options in Croatia and the broader European region, this represents a tangible advantage. An education at RIT Croatia is deeply connected to global industry and research standards. Whether a student is studying Web and Mobile Computing, Global Business Management, or taking specialized physics courses, they are learning within an ecosystem that values and facilitates international academic engagement.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Dr. Marlena Ćukteraš and CERN for the Solvay Student Camp 2026 highlights the important role that regional institutions play in the global scientific community. By mentoring international students at the highest level and subsequently bringing the CERN Masterclass to Dubrovnik, Dr. Ćukteraš exemplifies the bridge between local education and global science. For students and academics in Croatia, these initiatives provide invaluable exposure to the cutting edge of human knowledge and the practical application of theoretical physics.
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