CERN and Airbus Science Trip: A Planning Guide for Student Groups

A science trip covering CERN and Airbus is a powerful source of motivation for science high schools, engineering clubs and university groups, but the most critical point is planning early. Visits to both institutions depend on their own booking, capacity and security rules, and the paperwork for travelling abroad takes time. For the trip to be worthwhile, preparing students for the subject in advance and linking the visit to their lessons is just as important as the transport.

Why CERN and Airbus?

These two stops show two different faces of science:

• CERN, near Geneva on the Swiss-French border, is the European Organization for Nuclear Research. It is a laboratory where scientists from all over the world work together to investigate the most fundamental building blocks of the universe. For students who want to see how basic science is done, it is a unique example.
• Airbus is an aerospace company headquartered in Toulouse. Toulouse is known as one of the major centres of the European aviation industry. Here, science turns into engineering and large-scale production.

Abstract questions of physics on one side, giant flying machines on the other: together they show students that science is both a curiosity and a career.

What does the tour programme cover?

The CERN and Airbus Tour is a 4 nights, 5 days programme with accommodation. The route in the catalogue is as follows:

1. Day 1: Istanbul – Montpellier
2. Day 2: Toulouse
3. Day 3: Toulouse – Avignon – Geneva
4. Day 4: Geneva
5. Day 5: Geneva – Lyon – Istanbul

Site visits depend on each institution's own booking and security rules; the scope of the visits is confirmed once the date is fixed and stated in the quote. That is why we recommend starting to plan the trip as early as possible.

Planning timeline: what to do when?

A few months before

• Agree the purpose of the trip, the target group and the date range with the school management.
• Get in touch with us to discuss possible dates. The availability of institution visits directly affects the choice of date.
• Draw up a timeline for the paperwork. Visa and passport requirements vary by country, passport type and date; before travelling, check the current situation with the official sources of the country concerned and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For groups, we share the current requirements at the quote stage.

At the first parents' meeting

• Clearly explain the content of the programme, the route and which visits depend on the institutions' approval.
• Give information about the paperwork, health details and how communication will work.
• Agree together on the rules students must follow abroad.

In the final weeks

• Complete the student preparation work (see below).
• Explain the ID and security rules for the institution visits to the students. Visitors to facilities like these are expected to follow certain rules.
• Prepare the emergency contact list.

Preparing students: links to lessons

The impact of a science trip depends on how curious and prepared students are when they get there. A few suggestions for linking the topics to the curriculum:

Physics

• The structure of the atom, fundamental particles and forces
• How electric and magnetic fields accelerate and steer charged particles
• What is the Higgs boson, and why was its discovery considered so important?

Computing

• The World Wide Web is known to have been born at CERN out of scientists' need to share information. You could ask students to research this story.
• How data from large experiments is processed

Engineering and aviation

• How a plane flies: lift, drag, thrust
• How a large, complex product is assembled from parts made in different countries
• Materials science: why does lightness matter?

Project ideas

• Each student group chooses a topic and gives a short presentation to the class before the trip.
• During the trip, students keep a "science diary": what they saw, what they asked, what surprised them.
• Back at school, a small exhibition or seminar can be organised.

Beyond science: the cities on the route

This trip is not just about laboratories and factories. The route also includes historic cities such as Montpellier, Avignon and Lyon, which give students a chance to get to know the history and culture of France. You can also take a look at our article What is CERN, and what to see in Geneva and Toulouse, where we introduce the cities and institutions on the route in detail.

After the trip: making learning stick

The impact of the trip should not end on the way home. You can ask students to describe what they saw in a report, a poster or a short video. A presentation to younger classes helps the students who travelled consolidate what they learned and also raises interest in science at school. Bringing the questions raised on the trip into lessons with the physics and computing teachers lets the value of a trip like this be felt throughout the term.

Practical notes for managing the group

• Divide students into small groups and assign a teacher to each group.
• Set a meeting point and time for each day.
• Make sure students carry a card with the school and hotel details written on it.
• There may be rules on photography and phone use during site visits; let students know in advance.

You can find our general approach to school trips on our school trips page.

Frequently asked questions

Which students is the CERN trip suitable for?

The programme is especially suitable for high school and university groups interested in science and engineering. For science high schools and engineering clubs, it is a highly motivating trip.

Are the CERN and Airbus visits guaranteed?

Facility visits are subject to the booking, capacity and security rules of the institutions concerned. The scope of the visit is confirmed once the dates are fixed and is stated in the quote.

When should you start planning a CERN trip?

Because institution visits depend on a booking system and the paperwork can take time, it is important to start planning as early as possible.

Do students need a visa?

Visa and passport requirements vary by country, passport type and date. Before travelling, check the current situation with the official sources of the country concerned and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.