The activities below are designed to introduce how physics and astronomy form the day-to-day world around us. Tailored to be fit for A-level students, they emphasize learning through activity and demonstration.

We have a selection of demonstrations, activities and lectures for any visiting school, some of which are available off campus and directly in your classroom.

• Any of these activities can also be paired up with a talk (such as "How to be a rocket scientist, an astrophysicist or a particle physicist"), or an Ask-an-Astronomer/Physicist session.
• We can create a tailored visit day for your school, combining some of these activities along with talks. You can find examples of previous tailored days here.

Physics & Astronomy days - available at the UoS campus

Your school or college are welcome to visit us here at the University of Sussex Falmer campus with any number of students, and we can mix and match activities to create a full day event tailored specifically to your needs. Choose from activites listed on this page, as well as our available lectures and demonstrations to create a timetable for your visit.

Research lab tours at the University of Sussex - 1 hour, available at the UoS campus

This activity allows students to see research physics in action. In the neutron-EDM lab, researchers are trying to understand why the universe is made up of matter and not anti-matter; one of the most fundamental unanswered question in science. It may be caused by an incredibly tiny distortion in the shape of the neutron, but we will only know for sure by using this experiment to probe deep into the heart of the structure of the neutron with unprecedented accuracy.

In the AMO lab, researchers are developing the next generation computer technology; quantum computers. They are investigating the quantum mechanical properties of light and matter, and studying individual interactions between individual photons and atoms.

Particle Physics Masterclass- Full day at our UoS campus

 Our annual Particle Physics Masterclass features a range of activities including experiments, computer simulations, talks and discussion sessions. The activities are led by members of our Experimental Particle Physics Group and there are opportunities to directly discuss the work of this group with the researchers, including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN.
Masterclasses are also available on request on any mutually convenient date for groups of greater than 40 students.

We are hoping to be able to run the next particle physics masterclass in spring or summer 2024 - please check this site again or contact us in early March 2024 for details.

Please use our booking form to book your place on the masterclass.

Quantum Masterclass- Full day at our UoS campus

Our Quantum Masterclass covers topics such as Wave-Particle Duality, Quantum Physics in atoms and light, Particle Trapping and Quantum Technology, and students get to experience a research lecture to hear about the latest discoveries being made in quantum physics here at the University of Sussex.

Masterclasses are available to school/college groups on request on any mutually convenient date for groups of greater than 35 students.

A-Level Schools Lab - 4 hours, available at UoS campus

The University of Sussex Schools Lab programme includes a series of experiments and short talks from University researchers. The days are designed and run by David Daniels, a Visiting Research Fellow and award winning physics teacher, and are available to GCSE, AS and A-level students. Full details are available on our Schools Lab page and please contact us for availability.

Astronomy Masterclass - Full day at our UoS campus

Our Astronomy Masterclass consists of a range of activities which have in the past included building a comet, how to discover exoplanets, calculate the age of the universe, exploring our dynamic star - the Sun, a research lecture and discussion sessions. The activities are led by members of our Astronomy Research Group and there are opportunities to discuss their work, including the James Webb Space Telescope due to be launched in the next few years.  Please note that A-level students do not need to be accompanied when visiting the University.

Masterclasses are available to school/college groups on request on any mutually convenient date for groups of greater than 35 students.

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Evening star-parties - 2 hours

From November through to February, we offer late-afternoon/early-evening star parties both off site and at the University of Sussex campus in Falmer, Brighton. Please note that for the off site star-parties, only the smaller (more transportable) telescopes will be used.