Dr. Marlena Ćukteraš joins forces with CERN for the prestigious Solvay Student Camp

It is a rare honor for any educator to be invited to the heart of particle physics, but for Dr. Marlena Ćukteraš, a professor at RIT Croatia and the Classical Gymnasium “Ruđer Bošković” in Dubrovnik (Klasična gimnazija Dubrovnik), this became a reality. Dr. Ćukteraš was personally invited by CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland to help lead and organize the fifth annual CERN Solvay Student Camp 2026.

Working alongside colleague Dr. Stefania Della Sciucca from Italy, Dr. Ćukteraš spent two weeks at the Geneva-based facility. Their mission was to mentor 36 exceptionally gifted students from around the globe—prodigies selected from a staggering pool of over 2,000 applicants.

A deep dive into particle physics

During the intensive week-long camp, these young "geniuses" engaged in hands-on physics. The program included lectures by world-renowned scientists and experiments at the Science Gateway, where students explored superconductivity and built cloud chambers to track subatomic particles.

Dr. Ćukteraš accompanied the students on exclusive tours of CERN’s most iconic facilities, including the LHC tunnel, the ATLAS/CMS control rooms, the Antimatter Factory, and the Data Centre. A key part of the experience involved the students producing educational videos, which are now featured on CERN’s official website—including projects mentored by Professor Ćukteraš herself.

Continuing the tradition in Dubrovnik

The international experience from Switzerland seamlessly transitions back to Dubrovnik. Next week, Dr. Ćukteraš will join the organizational team for the latest edition of the CERN Masterclass in Dubrovnik. By participating in this event, she continues a successful local tradition of bringing high-level particle physics to Croatian students.

The Masterclass, which allows students to analyze real LHC data and "hunt" for the Higgs boson, will be hosted at the Classical Gymnasium “Ruđer Bošković” and RIT Croatia Dubrovnik campus. The program also features a public event titled "Ask the Physicists," where the community can submit questions via QR code to be answered by CERN professors visiting the city. The day will conclude with a community "Movie Night" featuring the film Interstellar.