The Geneva Physics Program

The Boston University’s Geneva Physics Program, in cooperation with the University of Geneva, brings students directly to the cutting edge of modern physics. With classes at the University of Geneva and directed research at the CERN, straddling the French/Swiss border just outside of Geneva, students will work with the world’s leading physicists to explore the universe on the level of its most basic constituent particles. The students live in Boston University’s residence hall in the center of Geneva.

The lectures at the UniGe (Electrodynamics and Quantum Mechanics) are taught in French, with a separate discussion section in English held weekly. Texts are in English. Students in this program are considered full-time UniGe students with all student privileges.

The semester starts with an orientation phase of six weeks. In that
time, the course PY482 (Undergraduate Physics Seminar on Computation for
Experimental Particle Physics) will be held at CERN. Additionally,  intensive French class takes place during the first month. Both courses are accompanied by weekly follow ups.

During the internship the students are mentored by BU physicists and others at CERN and at the UniGe.

This unique research abroad program for undergraduate students is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy.  A description of, and status report on, the program was recently presented to them by Prof. Lawrence Sulak (slides). A proposal for funding from the National Science Foundation, with endorsement from CERN, is currently under consideration.