Particle detective : a citizen science project for the Large Hadron Collider
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
Citizen Science allows you, whoever you may be, to engage directly in the scientific process itself.
This project is allows you to analyse the data from the Large Hadron Collider, and to identify features which may be indicative of particles or processes not yet known to science. By studying images of collisions from the ATLAS experiment you can observe the debris from the collisions, and search for long-lived particles which may (or may not) be being produced in the High Energy Collisions at the LHC.
The project is being run in conjunction with the "Zooiverse" citizen science alliance, which already has a user base of more than a million users.
This fellowship allow Prof Barr, a researcher working on the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, to help with the design, implementation, release and evaluation of this, the first Large Hadron Collider citizen science project.
This project is allows you to analyse the data from the Large Hadron Collider, and to identify features which may be indicative of particles or processes not yet known to science. By studying images of collisions from the ATLAS experiment you can observe the debris from the collisions, and search for long-lived particles which may (or may not) be being produced in the High Energy Collisions at the LHC.
The project is being run in conjunction with the "Zooiverse" citizen science alliance, which already has a user base of more than a million users.
This fellowship allow Prof Barr, a researcher working on the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, to help with the design, implementation, release and evaluation of this, the first Large Hadron Collider citizen science project.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alan Barr (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Barr A
(2018)
Citizen scientist community engagement with the HiggsHunters project at the Large Hadron Collider
in Research for All
| Description | The first mass-participation citizen science project for particle physics analysis was a success, with large participation and generally positive survey feedback. When provided with the communication tools to do so, citizen scientists formed a community that developed its own experts and its own technical language. Citizen scientists report increased engagement with science as a result of participation, and a strong appetite for more projects of this nature. |
| Exploitation Route | These are detailed in our publications |
| Sectors | Education |
| URL | http://higgshunters.org |
| Description | The engagement of citizen scientists with the HiggsHunters.org citizen science project is investigated through analysis of behaviour, discussion and survey data. More than 42,000 citizen scientists from 179 countries participated, classifying 1.5 million features of interest on about 38,000 distinct images. While most citizen scientists classified only a handful of images, some classified hundreds or even thousands. Analysis of frequently used terms on the dedicated discussion forum demonstrated that a high level of scientific engagement was not uncommon. Evidence was found for an emergent and distinct technical vocabulary developing within the citizen science community. A survey indicates a high level of engagement and an appetite for further citizen science projects related to the Large Hadron Collider. Please read the impact paper for a full assessment: https://doi.org/10.18546/RFA.02.2.13 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | Collaborative Engagement Network in Physics (CENiP). |
| Amount | £3,640 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2022 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | HiggsHunters@Schools |
| Organisation | The Institute For Research In Schools |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Provided data to schools and hosted workshop at oxford |
| Collaborator Contribution | Organised disseminated data etc |
| Impact | The collaboration is still in progress |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | HiggsHunters website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | See impact paper at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1711.05148.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | http://HiggsHunters.org |