Einstein Telescope Education Centre officially opened
On June 25, 2024, the Einstein Telescope Education Centre (ETEC) was opened at the Discovery Museum in Kerkrade. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, high school students will engage in a full-day educational program focused on the science behind the Einstein Telescope.
With the ETEC, the Discovery Museum and its partners aim to prepare for a choice of a scientific study, thereby keeping scientific talent in the region. Today’s students will be the scientists working on the Einstein Telescope tomorrow if the construction decision is favorable for the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The ETEC program was developed in collaboration with Maastricht University and aligns with school physics lessons.

Official opening
After opening speeches by Rianne Letschert, Chair of the Board of Maastricht University, Elianne Demollin-Schneider, Deputy for Education of the Province of Limburg, and Bruno Maquart, President of Ecsite, the European association of science centers, a panel discussion was held under the direction of science communicator Yvonne Smit on how to develop and retain scientific and technological talent. Afterwards, Elianne Demollin-Schneiders, Gideon Koekoek (associate professor of Physics, Maastricht University) and Hans Gubbels (general director, Discovery Museum) declared the ETEC open with a simplified simulation of gravitational waves.

Varied program
From the beginning of September, school groups (upper secondary with profiles in nature & technology or nature & health) are welcome for a lesson day at the ETEC. The program includes the film ‘Spacetime’, which offers a unique perspective on the universe. The film discusses the infinite space, the secrets of which we will soon be able to unravel with the help of the Einstein Telescope. This is followed by an interactive demonstration lecture by Dr. Gideon Koekoek as a ‘pepper ghost’, explaining the principles behind the Einstein Telescope. A ‘real live’ explainer elaborates this with experiments. In various workshops, different aspects of the Einstein Telescope are examined, including vibrations, geophysics, lasers, and data. Finally, students can process the results obtained in the workshops into a creative presentation form, such as a play, a vlog, or a podcast.

Free for school groups
The Einstein Telescope Education Centre has been established with contributions from Maastricht University, the Province of Limburg, Mplooi Foundation, the Municipality of Kerkrade, Project Office Einstein Telescope-EMR/Nikhef, and the Dutch Black Hole Consortium. Thanks to the support of the partners, the program at the ETEC can be offered to school groups free of charge. Each school year, 1000 students can visit. The ETEC will remain in operation for three years. More information about visiting can be found at discoverymuseum.nl.