I'm Alla Hashem, I'm from Egypt but I'm studying physics in Arab Emirates , I'm doing my bachelor and I'll graduate next year on July 14 from Arab Emirates university.

CERN , of course, is the biggest center of research in the world, and I feel so proud and happy that I had this chance to get accepted in the summer training program this year.

My university used to send two students  each year to study at CERN.Therefore, I asked my supervisor (in Arab Emirates university , Dr. Salah Nasri ) if I can apply for this program and soon after submitting my application I found out that I was accepted.

When I first came to CERN , I was so exited . It was the first time I could see so many scientist working in one place.  Every day I had the chance to meet outstanding professors and discuss with them about the hotest physics' topices. I really feel very lucky.

I'm working in the PH department, in the CMS group, under the supervision of Archana Sharma. I'm working with a team to build RPCs , which is resistive plate chambers to detect muons particle. They are special type of ionization detectors made up of high resistive plates having resistivity of the order of 2x1012 ohm cm.

I learnt a lot of thing about gas detectors, muons detectors the RPCs its assembly and the gas mixture. It's really such a great opportunity to be part of building this chambers which CERN will use them in CMS. Furthermore, before coming to CERN I had a basic idea about detectors and how they work but now I have learnt so many things about them. This opportunity allowed me to practice and see how such huge detectors are constructed and functioning. 

Alla Hashem working in the lab in building resistive plate chambers for the CMS Experiment.

I  got impressed with all things around me , the morning lectures , outstanding professors , my project , labs, detectors , accelerators , other students , library ( doesn't close J ) ….everything. Therefore, I hope to have chance to come again to CERN and trying to do my master degree in it.

This is my first time to be in Europe. I like the weather and the view especially the mountains. I went to Geneva; it's such a wonderful city with the lake and the Jet d'Eaux. I also had the chance to visit France where everything is green and I was trully amazed by the natural environment.

Moreover, I went to the science museum in Geneva and to many restaurants. I tasted different spices but the most delicious thing is the chocolate; it's really tasty. I decided to buy some chocolate and take it with me when I go back to Arab Emirates and give it to my family.

It is such a great opportunity to come here to CERN, to meet great professors from all over the world and to learn from them physics and many things about science. In addition, meeting with students who came from different countries and they brought with them different cultures (some of them helped me to learn how to speak French language) .Also, visiting many different places, enjoying the amazing view and weather.

I'm very proud of being here and taking the advantage of the great scientific value of my stay which will help me greatly in my scientific career. I feel very honoured to be chosen for the CERN summer student's programme. It gave me many opportunities and experiences not only in a professional but also at personal level.