Case Study: Large Hadron Collider Social, Political, and economic impacts of the worlds largest particle accelerator

Why the LHC? The LHC is arguably one of the most ambitious scientific experiments to ever be conducted. In essence, scientists are trying to recreate the same conditions that existed almost instantaneously after the big bang. Scientists’ hope to use the results of the LHC experiments to answer some of long standing questions that exist in theoretical physics today. This understanding, they argue, will provide us with a better description of the underlying nature of matter.

About the Case Study: Investigation, and Political Lobbying (Debate)   The case study is divided into two parts. The first part is designed to have you research and learn about the LHC. You be provided with sources that will enable you to conceptually understand the case study. The second part (classroom debate) of the case study is the deliberation of the case study from an ethical standpoint.

So, what is the LHC exactly?

Part I: Investigation After having been provided with a brief intro to particle accelerators and the LHC, you will be required to do independent research questions such as: - How big is the LHC? - How many protons are there in each beam? - Why is speed so important? What speed will the protons eventually reach? - What temperature are the magnets cooled to, and why? - How much in electricity will it cost every day to run the LHC? - How many volts are used to drive the current, and how much current is being driven? How is this possible? - What are the physicists hoping to discover? - How is the power of the collider measured? What is the maximum power achieved by the protons? - How much does the LHC cost? - How much has Canada contributed?

Part II: Political Lobbying (Debate)  Description and Scenario Given the enormous cost of the LHC, and the potential danger of it, there is considerable debate behind its creation, and use. There is debate as to whether there should be continual funding to support this endeavor. In this debate, students will play the roles of various stakeholders who lobby the government to address public safety concerns, as well as the economic benefits and costs of this project. These stakeholders are also required to gather information from a variety of credible sources to determine whether or not the LHC is an endeavor that should supported by the government.   Roles and Tasks for Government Lobbying The role of lobbyist is to persuade government officials to support/withdraw from research at the LHC. Students will be divided into the four stakeholders (see tables below). The intended audience (the government officials) will determine will decide whether or not to support research at the LHC facility.

Roles Task Description S = Scientist: CERN physicists and councils have proposed the project and have invested much scientific research in initiating the LHC. The LHC is believe to be important in the area of particle research. The physicist will emphasis the importance of the research, and how it can be a major breakthrough in our understanding of science. The physicists are proposing to continue the project, despite the expenditure and sensitive issues pertaining to the project. U = Union members: white/blue collar workers have contributed to building the LHC. Continue maintenance and upgrades are vital roles of these workers You must validate why the project must continue from an economic standpoint and your personal well-being. In the context of the current global recession, employment is a concern for working members of the LHC. G = Government: E.U Councils and government officials must consider all aspects of the project put forth during the debate and to make a decision on approving the continue funding of this project. Government role is to list to all sides and to ask critical questions. The government role is to determine the safety of the public, and to determine if it can continue to fiscally support the project. P = Professional skeptics: scientist, and other professionals want to be ensured that the project will not pose any danger. The skeptics will present their concerns of the project and will want to determine the costs of the project and safety of the community.

Optional Role player: Roles Task Description J = Journalist: reporters who want to provide an unbiased summary of the discussion. Journalist are to make a video recording news report highlighting key points of the discussion

Possible Resources: Web pages: http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/LHC/WhyLHC- en.html http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/ story.html?id=f8b84761-ef5a-45c0-ab3e-9b5ce6497088 http://www.atlas-canada.ca/whatislhc.html http://www.atlas-canada.ca/canconlhc.html Pictorial: http://atlas.ch/photos/detector-site- surface.html   Videos: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qQNpucos9 wc