Scientists usually work on new topics and create progress. But how do you get to this point and learn about the current state of research and the necessary fundamentals?
There are schools on specific topics where highly specialized knowledge is taught. This also happened from September 17 to 24, 2025, at the University of Bonn, when a school on gas-filled detectors took place. The school was organized by the DRD1 collaboration, a loose association of international researchers working on the further development of gas-filled particle detectors. DRD1 organizes an annual school where young scientists such as master's students, PhD students, and prospective postdocs are taught both the physical fundamentals and technical aspects and applications of detectors. Although most are already familiar with one type of detector, they also learn about other detectors and new measurement principles, and generally develop a deeper understanding of detectors.
This year's edition of the school took place at the Research and Technology Center for Detector Physics (FTD) at the University of Bonn. Twenty-five students from all over the world came to Bonn to listen to lectures by leading international experts in the mornings and to get hands-on experience in the afternoons, building and operating detectors such as GEMs, RPCs, wire detectors, GridPix, and Micromegas in various exercises.
The scientific program was rounded off by various social events, such as a poster session and a barbecue evening at the FTD, a visit to the Museum König, and dinner at a pizzeria, where participants could exchange ideas and get to know new people.
In addition to the main organizers (Florian Brunbauer from CERN, Mauro Iodice from INFN Roma Tre, and Markus Ball, Philip Hauer, and Jochen Kaminski in Bonn), 21 lecturers from the DRD1 collaboration, 30 tutors, and several members of the local administration were involved in the planning, organization, and implementation of the DRD1 school. The local organizers of the event were the research groups of Prof. Klaus Desch and Prof. Bernhard Ketzer.
