High school astrophysics club Allegheny Observers earned international recognition

The largest particle physics lab in the world recognized a group of local high school researchers for their efforts to make astrophysics accessible and share the joy of the cosmos with other students in Western Pennsylvania.  

Based at the Allegheny Observatory and working with Outreach Coordinator Kerry Handron, Allegheny Observers is the largest high school astrophysics research group in the region, with 60 members representing more than 13 schools. Several members of the group were recognized by the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) for their outreach efforts, which include an annual research trip to Green Bank Observatory in the National Radio Quiet Zone and Teen Science Cafés, where local teens learn about the cosmos through lectures from leading cosmologists

The students, three of whom are now first-years in college, will be presented with a telescope signed by Nobel Prize laureates and the general director of CERN:

• Aaisha Ansari, Mt. Lebanon High School Class of 2027
• Conrad Davis, Upper St. Clair High School Class of 2028
• Nadre Digbohou, Fox Chapel Area High School Class of 2027
• Priscila Hayetian, 2026 graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School
• Sarah Rached, co-founder, president, team lead and 2026 graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School
• Ashley Rothenberg, 2026 graduate of Shady Side Academy
• Luca Saab, Mt. Lebanon High School Class of 2027
• Ansh Sharma, North Allegheny Senior High School Class of 2027
• Max Wisnik, Central Catholic High School Class of 2027

CERN began Beamline for Schools (BL4S) in 2014 to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Run in collaboration with the German Electron Synchrotron and the ELSA electron accelerator at the University of Bonn in Germany, BL4S invites students from across the world to submit proposals for experiments and outline outreach activities that aim to engage students who may have limited access to the resources needed to access advanced research opportunities.

Photography courtesy of the Allegheny Observers; student members include (from left) Rayah Dzhenkov, Commonwealth Charter Academy; Max Wisnik, Central Catholic High School; Ashley Rothenberg, Shady Side Academy; Sarah Rached, Fox Chapel Area High School; Nadre Digbohou, Fox Chapel Area High School; and Genevieve Sweterlitsch, Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts.