Two MCAST engineering students have spent part of their summer at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, after receiving support from Xjenza Malta to take part in the prestigious CERN Summer Student Programme 2026. The programme gave them the opportunity to experience life at one of the world’s leading centres for scientific research and technological development.The students are Jean Pierre Grech, who is studying for a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering at MCAST, and Sean Baldacchino, who has recently completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic and Control Engineering at MCAST.During his time at CERN, Sean worked with the beam instrumentation team on software that helps engineers manage the Beam Gas Ionization detector, a device used to monitor particle beams. His project focused on improving how the software generates code. This matters because as hardware setups get increasingly complex, the generated code can easily become messy and lose important information. Sean’s work helps the code remain clean and easy to follow, whilst preserving information that would otherwise be lost. During his time at CERN, Jean Pierre worked on research and development for the proposed ALICE 3 Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector. His work focused on designing detector components and studying how they can be kept at the low temperatures needed for operation. Using CAD software and COMSOL simulation software, he explored cooling systems, heat transfer and insulation options. He also visited the ALICE experiment and had the opportunity to work on an ALICE 3 RICH prototype.Beyond their individual projects, Jean Pierre and Sean attended lectures on particle physics, superconductors, accelerators and beam dynamics and worked alongside students, engineers and researchers from around the world. They also had the opportunity to visit the Synchrocyclotron, one of CERN’s earliest accelerators, as well as the Antimatter Factory, one of CERN’s leading research facilities. The experience allowed them to apply what they learned at MCAST to real engineering challenges while developing their technical knowledge, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. Their participation in the CERN Summer Student Programme 2026 was made possible through the support of Xjenza Malta, which enabled them to take part in this valuable international experience. Share this with an engineering student•