A LECTURER from Newport has visited the CERN centre in Switzerland, where scientists have simulated the moment following the big bang.

Anthony Mitchell, who is a physics lecturer at Coleg y Cymoedd, visited the prestigious CERN centre, which is home to the multi-billion pound Large Hadron Collider.

Learners at the college, which has campuses in Aberdare, Nantgarw, Rhondda and Ystrad Mynach, will now benefit from the lecturer's trip.

Mr Mitchell was one of 24 teachers from across Wales to visit CERN to explore further research into particle physics. While there, Anthony attended lectures about the facilities at CERN from the scientists and engineers who work there.

He has revised his teaching plan for this year to include new information picked up at CERN and is planning a talk about the trip for both staff and learners.

Mr Mitchell said: “Being able to visit CERN and see they work they are doing at the cutting edge of particle physics is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was a privilege to represent Coleg y Cymoedd on the trip.

“The technology that is coming out of the work CERN does is huge. It is where the internet was created, where the Higgs Boson was discovered and new medical treatments involving proton beams were developed. It is a truly unique institution and I hope I can share everything I picked up there with the learners at Coleg y Cymoedd.”