PBL Junior High Enrichment students enjoyed a high-tech science field trip to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Wednesday, October 8th. The excursion, led by enrichment teacher Mrs. Hillary Sawyer, offered a hands-on look at advanced research in physics and supercomputing.
The day began with a tour of the Loomis Physics Lab, where students saw the facilities used for fundamental research into matter and energy. Next, they faced a fun, academic challenge in a quantum physics-themed escape room, which required teamwork and critical thinking to solve complex scientific puzzles.
The capstone of the trip was a visit to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Advanced Visualization Lab (AVL). Here, students interacted with 3D visualizations of data, observing how massive datasets—from black holes to climate models—are transformed into stunning, cinematic visual displays for scientific discovery and public outreach.
Mrs. Sawyer highlighted the trip's goal: "It's vital for our students to see where their potential can take them. This was about inspiring them to see themselves as future innovators in science and technology."
Here is a link to pictures from the day: NSCA Field Trip - PBL JH Enrichment - Fall 2025