MEMORIES from the
2006 European School of High-Energy Physics
Aronsborg, Sweden, 18 June – 1 July 2006

Poster Session
Excursions
Press and TV
Links to official photo and students' photos

Ninety-eight students coming from twenty-five different countries attended the fourteenth in the new series of the European School of High-Energy Physics, which took place in Aronsborg, from 18 June to 1 July 2006.

The School was hosted in Aronsborg Konferenshotell, a nice four star hotel located by the Lake Mälaren, the largest lake in Sweden. The School participants profited from the outdoor installations like a football field and tennis courts. It was also possible to borrow bicycles and canoes, and there were many possibilities for nice walks along the lake or in the forest surrounding the hotel or to the nearby town, Balsta. Inside the Hotel one could use the swimming pool, the billiards, the darts, the piano and not to forget the attractive nightclub.

Short History.

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Excursions and Special Events were organized during the school.
The first Monday, a welcome drink was offered by the Natural Science Faculty of Uppsala University and the Municipality of Balsta and welcome speeches were given by Professor Ulf Danielsson, Dean at the Science Faculty and by Leif Zetterberg representing the Municipality.

The first Wednesday afternoon was a guided tour of Uppsala, hosting the oldest University in Scandinavia (founded in 1477). The tour included a visit to the Cathederal, constructed in the period 1287 to 1435. The Gothic style cathedral is one of the largest in northern Europe, with towers reaching 118 metres. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppsala_Cathedral). A number of Swedish kings and personalities are buried inside the Cathederal, among others, Gustav Vasa, 16th century, mighty King of Sweden and his two wives, and Carolus Linnaeus, 18th century, world renowned botanist
Unforunately the guided tour of the Linnaeus´ Garden was perturbed by rain. This garden is a reconstruction of the Uppsala University Botanical Garden the way it looked during Linnaeus´ days. In fact, in 1741, Carl Linnaeus was appointed professor of medicine and became responsible for the garden. The garden played an essential role for Linnaeus as scientist and teacher. This is where he made scientific observations and taught his students. Each part of the garden reflects his ideas, and each plant was carefully chosen to serve an educational purpose. Throughout the garden, the Linnaeus´ sexual system is illustrated as well as his interest in phenology (the seasonal and daily changes in nature) and the use of indigenous and exotic plants in medicine and dietetics. The garden is a living complement to his writings. (See: http://www.linnaeus.uu.se/ and http://www.tulsagardencenter.com/htdocs/LGC/index.htm ).
The visit was especially profitable since it followed an interesting lecture given by Mariette Manktelow two days before about the sexual system of plants and the classification system introduced by Carl Linnaeus.

Back at the hotel a special traditional Swedish lunch had been prepared, and after lunch another May Pole was raised in front in the hotel park again followed by dancing, songs and a special popular game called Kubb until it was time to go to the last lecture of the day.

The special Midsummer Night "Smörgåsbord" dinner was accompanied by Swedish snaps tasting together with traditional Swedish songs led by the two excellent performers, Leiv Lönnblad and Tord Ekelöf. A local musician, Roger Andersson, had been specially invited to play folk music on a special instrument called nyckelharpa.

Saturday was a visit to Stockholm. On the way the buses stopped in Fjällgatan, a place with a beautiful view of Stockholm, the fjord and the end of Lake Mälaren.

Undoubtedly, Stockholm is one of the world’s most beautiful capitals. Built on 14 islands, it is surrounded by water so clean that it is possible to swim and fish everywhere.

Stockholm - Beauty on the Water

The tour started with a visit to the Wasa Museum, housing the warship “Wasa” which sank in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was brought to the surface again in 1961. The “Wasa” was located on the seabed in 1956 at a depth of 32 m, and work began three years later on recovering and preserving it. This was a large-scale operation for which entirely new techniques had to be devised.
The vessel, 62m long, is the only completely preserved 17th century ship in the world, and it is displayed together with numerous objects and carved ornaments recovered from the vessel.
The Wasa Museum, a modern building crowned by three masts and inaugurated in 1990, contains cinemas, computer rooms, replicated captain’s quarters and sailors’ cabins, a cannon deck, a restaurant and a shop and is well worth the visit even for people with no interest in maritime history.
See: http://www.vasamuseet.se/Vasamuseet/Om.aspx
and: http://www.galenfrysinger.com/vasa_ship_museum_stockholm.htm
In the afternoon people visited Stockholm on their own, and the Old Town was a particularly popular destination. This quarter of the city has an eventful history, and has been known as a place of sin, of executions, but also for grandiose royal weddings. To walk through the alleys of the Old Town is like walking down a history lane!
At the end of the day a few people stayed in Stockholm in order to watch an important World Cup soccer match on huge screens in different places in town, and had to come back by their own means late that night.
Many of the School participants took advantage of the free time on the afternoon of the second Wednesday, to visit Sigtuna, about 30 km from Aronsborg. Sigtuna is the oldest living town in Sweden, and one of the most picturesque. The town, which dates back to around 980 AD, has a medieval street plan, 12th and 13th Century ruins, and ten runic monuments within the town center