In many Armenian schools, physics is taught mainly through formulas, while school students rarely have access to well-designed experiments. Yerevan Young Minds wants to address this gap by constructing a reusable set of seven physics experiments for the educational space at the A. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory.

The toolkit will include a cloud chamber that makes cosmic-ray tracks visible; a Chladni plate that turns sound into patterns; a Peltier mini air-conditioner; an electrical-circuits kit; a spark detector; and visual models of a linear accelerator and a cyclotron. Each experiment will be designed for repeated use, clear observation and safe operation.

Our team has already demonstrated that we can turn scientific ideas into working educational models. In an earlier pilot, students used electronics and 3D-printed parts to construct an accelerator model that later won Best Project at a school science fair. This experience gave us the technical foundation to build a more complete and durable collection.

During the three-month grant period, our volunteers will focus entirely on designing, constructing, integrating and testing the seven experiments. We will also prepare operating instructions, risk assessments, protective enclosures, interlocks and warning labels. High-voltage and strong-magnet equipment will be operated only by trained team members.

The grant will be used exclusively to create the physical toolkit itself. Once completed, the experiments can be used in future educational programs at AANL and partner schools, with the potential to reach around 600 school students during its first year of use. The result will be a long-lasting collection that makes difficult physics concepts visible, practical and engaging.