On November 13, Skyline College participated in the 14th International Cosmic Day (ICD) 2025, an annual global event that brings together students, educators, and researchers to explore cosmic rays and their role in understanding the universe. ICD is an initiative of DESY in cooperation with the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG) and many national networks and partners. This year, Skyline College contributed to the international conversation by highlighting three student-led research projects developed during the SIREN summer research program.
An ICD 2025 participation map highlighted all institutions and groups worldwide that participated in the event, with Skyline College as the only participating institution in California. The map was created using Google My Maps.
As part of the celebration, Skyline students joined a livestream session connecting participants across the globe, including Tehran International School and Drexel University, to share their projects, present their findings, and discuss the implications of their work.
Three Skyline College students represented their teams and presented original cosmic ray research projects that they developed over the summer using CosmicWatch detectors. Their work reflects the creativity, technical skill, and scientific curiosity fostered through the SIREN program.
Aaron Torres Mendoza and his team developed a mechanically and electronically stabilized payload platform for cosmic-ray measurements conducted with high-altitude balloons. Their system improves data quality during flight by counteracting rotation and turbulence, enabling more accurate measurement of muon flux.
Ekaterina Alekseenko and her team investigated whether rotational motion influences the response of portable CosmicWatch muon detectors. By spinning detectors at controlled rates and measuring changes in muon counts, their project addressed whether orientation or rotation might affect measurement accuracy when lifted by a high-altitude balloon.
Samanta Chang and her team explored the physics of muon shielding, testing how different liquid-based materials attenuate muon flux. Their work demonstrates how everyday substances can affect particle detection rates and provides insights relevant to radiation protection, detector design, and experimental setups in particle physics.
The second half of the celebration brought students together for a community-building session featuring pizza and fun activities. Students participated in a “Draw the Universe” contest, gathered around the cloud chamber to watch the same cosmic rays discussed earlier in the day, and tested their cosmic knowledge through fast-paced Kahoot trivia covering particle physics and cosmic-ray science.
By participating in ICD 2025, Skyline College students had the unique opportunity to engage with a worldwide scientific community, share their discoveries, and hear from peers conducting similar investigations across continents. Their contributions showcase the strength of hands-on research at the community college level and highlight Skyline’s commitment to providing meaningful STEM research experiences for students.
MESA is planning on offering a research program based on the SIREN experience in Summer 2026 and we look forward to continuing our participation in International Cosmic Day in the years ahead. MESA – Math, Engineering, Science Achievement – is an academic enrichment program that helps educationally underrepresented students excel in math and science and graduate from college with degrees in math-based fields. Founded in 1970, the MESA program serves pre-college, community college, and university students at over 90 sites throughout California. Skyline College’s MESA Program is part of the MESA California Community College Programs (MCCP). To learn more about MESA, please visit www.skylinecollege.edu/mesa or email skymesa@smccd.edu.
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (Office of Nuclear Physics), under Award Number DE-SC0024677.
Article by Emilie Hein
