"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember.
I do and I understand." - Confucius

Students on the Beamline (SotB) is a highly competitive program that offers educators a unique opportunity to grow professionally by guiding their students in conducting real scientific research by incorporating hands-on and student-led learning. This program empowers educators to apply inquiry-based and experiential learning methods in their teaching, enhancing their ability to engage all their future students in the scientific process. Students lead the entire process, from developing a project to presenting their findings, with guidance from mentors. Visit the Student Research or Poster Competition pages below to see the impact of SotB!

SotB Training is Required
Next Session: Saturday January 24, 2026

Participation in the Students on the Beamline training session, along with at least one other professional development opportunity or educational program, is required for those wishing to apply for the Students on the Beamline program.

Getting Started

SotB is an immersive and impactful teaching experience for educators.
A research project takes 1-2 years. Each group is unique.
The research project is a team effort with diverse students bringing various skills and talents.
We are committed to walking a path of reconciliation and support you to walk with us.
Students must be 14 or older.
The research project is for any curious student; grades are not a criteria for participation.
Check out our SotB Corner on our Virtual Classroom for past project examples and helpful info!

Attend the Student on the Beamline Training Session
Virtual 1 Day Training Session
Next Training Avaliable - Saturday January 24, 2026

This virtual training session is designed for educators interested in guiding their students through our unique Students on the Beamline program. The session will cover the application process, provide tips and tricks, outline the expectations for educators, and illustrate what a typical Students on the Beamline project entails. Participation in this training session, along with another professional development opportunity or educational program, is required for those wishing to apply for the Students on the Beamline program.

Submit an Educational Proposal Application
*** OPENING SOON

The LINAC is recovering, CLS is delivering beam, and SotB groups that have been waiting patiently are being scheduled for their beamtime. We are preparing for a limited call for applications this spring. Only 3 groups will be selected. Another call will follow in October.

The Educational Proposal Application, written by the educator, highlights the expected learning outcomes for both teachers and students participating in the SotB experience. This is not a science proposal. If selected, the project begins with mentors and Canadian Light Source staff providing guidance and advice on the scientific process as students develop their research project. For additional support and examples in how to fill out your Educational Proposal application, please refer to our resources.

Students on the Beamline Training is required.

To recieve the application package contact the education team.

Please be aware that beamtime and science mentorship support are limited, making the selection process highly competitive. Consequently, spots in the program are also restricted.

To better understand the criteria we are looking for, we encourage you to take a look at our Educational Proposal Information Package and the Educational Proposal Exemplar before filling out the application form.

Educational Proposal Application Form Deadline to Submit is April 1st, 2026 Email the Education Team** for the Application Form. Only the Application Form will be considered. For technical issues or questions, contact the Education Team. Submitting a completed form before the deadline allows for feedback.	Please Contact education@lightsource.ca
Educational Proposal Information Package The document provides information on the application process. Note this is under revision so check back for updates.
Educational Proposal Rubric Here is the rubric which is used to score the submissions and determines which applications are accepted. Note that 1 is a better score than 3. This follows CLS' science proposal peer review format - part of providing an authentic research experience.
Educational Proposal Exemplar This exemplar demonstrates what an application with a score of 2 looks like. A score of 2 is what we expect to see and often accepted for participation.