Geant4 is a powerful toolkit for simulating the passage of particles through matter, widely used in high-energy, nuclear, and medical physics. Because users must write and compile their own C++ main functions, the learning curve is traditionally very steep, often delaying its introduction until graduate school.

This immersion aims to break that barrier using modern, containerized workflows. We will move away from the "monster program" installation hurdles and instead focus on getting participants immediately productive. By using Docker, participants can deploy a complete Geant4 environment on their own laptops in minutes, creating a portable "virtual lab" for teaching radiation detection and particle physics.

We will begin with SHINE (physino.xyz/shine), a web-based demonstration platform, to explore what Geant4 can achieve. Participants will then learn to create their own local containers using the physino/geant4 backend from Docker Hub. By the end of the session, you will be able to design detector geometries, run complex simulations, and perform statistical analysis of the results.

Learning Outcomes

1.    Web-Based Introduction: Explore Geant4 capabilities via the SHINE platform.

2.    Containerization: Learn to create and manage a local Geant4 container powered by the physino/geant4 Docker image.

3.    Development Workflow: Use modern IDEs or text editors to create and edit detector.tg and run.mac files, testing them directly within your local container.

4.    Analysis & Visualization:Master the interpretation of output messages, visualization tools, and data analysis of particle distributions.

5.    Traditional Installation (Optional):Traditional local installation of Geant4 can also be covered upon request and if time permits.

Curriculum Schedule

Day	Morning Session	Afternoon Session
Day 1	Intro to SHINE & Geant4 capabilities	Docker installation & container setup
Day 2	Geometry & Macro files in modern editors	Running simulations & output messages
Day 3	Visualization & Data Analysis	Advanced topics (e.g., optical photons)

Host and Mentor:

Dr. Jing Liu is a Professor at the University of South Dakota with 20 years of experience in experimental particle physics. His work spans electron-positron colliders to neutrino and dark matter detection. A pioneer in educational outreach, his YouTube channel (@physino) about Geant4 has accumulated over 254,000 views from viewers in more than 50 countries, providing accessible tutorials for the next generation of physicists.

Please note that the Jonathan F. Reichert Foundation has established a grant program to help purchase apparatus used in Laboratory Immersions. Limitations and exclusions apply, but generally speaking the Foundation may support up to 50% of the cost of the required equipment.