CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics Research, has announced an exceptional program to celebrate its 2024th anniversary in 70.
This historic year pays tribute to the European Organization for Nuclear Research's notable contributions to scientific knowledge, technological innovation and international collaboration in this field.
Throughout the year, a series of events and activities will illustrate the Geneva laboratory's rich past and its bright future.

This is how the temples of science became those of ideas

Grand overture on January 30th in Geneva between science, art and culture on the contribution offered to the world

Until the high-level official ceremony expected on October 1st, the preliminary anniversary programme, which extends throughout the year, offers a rich series of events and activities, aimed at all types of audiences, at CERN itself , in the Member States and Associated States of the Organization as well as elsewhere.
The first public event, scheduled for Tuesday 30 January, will combine science, art and culture and will feature a group of eminent scientists who will discuss the evolution of particle physics and CERN's significant contributions to the advancement of the field.
On March 7 and April 18, special events will showcase the practical applications of high-energy physics research in everyday life.
Mid-May will focus on the importance of global collaboration in scientific endeavors, while events in June and July will explore current unanswered questions in the physics of the infinitesimally small and the frameworks being designed for future discoveries.
From talks by leading scientists, to exhibits showcasing CERN's cutting-edge research and the uniqueness of its science and people, to public engagement initiatives around the world, everyone will find something to appreciate in this program.
The invitation of the European Organization for Nuclear Research is of course to participate in these stimulating events, which aim to ignite scientific curiosity, honor progress and collaborative efforts and highlight the role of science in society.

Science Gateway at CERN: an immersive journey into science

Fabiola Gianotti: “This is what humanity can do when we put our differences aside…”

“The results obtained by CERN in seventy years of history demonstrate what humanity can achieve when we put aside our differences and focus on the common good”, declared Fabiola Gianotti, Director General of CERN.
“Through our 70th anniversary celebrations, we will demonstrate how, over the past seven decades, the European Organization for Nuclear Research has been at the forefront of scientific knowledge and technological innovation, a model for training and education, collaboration and open science, and an inspiration to citizens around the world.”
And yet: “This anniversary is also a great opportunity to look forward: CERN's beautiful journey in exploring the fundamental laws of nature and the constituents of matter is destined to continue in the future with new tools and more powerful technologies.”

Video, the CERN Science Gateway at three hundred and sixty degrees

Collective effort in the aftermath of the Second World War rewarded by the Web and other discoveries

CERN was born in 1954, in the aftermath of the Second World War, to bring excellence in scientific research back to Europe and to promote peaceful collaboration in fundamental science.
This collective effort has pushed back the frontiers of human knowledge and technology.
With the construction of increasingly powerful accelerators and experiments, fundamental discoveries and innovations have been made: among others, Georges Charpak revolutionized detection with his multiwire proportional chamber in 1968, neutral currents were discovered in the 70s, bosons W and Z were ascertained in 1983, the precision measurement of the Z boson and other parameters of the electroweak theory was carried out in the 90s thanks to the Large Electron Positron (LEP) Collider, the Large Hadron Collider was started in 2009 and the Higgs boson was discovered in 2012.
CERN is also the birthplace of the World Wide Web and has generated technologies used in other fields, including medical diagnostics and therapy, and environmental protection.

New road from CERN for matter-antimatter comparison

23 Member States, 10 Associated Nations, a vibrant community of 17.000 people of over 110 nationalities

Today CERN has 23 Member States, 10 Associated Nations and a vibrant community of 17.000 people from all over the world, with over 110 nationalities represented.
The Laboratory currently hosts the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator in the world.
Building on its notable legacy in technological research and development, the European Organization for Nuclear Research is already looking to the future, in particular studying the feasibility of a future circular collider.

The Federal Council wants a Switzerland that is a "friend" of CERN

Luciano Musa: “This anniversary is for everyone, but it should inspire scientists, politicians and the public…”

“This anniversary is for everyone and should engage and inspire scientists, politicians and the public. We look forward to welcoming everyone to CERN for the many events planned, but also for the celebrations in our Member States, Associated Member States and beyond”, he claims Luciano Musa, coordinator of the 70th anniversary.
“These international events are a testament to the impact of the European Organization for Nuclear Research on scientific knowledge, technological development and global collaboration”.

A true balance two decades after the discovery of the Higgs boson