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“Spring at CERN” photo-competition – See the photos!

Thu, 16/04/2026 - 11:08
“Spring at CERN” photo-competition – See the photos!


A big thank you to all of you who sent in your photos for our photo competition on the theme ‘Spring at CERN’. We really enjoyed looking through them and it wasn’t easy to choose the winner. They are now available in a CC-BY photo collection, shown as a slideshow here:

Congratulations to Aneta Sabanovic from the IPT department, who wins the Chocopass kindly offered by the CAGI cultural kiosk at CERN and Geneva Tourism. The pass gives her the chance to explore Geneva for a day and taste chocolate from a range of chocolate shops.

We’d like to thank the International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI) and Geneva Tourism for offering a Chocopass to the winner! The CAGI cultural kiosk is located in CERN’s main building and is open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It offers numerous discounts for local activities and events both in Switzerland and in France – Find out more about CAGI on their website.

anschaef Thu, 04/16/2026 - 10:08 Byline Internal Communication Publication Date Mon, 04/20/2026 - 10:05

E-learning course “Ethics at CERN” for all CERN personnel

Wed, 15/04/2026 - 13:39
E-learning course “Ethics at CERN” for all CERN personnel

Ethics is essential, in particular in our workplace. It contributes to a positive and productive work environment while also fostering trust among us, as CERN contributors, as well as the trust of our stakeholders, such as Member States, contractors and research institutions.

At CERN, our ethics-related framework is designed to guide us to act in accordance with the Organization’s values and with the conduct that is expected of us, and to establish and maintain a respectful working environment. It is up to each and every one of us to respect it.

To ensure that everyone is aware of the guidelines of our ethical framework, the HR Department has developed an e-learning course entitled “Ethics at CERN”, which is available in English and French on the CERN Learning Hub. As of now, this course is mandatory for all members of the CERN personnel.

To make our ethics-related framework more easily accessible, all the relevant information and resources can be found here: https://hr.web.cern.ch/ethics. If you have any ethics-related questions, please contact info-codeofconduct@cern.ch.

To go further, take the new e-course “Managing Conflict of Interest”

This online course introduces CERN’s policy on conflicts of interest and explains why identifying and managing such situations is essential for maintaining trust, integrity and fairness in the workplace.

The course addresses the following topics:

  • What a conflict of interest is and why it matters
  • The difference between actual and perceived conflicts of interest
  • Examples of common conflict situations
  • CERN’s policy on and official definition of conflicts of interest, including the rules on gifts, favours and hospitality
  • Your responsibilities
  • Where to find further guidance and support

The module also includes case studies to help you to recognise and respond to conflicts of interest in practice. Register now on the CERN Learning Hub.

anschaef Wed, 04/15/2026 - 12:39 Publication Date Fri, 04/17/2026 - 08:37

Girls in ICT at CERN on 25 April: Register now!

Tue, 14/04/2026 - 12:34
Girls in ICT at CERN on 25 April: Register now!


On Saturday, 25 April 2026, marking the International Girls in ICT Day, the CERN Science Gateway will be opening its doors to girls aged 12 to 16 for a morning and afternoon dedicated to exploring the digital world.

This global event encourages girls to explore the many opportunities offered by information and communication technologies. 

Workshop 1 – Machine Intelligence

Discover how artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT work!  Or how a computer recognises images, sounds and even music. With scientists from CERN, you’ll learn how to train your own AI system and understand its strengths…and its limitations.

Workshop 2 – AI for motion analysis

What if you created your own smart wristband?  In this workshop, you’ll train a model capable of recognising your movements (walking, jumping, clapping). It’s an amusing way to understand how AI can apply to real life!

Sign up and find out more, and check out the many activities being organised at the CERN Science Gateway throughout the day.

ehatters Tue, 04/14/2026 - 11:34 Publication Date Tue, 04/14/2026 - 11:21

A healthy mind for a calmer future: lunch & learn conference, 22 April 2026

Fri, 10/04/2026 - 17:19
A healthy mind for a calmer future: lunch & learn conference, 22 April 2026

 

Don’t miss the next lunch & learn conference organised by the CERN Medical Service on the theme of “A healthy mind for a calmer future”. This latest session will be held in the Dirac Room (40/S2-D01) from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on 22 April and will focus on the topic of “Mind-Body connection: science, experience and resilience”. It will feature a talk by Dr Benzakhour from the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and a personal account by our colleague Julien Fernandez from the EN Department, who will share his journey on “Learning to live differently’.

Spaces are limited, so register now!

The event will also be webcast and recorded.

ehatters Fri, 04/10/2026 - 16:19 Byline Medical Service Publication Date Fri, 04/10/2026 - 15:33

Upcoming events

Mon, 30/03/2026 - 15:05
Upcoming events

14 Apr 10:00 | Physics | Salle Dirac & Online | QTI Seminars | EN
Atom interferometry : from practical quantum sensing to fundamental physics searches

14 Apr 11:00 | Physics | Main Auditorium & Online | LHC Seminars | EN
Study of top quark pair production at the threshold using CMS data

14 Apr 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | String Theory Seminars | EN
Taxonomy of branes in infinite-distance limits

15 Apr 12:00 | Knowledge Transfer | IdeaSquare | IdeaSquare Workshops & Events | EN
Prototyping at CERN

16 Apr 17:00 | Knowledge Transfer | Online | CERN Alumni | EN
R1 Talk: Responsible AI: Lessons from Building WORB

16 Apr 17:00 | Knowledge Transfer | 774/R-013 | CERN Venture Connect | EN
Scientist to Founder: From Research to Venture Creation

17 Apr 17:00 | At CERN | CERN Alumni | EN
Soon-to-be alumni networking event (for contracts coming to an end between April and June)
Email alumni.relations@cern.ch to register

17–18 Apr 10:00 | At CERN | Meyrin Centre, Geneva | World Liver Day | EN
Free liver scanning

23 Apr 10:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway Auditorium & Online | Director General | EN & FR
Town Hall

24 Apr 16:00 | Accelerators | BE Auditorium Meyrin & Online | BE Seminars | EN
Performance limitations due to beam-beam interactions and wakefields in high energy lepton colliders

25 Apr 08:30 | Knowledge Transfer | CERN | Public Events | FR
Girls in ICT 2026 – Découverte de l'informatique au CERN

28 Apr 17:30 | At CERN | Main Auditorium | Staff Association | EN
Steer Your Own Path: Resilience and mindset lessons from a 46,000 km bicycle journey around the world

28 Apr 18:30 | At CERN | IdeaSquare | IdeaSquare Workshops & Events | EN
HOPE Networking Event

29 Apr 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public Events | EN & FR
Hunting the Higgs

4–8 May | Knowledge Transfer | TH Conference Room & Online | TH Workshops | EN
Gravitational waves from amplitudes

7 May 12:15 | At CERN | CERN | Staff Association | EN & FR
54th CERN Relay Race

8 May 10:00 | At CERN | Library | Archives, Library & Open Science Events | EN
Meet the author of "A concise history of radiation detectors: Hunting for the unknown"

13 May 16:00 | At CERN | Library | Archives, Library & Open Science Events | EN
Meet the author of "STARBORN: How the stars made us - and who we would be without them"

Save the date: 18 July | At CERN | CERN | Staff Association | EN & FR
CERN Hardronic Music Festival 2026

Registration now open

4–8 May | Computing | CERN | SC4RC | EN
Sustainability Conference for Responsible Research Computing

5 May–24 Nov | Knowledge Transfer | CERN | Knowledge Transfer | EN
CERN Entrepreneurship Academy 2026

20 May | Knowledge Transfer | Lausanne | FameLab | EN
FameLab Switzerland Lausanne Heat

22 May 14:00 | At CERN | Online | Micro-Talks | EN
Thriving with Confidence: Moving Past Imposter Syndrome

25–29 May | Computing | Chulalongkorn University | CHEP | EN
28th Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP 2026)

8–12 Jun | Knowledge Sharing | CERN | CERN IdeaSquare | EN
CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation Summer School

15–26 Jun | Accelerators | Jūrmala, Latvia | CERN Accelerator Schools | EN
CAS course on Medical Accelerators

19 Jun–2 Jul | Physics | Ostróda, Poland | CERN Schools | EN
European School of High-Energy Physics

22 Jun–28 Aug | Experiments | CERN | CERN NextGen Triggers | EN
CERN STEAM Academy

1–10 Jul | Physics | Bucharest, Romania | CERN Schools | EN
16th International School of Trigger and Data Acquisition (ISOTDAQ 2026)

14 Sep–18 Sep | Engineering | Rio de Janeiro | RPC Conference | EN
XVIII Conference on Resistive Plate Chambers and Related Detectors

20 Sep–3 Oct | Accelerators | Peebles, Scotland | CERN Accelerator Schools | EN
Introduction to Accelerator Physics

22 Sep–1 Oct | Knowledge Transfer | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | I.FAST | EN
I.FAST 2026 Challenge

14–27 Oct | Physics | Taouyuan, Taiwan | CERN Schools | EN
2026 Asia Europe Pacific School of High-Energy Physics

This is a curated list of events relevant to the CERN community.
More events are available here: home.cern/events
Indico also shows ALL events happening todaythis week and in a calendar view

If you would like your event to appear on an upcoming Bulletin events list, please contact bulletin-editors@cern.ch

ehatters Mon, 03/30/2026 - 14:05 Publication Date Mon, 04/13/2026 - 18:12

One-to-one meetings with the French tax authorities for CERN members of personnel

Thu, 26/03/2026 - 15:32
One-to-one meetings with the French tax authorities for CERN members of personnel

In order to help members of the personnel who may need assistance, the Organization has decided to set up individual tax consultation sessions with the French tax authorities (Service des Impôts des Particuliers (SIP) de Valserhône) to answer questions on income tax matters in France. 

These consultations will take place on the Meyrin site, on Friday 17 April 2026 and will be run by ten representatives of the SIP. The sessions will require pre-booking an appointment via this portal.

There are a limited number of time slots available, so we recommend you sign up early.

Please note that these meetings will be in French. Should you need any assistance with the language, we advise you to ask a French-speaking colleague for help.

For any questions regarding these meetings, please contact  SIPTax.support@cern.ch.

ehatters Thu, 03/26/2026 - 14:32 Byline HR department Publication Date Thu, 03/26/2026 - 14:32

Tick season is back: stay safe and enjoy nature!

Wed, 25/03/2026 - 12:51
Tick season is back: stay safe and enjoy nature!

As nature awakens and we embrace the joys of spring, it’s important to remember that ticks are also becoming active. These tiny parasites can pose serious health risks by transmitting infections such as Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). While Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, TBE is rarer, with up to 12 000 cases reported globally each year, but can be prevented with vaccination. The TBE vaccine is recommended for anyone, including children, living in or travelling to high-risk areas. In Europe, these areas include Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

If you find a tick on your body, visit the CERN Medical Service infirmary for safe removal and expert advice.

For more information on ticks, tick-borne diseases, vaccination options and prevention tips, visit the dedicated Medical Service webpage: hse.cern/ticks.

roryalex Wed, 03/25/2026 - 11:51 Byline Medical Service Publication Date Wed, 03/25/2026 - 11:49

Fire safety at CERN: the importance of evacuating safely

Wed, 25/03/2026 - 12:44
Fire safety at CERN: the importance of evacuating safely

CERN’s vast site hosts a variety of buildings and installations, as well as diverse groups of people, from seasoned personnel to first-time visitors. Fire safety measures are implemented to protect this diverse population, but also CERN’s costly infrastructure and the environment. Ensuring safe evacuation is a priority in this context, with building layouts designed to facilitate quick, orderly exits. But even the best infrastructure relies on effective human response.

A recent planned evacuation of most of the Main Building complex (R1 and Buildings 500, 503, 61, 62, 63 and 64, but not 60) offered valuable insights in this respect. At 2.07 p.m. on a cold and cloudy afternoon, sirens blared. While the sirens were loud and clear and the fire doors and lifts responded as designed, human behaviour varied. Many of the approximately 220 people who were present evacuated to the assembly point. However, half of them hesitated before starting to move, some left the building but stayed near the exits, eight re-entered the building and ten entered during the alarm. Two of the emergency exits in the Main Building complex were obstructed by equipment. Thanks to individuals taking the lead, notably restaurant staff, who acted as emergency guides, the evacuation finally got under way. The event highlighted the importance of keeping exits clear and of being familiar with procedures, as well as the power of leading by example in emergencies.

We all play a role in ensuring that CERN is a fire-safe place: make sure that you know and understand the applicable evacuation procedures and that you are aware of the nearest emergency exits and assembly points, and communicate this information to newcomers and visitors. Further, CERN regularly organises planned evacuations like the one mentioned above. They prepare us all for real emergencies: treating every drill as if it were real can make the difference between confusion and calm in a crisis.

If you see blocked exits or unsafe practices, speak up and inform your TSO or DSO. To find out more about fire safety in general, consult the dedicated Fire Safety Risks webpages. If you have specific queries about fire safety, reach out to the Fire Safety Engineering team: hse-fset@cern.ch.

Safety first. Safety always.

roryalex Wed, 03/25/2026 - 11:44 Byline HSE department Publication Date Wed, 03/25/2026 - 11:41

Upcoming events

Mon, 23/03/2026 - 19:42
Upcoming events

16–27 Mar | At CERN | Main Building | CERN Staff Association | EN & FR
Nuits blanches exhibition

25 Mar 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | Theory Colloquia | EN
Cosmic structure formation

26 Mar 16:00 | Knowledge Transfer | Online | CERN Alumni | EN
HOPE Networking Event

26 Mar 16:00 | At CERN | IdeaSquare | IdeaSquare Workshops & Events | EN
Review of Medical Physics in Africa

27 Mar 11:00 | Experiments | 222/R-001 & Online | Detector Seminars | EN
A new dimension for ATLAS: The High Granularity Timing Detector

30 Mar–10 Apr | At CERN | Main Building | CERN Staff Association | EN & FR
The Quantum Botijo

31 Mar 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room | String Theory Seminars | EN
Polar states in AdS3 holography

31 Mar 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public Events | EN
Rising Stars

1 Apr 11:00 | At CERN | Library | Archives, Library & Open Science Events | EN
Meet the author of "Space Times Matter: One Hundred Short Stories About the Universe"

9 Apr 10:00 | Physics | Salle Bohr | QTI Seminars | EN
Formalism for simulating lattice gauge theories coupled to matter on a quantum computer

15 Apr 12:00 | Knowledge Transfer | IdeaSquare | IdeaSquare Workshops & Events | EN
Prototyping at CERN

23 Apr 10:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway Auditorium & Online | Director General | EN & FR
Town Hall

29 Apr 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public Events | EN & FR
Hunting the Higgs

7 May 12:15 | At CERN | CERN | Staff Association | EN & FR
54th CERN Relay Race

13 May 16:00 | At CERN | Library | Archives, Library & Open Science Events | EN & FR
Meet the author of "STARBORN: How the stars made us - and who we would be without them"

Save the date: 18 July | At CERN | CERN | Staff Association | EN & FR
CERN Hardronic Music Festival 2026

Registration now open

5 May–24 Nov | Knowledge Transfer | CERN | Knowledge Transfer | EN
CERN Entrepreneurship Academy 2026

4–8 May | Computing | CERN | SC4RC | EN
Sustainability Conference for Responsible Research Computing

20 May | Knowledge Transfer | Lausanne | FameLab | EN
FameLab Switzerland Lausanne Heat

25–29 May | Computing | Chulalongkorn University | CHEP | EN
28th Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP 2026)

8–12 Jun | Knowledge Sharing | CERN | CERN IdeaSquare | EN
CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation Summer School

15–26 Jun | Accelerators | Jūrmala, Latvia | CERN Accelerator Schools | EN
CAS course on Medical Accelerators

19 Jun–2 Jul | Physics | Ostróda, Poland | CERN Schools | EN
European School of High-Energy Physics

22 Jun–28 Aug | Experiments | CERN | CERN NextGen Triggers | EN
CERN STEAM Academy

1–10 Jul | Physics | Bucharest, Romania | CERN Schools | EN
16th International School of Trigger and Data Acquisition (ISOTDAQ 2026)

20 Sep–3 Oct | Accelerators | Peebles, Scotland | CERN Accelerator Schools | EN
Introduction to Accelerator Physics

22 Sep–1 Oct | Knowledge Transfer | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | I.FAST | EN
I.FAST 2026 Challenge

This is a curated list of events relevant to the CERN community.
More events are available here: home.cern/events
Indico also shows ALL events happening todaythis week and in a calendar view

If you would like your event to appear on an upcoming Bulletin events list, please contact bulletin-editors@cern.ch

ehatters Mon, 03/23/2026 - 18:42 Publication Date Tue, 03/24/2026 - 11:21

Register for the 2026 CERN Relay Race!

Mon, 23/03/2026 - 13:58
Register for the 2026 CERN Relay Race!


The CERN Relay Race, organised by the Running Club and the Staff Association, will be back on Thursday, 7 May for its 54th edition.

This now legendary race – the first edition took place in 1971 – returns with the same ingredients as in past years, which led to record numbers of participants in 2025: 183 teams and over 1100 runners/walkers in total. The goal of the 2026 edition is thus clear: to beat that record!

The main race will start at 12.15 p.m. in front of Building 40, closely followed by the walkers’ race and the children’s race, which is being organised with the support of the Jardin des Particules.

The CERN Alumni Network will be taking part in the event thanks to an online relay race challenge: teams composed of CERN alumni from across the globe will be able to run the CERN Relay Race distances in their different locations.

The social part of the event won’t be forgotten, with the participation of various CERN clubs and Staff Association partners that will be presenting their activities, and there will be a professional DJ to liven up the event. As always, runners are more than welcome to participate in fancy dress and to compete in the costume contest.

No doubt the spectators will be out in force cheering all the teams on and the sun will shine, making the 54th edition the best one yet.

Register on the CERN Running Club webpage.

anschaef Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:58 Byline CERN Running club CERN Staff Association Publication Date Tue, 03/24/2026 - 08:53

30 March – 2 April | Closure of Meyrin inter-site tunnel

Fri, 20/03/2026 - 13:50
30 March – 2 April | Closure of Meyrin inter-site tunnel

Due to civil engineering works, the Meyrin inter-site tunnel will be exceptionally closed to traffic from Monday 30 March to Thursday 2 April inclusive.

Thanks for your understanding.

anschaef Fri, 03/20/2026 - 12:50 Byline SCE department Publication Date Mon, 03/23/2026 - 08:50

Support for the CERN Community during difficult times

Thu, 12/03/2026 - 11:58
Support for the CERN Community during difficult times

The current geopolitical situation can be unsettling. Ongoing conflicts – whether in Ukraine, the Middle East, or elsewhere in the world – can trigger a wide range of emotions, such as stress, anxiety, sadness, or uncertainty. We want to remind you that support is available for everyone in the CERN community

It’s natural to feel affected by global events, and it’s important to take care of your mental and emotional wellbeing. If you feel overwhelmed, need someone to talk to, or simply want to check in, our Medical Service is here for you, providing all members of personnel with assistance and psychological support. The HR Department and the Users’ Office are also available to address any questions or concerns.

Practical tips for managing anxious times

  • Limit your exposure to social media and continuous news updates: set specific times to stay informed and rely on trusted sources.
  • Engage in physical activity: even a short walk or stretching can help reduce stress.
  • Stay socially connected: talk to friends, family, or colleagues, or participate in group activities to combat isolation.
  • Maintain a healthy routine: prioritise regular sleep, balanced meals, and breaks to preserve your well-being.
  • Express your emotions: writing, drawing, or another creative pursuit can help you process your feelings.

If you feel the need to talk to a professional, contact us. The Medical Service offers all members of the personnel (MPE and MPA) first-line psychological counselling. In particular, the Medical Service infirmary staff and psychologists, Katia Schenkel and Sébastien Tubau, offer free and strictly confidential counselling to all Members of the Personnel. To make an appointment and to access resources on mental health and wellbeing, follow this link.

Let’s continue to foster a compassionate and understanding environment. If you need help – whether it’s for yourself or you’re concerned about a colleague – please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can navigate this challenging time with care and solidarity.

ehatters Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:58 Byline Medical Service Publication Date Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:56

From 10 March: work under way in the Greinacher car park

Thu, 12/03/2026 - 11:21
From 10 March: work under way in the Greinacher car park

Modernisation of rainwater management on the Meyrin site: future work and accompanying measures

In line with the cantonal objectives designed to improve the discharge regime and water quality of the Nant d'Avril, CERN is modernising the way that rainwater is managed on its Meyrin site. A site-specific list of actions is included in the regional wastewater management plan (Plan Régional d'Evacuation des Eaux, PREE) for the Nant d'Avril, which was validated by the Council of State in July 2014.

A hydrological study carried out in 2017 by a specialist engineering firm confirmed the relevance and necessity of structural work to reduce the impact of run-off on the regional water system.

Reinforced infrastructure

Several measures will be gradually implemented on the Meyrin site:

  • Construction of a 3000-m³ underground retention basin, reusing the old SIG tanks located beneath the Building 41 hostel (permit pending).
  • Creation of an open-air retention basin measuring around 1000 m³, close to the main rainwater collector for catchment area 2, at the end of the Route Greinacher car park.
  • Systematic integration of rainwater management systems into all new projects on the site: on the roofs, on the surface or underground, as appropriate.
Map showing the new rainwater retention basin in the Greinacher car park. (Image: CERN)

Start of work in the Greinacher car park

Work on the open-air retention basin in the Greinacher car park started on 10 March.

85 parking spaces will be unavailable for the duration of the work, including 56 that will be permanently removed. This is in addition to the spaces that are temporarily unavailable due to the renovation work currently under way on Building 100.

How to access the Greinacher car park during the work. (Image: CERN)

Accompanying measures and mobility

A coordinated set of measures is planned to limit the impact of the reduction in the number of parking spaces.

Measures in progress or to follow

  • Launch of a survey of occupants of the Meyrin academic area.
  • Opening of the hostel (B39) car park: + 45 spaces.
  • Introduction of a driverless shuttle from April onwards, increasing the frequency of the circuit 1 service.
  • Addition of 30 electric bikes for CERN’s bike-sharing scheme.
  • Promotion of sustainable mobility solutions, including public transport serving the site, sustainable transport infrastructures, car sharing on the CERN site and park-and-ride car parks.
  • Optimisation of the planning for various worksites, in terms of both space and time, to limit the impact on parking at any given moment.

Measures under study

  • Revision of parking regulations in the academic area in order to prioritise essential needs and optimise the use of available spaces.
  • Adjustment of long-stay and short-stay parking areas to free up spaces and facilitate access to the buildings concerned.
  • Increased communication with users via internal channels and temporary on-site signage.

The aim of all these measures is to support the CERN community during the work, while also contributing to more sustainable mobility management on the Meyrin site.

Thank you for your understanding.

anschaef Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:21 Byline SCE department Publication Date Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:15

The March/April 2026 issue of the CERN Courier is out

Thu, 12/03/2026 - 11:12
The March/April 2026 issue of the CERN Courier is out (Image: P Traczyk/M Brice)

A hadron collider’s energy reach is defined by the circumference of its tunnel and the strength of its dipole magnets. Next-generation hadron colliders look set to have tunnels more than three times longer than the LHC. Further expansion of the energy frontier depends on the ability of accelerator physicists to increase the strength of the magnets.

This is one of the hardest problems in applied superconductivity – and exactly the sort of challenge that can inspire spinoff applications, from energy-efficient power transmission in cities to sustainable air travel. This edition’s cover illustrates a high-temperature superconducting cable developed by Amalia Ballarino’s team at CERN in collaboration with Airbus.

Elsewhere in these pages: meet Fermilab’s new director, Norbert Holtkamp; boost into the rest frame of charged particles in a bent crystalthe most important tool you’ve never heard of; a milestone for the HiLumi LHC; an Eiffel honour for women physicists; all you need to know about little red dots; Michael S Turner on the coming revolutions in high-energy physics and cosmology; and much more.

Subscribe to the magazine

ehatters Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:12 Byline Mark Rayner Publication Date Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:06

Plastic sorting at CERN

Wed, 11/03/2026 - 18:57
Plastic sorting at CERN

Not all plastics can be recycled in the same way. At CERN, among all types of plastics, only PET beverage bottles are sorted for recycling.

All waste generated at CERN is treated in Switzerland, including waste from sites located in France. Swiss sorting rules therefore apply to all CERN sites.

Recycling depends on the treatment streams available locally. Currently, only PET bottles have a fully operational recycling stream in the region. Other plastics (rigid packaging, flexible plastics, films, trays, etc.) cannot yet be recycled locally.

In addition, the quantities of plastics generated at CERN  are very low. Setting up a dedicated collection would require significant logistical resources for limited environmental benefits.

Recycling starts with correct sorting! Remember: at CERN only PET beverage bottles go in the PET bin. All other plastics must be disposed of with “Other waste”.

We all play a role: learn more about the different CERN waste disposal channels on our "What Goes Where?" page. Find out more about the many ways CERN acts to minimise its impact on the environment.

ehatters Wed, 03/11/2026 - 17:57 Byline SCE department Publication Date Wed, 03/11/2026 - 17:55

24 – 25 March | Next blood donation campaign | Building 29

Wed, 11/03/2026 - 15:06
24 – 25 March | Next blood donation campaign | Building 29

2025 was a record year for blood donation at CERN, with three campaigns including one spanning two days. These saw a 25% increase in the number of donors and 36% in the number of donations and we warmly thank all donors for their support.

According to the Geneva blood barometer, blood stocks in the region remain low: CERN’s support as a key contributor (ranking 2nd as the region’s biggest blood donor after the Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (HUG)) is essential to ensuring availability of blood stocks for those in need, when they need it most. Furthermore, as of 1 February 2026, the criteria for blood donation have changed and certain previous restrictions lifted, meaning that a wider population can donate. In particular, regarding stays in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996, the permanent exclusion is lifted and the individuals concerned can once again donate blood, The HUG explain more in this article (in French).

CERN will hold a its first blood donation session of 2026 over two days, on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 March, from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in collaboration with the HUG in Building 29.

Before coming to the Building 29 donation point, please make sure that:

  • you are in good health and have no symptoms such as fever, cough, a cold or breathing difficulties;
  • You are eligible to give blood:
    • Complete the brief online pre-donation questionnaire (in French)
    • Please consult this information sheet and this questionnaire issued by the HUG.
    • Note that only the pre-donation conversation with the nurse or doctor on the day can confirm your eligibility).
    • If returning from travel abroad or arriving from another country, perform the travelcheck on the HUG website (in French)
    • If you have recently been vaccinated against the flu or COVID, ensure 48 hours have passed since receiving the vaccination.
    • Please bring proof of ID with you on the day of the donation.

Save yourself time: pre-book your appointment with OneDoc

The possibility of pre-booking your appointment via the OneDoc platform is made available on this link. Spontaneous donors will be able to come at their convenience without an appointment, mindful that there may be some waiting time on the day.

As a thank you, the HUG will be giving each donor a 10 CHF voucher, to be used on the day of the donation in Novae’s Restaurants 1 and 2 at CERN.

Next blood donation dates for 2026:

  • Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 July
  • Tuesday 17 November

We hope to see many of you at the donation point!

Give blood, save lives.

anschaef Wed, 03/11/2026 - 14:06 Byline Medical Service Publication Date Wed, 03/11/2026 - 14:00

Cutting emissions, powering science

Wed, 11/03/2026 - 12:59
Cutting emissions, powering science

In July 2024, CERN adopted its first Fluorinated Gases (F-Gas) Policy, which formalises its strategy to minimise the environmental impact of its installations and activities that use or contain F-gases, underlining the Organization’s commitment to reducing its direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions and to contributing responsibly to global climate action.

F-gases are essential to CERN’s cutting-edge research – they are used in a wide range of applications and equipment at CERN, including cooling, particle detection and electrical insulation. But they also come at a cost: F-gases account for some 90% of our direct (Scope 1) emissions. Reaching our ambitious goal of reducing Scope 1 emissions by 50% by 2030 implies that they be responsibly managed at all stages and levels.

To support this effort, CERN has published the F-Gas Policy Implementation Measures and launched a new F-Gas Fundamentals e-learning course and F-Gas Policy implementation: practical guidance webpages.

These resources will give all personnel involved with F-gases the tools to:

  • understand what F-gases are and why they matter,
  • learn how CERN manages them responsibly,
  • recognise their own role in reducing emissions.

The F-Gas Fundamentals e-learning course is mandatory for all personnel handling F-gases, i.e. those involved in: 

  • procurement (including import where applicable), storage, transport, recovery, recycling or reclamation, destruction and/or final disposal of F-gases,
  • installation, use and servicing, charging/refilling of equipment containing or using F-gases,
  • monitoring (including leak checking and inspections), recordkeeping and reporting on/of F-gases and equipment containing or using F-gases.

This isn’t just about compliance – it’s about resilience. With F-gases becoming scarcer and more expensive, and with CERN’s research depending on them, adapting quickly is essential. Embracing better management, mitigation strategies and alternative solutions helps make CERN’s science sustainable.

anschaef Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:59 Byline HSE unit Publication Date Thu, 03/12/2026 - 11:57

Upcoming events

Tue, 03/03/2026 - 15:22
Upcoming events

10 Mar 11:00 | Physics | 222/R-01 & Online | LHC Seminars  | EN
Closing the gap in compressed SUSY searches at ATLAS

11 Mar 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | Theory Colloquia  | EN
Modern theory of nuclear forces

12 Mar 16:30 | Knowledge Transfer | Council Chamber & Online | CERN Colloquia  | EN
Ignis/Axiom-4 Mission: from launch to landing - Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

16–27 Mar | At CERN | Main Building | CERN Staff Association | EN & FR
Nuits blanches exhibition

17–19 Mar | At CERN | CERN | CERN Smart Mobility | EN & FR
Mobility Week 2026

17 Mar 10:30 | At CERN | Online | CERN Service Management Forum | EN & FR
9th CERN Service Management Forum

17 Mar 16:00 | At CERN | Main Auditorium & Online | LHC Career Networking Events | EN
LHC Career Networking Event 2026

18 Mar 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | Theory Colloquia | EN
A Unified Approach to the Self-Force Problem

20 Mar 11:00 | Experiments | 13/2-005 & Online | Detector Seminars | EN
Design, Performance and Status of the CMS MIP Timing Detector

20 Mar 14:00 | At CERN | Online | Micro-Talks | EN
Words That Work: Communicating with Confidence and Kindness

20 Mar 18:00 | At CERN | Restaurant 1 | Novae | EN & FR
Spring Vibes Party - Flower Power

25 Mar 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | Theory Colloquia | EN
Cosmic structure formation

26 Mar 16:00 | Knowledge Transfer | Online | CERN Alumni | EN
Review of Medical Physics in Africa

31 Mar 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public events | EN
Rising Stars

23 Apr 10:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway Auditorium & Online | Director General | EN & FR
Town Hall

29 Apr 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public events | EN & FR
Hunting the Higgs

Save the date: 18 July | At CERN | CERN | Staff Association | EN & FR
CERN Hardronic Music Festival 2026

Registration now open

4–8 May | Computing | CERN | SC4RC | EN
Sustainability Conference for Responsible Research Computing

20 May | Knowledge Transfer | Lausanne | FameLab | EN
FameLab Switzerland Lausanne Heat

25–29 May | Computing | Chulalongkorn University | CHEP | EN
28th Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP 2026)

8–12 Jun | Knowledge Sharing | CERN | CERN IdeaSquare | EN
CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation Summer School

15–26 Jun | Accelerators | Jūrmala, Latvia | CERN Accelerator School | EN
CAS course on Medical Accelerators

19 Jun–2 Jul | Physics | Ostróda, Poland | CERN Schools | EN
European School of High-Energy Physics

22 Jun–28 Aug | Experiments | CERN | CERN NextGen Triggers | EN
CERN STEAM Academy

1–10 Jul | Physics | Bucharest, Romania | CERN Schools | EN
16th International School of Trigger and Data Acquisition (ISOTDAQ 2026)

This is a curated list of events relevant to the CERN community.
More events are available here: home.cern/events
Indico also shows ALL events happening todaythis week and in a calendar view

If you would like your event to appear on an upcoming Bulletin events list, please contact bulletin-editors@cern.ch

ehatters Tue, 03/03/2026 - 14:22 Publication Date Tue, 03/10/2026 - 14:20

The French Post Office (Prévessin site) is permanently closing

Wed, 25/02/2026 - 12:54
The French Post Office (Prévessin site) is permanently closing

The French post office located on the Prévessin site (building 866- R-C06) will close on 27 March 2026.

This decision was taken by La Poste due to the operating costs of the office and its low level of use. Those wishing to send postal items may visit the post office in Prévessin-Moëns or the one in Saint-Genis-Pouilly.

anschaef Wed, 02/25/2026 - 11:54 Byline FAP department Publication Date Wed, 02/25/2026 - 11:51

Upcoming events

Tue, 24/02/2026 - 13:55
Upcoming events

26 Feb 14:00 | Physics | TH Conference Room & Online | Theory Colloquia | EN
A physics community where everyone can thrive? Why is this important, what might it look like, and how might we build it?

26 Feb 16:30 | Physics | Main Auditorium & Online | CERN Colloquia | EN & FR
Towards a Future Flagship Collider at CERN — The European Strategy for Particle Physics

2 Mar 14:00 | Experiments | Main Auditorium & Online | LHCC - Open Sessions | EN
165th LHCC Meeting - OPEN Session

3 Mar 11:00 | At CERN | Online | Archives, Library & Open Science events | EN
Library Science Talk - Technology, Community, and Consortium: The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF)

5 Mar 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public events | FR
Collision(s)

6 Mar 16:00 | Accelerators | 774/R-013 & Online | BE Seminars | EN
Design and validation of a micrometric and adaptable calibration bench for Frequency Scanning Interferometry sensors

17–19 Mar | At CERN | CERN | CERN Smart Mobility | EN & FR
Mobility Week 2026

17 Mar 10:30 | At CERN | Online | CERN Service Management Forum | EN & FR
9th CERN Service Management Forum / 9ᵉ Forum "CERN Service Management"

17 Mar 16:00 | At CERN | Main Auditorium & Online | LHC Career Networking Events | EN
LHC Career Networking Event 2026

20 Mar 14:00 | At CERN | Online | Micro-Talks | EN
Words That Work: Communicating with Confidence and Kindness

20 Mar 18:00 | At CERN | Restaurant 1 | Novae | EN & FR
Spring Vibes Party - Flower Power

31 Mar 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public events | EN
Rising Stars

29 Apr 20:00 | At CERN | CERN Science Gateway | Public events | EN & FR
Hunting the Higgs / La quête du Higgs

Registration now open

4–5 Mar | Computing | Main Auditorium | CERN openlab | EN
2026 CERN openlab Technical Workshop

13–17 Apr | Physics | CERN | CPOD | EN
16th Workshop on Critical Point and Onset of Deconfinement

4–8 May | Computing | CERN | SC4RC | EN
Sustainability Conference for Responsible Research Computing

20 May | Knowledge Transfer | Lausanne | FameLab | EN
FameLab Switzerland Lausanne Heat

25–29 May | Computing | Chulalongkorn University | CHEP | EN
28th Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP 2026)

8–12 Jun | Knowledge Sharing | CERN | CERN IdeaSquare | EN
CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation Summer School

15–26 Jun | Accelerators | Jūrmala, Latvia | CERN Accelerator School | EN
CAS course on Medical Accelerators

19 Jun–2 Jul | Physics | Ostróda, Poland | CERN Schools | EN
European School of High-Energy Physics

22 Jun–28 Aug | Experiments | CERN | CERN NextGen Triggers | EN
CERN STEAM Academy

1–10 Jul | Physics | Bucharest, Romania | CERN Schools | EN
16th International School of Trigger and Data Acquisition (ISOTDAQ 2026)

This is a curated list of events relevant to the CERN community.
More events are available here: home.cern/events
Indico also shows ALL events happening todaythis week and in a calendar view

If you would like your event to appear on an upcoming Bulletin events list, please contact bulletin-editors@cern.ch

ehatters Tue, 02/24/2026 - 12:55 Publication Date Wed, 02/25/2026 - 12:53