(Image: CERN)
CERN Science Gateway is our new flagship venue for visitors from all over the world wishing to learn more about the Laboratory and its work. The public events programme aims to create engaging content and experiences, ranging from talks to films and dance or music performances, all built around a seasonal programme to establish CERN Science Gateway as a scientific reference in the wider cultural scene, both locally and further afield.
Previously, CERN’s Globe of Science and Innovation hosted events attended primarily by the local public. However, with the opening of CERN Science Gateway facilities on 8 October – and its auditorium seating up to 900 people – CERN now aims to broaden its reach, not only in terms of audience numbers, but also in terms of diversity: age, geographical distribution and interests. By collaborating and co-creating events with other museums, science centres, cultural centres and educational networks, we aim to reach a range of audiences: from families, whether local or visiting tourists, to more specialised groups such as the high-energy physics (HEP) community, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students, alongside the general public and our neighbours in the local communities.
Overall, the public events programme at CERN Science Gateway aims to deliver one event per month (with the exception of December and the summer months), with a different theme each season. "The chosen themes aim to address a topic that aligns with CERN’s mission and is relevant to society", says Claudia Marcelloni, head of public events programming.
This is achieved through the gradual implementation of an ambitious seasonal programme, with most events falling under a thematic proposal, while leaving space for spontaneous and recurring events that CERN traditionally hosts or participates in, such as Dark Matter Day and CineGlobe.
In addition to the CERN Science Gateway programme, we will continue to organise off-site public events in the local area in both host countries, accessible to the public in their own venues and tailored to individual communities.
Exceptionally, the first season of public events will run from October 2023 until January 2024, when we will focus on the celebrations of CERN's 70th anniversary. Here is what we have in store for you in the coming months.
Public Events Season 2023/2024 at Science Gateway:
- 13 October at 6 p.m. in French: Partage ta science – This “Share your science” evening will give you the chance to discover seven final year works covering a variety of scientific fields, presented by students from the Pays de Gex and Geneva.
- 30 October at 7.30 p.m. in French: L’aventure de la première grande découverte au CERN - The story of the discovery of neutral currents, 50 years ago, told by one of the protagonists, a historian and a theoretical physicist.
- 3 November at 7.30 p.m. in English and French: Dark Matter Day – From light to darkness: exoplanets, black holes and dark matter, a conversation with Nobel laureate Michel Mayor, as well as CERN and ESO scientists.
- 9 November at 8 p.m. in English and French: CineGlobe - Mauvais Je(ux) – An experimental theatre performance that recreates an audience member’s identity based solely on their online data.
- 16 November at 7.30 p.m. in English: Sparks! Future Quantum – Experts give our audience a first look at the growing importance and the potential impact of quantum technologies.
- 27 November at 7.30 p.m. in English: The New Frontier of Interstellar Objects – Talk by Harvard University professor Avi Loeb, author of Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars.
- 12 January at 7.30 p.m. in English: The Infinite Monkey Cage – A special recording of the BBC’s multi-award-winning science/comedy show hosted by Professor Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, joined by a panel of scientists and celebrity science enthusiasts. More information will be added to https://visit.cern/events in due course.
Save the dates for now. Registrations are mandatory and will be open three weeks before each event on https://visit.cern/events. We cannot respond to requests before registration has opened, thank you for your understanding.
The goal of CERN’s public events programme is to further CERN’s mission to establish the Organization as a key place to convey the importance and relevance of fundamental science in creating knowledge, bringing people and nations together through peaceful collaboration and driving innovation collectively.
[This article was originally published on 22 August and has now been updated.]