This way for the new CERN visits!
As the LHC start-up draws near, visits to the underground experiments by members of the public are no longer possible. Still, that doesn’t mean that there will be no more CERN visits. Far from it! Three new itineraries for visits to the above-ground facilities are already available to visitors.
Up until mid-May, hard hats and sensible shoes were de rigueur as visitors filed into the caverns housing the LHC experiments. For many visitors, it was the highlight of their day. But as the LHC start-up draws near, visits to the underground experiments by members of the public have come to an end.
Nevertheless, public interest in CERN and the work done here hasn’t dried up. On the contrary! The range of visits on offer is being expanded around the above-ground facilities to maintain public interest. That is the new challenge that the Visits Service has set itself: to help the public explore other aspects of the Laboratory, especially the wide range of technologies that it employs.
In May, more than 60 guides were trained for the new range of visits. In June, three new sites are being opened to the public. Exceptionally, these sites were opened to the public during the recent Open Days, providing visitors with an opportunity for exploration and dialogue. Preparations are now under way to open up other sites to the public.