The magic of knowledge exchange

“If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas”. (George Bernard Shaw). The CERN Global Network is a new, ideal place for past and present members of the CERN community to share ideas and create new links.

 

On 29 April, CERN’s Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) Group launched the CERN Global Network, a tool whose aim is to facilitate knowledge exchanges inside and outside CERN. "Among the greatest ambassadors of knowledge are people who have been trained and educated at CERN and also at other institutes: here is where the Global Network comes into play", says Rolf Heuer, CERN Director General.

“During the first phase, the Network will be open to current and former members of the CERN personnel, that is, staff, fellows, apprentices, associates, students and users”, explains Claudio Parrinello, Head of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Group. The Network will offer members the possibility to keep in touch or get back in touch with colleagues, identify experts across the Network in specific domains, possibly leading to new partnerships, and participate in groups and discussion forums. “There are many existing CERN-related networks (such as experiment collaborations, the Pensioners’ Association, etc.), which contribute to knowledge exchange, and the Global Network is designed to provide a cross-link between them”, he says.

In the second half of the year, the Network will be opened to research institutes from all over the world, and to companies in the Member States. “We will introduce features, such as the posting of job vacancies, which will connect job seekers with potential employers. In addition, networking among participating institutions will enable the exchange of best practices”, adds Parrinello.

Members are strongly encouraged to help to shape the Network. “They will be able to submit information about projects and events, and propose activities and partnerships”, says Linda Orr-Easo, Global Network Manager. In the People section, members will have the opportunity to share their professional experience.

A unique added value of the Network is that its virtual community will be invited to participate in events organised for its members at CERN or in its Member States. Join the CERN Global Network now, it's for you!

by CERN Bulletin