CERN Accelerating science

     
 

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Bulletin

   
 

BL4S, or how CERN sets the stage for teenage scientists

Launched in 2014, the Beamline for Schools (BL4S) competition allows high-school students between 16 and 18 years old to run a real experiment at CERN’s PS accelerator (see here). For two years, students and schools worldwide have risen to the challenge and taken part enthusiastically in the competition. To ensure that it runs smoothly and enjoyably, over 100 CERN people work behind the scenes. The Bulletin lifts the curtain. >>

Breaking the Rules

This week it's the turn of heavy-ion physics to take the spotlight as the Quark Matter 2015 conference takes place in Kobe, Japan. This is the year’s most important conference for the ALICE collaboration, but there have also been many results presented by ATLAS, CMS and LHCb. >>

Guido Altarelli (1941 - 2015)

The CERN community was deeply saddened to learn that Guido Altarelli had passed away on 30 September.   >>

LHC Report: Cloudy with sunny spells

The LHC is continuing its 25 ns intensity ramp-up and has now reached 1465 bunches per beam. Performance is reasonable and the experiments have seen some long fills with steadily increasing luminosity delivery rates. Some now familiar issues continue to make life interesting. >>

ENLIGHT envisions its future

Last week, the European Network for LIGht-ion Hadron Therapy (ENLIGHT) met in Cracow to discuss how to best imagine its future. Over its 13 years of life, the network has succeeded in blending traditionally separate scientific communities with the common goal of more effective treatments against cancer and improving patient outcome. >>

Monitoring underground movements

On 16 September 2015 at 22:54:33 (UTC), an 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile. 11,650 km away, at CERN, a new-generation instrument – the Precision Laser Inclinometer (PLI) – recorded the extreme event. The PLI is being tested by a JINR/CERN/ATLAS team to measure the movements of underground structures and detectors. >>

Two generations of klystrons reunited

As the newest accelerator on the block, Linac4 is a hotbed of fresh technology and innovation. But among its many new elements you’ll find some familiar pieces, including eleven klystrons from CERN’s former flagship, LEP. >>

CBI students: ready for new challenges

Twenty-seven students from four universities and over ten countries gathered at IdeaSquare to start their Challenge-Based Innovation (CBI) course (see here). Labour mobility, food safety, literacy in the developing world and water safety are the four projects that the students will work on now that they are back at their home institutions. The final ideas and prototypes will be presented at CERN in December. >>

Main building fire drill safely concluded

Last week, a simulated fire in the stairwell of the Main Building put CERN’s emergency response procedures to the test. >>

Researchers' Night: science at the shops

On 25 September, as part of European Researchers’ Night, CERN and POPScience joined forces to welcome the public at the Balexert shopping centre in Geneva. The Bulletin presents its gallery of photographs from the exciting and educational event. >>

Photowalk 2015: CERN as seen by a photographer

On Friday, 25 September, CERN opened its doors to nineteen photographers from all over the world for the CERN Photowalk 2015: behind the scenes at the Laboratory. >>

CERN welcomes the Spanish Vice-President

On 29 September, CERN had the pleasure of welcoming the Vice-President of the Government of Spain, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, for a visit of the Laboratory. >>

Cosmic visits

On Saturday, 19 September, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano and Amalia Ercoli Finzi, Principal Investigator of the SD2 experiment on board the ESA Rosetta spacecraft, visited the AMS Control Centre and other CERN installations. >>

"PhD Comics" author Jorge Cham on the power of procrastination

From Tuesday, 22 to Friday, 25 September, Jorge Cham visited CERN. The PHD Movie 2 was screened in the Main Auditorium  and the cartoonist also took part in one of the Researchers' Night events.  >>

"Hello!" from Crosby and Nash

On Tuesday, 29 September, American musicians David Crosby and Graham Nash visited CERN. They also recorded a video message, commenting on their visit and sending their greetings and thanks to CERN's people. >>

Nobel laureate in literature visits CERN

Gao Xingjian, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2000, was invited to visit CERN as part of European Researchers’ Night. During his visit to the Laboratory, he took time out to give us a dose of his optimism. >>

Italian singer Annalisa at CERN for a week of filming

CERN welcomed Italian singer-songwriter Annalisa for a week-long visit to the Laboratory to shoot an Italian television production about the Laboratory. >>

New arrivals

On Wednesday, 23 September 2015, recently-recruited staff members and fellows participated in a session in the framework of the Induction Programme. >>

Highlights from e-EPS: Women in physics: challenging the established stereotypes?

An equitable gender balance in physics would be beneficial for the quality of research and education, which are key elements in the economic, social and cultural development of our society. The under-representation of women in physics is very widely debated and is central for a society that cares about the well-being of its members. >>

From the CERN web: antihydrogen, ROOT, protons and more

This section highlights articles, blog posts and press releases published in the CERN web environment over the past weeks. This way, you won’t miss a thing... >>

Computer Security: posting and mis-posting

This is what can happen at CERN if you don't lock your computer screen... >>

Closure of the Car Pool in building 130 until 6 November

The Car Pool, Building 130, will be closed from Friday, 9 October until Friday, 6 November for renovation. >>

Training and Development

Launch of technical trainings for programmers  
Places available - Technical management courses (up to the end of 2015)  
Places available – Leadership programme (up to the end of 2015)  
Places available - Personal development and communication courses (up to the end of 2015)  

Announcements

Closure of the Car Pool in building 130 until 6 November  
Vaccination against seasonal flu  
2016 Joint Universities Accelerator School (JUAS) - Registrations  
2016 European School of Instrumentation in Particle and Astroparticle Physics (ESIPAP) - Registrations  
Register now for ISOTDAQ 2016  
Roof renovation of buildings 128 and 129  
Work on the Building 4 car park and closure of Entrance A  
Traffic modifications on Routes Rutherford, Democrite and Fermi  

Events

Springer Publishing book booth | 8-9 October  
It’s time to go “Back to the Future”!  

Staff Association

Public meetings  
Elections for staff representatives – Join, commit and vote!  
Collection for Refugee and Migration Crisis  
Conference  
Offers  
Petanque Club  
Orienteering Club  
Scuba club  
Cine club  
Interfon