CERN celebrates 70 years

CERN – European Laboratory for Particle Physics celebrated its 70th anniversary on September 29. To mark this date, a special high-level ceremony was held on October 1, attended by 38 national delegations, including heads of state and leading figures from the worlds of science, politics, and economics. The Portuguese delegation was led by Professor Ana Paiva, Secretary of State for Science, and included Professor Madalena Alves, President of the Foundation for Science and Technology, the Portuguese delegates to the CERN Council, and members of the management of LIP, the Laboratory of Instrumentation and Experimental Particle Physics. The ceremony took place at the CERN Science Gateway, the new center for education and science outreach to the general public.

Today, CERN is the world's leading laboratory for high-energy physics, a center for the development of advanced technologies, a platform for training and education, and an extraordinary example of collaboration between countries. It comprises 24 Member States, 10 Associate Member States, 4 Observer Members, numerous partners around the world, and a community of more than 17,000 people representing over 110 nationalities.

Portugal signed its accession as a Member State of CERN in 1985, effective January 1, 1986. As a Member State, Portugal contributes annually to the annual operating costs of this infrastructure, corresponding to approximately 1% of the organization's overall budget. This membership has allowed Portuguese teams to participate in experiments carried out at CERN, which contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations. More than 50 Portuguese nationals with backgrounds in various fields, such as electronic engineering, electrical engineering, materials, and chemistry, among others, have permanent employment contracts in the organization's technical departments.

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*Photo credit © CERN – Family picture taken on the occasion of CERN’s 70th anniversary