Southern Sweden welcomes its first CERN Alumni regional group.
On Thursday 24 September, CERN alumni gathered to launch the CERN Alumni Southern Sweden regional group - the first CERN Alumni group in Sweden.
Organised by two CERN alumni, Arek Gorzawski and Slava Grishin with the support of Big Science Sweden, the event brought together former colleagues, new connections and a shared enthusiasm for science. We were delighted to welcome Switzerland's Honorary Consul, Karin Heri.
Following a welcome address from the group managers, Arek and Slava, Rachel Bray opened the evening with a presentation of the CERN Alumni programme, which celebrated its ninth anniversary this year and now connects more than 12,500 active members worldwide. The Honorary Consul expressed her enthusiasm for the gathering and her strong interest in science, particularly international facilities to which Switzerland contributes as a member state.
Big Science Sweden presented its activities connecting Swedish high-tech companies, research institutes and universities with major international research facilities, including CERN, ESS and MAX IV.
A vibrant networking session followed, giving alumni the opportunity to exchange experiences, reconnect and begin building their local community.
Earlier in the day, Rachel also enjoyed a fascinating guided tour of the European Spallation Source (ESS) with Elena Donegani. The visit highlighted the power of collaboration between scientists, engineers, technicians and administrators from across the globe.
A warm thank you to our two group managers, Switzerland's Honorary Consul, Big Science Sweden and everyone who joined us for the launch. We look forward to seeing this new community grow!
