CERN - anyone been?

[AJI]

I'm in Geneva for a few days and thinking about visiting CERN physics compound for a day out. I heard they have a visitor centre and a tour.... anybody been before?

[AlfaFoxtrot]

I went with a uni physics department and got to see the facility where they test the superconducting magnets, one of the antimatter experiments, the control room for one of the new detectors and a couple of other experiments there. Excellent day out (although I would say that). I don't know if our scientist for the day was giving us info at a higher level than normal, but it was really informative and interesting.

[stew-S160]

I'd love to spend some time there. I've only been to Geneva once in passing on a snowboarding trip last year.

[AJI]

well what can i say..... well worrh a visit!
The LHC itself is off limits now it is in full swing but the tour gives a very informative insight into the history, the present and the future of CERN and physics as a whole.

[BonzoG]

My friend is doing his PhD there. I'm biking it down to Geneva on Thursday for my holidays, very much hoping to blag some sort of tour!

[MartG]

No.1 son is off there for a visit next March with college ( he's doing A level Physics ) - he's really looking forward to it as he wants to be a particle physicist

[Otispunkmeyer]

MartG said:

No.1 son is off there for a visit next March with college ( he's doing A level Physics ) - he's really looking forward to it as he wants to be a particle physicist

That sounds excellent. wish my college would have done stuff like that! Should be a confirming visit for him really... get him really motivated to become what he wants.

[R300will]

A-level physics trip. Great weekend. Can't remember a thing about CERN

[Arun_D]

R300will said:

A-level physics trip. Great weekend. Can't remember a thing about CERN

Also A-levels physics trip. Also can't remember much about CERN. Think we were all struggling to stay awake during the talks and presentations due to lack of sleep

It was 2002, I do remember seeing the LHC assembly when it was still on the surface, and the massive hole in the ground it was to be lowered into. Bloody vast bit of kit.

[NorthernBoy]

AJI said:

I'm in Geneva for a few days and thinking about visiting CERN physics compound for a day out. I heard they have a visitor centre and a tour.... anybody been before?

I spent three years working there, it's great.

Although, having said that, a lot of it was sitting in front of a workstation in an office, not blasting particles into each other while wearing a lab coat and safety glasses.

Worth a look, though. You can get cool souvenirs, like CERN swiss army knives, and lanyards.

[NorthernBoy]

AJI said:

I'm in Geneva for a few days and thinking about visiting CERN physics compound for a day out. I heard they have a visitor centre and a tour.... anybody been before?

I spent three years working there, it's great.

Although, having said that, a lot of it was sitting in front of a workstation in an office, not blasting particles into each other while wearing a lab coat and safety glasses.

Worth a look, though. You can get cool souvenirs, like CERN swiss army knives, and lanyards.