In June, the CERN community grew as we launched a new network to give our alumni an institutional connection to the Organization. The network targets those who have left CERN, but also welcomes employed and associated members of personnel. It has been designed to make the global CERN community more inclusive, and has been set up to provide those who have left with a means of keeping in touch with CERN and with each other. It will also foster ambassadorship for the mission and values of CERN, and will help colleagues, in particular younger ones, with their future career development, inside or outside the field of particle physics.

At the heart of this network is an online alumni platform designed for interaction. Much effort has gone into providing substance in the form of career opportunities, learning opportunities and other benefits for our members. Since the launch of the network in June, around 2200 colleagues have already signed up. They represent all categories of personnel including students, users, fellows, associates and staff members. They’re based all around the world, and just over half of them have left CERN or retired. It’s great that they want to stay in touch.

A first opportunity to meet in person will be on 2-3 February 2018, when CERN will be holding its first alumni event – a two-day festival of talks, visits, meetings, reminiscences and networking.  

Over the years, I’ve seen how many of my colleagues leaving CERN or the field have been keen to stay connected, so our new alumni network is very close to my heart. Thanks to the network, leaving CERN no longer means goodbye: it’s an invitation to keep in touch.

You can find out more about the alumni event, and request to join the alumni network, via http://alumni.cern.