Hungarian Fulbright Alumni Visit to CERN

 January 23-25, 2009, Geneva

 Fulbright alumni members from Hungary visited CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva on January 23-25, 2009. The trip was excellently organized by Mr. Máté Csanád who was a Fulbright Student Grantee in AY 2005/06 to the Brookhaven National Laboratory and SUNY Stony Brook. Máté is currently researching at CERN. The 14 participants – including two representatives of the Fulbright Commission in Budapest – of the visit could gain important knowledge and experience on science and diplomacy and enjoyed the beauty and atmosphere of the utmost international city of Geneva.

 The Alumni visited CERN, which is one of the world’s largest and most respected centers for scientific research. The group was received by a physicist who prepared them for the visit with a presentation on the history of CERN as well as on its mission [picture 1]. Founded in 1954 the CERN laboratories sit astride the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has twenty member states. Among other countries the United States has Observer Status in CERN. CERN’s mission is fundamental physics finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter. Its newest pride is the world’s biggest and most powerful particle accelerator – the 27 km long Large Hadron Collider (LHC). As a byproduct of research, the World Wide Web was also invented at CERN during the development of the communication system for its scientists in early 1990s.

 The group also visited the Palais des Nations (the United Nations’ Offices at Geneva, UNOG). The Alumni were received by Mr. Levente Székely, Chief of the Hungarian Mission to the U.N. in Geneva [picture 2]. Two thirds of the activities of the U.N. system take place in Geneva, served by approximately 8,500 international employees and representatives. UNOG is the biggest U.N. duty station outside of the headquarters in New York and provides critical support to the organization’s efforts. With servicing over 8,000 meetings a year UNOG is one of the busiest intergovernmental conference centers in the world and a focal point for multilateral diplomacy [picture 3].

 On the third day the group went sightseeing into the city [picture 4] and had lunch with members of the Hungarian Community in Geneva.

 The excursion to Geneva is a landmark in the history of the Hungarian Fulbright Alumni Association. It created a unique team spirit building and networking opportunity for professionals from various fields of science. The enthusiasm of the participants seems to be persistent and hopefully it will result in livelier and more active Alumni life attracting more and more members. The next event – a visit to NATO and the E.U. Parliament in Brussels – is already planned.

The group also visited the Palais des Nations (the United Nations’ Offices at Geneva, UNOG). The Alumni were received by Mr. Levente Székely, Chief of the Hungarian Mission to the U.N. in Geneva [picture 2]. Two thirds of the activities of the U.N. system take place in Geneva, served by approximately 8,500 international employees and representatives. UNOG is the biggest U.N. duty station outside of the headquarters in New York and provides critical support to the organization’s efforts. With servicing over 8,000 meetings a year UNOG is one of the busiest intergovernmental conference centers in the world and a focal point for multilateral diplomacy [picture 3].

On the third day the group went sightseeing into the city [picture 4] and had lunch with members of the Hungarian Community in Geneva.

The excursion to Geneva is a landmark in the history of the Hungarian Fulbright Alumni Association. It created a unique team spirit building and networking opportunity for professionals from various fields of science. The enthusiasm of the participants seems to be persistent and hopefully it will result in livelier and more active Alumni life attracting more and more members. The next event – a visit to NATO and the E.U. Parliament in Brussels – is already planned.