CERN
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3 December 2021 - Geneva
After all these years I finally made it to CERN. Sure, I'm just passing through Geneva as a tourist rather than coming to do science, but it was still an emotionally moving experience. I took one of the free guided tours which, just like at SLAC, was led by a scientist volunteering their time for public outreach. Considering the billions that European taxpayers pour into the lab every year it's nice to be able to see some 1950's era equipment and watch a little video of the labs history. Our guide today was a CMS collaboration member, and prework for CMS was one of my thesis advisor, Stefan Spanier's, projects when I was in gradschool. Ergo I read more than a small amount about it 15 years ago. Being back at an accelerator lab made me feel surprisingly awesome, like I once again had the intelligence to unlock the secrets of the universe. Of course, I remember the politics and the stress of that world, but for a moment today I just let myself bath in warmth glow of nostalgia. Is it like a religious person visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Rome? I definitely felt awe.
Just a gap of 15 years . . .
