Russia Withdraws from CERN Nuclear Research Collaboration

The long-standing collaboration between Russia and the European Organization for Nuclear Research, commonly known as CERN, is coming to an end as Moscow has announced its withdrawal from the project.

This development marks a significant shift in the landscape of particle physics research.

Petra Heinemann, head of the particle physics department at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg, expressed concerns about the negative consequences of Russia's exit.

While she noted that the withdrawal would not render certain research impossible, it would complicate ongoing projects and potentially cause delays.

Founded during the height of the Cold War in 1954, CERN is one of the world’s leading research centers in particle physics, housing the most powerful particle accelerator globally.

Thousands of scientists from various countries collaborate on experiments at CERN, making it a hub of scientific innovation.

Joachim Mnich, head of research at CERN, revealed that approximately 1,000 Russian scientists had participated in the center’s experiments.

He acknowledged the substantial contributions made by Russian researchers, who provided invaluable assistance by sharing their expertise before their departure.

Mnich remarked that while the withdrawal would hinder the operation of certain detection components, he hoped it would not lead to significant losses in scientific output.

CERN's decision to terminate cooperation with Russia and Belarus came in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Markus Kloth, head of the Experimental Particle Physics Institute at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, reflected on the historical context, stating that scientists at CERN had previously collaborated with Russia during the Cold War out of scientific curiosity and in a peaceful environment. He lamented that such collaboration is no longer feasible.