Our History

Where did it all begin?

CERN's origins can be traced to the 1940s.

A small number of visionary scientists in Europe and North America identified the need for Europe to have a world-class physics research facility. Their vision was both to stop the brain drain to America that had begun during the Second World War, and to provide a force for unity in post-war Europe.

Today, CERN unites scientists from around the world in the pursuit of knowledge.

Science for peace

CERN’s convention states: “The Organisation shall have no concern with work for military requirements and the results of its experimental and theoretical work shall be published or otherwise made generally available.”