Cape Town: The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, is set to reflect on South Africa’s 15-year partnership with CERN, the European organization for nuclear research, in Cape Town this week. This partnership has been instrumental in advancing scientific research and innovation on a global scale.
According to South African Government News Agency, the two-day event will be held on January 20 and 21, 2025, at the National Research Foundation’s iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Science (iThemba-LABS). The event aims to acknowledge South Africa’s contributions to pioneering developments in science and technology, particularly through the SA-CERN collaboration.
CERN, known as the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, has played a key role in fostering advancements in physics, technology, and human capital development through its partnership with South Africa. The SA-CERN programme, launched in 2008 and initially chaired by the late Professor Jean Cleymans, has been pivotal in expanding South Africa’s presence in high-energy physics.
The programme has significantly contributed to the rich history of experimental science in South Africa. It has increased both the local and international footprint of the country in the realm of high-energy physics. Moreover, it has facilitated access for South African researchers, engineers, and students to CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, enhancing their research capabilities and opportunities.