Photo Credit: CERN
As reported by multiple sources, Mark Thomson, a renowned British physicist, has been appointed as the next Director-General of CERN, the prestigious European particle physics laboratory near Geneva. He will be taking over from Fabiola Gianotti at the end of 2025, Thomson will face significant challenges, including securing funding for the ambitious Future Circular Collider (FCC) project and navigating political complexities exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In addition, the political environment presents its own set of challenges. Following the war in Ukraine, CERN severed ties with Russia, and its collaboration with other countries will likely require careful diplomacy.
Thomson's tenure begins as CERN continues to upgrade its current facility, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with a €1.5 billion investment. This effort aims to sustain CERN's experiments at the forefront of particle physics. Thomson is expected to focus on maintaining the laboratory's scientific momentum while addressing the scepticism surrounding the FCC.
Thomson is seen as aligned with the vision of his predecessor, Fabiola Gianotti but his approach will likely involve transparent decision-making in light of differing views within the scientific community. Ursula Bassler, former president of CERN's council, expressed optimism about Thomson's leadership, citing his ability to manage the complexities surrounding the project.
Thomson's appointment as CERN's first UK director in over two decades brings substantial experience. Having co-led the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC in 2012, he has a deep understanding of CERN's capabilities and ambitions.
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