IdeaSquare opened its doors for the CERN Community: the start of a new network of people prototyping at CERN?
Last February, IdeaSquare, the innovation space at CERN, opened its doors for a two days event for the internal community. The event offered visitors a unique opportunity to discover our rapid prototyping and multipurpose facilities and to learn how they could get involved.
Attendees interacted with the team, speakers, and other users of the space, listened to presentations about all of the activities the space offers, from prototyping to education and R&D&I, and participated in workshops.
One of the highlights of the event was the prototype expo that gathered together people from all around CERN to showcase their prototypes. Tours of the space presented the different machines and installations we have, including the Holodeck, an immersive augmented reality experience, and an activity from AddictLab around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Visitors had the chance to see the cutting-edge technologies and tools available, and learn more about the community that makes use of the facility.
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of these two days with this video overview:
More than 230 people engaged in the thematic sessions and workshops representing our activities. They were challenged to come up with ideas and create a prototype in a limited time or to put their ideas in motion through an embodiment exercise. We presented the methodology we use in our educational programme to see how it could be implemented in their work. It was also the occasion to learn more about ambitious projects: the Green Village, a visionary initiative linking CERN’s sustainability roadmap with industrial solutions for sustainability; ATTRACT, a pioneering initiative bringing together Europe's fundamental research and industrial communities to lead the next generation of detection and imaging technologies; and of course Science Gateway, the emblematic future education and outreach facility. A session presenting our Journal of Experimental Innovation (CIJ) started a discussion around some thought-provoking, contemporary findings in experimental innovation research.
Then discussions moved toward industry when the Knowledge Transfer department invited CEOs and other CERN colleagues to chat about their inventions. Visitors could also learn from seasoned organizers how to design their own events.
IdeaSquare Open Doors generated a lot of enthusiasm, offering visitors a great opportunity to learn more about the facility, its cutting-edge technologies and projects. More importantly, it gathered a community of passionate people from different parts of CERN who were eager to share and find new opportunities to collaborate.
