21-member Cern operates with $1,163m budget

LAHORE: After having signed an agreement to become an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) last year in December, Pakistan has finally been granted the much-needed status on Friday by this Geneva-based research organisation operating the largest particle physics laboratory in the world where 1,047 scientists and engineers, 79 research physicists, 880 technicians, 116 craftsmen and 402 office staffers/administrators are busy probing the fundamental structure of the universe.
Pakistan was introduced to Cern by Nobel Laureate Dr Abdul Salam in 1960’s. A formal collaboration agreement between Cern and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was signed in November 1994 for promoting scientific and technical cooperation in high energy physics.
Founded on September 29, 1954, Cern’s physicists and engineers use the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter - the fundamental particles, states this organisation’s website.
The organisation’s 2015 budget stands at 1,118.3 million Swiss francs, which is roughly equivalent to over US$1,163 million, with Germany, France, Britain and Italy contributing 20.47 per cent, 15.13 per cent, 14.26 per cent and 11.06 per cent respectively.
Interestingly, Cern’s 2005 budget was resting at 1340.13 million Swiss francs or US$ 1393.7 million of today.By December 31, 20134, Cern had 2,524 staffers and had hosted 12,503 fellows, associates, apprentices, scientists and engineers from all over the world. It currently represents 608 universities and research on the planet. The Cern website adds: “The particles are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives the physicists clues about how the particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature.”
Till date Cern has 21 members including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Yugoslavia did join Cern initially, but had left in 1961.
However, following their mutual independence in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic had re-joined.
While Romania is a candidate to become a Cern member state, Turkey and Serbia are serving as associate members. The observer states and organisations currently involved in Cern programmes include the European Commission, India, Japan, the Russian Federation, Unesco and the USA.
Non-member states with co-operation agreements with Cern include Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Iceland, Iran, Jordan, Korea, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Cern also has scientific contacts with China (Taipei), Cuba, Ghana, Ireland, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.