September 19, 2011
Israel becomes associate member of scientific group CERN
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CERN's main site, as seen from Switzerland.
Israel has been accepted as an associate member of the prestigious European nuclear physics lab CERN.
The laboratory, known for its giant underground atomic collider, the Large Hadron Collider, signed an agreement Sept. 16 in Geneva making Israel an associate member on its way to acceptance as a full member after a two-year waiting period. Israel would become CERN’s first non-European member.
Israeli scientists have collaborated with CERN for many years, including on projects involving the collider.
“The agreement is testimony to Europe’s recognition of Israel’s scientific and technological capabilities, of the quality of its scientists, and of its contribution throughout many years to the research activities of CERN,” Aharon Leshno-Yaar, permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, said in a statement.
