PACMAN (Particle Accelerator Components’ Metrology and Alignment at the Nanometre scale) is a Marie Curie Project comprising ten fellows working towards the development of new alignment techniques for CLIC modules and other future accelerators. Beyond this technical goal, PACMAN is also committed to awakening the interest of young students (young women, in particular) in science careers. In particular, technical school students in Switzerland are a key audience for CERN research and outreach, and these schools represent an ideal partner for the development of research synergies on precision micro-mechanics and controlling systems.

On 10 November 2016, 76 students and professors from the industrial technology and micro-engineering courses of the Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, HES-SO) came to CERN for an intense day of presentations and site visits. They attended several talks, including presentations given by: Frédérick Bordry, CERN’s Director for Accelerators and Technology, on the present and future challenges for CERN; a presentation by the Human Resources Recruitment team on the employment possibility at CERN; and four talks given by the PACMAN management members and students on their Marie Curie Project.

HES-SO University professors also contributed, with four presentations showcasing practical applications of HES research activities across a variety of domains including augmented reality technologies, clean water monitoring and the ‘Clean City’ environmental project.

In the afternoon, the event participants visited several CERN’s sites including the Synchrocyclotron, the Large Magnet Facility, the Magnetic Measurement Laboratory and the CLIC exhibition. 

The event was organized by the PACMAN Marie Curie Project and sponsored by one of the official Partners of the PACMAN project network, the company METROLAB Technology SA.