On 8 May 2026 a group of alumni of CERN’s Summer Student Programme reunited at the place where they first met 50 years ago.

The group of four (left to right: Dave Eyre, Christian Gerke, Theo Oyevar and Claus Gössling) first came to CERN in 1976, when the Super Proton Synchrotron had just begun operating. This time when they met up, they were given a guided tour of the LHCb and ALICE experiments at the Large Hadron Collider.

CERN’s Summer Student Programme first began in 1962 and has given many young people their first step in a successful career in physics. The returning alumni each said that this experience had been instrumental in their professional development, helping them to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering. They also emphasised the importance of CERN’s international environment in exposing them to new cultures and ideas, something that has stayed with them in their careers.

When discussing what had changed over the years, the group noted that there were now a lot more computers. They also pointed out how much CERN had transformed, with the Science Gateway, the tram line and the visitor centres, making it a great place to come and tour. One thing, however, that was there before was Restaurant 1, which the group needed no help in finding and where they enjoyed reminiscing and catching up on what they had been up to since they last met at CERN.