CERN’s Hidden Crisis: Is CERN Shutting Down Soon?8 min read

As someone deeply invested in the field of particle physics, I have always held CERN in the highest regard. However, a recent survey has shed light on a troubling reality, and let me tell you, things aren’t as shiny as they seem.

Find out below why CERN is losing his challenge with other competitors and why it is seriously risking to became a scientific lab of second league.

Old Technology, Big Problems 

Imagine this: the place that’s supposed to be at the cutting edge of science is using tools from your nonna’s time! Okay, maybe not that old, but you get the idea. They’re stuck with old gadgets while the rest of the world zooms ahead. Not good, right?

This is the surprising reality at CERN, where many tools and techniques are decades old. Despite its reputation, CERN struggles with outdated technologies and insufficient knowledge transfer, hindering its progress and relevance.

This gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications has made it challenging for CERN to impact everyday life. While the rest of the world races forward with innovation, CERN seems to lag.

The CERN Generation Gap: Not A Place for Youngsters

Within the halls of CERN, a hierarchical structure has taken root, ignoring the voices of young talent and discouraging the exchange of ideas that drives innovation. Senior managers often overlook the fresh perspectives and creativity of their younger counterparts, creating a stagnant environment where new ideas are lost.

Compounding this problem is a reward system that favors conservative approaches over risk-taking and experimentation. This culture of complacency not only reduces motivation but also builds a resistance to change that could be detrimental to CERN’s long-term success.

Adding to this challenge is the lack of turnover in managerial positions, which perpetuates a closed-minded approach and deprives the organization of fresh perspectives that could catalyze innovation.

One survey participant remarked,

“The lack of support for innovative ideas from younger staff is depressing. It feels like nobody was interested in my ideas or opinions, despite my PhD and long experience”

CERN Departments Don’t Talk

You’d think in a place full of geniuses, everyone would be sharing ideas. But no! Different teams are working on the same stuff without even knowing it.

In a world where interdisciplinary collaboration is the key to unlocking scientific breakthroughs, CERN faces a troubling reality: its strict departmental structure has created isolated areas, stopping the free flow of information and ideas. Multiple teams often work on similar activities, unaware of each other’s efforts, leading to redundancy and missed opportunities for collective advancement.

One survey participant noted,

“The CERN structure makes it incredibly difficult to share knowledge and collaborate effectively. There are at least 4 different teams working on some specific R&Ds, each one incapable to reach a final working prototypes “

Burnout City

Now, this part makes me sad. Many CERN workers revealed to be extremely stressed. Some are working like crazy, while others are taking it easy. And the bosses? They’re not helping much.

In fact, lurking beneath the surface there is a troubling reality: an inequitable distribution of workload. In particular, those on short-term contracts bear the brunt of the burden, while their indefinite-contract counterparts may enjoy a lighter workload, often passing on responsibilities to their colleagues on limited contracts.

This often leads to a high incidence of burnout among short-term contract staff.

Exacerbating this issue is the lack of adequate support structures, with Human Resources and specialists playing a limited role in addressing employee concerns. Unqualified management, lacking the necessary soft skills to effectively lead and develop teams.

Moreover, student resources are often misutilized and assigned with repetitive operational duties (we heard of students kept for months in trascripting old paper document in excel files) instead of engaging in meaningful learning experiences, decreasing their morale and overall well-being.

CERN Career Rollercoaster

Getting ahead at CERN? It’s like playing the lottery! Hard work doesn’t always pay off, and some people end up doing jobs they never wanted. Not cool, CERN, not cool.

In an environment where meritocracy should reign supreme, CERN grapples with a troubling reality: career progression is often a matter of chance rather than a reflection of an individual’s contributions or alignment with the organization’s values. This arbitrary system not only undermines the principles of fairness and equity but also risks alienating talented individuals who see their hard work go unrecognized.

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Moreover, the stability of one’s career is heavily influenced by the financial health of individual projects, rather than personal competence or dedication. As internal mobility is almost not existing at CERN, very promising talents need to leave CERN is his project loses funding. This precarious situation not only breeds uncertainty but also hinders long-term commitment, as even the most promising employees face the spectre of career stagnation.

Furthermore, young employees often are assigned with tasks and responsabilities they never wanted to, depriving them of the chance to steer the course of their careers from the beginning. This loss of influence over their career paths can lead to discontent and disillusionment, ultimately diminishing CERN’s appeal as an employer.

In fact, fewer and fewer people are applying for CERN job positions, making hiring good talent an extreme challenge.

Not a Good Place For External Suppliers

CERN’s challenges extend beyond its internal operations. Companies, installers, and suppliers express growing dissatisfaction with the collaboration experience. More and more companies decide not to work with CERN anymore , citing lost revenue and frequently changing technical requirements outlined in contracts.

This uncertainty has promoted reluctance among the business community at large to engage with CERN, as potential bidders shy away from projects or partnerships due to perceived risks and lack of profitability. Companies that accept CERN work often quote prices well above the market average because of the perceived challenges and uncertainties associated with such partnerships.

Money Problems 💰

CERN’s got a big piggy bank, but they’re not spending it wisely. They’re wasting millions every year! And when they do spend, they’re paying way too much.

In fact, despite an annual budget of around 1 bilion Swiss francs, CERN faces a pressing issue: the inefficient utilization of these funds. Alarmingly, around 10% of the budget typically goes unspent each year, amounting to a staggering 100 million Swiss francs wasted annually. This inefficiency often leads to a frenetic rush to spend these funds on nonpriority activities as the fiscal year draws to a close, just to demonstrate full utilization of the budget.

Compounding this challenge is the trend of providing excessive and often unjustified employee benefits , raising questions about the alignment of these benefits with strategic objectives and industry standards.

CERN’s health insurance is one of the few, perhaps the only one, that covers beauty treatments costing about 10 kCHF to align teeth. Is it appropriate to use money from taxpayers for such expenses?

In addition, about one in ten CERN employees with a permanent contract fails to meet yearly objectives. However, due to the inability to break their contract and often to the carelessness of their supervisors, this leads to a lack of productivity that’s estimated to cost CERN 72 million Swiss francs a year.

Overall, around 20% of the CERN budget is wasted. Not the best way to compete with other laboratories.

Where Are the Women?

In some parts of CERN, finding a woman scientist is harder than finding a good coffee outside of Italy!

In an era where diversity and inclusion are recognized as catalysts for innovation, CERN finds itself struggling with a significant gender imbalance. Women are disproportionately underrepresented, often confined to roles in HR or administrative positions, with some technical groups boasting a mere 2% female representation.

This lack of diversity goes beyond gender – cultural differences and language barriers make things even worse. Teams often form around nationality, which creates work environments that don’t encourage different points of view.

One survey participant noted,

“The prevalence of French in my departments poses a significant challenge for non-native speakers, impeding effective communication and collaboration. I have encountered numerous people who eventually abandoned their efforts due to difficulty in fully articulating their thoughts and personality.”

Moreover, individuals from certain countries, such as Germany and northern European nations, exhibit a reluctance to relocate to CERN for temporary assignments, further limiting the organization’s access to a diverse talent pool.

Safety First? Maybe Not

In a field where safety should be paramount, CERN faces an alarming reality: inexperienced young personnel are often assigned to critical safety roles, such as supervising works in obsolete installation or manage external contractors who are not always prepared for working on the CERN site. This concerning practice not only puts workers at risk but also calls into question the effectiveness of the organization’s safety protocols.

Compounding this issue is the presence of outdated installations that fail to comply with modern safety standards. The existence of asbestos in operational areas and obsolete electrical installations paints a disturbing picture of an organization that has neglected to prioritize the well-being of its workforce and the integrity of its facilities.

Conclusion: CERN Future

As the curtain is drawn back on CERN’s inner workings, a sobering reality emerges: an institution once at the forefront of scientific discovery is now losing his challenge with his more direct competitors..

So, what do we do? CERN needs to wake up and change direction! They need fresh ideas, better teamwork, and a good shake-up.

What do you think? Is CERN in trouble? Let me know in the comments! And hey, if you know someone at CERN, maybe share this with them. Let’s get people talking!