Public Event Advisory Board Interim Session – 20 May 2025

Present: Antonella Del Rosso, Barbara Solich, Chiara Mariotti, Dante Larini, Loraine Massarotti, Malika Meddahi,  Manuella Cirilli, Mélissa Gaillard, Zoe Nikolaidou

1     1) Welcome adress to Chiara  Mariotti and Malika Meddahi.

2     2) Touch base on the next two upcoming events – Sparks! & STELLAR

Sparks!

• Sparks connect - 20 participants 
• VIP participants - 25 donors from CERN & Society Foundation so far
• Proposed idea: Organise informal meetings for Carlo Ratti – Architect, professor at MIT with some of the following colleagues/teams: Guilia Bini, Emma Sanders, Fabienne Landua, Mar Capeans, Nicolas Bellegarde, ATS and Openskylab team
• VIP visits: timing and donor involvement to be confirmed.
• Collaboration with KT for Sparks! Connect was highlighted

STELLAR 

• Full programme to be shared in the beginning of June.
• There is no involvement of the CERN & Society Foundation for this event.
• The CERN music club and other internal groups to be involved.
• Another idea would be to project the public talk by AMS astrophysicists in Aiguille de Midi -  Paola should have footage of this past event.

3.      3) 2025-2026 Season 

• Next season title: Youth in Motion – to be confirmed.
• FameLab: keynote speaker? Someone young, ideally under 30? Possibilities: CERN Alumni, science influencers (check with the social media team), artists, or collaborators from events like the Solvay Camp
• General feedback on the programme
  • Increase communication about CERN's work, values, and future projects and highlight the diversity of roles and professions at CERN is needed
  • The Lab will obtain in 2026 recommendations of the next key projects of CERN, we would need to be carefull to keep this in mind.
  • Furthermore, it was shared that we are missing clear communications for local communities. Events should be about attracting youngsters, sharing what can fundamental science do for THEM. Targeting values.
• Regarding Sparkls! 2026:
  • A TEDx-style event could be studied. Shall we keep Sparks! or create another event focused on young scientists and engineers? To be analysed, also based on the 2025 edition.
  • Our new DG, Mark Thompson, could be involved in an introductory speech.
• For next board meeting: Evaluate if we reach all key audiences (stakeholders, political leaders, etc.) and create a new column in the event table.
• Georgian Dance: feasibility concerns raised as jumping would not be possible within the Auditorium.

1     4) Other items / Event Suggestions

• It was suggested that receiving specific guidelines from the SGW team outlining what is feasible for this and future events would be usefull. Having this clarity in advance is essential before entering into any future negotiations.