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Discussion on biases in presentation of history of particle physics
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Europe/Zurich
61/1-009 - Room C (CERN)
Description
Discussion on biases in presentation of History of Particle Physics
Tuesday 7 October 2025 at 12:00 in Room 61/1-009 at CERN and on zoom (https://indico.cern.ch/event/1596732/)
In the upcoming symposium on History of Particle Physics at CERN (November 10-13), the contributions from the former Soviet Union are presented only by Russian scientists. Such talks support the Russian government policy of appropriation of achievements of scientists from other former Soviet republics. The results presented in these talks rely heavily on the research done by physicists Gersh Budker and Vladimir Veksler, who were born in Ukraine. The invited talks from the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk (Russia) and Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna (Russia), which are currently under sanctions for their research projects supporting the Russian war in Ukraine, are particularly problematic now when Russia tries to not only erase the contribution of Ukraine and other nations from history books, but also to physically destroy scientists and scientific institutes there.
Furthermore, in coincidence with the symposium, on November 13th there are plans for a second screening of the “Peace Particle" film (created in the context of CERN70). This film provides an excellent example of how a record of events can be manipulated here and now: statements by scientists working at CERN regretting the CERN Council decision to terminate the international cooperation agreement with Russia are shown without presenting the broader context, the motivations for these decisions or alternative viewpoints. It omits to mention that those institutes in Russia are currently under sanctions and aims to discredit the CERN Council decision. This film will be used to influence public understanding of events at CERN for the coming years and is scheduled to be distributed all over Europe by ARTE starting in December 2025.
It was stated at the ACCU meeting in August and at the CERN Council in September, that the CERN management is not in a position to interfere with the organization of these events at CERN.
Our Discussion on October 7, 2025 at 12:00 (noon) will focus on what actions could and should be taken to counter such biases and if there are existing forums in which such issues could be raised. If you are not able to attend, you are welcome to post your comments to the Ukranians@CERN mattermost channel.
Dicussion
