Since its launch in 2002, more than 370 students have come to CERN through the CERN openlab summer-student programme. (Image: CERN)
CERN openlab summer students recently presented their cutting-edge ICT projects in a series of five-minute ‘lightning talk’ presentations. This year, 41 students from 22 different countries, were selected from more than 1800 applicants, a new record for the CERN openlab summer-student programme.
Students spent nine weeks at CERN working hands-on with some of the latest ICT systems. Projects addressed topics such as machine learning, code modernisation, data analytics, and much more. They presented their projects on 14 and 16 August and a panel of judges selected the best‘lightning talk’ presentations from each of these sessions.
“The CERN openlab summer-student programme offers a combination of experiences you cannot find anywhere else,” says Nathan Lacroix of ETH Zurich, who was selected as the overall winner of this year’s ‘lightning talks’. “I met 40 funny and talented students from all over the world, made contacts with major ICT companies, and worked on a fascinating and challenging project. It was an intense summer!’”
As in previous years, experts from CERN gave lectures to the students on a range of topics related to physics and computing, including computer security, how to write better code, the history of computing at CERN, and the vital role played by various ICT systems in discovering the Higgs boson. All lectures were webcast live and are now available here.
As well as visits within CERN and in Zurich, a highlight of the summer was the CERN Summer Student Webfest. This weekend hackathon, supported by CERN openlab, featured topics such as data visualisation, robotics, education and networking.
“CERN openlab works to promote and create innovation; it also plays an important role in CERN’s educational mission, particularly through this IT-focused summer-student programme’, says Alberto Di Meglio, head of CERN openlab. ‘The various events held over the last two months combine the best of both worlds, providing exciting opportunities for young, talented students to share ideas, work together, and generate the spark of innovation.”
Students wishing to participate in the 2019 CERN openlab summer-student programme should check the CERN openlab website again when applications open in December. In the meantime, more information about the programme can be found here.
A longer version of this article can be found on the CERN openlab website.