With an increasing number of people and organisations joining the call for Ireland to become members of CERN, it is surprising how little enthusiasm has been shown by the government for membership of the illustrious group.
The government champions innovation and entrepreneurship, trying to promote STEM subjects desperately struggling to attract the country’s best and brightest. Joining the organisation that carries out some of the world’s most high-profile scientific research seems like one of the more obvious ways to do this.
In 2012, academics from Trinity and Maynooth University appealed for Ireland to join CERN in the wake of the discovery of the Higgs boson. It was a non-issue then and it is a non-issue now. Yet, when Trinity was announced as the latest member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), Minister for Education Richard Bruton fawned over Trinity’s new chance to represent Ireland at Europe’s top table.
It’s easy to see why the Irish Science Teachers Association has followed the Institute of Physics in arguing that such a move would see benefits to the economy and to science research in the country, arguments echoed by cross-party politicians. Being a member of the pre-eminent science research organisation would boost the image of science in Ireland, offering Irish students and staff the chance to take part in some of the world’s most exciting research.
It is jarring that Ireland is the only western European country – other than Luxembourg – to not be a member. Indeed, CERN’s influence on the world is undeniable, with its experiments and discoveries capturing the public imagination all over the world.
The only hesitation about joining the organisation is the €10 million membership fee. Though this is no small sum, the research contracts CERN would provide to Irish scientists would undoubtedly result in funding that would go some way to offsetting the cost. It would also add a touch of glamour to a sector still trying to make the argument for public funding.
