CERN is the Guest of Honor at the Cité des métiers in Geneva

From November 25 to 30, CERN will be the guest of honor at the Cité des métiers in Geneva-Palexpo. Spanning more than 1,000 square meters, the Laboratory’s booth will take visitors on an immersive journey to discover the many careers at CERN

Written by: Anaïs Schaeffer

The Cité des métiers- cité-métiers.ch, the expo– is Switzerland’s largest exhibition on careers and education. The event, first held in 2001, was born out of a desire to promote vocational education and strengthen ties between schools, businesses, and institutions. Held every three years, the Cité des métiers now welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors, including 31,000 students, and has established itself as a hub for career guidance and exploration in French-speaking Switzerland and across the border.

From November 25 to 30 at Palexpo, the 2025 edition will give visitors the chance to explore more than 400 careers across 17 themed areas and will put CERN in the spotlight: At a booth spanning over 1,000 m² titled “CERN: Accelerating Future Talent,” visitors will be able to play soccer with protons, interactively explore all the careers for which CERN’s apprenticeship center prepares students, take a virtual tour of the Laboratory’s facilities, delve into the future of robotics, and participate in numerous demonstrations that present the diversity of CERN’s careers in a fun and interactive way.

“Students from IPAC Design Geneva took on the challenge of designing CERN’s booth,” says Mélissa Gaillard, who is in charge of local communications at CERN. The winning project, ‘La Toile,’ pays tribute to the birth of the World Wide Web at CERN by bringing to life the idea of a dynamic network where the flow of knowledge, collaborations, and professions intersect. Woven from reusable ribbons and modular structures, this installation offers an immersive and sustainable experience, symbolizing a collective scientific ecosystem open to all. Don’t miss this opportunity to check it out!”

Having a presence at the Cité des métiers allows CERN to strengthen its ties with the region and introduce a wide audience to the diversity of its professions (more than 250!) and its programs. Although CERN is an international organization, its local roots remain essential. Participating in this event is therefore a way to inspire young people, promote vocational training, and show that science is accessible to everyone.

“We strongly encourage members of the CERN community, their families, and friends to come visit the Cité des métiers and the CERN booth,” continues Mélissa Gaillard. “No matter what your job is at CERN, there are 249 others for you to discover!”

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Please note that the exhibition The Faces of CERN: The People Driving Science Forward, created for the booth, will be on display at the Globe of Science and Innovation starting December 16.