Polish institutions are able to train scientists of the highest competence, but also to produce research infrastructure of the highest level. This is evidenced by our participation in building the capacity of the CERN European Laboratory for Particle Physics. This is why it is extremely important that the manufacture and maintenance of scientific apparatus always finds appropriate support in Poland.

The shape of the universe from its earliest moments to the present day, the work of a particle physicist, the secrets of Europe's largest accelerator - these and many other fascinating issues can be explored by visitors to the ‘Accelerating Science’ exhibition, which will be open until 2 July in the Auditorium of the Physics Building at Warsaw University of Technology. School groups can sign up to visit during the week (https://forms.office.com/e/GNRiYW2DhP), while at weekends (until 16 June) the exhibition welcomes families and anyone interested.

The event, co-created by the National Centre for Nuclear Research together with the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw University of Technology and Warsaw University, was inaugurated on 7 June during a short ceremony attended by the Director of the Department of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Izabela Stępień, the Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation and Development Michał Goszczyński, the Rector of Warsaw University of Technology prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Zaremba, Rector of the University of Warsaw prof. dr hab. Alojzy Nowak and Director of NCBJ prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Kurek.

During the speeches, there were many memories of the CERN laboratories near Geneva, where research work is part of the careers of both the rector of PW and the director of NCBJ. Professor Kurek pointed out that Polish scientists have made a huge contribution to CERN's scientific achievements, to data analysis, and to the atmosphere of support and fascination with physics that prevails during scientific shifts at CERN laboratories. However, as he stressed, it is worth remembering that Polish designers, engineers and technicians are also the builders of much of the apparatus that makes the most important discoveries in modern physics possible. "The National Centre for Nuclear Research, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, has been cooperating with CERN since the very beginning of its activities, back in the 1950s" - said Director Kurek. "CERN is a unique place because of its huge and incomparable research infrastructure. If there is a centre in Poland that could be compared to CERN, it is certainly NCBJ, which also has a unique research infrastructure. Such an infrastructure is essential if we think about the development of science, but also about innovation. Innovation is not possible without concentrations of scientists and advanced apparatus, with researchers coming from all over the world. CERN is an example of this. It is worth supporting those centres which can offer world-class equipment. (…) We have excellent scientists in Poland who can not only create, but also effectively use such devices in their research work.”

The ceremony concluded with the cutting of a symbolic ribbon and the opening of the exhibition. The assembled guests then toured the exhibition, accompanied by young scientists from CERN as guides. Among those guiding the groups through the exhibition are also employees of the NCBJ Education and Training Division. The exhibition is accompanied by a presentation of the research of our scientists involved in CERN's work, as well as of the equipment and construction elements manufactured at the NCBJ Department of Nuclear Equipment HITEC, used in the largest experiments at CERN.