Toespraak van Prinses Astrid ter gelegenheid van de 70ste verjaardag van CERN
Speech of H.R.H. Princess Astrid on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of CERN
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished scientists, researchers,
and members of the CERN community,
Thank you for that wonderful video and the insightful interviews, especially with our fellow countryman, Noble Prize winner Professor Englert.
As someone who is not a scientist but often visits labs, I’m always amazed by what drives researchers to spend their time in sometimes less-than-glamorous environments.
It's clear: they are fueled by human curiosity!
Today, as we celebrate CERN’s 70th anniversary, we reflect on seven decades of discovery, innovation, and collaboration —all sparked by that same curiosity.
We are not just honoring an institution; we are celebrating a collective effort that has profoundly shaped our understanding of the universe.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the scientists and researchers here today, as well as those who paved the way before you.
Your dedication and passion make CERN a beacon of knowledge.
You dive into the unknown, seeking answers to life’s fundamental questions about matter, energy, space, and time.
Your work doesn’t just expand our horizons; it also has a tangible impact on our everyday lives, especially in medicine.
We know the life of a researcher can be filled with challenges and uncertainties.
There are days when answers feel elusive, yet you keep asking, examining, and questioning. And when that moment of discovery finally arrives—when years of hard work yield a breakthrough—it must feel incredible!
That rush of clarity and triumph is a powerful reminder of what human curiosity, ingenuity, and perseverance can achieve.
Earlier today, I had the privilege of visiting CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
Walking through those halls, I was awestruck by the scale of groundbreaking experiments happening here. Meeting the Belgian scientists involved in this remarkable work was truly inspiring. Belgium is proud to support CERN, and I reaffirm our commitment to this exceptional European collaborative research project.
Here's to 70 years of discovery and to the many more years of adventure driven by the CERN community's human curiosity.
Le CERN est bien plus qu'un laboratoire : c’est le symbole de ce que nous pouvons accomplir lorsque les nations s'unissent pour la quête de la connaissance.
Le CERN est une initiative européenne permettant de garder nos grands cerveaux chez nous, créant ainsi un véritable pôle d'excellence scientifique, reconnu à l'échelle internationale.
Il incarne le pouvoir de la collaboration, avec des scientifiques qui travaillent ensemble, qui partagent leurs idées et qui repoussent les limites de nos connaissances.
En tant que pays fondateur, la Belgique continuera de soutenir le CERN dans les années à venir, en contribuant à son succès grâce à nos nombreux scientifiques et experts.
En élucidant les mystères de l'univers, il nous aide tous à mieux comprendre le monde, et c'est une mission que nous soutiendrons toujours.
Pour conclure, félicitations pour cet anniversaire important de, comme on dit en Belgique et en Suisse, septante ans!
Je vous remercie pour votre dévouement et votre passion pour la découverte.
L'avenir de la science est prometteur, et avec le CERN en tête, nous pouvons nous attendre à de nombreuses autres percées.