BACK TO THE BIG BANG - CERN SCIENCE GATEWAY
7TH OCTOBER 2023
GENEVE - SWITZERLAND
Consistent with its commitment to promoting science as a complementary field to art and culture, Carla Fendi Foundation has supported the creation of the BACK TO THE BIG BANG space within the Science Gateway, CERN's major center for science education and outreach. Open free of charge to the public, six days a week, this new facility welcomes up to 500,000 visitors annually. Designed by Renzo Piano and strongly supported by CERN Director General Fabiola Gianotti, the Science Gateway is an immersive space and center for science education and outreach offering activities designed to attract people of all ages, from all countries, and from all backgrounds to science. The pavilions host physics experiments for students from elementary to high school and interactive tours to explore the key technologies developed by CERN, uncover the mysteries of the origin of the universe, and reflect on the impact of new science on society.
Carla Fendi Foundation is particularly proud to have supported the creation of this space, following its development from the very beginning. In the 200-square-meter area, visitors can explore the history of the universe’s first moments and its subsequent evolution. They can retrace, in chronological order, the different epochs the universe has gone through, discovering the key elements that defined each of them and learning through interactive experiments how we know what we know today about its origins.Through engaging projections and animations, the universe comes to life from its earliest stages: stars turning into supernovas, galaxies and nebulae taking shape, and a tactile timeline illustrating its entire evolution. In a contemplative area, elements and phenomena of the night sky can be directly observed through telescopes and other instruments.
The Observable Universe is separated from the Primordial Universe by the CMB Wall (Cosmic Microwave Background), which represents the boundary of what we can directly observe when looking back in time. Within the Primordial Universe space, the end of cosmic inflation is represented by the Inflation Wall, marking the first moment that can be recreated experimentally. Beyond this wall unfolds the history of the universe’s very first instants — a journey back to 13.8 billion years ago.
The Science Gateway spans 8,000 square meters. The architectural elements of the structure are inspired by CERN’s technical buildings and underground tunnels — such as the one housing the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle accelerator — and appear as tubes suspended in space. Five distinct areas — featuring 1,400 square meters of experiments and interactive exhibitions, 260 square meters of immersive laboratories, a large auditorium, a shop, and a restaurant — are connected by a bridge designed as an elevated roadway, six meters above ground, crossing the Route de Meyrin from Switzerland into France.The environmental impact of the center is offset by 4,000 square meters of floating solar panels installed above the buildings, while a “Forest” of 400 trees and 13,000 shrubs links the existing buildings with the new structure, creating an evocative pedestrian pathway.
Current studies show that the number of STEM jobs is growing three times faster than in other sectors, offering significant opportunities for empowerment, including for women. The Carla Fendi Foundation is committed to supporting the mission of the Science Gateway as a driver of innovation for present and future generations from all countries and cultural backgrounds, promoting the fight against scientific and digital illiteracy.
