The University of Bath has been welcomed as a full member of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN, making the University an official partner in one of the flagship experiments of the world’s leading particle physics laboratory.
Bath’s application was anchored by the University’s engineering expertise, which complements the knowledge offered by existing members. This represents a significant opportunity for the University to contribute innovation-led engineering to the heart of the CMS experiment.
Professor Phil Taylor, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bath, said:
“Contributing our engineering strengths to one of the largest international scientific collaborations in history is a truly exciting opportunity for our research staff and students.
“This partnership opens the door to deepening our international research collaborations, not only with colleagues in Geneva, but across the global CMS network.”
Following an overwhelming vote of approval from the CMS Collaboration Board, Bath researchers will now gain access to the latest CMS data, next-generation research facilities and advanced computing infrastructure, significantly strengthening the University’s research impact and long-term contribution at the frontier of particle physics.
Starting in 2008, the CMS experiment is one of the world’s largest and longest-running scientific experiments. It is expected to run until well into the 2040s, and membership reflects Bath’s multi-decade commitment to this ambitious scientific endeavour.
The application was led by Dr Alexander Lunt, CMS & CERN Affiliation Lead at the University of Bath. He said:
“Reaching full membership of the CMS Collaboration is the culmination of more than seven years of sustained effort, dedication, and belief from the team at Bath.
“I’m incredibly proud of the hard work that has brought us to this point, and we’re genuinely excited about the role we can now play in advancing the next generation of discoveries at CERN.”
Bath researchers have been contributing to CMS since 2019, working on engineering innovations to boost the detector’s long-term performance. Work has included developing CO2 cooling technology to manage extreme temperatures inside the collider and supporting a major tracker upgrade through advanced precision mechanical systems and materials modelling.
The new membership status sees Bath join a community of over 4,000 scientists and engineers, allowing the University to increase its direct support of CMS operations. In particular, the team will be aiding the ongoing upgrade to the parts of the detector closest to the collision point, which receive the highest radiation levels. Bath’s expertise in micromechanics, fluid flow testing and advanced modelling will also inform the refinement of next-generation cooling systems for upcoming upgrades.
Professor Taylor concluded:
“Gaining full CMS membership is an exceptional achievement for the University and a testament to the strength of our research community. This is an example of our ambition to collaborate with leading researchers and innovate on a global scale.”