TASKS OF THE CONTACT POINT

• Participation of the Latvian consortium (Riga Technical University (RTU) and University of Latvia (UL)) in the CMS (The Compact Muon Solenoid) experiment, which aims to discover new physics phenomena. The CMS is a priority high-energy physics experiment for Latvian scientists, and successful participation is critically important for Latvia's membership in CERN and its progress toward full membership.
• Participation of the Latvian consortium (RTU, LU) participation in the MEDICIS experiment, which concentrates on innovative medical radioisotope production. Participation in the MEDICIS scientific programme revitalises the expertise of Latvian nuclear medicine and radiochemistry specialists.
• Participation of the RTU in CERN accelerator technology projects enables scientists, researchers and engineers the opportunity to develop the next generation of accelerators, for example in the NIMMS (Next Ion Medical Machine Study) project, which aims to develop the next generation of accelerator technologies for ion therapy treatment of oncological diseases.
• Participation of the UL in AEgIS (Antihydrogen Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy) experiment, which aims to measure free-fall acceleration using antihydrogen, and ISOLDE, which studies the properties of the atomic nucleus to further exploit this knowledge in fundamental science.

• Job shadowing

Latvian high school students are selected through a competitive process to shadow Latvian scientists working at CERN. As CERN could potentially become a future workplace for young Latvian scientists, visits to this globally significant scientific centre offer valuable insights to aspiring individuals interested in pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

• Young Physicists School of the University of Latvia visits to CERN

Young individuals and students with a passion for physics and STEM subjects are inspired to enhance their skills in these areas. The opportunity to visit CERN serves as a demonstration that they can pursue their education in Latvia while actively engaging in research activities at CERN.

• «Riga TechGirls» visits to CERN

Through competitive selection progress, young women are chosen to provide them with a chance to witness firsthand how women can embark on careers within STEM fields. This initiative advocates for STEM education among girls and young women by inspiring and motivating them to pursue professions in these fields.

• PhD student visits to CERN

An opportunity to motivate PhD students to further their careers in science by introducing them to the infrastructure of this globally important science centre and the possibilities of using it for research, as well as the opportunity to meet with PhD students from Latvia who are already working at CERN and see for themselves that it is possible to build an international career while studying in Latvia. Networking between PhD students is also encouraged.

• CERN permanent exhibition at the National Library of Latvia (LNB)

An educational and informative exhibition about CERN is being developed at the LNB to stimulate the interest of Latvian children, students, teachers, science enthusiasts and all members of the public in an attractive and accessible way, to demonstrate the practical possibilities of cooperation with CERN, to motivate studies in STEM fields, to promote physics and technology, and to inform about the work of Latvian scientists at CERN.

The exhibition is based on a donation agreement between CERN and the LNB and a cooperation agreement between RTU and the LNB.

• Participation in National Research Programme (NRP) «High-Energy Physics and Accelerator Technologies»

The NRP aims to strengthen the Latvian scientific community and research capacity in the field of high-energy particle physics and accelerator technologies and to foster cooperation between Latvian scientific institutions and CERN. The NRP plays a key role in Latvia's goal of becoming a full-fledged member state of CERN.

The NRP project is scheduled to run until 2026 and is being carried out by the RTU Institute of Particle Physics and Accelerator Technology in collaboration with the Institute of Solid-State Physics at the University of Latvia. Latvian research institutions are carrying out fundamental particle physics research at The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN, mainly focusing on Top Quark physics measurements and the development of the MIP Timing Detector (MTD) sub-detector system.

In addition to high-energy physics, the research team continues its scientific involvement in several CERN accelerator technology research projects, such as I.FAST (Innovation Fostering in Accelerator Science and Technology), HITRIplus (Heavy Ion Therapy Research Integration Plus) and NIMMS (Next Ion Medical Machine Study). The HITRIplus and NIMMS projects aim to further develop ion therapy equipment and technologies, so the research results of these projects are expected to have a particularly high return for the public good.

During the NRP project, young Latvian scientists, PhD students and master’s students can carry out research in particle physics and accelerator technology at CERN in collaboration with world-leading researchers in their respective fields.

• CERN Latvia Group

A cross-disciplinary collaborative group formed to coordinate the cooperation between Latvian scientific institutions, businesses, and decision-makers and their involvement in CERN scientific research, experiments, and projects. The group includes representatives of universities, scientific institutions, businesses, and decision-makers. The groups’ activities are coordinated by the Contact Point.

• RTU and UL joint PhD programme "Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies"

The PhD programme "Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies" is an internationally competitive programme for PhD students specialising in particle physics or accelerator technologies.

The programme is in English and produces specialists who can innovate based on their knowledge of particle physics, accelerator technology and, more broadly, engineering, the use of information technology to manage complex processes, the practical processing and use of big data in science and the economy, and advanced sensor and detector systems to control and manage a wide range of technological processes. Students are offered the opportunity to carry out scientific research on-site at CERN.

Courses are taught by experts in the field of science, professors, senior researchers, and researchers from RTU and UL, as well as high-level guest lecturers from the CERN Baltic Group and CERN.

The programme was licensed in 2021. The programme is facilitated by the Institute of Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, RTU, and by the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry, UL.

• Federated CERN/CMS Tier2 computing centre

To handle the large amounts of data needed for scientific activities, a Tier2 data centre is being built - a federated cloud collaboration model for several institutions that already operate successfully in a high-performance computing environment. This is an important collaboration with CERN, as the Tier2 network will also handle data from CERN's CMS experiment.

The project involves the RTU HPC (High-Performance Computing) Centre, the University of Latvia, the National Library of Latvia, the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and the Rezekne Academy of Technologies. This cooperation is made possible thanks to the Latvian Academic Network, which has already been established in the pilot project.

In total, around 50 countries are participating with their computing infrastructure at the Tier-2 level, and Latvia is one of them.

• CERN Graduate Programmes

Prospective young engineers and future scientists from Latvia can acquire expertise and hands-on experience through CERN’s three Graduate Programmes – «Early-Career Professionals», «Project Graduates» un «Research Fellows».

These programmes provide graduates from Latvian educational institutions the prospect to engage in CERN programmes to further their training, skills and qualifications as engineers and scientists.

• CERN Doctoral Student Programme

Latvian PhD students have a chance to enrol in the CERN Doctoral Programme, gaining unparalleled knowledge that is unmatched within the region. This programme extends beyond high-energy particle physics, encompassing diverse engineering and advanced technology fields, significantly contributing to quality, accessible, and inclusive education.

• CERN Technical Student Programme 

A chance for Latvian students to acquire both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience at CERN. This programme is open to students from particle physics, engineering, and high-tech fields.

• CERN Administrative Student Programme 

Latvian students can also take part in CERN-offered social sciences courses, such as translation, human resources management, business administration and management, law, logistics, finance and accounting, library science, informatics, science communication and psychology.

• CERN Summer Student Programme 

An opportunity for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students from Latvia to participate in the CERN Summer Student Programme, enabling them to acquire fresh research insights and skills directly at CERN.

During each summer session, four Latvian students can partake in this program.

It is also an opportunity to identify the strongest students to continue their studies in relevant Master’s and PhD programmes related to particle physics and accelerator technology.

• Internship at CERN

Latvian students can apply for a CERN traineeship programme, spanning a duration of one to six months. This is an opportunity for young individuals from Latvia to gain knowledge and work experience at CERN.