50 Years Ago

摘要

At the meeting of the Society for Visiting Scientists on June 3， great interest was expressed in the potentialities of international research centres. It was admitted from the outset that there is no intrinsic merit in international research as such, since the important thing in any scientific work is the result, not how or where the work is carried out. The justification for any proposed international effort must therefore be carefully examined …The experience of running CERN presented some interesting lessons … CERN had been formed at a time when there was a sense of togetherness among most of the nations of Western Europe, a feeling which sought for some practical expression. It was important that any concrete form which could be given to it should not be controversial, should not be military, should not be a political disaster if it failed and that success if achieved should be clearly recognizable. If these factors were present, the way was open for the scientists, who, after all, led the world in international co-operation, to exert pressure on their political colleagues.