Excursion

Alongside the conference, participants will have the opportunity to explore some jewels of Swiss scientific and technical heritage through optional excursions scheduled over the two weekends surrounding the conference. These experiences will offer a unique chance to discover major Swiss institutions.

Detailed information on the programme, schedules, and participant capacity will be provided prior to the opening of conference registration. The visits are free of charge; however, travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of participants.

---------------

Saturday, 5th September 2026
Visit to the EPFL-UNIL Collection of Scientific Instruments

Practical information for the excursion

Duration of the tour : 60 minutes. Two departures at 1.30 pm and 2.30 pm.

The UNIL–EPFL Collection of Scientific Instruments brings together over a thousand objects that bear witness to the dynamic history of physics in Lausanne since the late eighteenth century. Thanks to the work of physicist Jean‑François Loude, a member of the SIC, the collection has, since 2003, been preserved, systematically catalogued, and made accessible to the public. 

By highlighting a selection of objects currently on display, this guided tour invites visitors to explore key moments in the collection’s history, reflecting on its dual French‑ and German‑speaking origins, the individuals who played a role in its formation—both teachers and students—and the audiences it has helped to educate over time. The visit will also offer an opportunity for collective reflection on the importance of preserving such a collection within a university and an engineering school, and on its role in safeguarding and transmitting the memory of the sciences. 

To sign up for the excursions, you must purchase a ticket, even though the visits are free. Participants are responsible for their own travel costs and arrangements. Further details will be provided by the organisers.

---------------

Saturday 12th September 2026
Visit to CERN and the Museum of the History of Science in Geneva.

Practical information for the excursion

Duration of the tour: 8.45 am–6.00 pm in Geneva. Estimated time of departure from Neuchâtel 7.00 am

A tour of CERN, including an exhibition on CERN’s oldest accelerator, and the Museum with a demonstration of the ELISA mini-accelerator. Unfortunately, the ATLAS experimental cavern is currently closed to visitors due to maintenance work. This will be followed by a guided tour of the Museum of the History of Science and its temporary exhibition : ‘In the Shadow of Discoveries’.

The excursion is fully booked.

For the visit to Geneva, a coach will depart from Neuchâtel early in the morning (time and location to be confirmed) and return in the early evening. The coach is cheaper than public transport and allows the group to be taken to both destinations. By purchasing this product, participants are only covering the cost of the coach, as the visits are free of charge. 

---------------

Sunday, 13th September 2026
Visit to ETH Zurich and its scientific instrument collections.

Practical information for the excursion