Last month, Nomad Futurist Foundation Advisor and Director of Initiatives & Partnerships, Simon Allen, had the privilege of visiting CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), just outside Geneva, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory and home of the Large Hadron Collider.
CERN exists to answer some of humanity’s biggest questions:
- What is the universe made of?
- How did it begin?
- What fundamental laws govern everything around us?
But while the technology, scale and ambition are extraordinary, the most inspiring part of the visit wasn’t the machines. It was the students.
Meeting the Next Generation at CERN
During the visit, time was spent engaging with students working at CERN – young physicists, engineers, and technologists already contributing to experiments that generate tens of petabytes of data each year and rely on some of the most advanced digital infrastructure on the planet.
Students were:
- Curious and undaunted by complexity
- Technically sharp while deeply thoughtful about impact
- Collaborative across borders and disciplines
- Genuinely excited about the intersection of physics, AI, data, and computing
Discussions covered career paths, the transformative role of AI in scientific discovery, and the critical importance of digital infrastructure to modern research. For many, data centers, high-performance computing, and networks aren’t “infrastructure” – they’re the foundation that turns ideas into reality.
Why This Matters for Nomad Futurist
At Nomad Futurist, we spend a lot of time talking about the future of work, talent shortages, and how to attract the next generation into digital infrastructure.
Seeing these students in action was a powerful reminder that:
- The talent exists and is ready to engage
- Purpose-driven environments attract exceptional people
- Young professionals want to tackle problems that matter
CERN builds people as much as machines, training professionals who go on to shape technology, science, and industry worldwide. Many move from physics into AI, healthcare, climate science, finance, and digital infrastructure.
Simon Allen’s Personal Takeaways
- For those of us already in the industry, it’s easy to get consumed by delivery pressures, budgets and timelines.
- A day inside CERN – and conversations with the students working there – was a reset.
- It reinforced why inspiring, educating and welcoming young talent into our sector isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s essential.
- The future is being built right now – and it’s in very capable hands.
Looking Ahead
Simon Allen’s visit to CERN serves as a powerful reminder that the future of technology and digital infrastructure depends on the talent we nurture today. By creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and opening pathways, we can help the next generation turn curiosity into impact.
Join Nomad Futurist in supporting and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.
About Nomad Futurist
Nomad Futurist is a global movement and 501(c)(3) nonprofit (update if different) focused on demystifying the world of digital infrastructure — the data centers, networks, power, and connectivity that keep our modern lives running. Through storytelling, educational programming, and community engagement, Nomad Futurist inspires the next generation to pursue purposeful, high-impact careers in this essential industry.
To learn more about the Nomad Futurist Foundation, click here.
