Álvaro de Rújula Named CERN Emeritus Member

• The recognition was officially announced on Thursday, December 19, through a letter from CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti, highlighting his exceptional scientific contributions and ongoing support for the Organization.

Professor Álvaro de Rújula, a member of the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT UAM-CSIC), has been named a CERN Emeritus Member. The recognition was communicated in an official letter from Director-General Fabiola Gianotti, which states: “In recognition of your exceptional and longstanding contribution to the Organization and continued promotion of CERN and its values.” Furthermore, the organization expressed its hope that De Rújula “will continue to be an engaged Ambassador of CERN in the future,” as noted in the letter sent on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

An Internationally Distinguished Career

Álvaro de Rújula earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics in 1968 from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. Since then, he has served as a professor and researcher at several prestigious institutions, including the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES) in France and Harvard University and Boston University in the United States.

Between 1977 and 2009, he dedicated most of his career to CERN, where he made key contributions to advancing particle physics. Notably, He participated in the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), one of the most significant discoveries in particle physics. He also served as the Director of CERN's Theoretical Division from 1996 to 1999. Since 2009, he has been a member of the IFT, continuing his research in theoretical physics and maintaining a prolific career as a science communicator.

Álvaro de Rújula has devoted his career to studying elementary particles and the fundamental phenomena of the universe, with a particular focus on the phenomenology of the Standard Model, quarks, neutrinos, and the internal structure of the atom. His work also extends to fields such as cosmic rays, particle astrophysics, and cosmology, bridging theoretical physics with our understanding of the cosmos. In addition, he has authored numerous scientific articles and books that have left an indelible mark on the scientific community. 

Álvaro is a renowned speaker at international level. A good review of his broad scientific interests can be found at this recent presentation.

A Prestigious Honorary Title

The title of CERN Emeritus is awarded to former CERN staff members who have made exceptional and sustained contributions to the organization, promoting its values throughout their careers. This recognition not only celebrates Álvaro de Rújula's past achievements but also establishes him as a key ambassador for the institution's future.