Yvon GEORGET

52, In charge of experimental areas



Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds

(GANIL)

CEA-DSM/CNRS-IN2P3



 

A conductor on the launch pad

Pierre and Marie Curie did everything by themselves. This is no longer possible.



I was walking in the countryside, it was Sunday, and I came across this sign saying “GANIL, Research Center”. I found this fascinating! This was back in 1978. I had just finished my studies in Rennes, and worked in a private computer manufacturing company. I then took advantage of a hiring wave to fill new positions at GANIL [Large National Heavy Ion Accelerator]. I felt comfortable right from the beginning. Here, you build and invent things, and meet all kinds of scientists. The range of different jobs is incredible! Today, I act as a conductor or coordinator within the group in charge of the rooms where nuclear reactions are studied. The GANIL is a laboratory visited by 700 researchers a year. The organization of experiments is centered around "beam planning". On the day before, there's a "Cape Canaveral" atmosphere ... Going back home before everything is ready is out of the question. Researchers come up with brilliant ideas, but they count on us for technical matters. Pierre and Marie Curie did everything by themselves. This is no longer possible today. We all need each other.

Image copyright: F.CASTEL