DisCERN

Tagline
Your Path To CERN
Challenge
DisCERN
Description

CERN wants to expand its reach globally, beyond the EU, and beyond fundamental physics research. Most students and professionals are only aware of certain CERN flagship programs and miss out on other opportunities.  

We want to create an app and a website where users can explore all CERN activities and programs that they are eligible to take part in, whether it is visiting CERN, participating in a conference, applying for an internship, or getting a studentship or staff position. This website/app will be a one-stop shop and serve as a gateway to bring people to CERN from all over the world.

Technologies used
  • Node.js and Java Spring Boot (app back end);
  • React Native (app front end);
  • Heroku (hosting services);
  • MySQL (database management);
  • Wix (to build the website);
  • Biteable (to make the video);
  • Canva (to make the logo).
Obstacles
  • The different time zones make it very difficult for everyone to work together;
  • A hurdle to the project was remote communication coupled with less prior knowledge of tackling the task at hand;
  • Getting a hand of communication via mail and other technical problems, like bad internet, were a common hurdle during the initial hours of the webfest.
Accomplishments
  • We can collaborate together even though we live and work geographically apart, throughout seven different time zones from Mexico to Australia;
  • We can distribute the tasks according to each expertise, so everyone gets to help in the project;
  • We can communicate and cooperate even though we never met before;
  • We did an app, a website and a video together!
Learnings

The learning curve of having been part of this experience has been exponential:

  • We learned to help each other although we live and work geographically apart;
  • Time management in the crunch of a 48 hour webfest was a key gain;
  • On the technical front, we learned how to make videos;
  • We learned to modify and deliver Json object data;
  • We learned the nitty gritty of developing a cross platform application that should potentially work on IOS, Android and a web browser;
  • We learned to integrate data with a website’s template;
  • We learned about business approaches and how to better convince people of the relevance of our product/project.
Next steps
  • We want to integrate a mentorship program so that people interested in applying for a program/event can interact with people who have already been to the program/event;
  • We want to share the website and the app with others and make the code open source;
  • We want to make the app available in Android and iOS stores - we just need to complete their review process;
  • We want to involve other institutions, making them interested in the idea (INFN, DESY, ESA, etc.);
  • We may add a sort of checklist for someone organising a visit to CERN.
One-minute video

URLS

discern.page