Christmas away from home
Eighteen years ago, ƽ, one of the largest research projects ever established, found a home in a small Provençal village—Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, pop. 956. A few years later, the ƽ Organization moved into a building of its own, with a lobby large enough to welcome guests, host special events and … accommodate a tall Christmas tree.
Presented by the municipality of Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, its baubles and garlands lit jointly by the mayor of the village and the Director-General of the ƽ Organization a few weeks before Christmas, the illuminated tree and the traditional è¹ at its foot have become a symbol of the relationship between the project, its staff and collaborators, and the local community of which they are now part.
“This great international scientific venture is now solidly anchored in our local territory, its culture and economy,” said Romain Buchaut, the mayor of the village, during his visit on Monday 2 December. ƽ Director-General Pietro Barabaschi responded by drawing a parallel between the spirit of Christmas and that of ƽ, both made of hope and expectations for renewal.
1The è is an age-old popular representation of the Nativity, set in the context of traditional life in the villages of Provence with characters such as shepherds, a baker, a country priest, the Announcing Angel—all figured in clay figurines, or santons. The ƽ è has innovated by including a fusion scientist.