Meyrin, Switzerland

'Wandering the Immeasurable'

CERN's beautiful, bending sculpture is a tribute to the spread of knowledge.

This bold, winding sculpture, by the artist Gayle Hermick, stands within the campus of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). It’s a poetic, artistic twist representing the dissemination of scientific information and a fitting tribute to the thousands of brilliant minds from all over the world who come to CERN to collaborate.

Wandering the Immeasurable is a beautiful, bending behemoth of a sculpture that symbolizes how knowledge is passed among people. The sculpture ends abruptly, part of it extended as if waiting for future discoveries to be added on.

If you look closely at the curved metal ribbon, you’ll notice it’s covered with various inscriptions. The outer layer shows scientific discoveries that reflect upon how information is spread and shared among the world.

The inner layer is more symbolic of the inner workings of a physicist’s mind. It looks a bit like a scientist’s notepad, as it’s covered with different equations and symbols that highlight the math behind the science. In a way, the inscriptions show the chaotic blend of information that makes scientific progress possible.