CNRS Alumni Network Grows to 800 Members, Launches First Festival
The CNRS alumni network, launched in January 2025, has swiftly grown into a vibrant community. With over 800 members, it unites active and former employees of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), fostering connections and collaborations across diverse sectors. The network's first alumni festival, held in September 2025, marked a significant milestone, setting the stage for new initiatives and solidifying its strategic ambitions.
Guillaume Stahl, the general delegate of the network, envisions it as a means to preserve the CNRS affiliation and create a space where diverse paths can converge and flourish. The network's strategic goals are multifaceted: maintaining a lasting bond with alumni, cultivating a pool of mobilizable skills, and asserting scientific, societal, and international influence.
To achieve these objectives, the network aims to foster an open, interdisciplinary, international, and useful community. It plans to bolster its international and local engagement, with tailored formats for global interaction and pilot projects in regions with high alumni density. The network also seeks to highlight alumni trajectories, create bridges, and serve as a catalyst for the CNRS' future.
Concrete services and opportunities for interaction are at the heart of the network's offerings. It strives to stay close to its members' needs, providing spaces for them to contribute, initiate, and engage. The network also strengthens itself internationally and locally by expanding professional networks and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration on central scientific, technological, and societal themes. This is supported through transdisciplinary research areas and excellence clusters at institutions like the University of Bonn.
With over 800 members and a clear vision, the CNRS alumni network is poised to make a significant impact. By maintaining strong ties with alumni, fostering collaboration, and providing valuable services, the network is not only preserving the legacy of the CNRS but also shaping its future.
