ICE - Listening to the universe: civil engineering for the Einstein Telescope

The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a proposed European third-generation underground gravitational wave observatory, designed to be at least ten times more sensitive than current facilities such as LIGO and Virgo.

The project faces complex geological, civil, and environmental challenges, requiring infrastructure that ensures stability, isolation from seismic and anthropogenic noise, and long-term sustainability.

There are currently three sites being considered for the project, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region, Sardinia (Italy), and Saxony (Germany).

CERN is contributing expertise in civil engineering planning, costing strategy, and project management, in support of the international collaboration driving ET forward.

The event will focus on the complex geological, civil, and environmental engineering challenges.