HERCULES CELEBRATES ITS 35th ANNIVERSARY!

The 35th anniversary of the HERCULES School will be celebrated during a two-day scientific workshop on 27-28 March, at the end of the 2026 edition. 

Registrations to Hercules 35 years are now open! Click here!

HERCULES SCHOOL

The Higher European Research Course for Users of Large Experimental Systems (HERCULES) is a European doctoral institution founded in 1991 by the University of Grenoble Alpes and Grenoble INP-UGA. Since then, it has become world-renowned for training the scientific community in using large-scale facilities (LSFs) which deliver neutron and synchrotron radiation, as well as radiation from free-electron lasers. HERCULES is a doctoral-level European school run by the University of Grenoble Alpes and Grenoble INP - UGA. The school will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026.

During the five-week-long school programme, participants spend four weeks at the EPN campus in Grenoble, — home to ILL, ESRF, EMBL and IBS —, and one week at one of the large-scale facilities of the HERCULES partners: ALBA in Barcelona (Spain), DESY and the European XFEL in Hamburg (Germany), ELETTRA and FERMI in Trieste (Italy), KIT in Karlsruhe (Germany), MAX IV and ESS in Lund (Sweden), PSI in Villigen (Switzerland) and SOLEIL in Saint-Aubin (France). Each year, more than 250 lecturers and tutors who are world leaders in their field are involved in the school. To ensure participants receive the best possible training, there is a balance between theory and practice. More than 40% of the training time is devoted to practical work and tutorials in small groups. This includes access to five days of hands-on experience with large-scale facility instruments, which makes this training unique worldwide.

HERCULES COMMUNITY

Over the past thirty-five years, HERCULES has trained more than 2,500 scientists. It has built up a unique community of users of LSF in Europe and around the world over the years, playing a crucial role in their development and success.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the HERCULES School, the ILL, ESRF and HERCULES School are organising a two-day workshop in Grenoble on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March 2026. The event will take place at the EPN Campus and Grenoble INP–UGA. The event will bring together LSF representatives, LSF networks, the user community and former HERCULES participants. The workshop will feature presentations by past HERCULES participants and LSF network representatives, as well as round-table discussions.

This will be a unique opportunity to review the rapid development of large-scale facilities over the last fifteen years, consider the future development of the field, and reflect on the long-term need to train the next generation of expert users in Europe and internationally.

On Saturday afternoon 28th March, one hour will be dedicated to a general public presentation showcasing the importance of large-scale facilities in society.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

Please find more information on the updated programme and the way to attend the workshop here.

Local organising committee