ASEPS: a success story
The second Asia Europe Physics Summit [ASEPS2] was successfully held in Wroclaw, Poland, on 26-29 October this year, thanks to the careful and effective preparatory work of Maciej Kolwas, Jerzy Langer and the ASEPS Task Force.
The representatives of the European Physical Society and of the Association of Asia-Pacific Physical Societies had the opportunity to meet; to discuss joint research projects and international contacts; and to examine together a number of relevant issues based on individual and collective excellence through cooperation. Such included:
- Cooperation between industry and academia,
- Energy and sustainable development,
- Improved education for science and industry,
- Large scale infrastructures and networks,
- The mobility of scientists, exchange programmes and job opportunities.
The summit led to the two presidents – Shoji Nagamiya of the Association of Asia-Pacific Physical Societies and Luisa Cifarelli of the European Physical Society – signing the Wroclaw Statement, which recognizes “the need for continued cooperation in the future among learned societies in Asia and Europe addressing scientific and societal issues”.
A series of recommendations were also produced. Both are available for download from the European Physical Society web site.
The ASEPS Task Force will now proceed to the planning of the third ASEPS meeting, which will take place in Japan in 2013. A stronger participation from Asia-Pacific countries, such as India or Australia, is desired.
The warm and generous hospitality of the Polish Physical Society, the University of Wroclaw, the Wroclaw Municipality and the EIT+ Wroclaw Research Centre – under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – was highly appreciated by all the summit participants.
